I realize this is a day late, and I apologize. I'm feeling much better (thanks to all the well wishers:cD) but had a very busy day yesterday and didn't have time to update. So, anyway, here we are! Jarrod's first meeting with the legendary Bandits of Havara!
Banana Nut Muffin: Thank you! I try to keep my stories as unclichéd while still being ascliché as possible! (If you understood that at all). I love writing original stuff, but I like the colours of fanfiction better. XcD
CharlyB: Sorry about this week! I'm trying to keep my updates fast without totally distroying my social life ((Jenn, what social life?))((Shut up)) So, I'll try and get my next chapter up sooner. And I hope Fiona fixes his smile too!
Tiger Lily21: I think everyone wants to push them together and make them fall in love. Poor Fiona and Jarrod. I don't think Lark is going to be in this story, sorry. I have pretty much the entire plot thought outand I couldn't find a spot for him. He may get a cameo, though.
rainkisser: OF COURSE SHE'S GOING TO RIDE! She tries so hard to not be herself that she turns right around and becomes herself again. I think she's sensible and an individualist. She's just not as loud about it as her sisters. She has a quiet sense of uniqueness.
panemonium: Thank you! Fiona's very honest, much to her chagrin. But that's probably what's going to draw Jarrod to her, after his dealings with so much dishonesty. I don't know why the bandits would go after Jarrod. ((shifty eyes))
Dreamer at heart: I feel much better now, thank you! That's what I don't like about colds, they tend to stick around for much longer than, say, the flu or something. I'm glad you liked the two chapters.
I don't really know what to say here, guys. So...
Enjoy the chapter!
Lulai
Chapter Six: Bandits!
"Your majesty, I must insist that you take an armed escort with you if you leave the castle," the Earl stated. "Who knows what these bandits are capable of?"
"Of course, Havara," Jarrod responded. He was really starting to actively dislike the Earl. The man had not even asked after the welfare of his niece. And she was the one in actual danger. This thought brought him to the comments Fiona and Nia had made.
"How much do you tax your citizens?" Jarrod asked him, completely taking the Earl by surprise.
"Why, your majesty?"
"I have heard that the taxation is unreasonable," Jarrod said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I need quite a bit of money to keep all my nieces clothed and fed," the Earl stated.
"I see," Jarrod responded.
"Yes," Havara said, clearing his throat. "I'm sure the peasants are exaggerating. You know how they are; they never want to pay taxes."
"Of course," Jarrod murmured.
"But on to more pleasant matters," the Earl said, changing the subject nervously, "Genevieve and Harmony are presenting a musical interlude after dinner tonight."
"It should be lovely," Jarrod replied. He would look into the Earl's taxation claims later.
Dinner went well. Of course, the entire castle knew about the accident that had happened out in the woods, and everyone had his or hers own opinions about who was behind the attack, most of them centred on the bandits. Her sisters were asking Fiona all sorts of questions. Fiona mostly kept her head down (although it didn't diminish her appetite in any way) and only answered a few of the curious sisters.
After dessert of raspberry crumble, the table adjourned to the music room to hear the entertainment.
"May I escort you?" Jarrod asked Fiona.
She opened her mouth to refuse, and point him in Nia's direction, when she caught a look from Annabelle.
"Of course, your majesty," she said, accepting his arm. She felt as though she could see through the fine maroon jacket he was wearing to the strong arms that held her as if she weighed no more than child. She wondered how he became so strong. She didn't think that being a king was overly physical.
He seated her on a large chair and sat beside her.
Genevieve and Harmony stood up front. Genevieve sat down behind a harp and leaned it back so that it rested on her shoulder. Harmony was blowing into a flute, warming it up.
Jarrod sat back in his chair and quite enjoyed the performance. The twins sang in two part harmony, Genevieve strumming the harp, and sometimes Harmony would play the flute. He clapped appreciatively after every song.
"They are quite good," he whispered to Fiona.
"I know," Fiona responded. "They've been playing together since they were about six years old."
They finished their last song and bowed.
"Thank you girls," Havara said. "But, I believe it's time to retire for the night."
"I suppose," the girls groaned, almost in one voice.
Fiona and Jarrod stood up.
"I wish you all a good sleep, my ladies," Jarrod said with a bow. They all curtsied back and gave him good wishes as well.
…
Something awoke Jarrod in the middle of the night. He quickly climbed out of bed and pulled a white shirt on over his black pants.
He looked out of the hallway and saw a servant running towards him. He stopped him.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Bandits, yer majesty!" the servant exclaimed.
Jarrod swore and ran back into his room to buckle on his sword and shove his feet into his boots.
He ran down the hall in the general direction of the shouting, nearly barrelling over Josephine as she stepped out of her room, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"What's all the noise?" she asked.
"The bandits are attacking," Jarrod said. Josephine's eyes widened. He grasped her shoulder. "I need you to gather all your sisters into one room. Do you think you can do that for me?" he asked.
She nodded, her eyes still wide. She ran off in the opposite direction.
Jarrod ran out into the front yard to see a row of hedges on fire. There was a row of people handing buckets of water down a line and they were keeping the blaze in check.
He noticed the guards that he had placed by the sheep's fence were unconscious.
The Earl came out the door. "My sheep!" he wailed.
Jarrod attention was caught by a huddle of white near the other side of the fence.
"Your sheep are still there," he exclaimed to Edward. A thought came to him. "Where do you keep your gold?"
"In my room, behind my bed," the Earl answered, looking for the sheep. Then, the realization hit him too. "My gold!"
But Jarrod was already off and running. He had a vague notion of where the Earl's room was. Luckily, he reached the double doors in no time, as most of the castle staff was out trying to fight the blaze.
Jarrod drew his sword and kicked open the wooden doors.
"Stop!" he yelled to the two cloaked figures, illuminated by the bright moonlight that shone in from the open balcony doors. One stood with a bag, and the other was filling it with the coins. The first figure shut the bag and slung it over his shoulder.
Jarrod began to advance on the two bandits, but the one with the bag flung a dagger at him, pinning his shirt to the wooden door. The second pulled a long bow off his shoulder.
Jarrod reached and began to pull at the dagger holding him restrained, but the dagger was imbedded deep in the wood and held fast. An arrow thunked right next to his hand.
With a snarl, he pulled the dagger free from the wall and chased after the bandits, but they had already disappeared over the balcony edge.
He reached the railing and looked down to see the two robbers slid off the end of a rope tied to the balcony and run into the dark forest.
Jarrod turned from the scene with a growl of frustration and stalked back into the room. Luckily, the bandits had only taken some of the gold. He had stopped them from robbing Havara completely blind.
His gaze was drawn to the arrow in the door. A scrap of parchment was tied to it. He shoved the dagger into his belt and pulled the paper off and unfolded it, stepping into the hallway to read it by torchlight.
If we wanted ye dead, it read, ye would be tonight. But we steal money, not lives.
It was signed, The Havara Bandits.
Jarrod folded the note carefully and put it in his shirt pocket. It might be used for evidence later.
Jarrod figured the women would gather in Annabelle's room and headed in that direction.
He sheathed his sword and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" he recognized Annabelle's voice.
"It's King Jarrod," he responded. "Is everything alright?"
Annabelle opened the door. All the sisters were sitting around, looking relatively calm. It obviously hadn't been the first time the bandits attacked the castle.
"Of course," Annabelle said, not completely blocking the king out, but not letting him in either. "I assume the bandits are gone?"
"Yes," he replied. "They escaped into the forest."
"Did you see them?" Harmony asked, or was it Genevieve? It was hard to tell in the shadows.
"I had a bit of an altercation," he said dryly. "I should let you get your rest. I doubt they'll be back again tonight."
"Thank you for checking up on us, Majesty," Cassandra said.
"No problem," he responded, his eyes searching for Fiona. She did not seem to be in the room.
"Where is Fiona?" he asked.
"I'm right here," she responded from behind him. She stood there in a green cape with only a purple – no, lilac,Jarrod corrected himself – night gown underneath. Her hair was up in a messy bun and her face was liberally streaked with soot.
"Where were you, Fiona?" Annabelle demanded. "And in your night gown, no less!"
"I was trying to put out the fire and save the sheep," she responded calmly. "Luckily, although sheep aren't smart, they do have a sense of self-preservation. We only had to hunt down two. The rest stayed in a huddle." She turned to Jarrod. "I saw you run back into the castle. What happened?"
"The bandits were trying to steal the Earl's gold," he said. "How do you think they knew about it?"
Nia snorted. :"Everyone knows where Uncle Edward keeps his gold. It's practically begging to get stolen. I keep telling him to move it, but he likes to count it before he goes to sleep."
"If everyone's safe," Jarrod said, "then I think we should all try and go back to sleep. We shall sort this out in the morning."
"Of course," Annabelle agreed. "Everyone, off to bed with you!"