Hi !

I'm here again. Hope, you were waiting.

Maylene18, again thanks for the review, and I'm glad you like my characters. But about Richard and Charlotte … well… I still don't know if I want to do any relationship between them, that is more than friendship…

Thanks Kssarah again!

Let's start it!

Chapter 6

Time passed very slowly. As soon as Richard returned with a few more bruises on his cheek and jaw, Roxton told him the plan. He was still very nervous about the safety of the raven-haired heiress. He felt if she got hurt, he wouldn't survive. He couldn't think of anything, just her, and Lord John Richard Roxton made his final decision about her.
The preparations for the wedding had started. A group of women marched into the "bride's tent" and the whole day passed in a great hurry. They went in and out with oils, flowers and many more things in their arms. The men outside could only imagine what was happening inside. They could hear sometimes a cry, than some laughing. They knew, after it
The king came out of his tent only once to check on the captives. After that, the warriors just went into the king's tent every so often to keep him updated.
People prepared the city square. To tell the truth, it was lovely. In the middle of the area they drew a big circle with flowers, and they placed plates filled with grapes and hung flowers everywhere.
As darkness came, the crowd started to grow. Roxton anxiously examined the people, but most of the women's gowns were similar to Marguerite's. In spite of that he didn't give up, and suddenly he became aware of a lock of dark wavy tresses cascading trough a green veil, than another figure, a blond one next to her.
Shakír emerged from his tent and with his warriors escort he headed to the center, and stepped into the middle of the flower-circle. After him came Charlotte. She wore a long red dress. Her hair was pinned up, on her neck a beautiful gold necklace shined with a ruby in the middle of a pendant. The shiny rock matched others she wore in her hair and on her dress.
The ceremony began with the priest stepping into the circle in front of the pair. He held a chain in the air and chanted a prayer. The crowd followed his example, and murmured the prayer as well. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Marguerite and Veronica slipped next to the captives, and waited for Challenger and Malone to start the action.
"We're running out of time," said Marguerite
"What do you mean?"
"The ceremony. It must not be completed."
"What can we do?" asked the Lord "Bloody hell Challenger, where are you?"
"Richard, when I give a signal, say it loud: kita obona uhurra. Very loud, right?"
He nodded and repeated the words as not to forget them.
In this moment the priest raised his eyes to the pair and said:
"Ahae urra kibita!"
"Now Richard!"
"KITA OBONA UHURRA!"
Suddenly dead silence. Shakír´s eyes were burning. He was furious. Very furious.
He opened his mouth to shout an order when a big explosion shook the earth, and dust covered everything. Panic erupted in the crowd. This was the right moment for the escape.
The two women released the hunter and his cousin and the fight began.

Malone never was a good warrior. In the first second the enemy beat his weapon out of his hand, but being a creative journalist; he picked up a big silver plate, and fought him down.
"A new weapon in the jungle, Ned?" asked the lord mockingly. A soldier came and threw himself at him, but Ned knocked him out with his plate.
"It seems to me..."
"Careful Ned! You're starting to become very dangerous with that piece of metal... "

It wasn't a hard job for Veronica to render harmless some bad guy and Marguerite as always had her pistols aimed true.
"How an Earth can you do anything..."asked Veronica as she hit a man with her elbow "uh!... in that dress!"
"Keep it" started Marguerite and fired "...and Ill teach you at home!"

Richard fought next to Challenger, and caught a mans arm, in which he held a knife. He punched the warrior with his other fist right in the jaw, and he fell away.
"Thank you my friend! How can I return it?"
"Just tell me where is Charlotte!"
"I can't find her either. Shakír took her away. Look!" he pointed to the distance, where could be seen the king pulling the girl inside his tent.

"I know that your friend lied and you know it also. You can't escape. It's your destiny. You must give birth to my son!" Cried Shakír, as he threw the girl to the ground and jumped on top of her.
"Maybe I´ll miss this great honor!" she shrieked and bit him.
"I'm out of patience now!" he roared, and punched her in the jaw. She fainted immediately.
"Just like me!" Richard pulled back the trigger of his pistol, and aimed it at the king. " Get up! I just hope you didn't touch her," he hissed always looking straight into his enemy´s angry eyes.
"Do you think I give up so easily?" The king pulled a dagger out of his boot and raised his arm, when Richard shot. Shakír fall to the ground.
Richard kneeled next to Charlotte and lightly patted her cheeks to wake her. The girl´s face was red from her "fiancées" hit. If he wasn't already dead he would kill him now immediately. Time was passing and he couldn't wait any longer. He lifted her shaking body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and sobbed his name, as her automatically lowered her head to his heart.
He soothed her, and headed out, but at the exit he bumped into Roxton:
"Is she all right?"
"No damage. Just cover me!"
"All right."
"The others?"
"Malone and Challenger headed into the jungle with the women. Only we're left. Let´s run!"
The two men began to run into the trees. They bumped into many soldiers, but Richard kicked them quickly out of his way and Roxton fired with both of his Webley´s.

"Come on Veronica! "Shouted Malone, "Run!"
The journalist´s eyes caught the glimpse of an arrow heading straight towards Veronica. He run ahead of her, and caught the arrow, in his thigh.
"Ned!" cried the girl "Your leg!"
"No problem! Auck!" He groaned, as she broke the outstretching part of it. " Just..Just help me stand ..."
He got up with her aid and with half of his weight on Veronica, they slowly walked back to the tree house. Marguerite and Challenger walked alongside them protecting the pair. Suddenly the two noblemen appeared with Charlotte asleep in
Richard's arms and together they disappeared into the thick jungle forest.

One more chapter, and I finish this story. Be patient!

Hope, you will write so much review, that I almost won't be able to read and answere them all. :)))