Chapter three: Feelings of despair

Written by Sarah'sTwilight

Rolf knew he was in big trouble right now, looking around the place: men and women thought few, were coming into the fray to see that they all died.

Though this seemed bad it wasn't exactly hopeless. Looking at their leader, Darren who was doing some quick thinking on getting out of this alive. His dark brown hair had been pulled back into a messy ponytail. Turning around to count how many soldiers he had, his green eyes showed signs of despair, which was quickly replaced by courage and determination on surviving this. Standing tall he was the man he should be, his clothes and posture was that of a man who would meet his fate and destroy it.

Gliding his silver sword out of its sheath he drew it square with his feet apart. Stance proud almost regal.

Rolf looked at the men and shook his head slightly. Those with axes, swords even lances had followed Darren's proud display of defiance; but that wasn't why he was shaking his head at, no it was the archers.

He had at one time thought they had no fear in life what with their macho talk, it lead one to believe that. Now they were different, now they truly knew what they were doing. One man even had the nerve to go behind him. He hated to think this but; a mere boy had a grown man shaking in his boots behind him.

Looking at these men he knew it would now them at least three shots to even incapacitate ONE person. So he'd guess it was left up to him to do most of the work now.

While figuring out how best to get though this with as many men as possible, he heard a sword come from the other side of the room. A man and woman walked forward to be at the head of their group.

The man was huge and well muscled, his face and body was that of someone who knew how to take care of himself. His hair was black which was cut close to his head. The woman on the other hand held Rolf's eyes the most, to the point that if he looked away he might find she was just an illusion.

She defined beauty in every way; her hair long and loosely pulled to the side. Her body it seemed hadn't an ounce of fat. She was tall and curvy. In his eyes she was perfect. Though it wasn't the woman's body that was captivating, it was her eyes. Eyes that could pierce the soul and your heart, that once you stopped looking left you to drown in sorrow.

He was jerked out of his reverence to hear the voice of the opposing man.

"Darren you have stepped on dangerous grounds, stealing that which is not your, and to have a boy no less to do your dirty work. What kind of man are you?"

"A man that will win the outcome tonight, that's what"

"Huh that's what you think, this war ends with your head on a plate in front of ME"

The statement didn't seem to faze Darren in the slightest, but what would and did came from a serene voice that was filled with sorrow

" Look at your men, they're filled with fear of what will happen to them. The only one that looks determined to see this through is the boy archer. So young and with so much to live for all wasted with this fool."

His hand went slack, his sword fell and Darren turned to look at Rolf.

Rolf was filled with dread, he had thought that they would be ok but he knew deep down that for the most, they were doomed.

Looking at the woman's eyes he saw that they're might be a weakness to her. She held herself to close to the man at her side.

That must be where it would hurt the most. Darren who had been looking at Rolf saw that something had changed in the boy. In the dim light even he could see that he wouldn't go down without a fight. Smiling he bent down to pick his sword up and held it ready. Following his lead every one of Darren's men drew his weapon prepared for the fight.

Grunting, the opposing man held a smirk, drew his axe and charged at Darren.

The past two months had been hard on everyone. Their spirits and moral had gone to almost nothing. Though not as much as Boyd's and Oscar's.

Neither spent much time doing what they loved to do, and their hearts weren't in their training they had to keep up.

Shinnon had also felt guilty, overtime he saw the two brothers he had to hang his head in shame and walk by never making eye contact. He tried to give them words of comfort but he didn't know what to say.

Every chance he had he always went out looking for him and not coming back till the early hours of the morning even more disheartened and guilty at what he had unwittingly done to everyone.

He would find him, he promised them silently and he would be alive

Looking out the window, Boyd was sitting on the window seat looking miserable. No matter what Ike said; that they had to carry out a normal life he couldn't and neither could Oscar.

The two of them had been out all night searching for him when ever possible.

In some ways they knew it was a futile effort but it still was an effort that they felt they both had to do.

The sun was setting, signalling the end of another day; another day lost in the search for their little brother.

Bowing his head in shame, Boyd could no longer carry on pretending that he was fine, he no longer cared who saw him. He just wept not only for his brother but also his failure in not seeing that he was unhappy.

An arm went round his shoulders; he looked up to see an ashen face of his older brother. Sitting down along side him Boyd saw he had been crying long and hard. The two brothers didn't want to show their emotions to anyone else other than to each other. They both found comforts in the fact that they were still true to each other and could share things even after all this time.

Oscar drew a long deep breath and looked out the window

"I don't think we will find him anytime soon. I had hoped he would come back but I don't see that happening now either."

" He will come back, I know he will." In between sobs

Smiling at his younger brother he drew him closer. He could tell him another time what he had over heard but for now he needed his brother and to know that he was still here.

Looking out to the setting sun he felt what hope he could grasp hold of was slowly slipping out of his grasp and fading away.