Nixiesocean: So, uh, you probably all hate me for not updating, but, you know, I'm finally out of school (yay!) and now I'll be updating more. Ok? Once again, sorry!
Chapter 3: Rescued Yet Again
Lance was surprised. What would he say if he knew that I've been riding with Sir Eric? Rod looked at him. "Y'know Sir Eric?" He asked, looking grim.
He gave a muffled response. Rolling his eyes, Rod asked some of his bandit-henchman to untie the gag. "Yes sir, I know Sir Eric." Rod inquired him to explain. "Well, I, uh," How could he tell the leader of a bandit group that he had been unable to save himself from a dragon? "I saw h-him jousting. He's very good."
"That he is, prince. That he is." Rod agreed. "Gag him."
"Wha-" He was restrained yet again.
Rod and the bandits moved out that day. Lance marched sandwiched between two guards. They had daggers and one poked it into his back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curse that incapable prince! I said to myself for about the millionth time. Sighing, I dismounted and looked at the tracks in the soft dirt.
Goldflame, light please, I touched my helm with Goldflame's sword point. My helm lit up like a torch. Thank you.
You are welcome, mistress. Think not of it. Goldflame was always so complementary Lance had been interrogated, unless the bandits had another prisoner. He had been made to stand and walk. They left just a few hours ago. I was gaining. We rode again, my helm glowing brightly in the dimming daylight. The stars came out over my head, but the chase kept me from growing weary. I couldn't have the prince's life on my conscious. The king would never forgive me, or my father for that matter.
I had caught up to the bandits' night camp. Goldflame, shut off my light. She complied. It was a tiring chase considering that I had ridden all night. The faint light from the campsite illumined just enough for me to see where the guards were placed. I lowered my lance and charged into the campsite. Goldflame, who was strapped on my back, sent out waves of light, blinding, yet again, the bandits. I grabbed Rod, who I guessed was the leader by where he sat, and dropped my lance. Goldflame jumped out of her sheath and flew into my hand.
I dismounted and forced Rod to his knees. "Give me the prince and my shield and your bandit leader will be spared." I challenged. "If not, I'll just have to take on this camp by myself." The bandits laughed; one even shot and arrow at me. I spun, while still holding Rod, and sliced the arrow in half. They stopped their amusement. "Now give over the prince and my shield. Now!" The bandits jumped to obey the knight. Lance mounted Swift and a latched my shield over Goldflame. Once we away from the camp, I removed my helm and put it on my saddle-horn.
"Thanks." Lance said grudgingly. "Not that it'll happen again."
"We'll see, Prince, we'll see." I replied, keeping my eyes from turning to his. Finally, at the break of day, we stopped to setup camp. Lance had fallen asleep on my shoulder, not that it's all that comfortable, and was lightly snoring. For an unknown reason, even to myself, I didn't make him setup camp. I setup his tent and bedding and set him in them. Yawning, I setup my tent and bedroll on the other side of the camp.
--About 8 Hours Later--
Lance woke with few yawns. There were multiple things that surprised him. One: He was in a bedroll and in a camp. Two: Sir Eric wasn't up. Three: It was about 10 bells. He put breakfast on the fire and went over to wake up Sir Eric. Her face reflected the clouds perfectly. He reached out to touch her face, but fate has terrible timing. Her eyes flicked open just as he was going to touch her cheek.
"What the hell are you doing?" She asked, sitting up.
He cleared his throat. "I was, uh, just waking you up."
"I see. Well, since I'm up, go fetch some water." She said callously. He grabbed the bucket and ran to the creek, which he was told, was to the west. He scooped both buckets into the small river and picked them up, ready to turn and go back to camp. Sighing, Lance turned to the east and started walking. The water weighed heavier than he imagined. After getting a few yards from the river, he stopped. Someone came up behind him. Standing, he spun to see the person. It was Sir Eric.
"What do you want?" he asked. This was not the time for her remarks. "I need to get this water to camp."
She looked down, red staining her cheeks. "Look, I've been rude." She stated. She stepped toward him. "So, what I'm saying is that, well, I'm sorry." Tears ran down her cheeks. "Damn this, Lance. Do you know how hard it is to be a girl?"
"Well, uh, I've never had that experience, so no. Sorry, I don't." He said simply.
She rolled her eyes. "You have sisters, right?"
"Yes."
"How old are they?" She persisted. He was about eighteen. He had three sisters, each a year younger than him.
"Seventeen, sixteen and fifteen," He swallowed.
"So, they, have mood swings?" Sir Eric asked, still getting closer.
"Yes…" He still didn't get where she was going. She was uncomfortably close. She twined her fingers into his and kissed him on the lips. They hugged. Everything was perfect.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I looked up while Lance hugged me. Damn these mood swings. But I'm helpless. There was a bowmen looking down the shaft of an arrow. It was pointed directly at Lance's back. He let the arrow fly. Breaking the hug, I shoved him to the ground, taking the arrow right in the stomach. I saw Lance look at me. It must've been a sight, me with an arrow in the gut and him staring at me from the ground. He caught me from falling. The last thing he said to me was 'I love you, Lady Knight'.