A/N Here's chapter 8 people! I had a lousy few days, so I'm sorry for the delay.
namvd: No, no, no? Sorry, but what does that mean? No don't write this chapter? No don't stop writing? No I have no rabbits are taking over the world?
Something like me: Yes I used your idea, I hope you don't mind.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own RA
Chapter 8.
May:
I wake up, screaming. Great, just what I need. Another nightmare. Gilan, Will and Horace storm into my room.
"What happened, are you alright?" Gilan asks. I nod, if I talk right now I know my voice will betray me. I look at my hands, they're trembling a little. Again, just what I need.
"Hey, what happened." I look at Gilan, he sits on the bed next to me. He takes my trembling hands in his and looks back at me.
"Nightmare." I eventually manage to say.
"The same as usual?" Will asks. I shake my head.
"No, about the day I had to leave this town." I say. I let my head hang.
"Oh." Is what Will says. "What happened then?"
"I can't tell you Will. I'm sorry but I can't go through that a third time." I get up and walk to the door.
"Third time?" Gilan asks.
"Yeah, she told me earlier today when I asked." Horace says. I nod and open the door.
"I'm going to get some fresh air." I say, and I walk outside.
Once I'm out of the house I shift and start running. And I keep running, to nowhere in particular. When I stop, I'm in a forest. I'm staring at the same old oak where I made that mistake. Where I messed things up. I turn back to human and sit down below it. I bury my head in my knees. I can still see Dylans face in frint of me. The way he looked at me. First like I was making some stupid joke, then like I was the devil himself. It hurt. Not just a little. To have your besst friend look at you like that. It's just pure torture. I can't bare to see him looking at me like that ever again. I can't bare too see anyone looking at me like that. I just can't. I look up to the sky. The moon and the stars always comforted me. I don't know why, it just does. It makes me calm. It makes me forget. I get up and climb the oak, to get a better view. When I'm halfway, I notice a small hole in the tree. Like an owlsnest. In it is a piece of parchment. It's rolled up, and tied with a bow. A part of it sticks out of the tree. I get it and take it with me. I reach a branch I can sit on and do so. I unroll the parchment and see it's a letter. A letter adressed to me. What is a letter for me doing in a tree?
Dear May,
I don't have your new adress, so I hope you return to this place and find it. It's been 3 years since you left, and I want to apologize. I am freaked out by the fact you can switch between human and… Well you know. But that's not your fault. I shouldn't have run, and I definitely shouldn't have turn all the villagers against you. I miss you as my friend. A few days ago, a man came looking for you. Amir, Kamir, something like that. I do know he's from Hibernia like you. He said he was a relative looking for you, and your family. I told him that I didn't know where you went. Mostly because I don't, but he doesn't look like a relative of you to me. I hope you find this letter someday. I'm going to Gwyntaleth to learn medicine. I hope you visit me there someday. That would mean You found this letter. I hope you can forgive me. I was an ass. An idiot. A jerk. And I'm sorry.
Regards, Dylan Coulisses.
He was sorry, and he left for Gwyndaleth. That means he could still be alive. I forgave him a long time ago. I couldn't hold a grudge against him. He did what I would've done. I fold the letter carefully and put it in my pocket.
"I forgive you." I say to the night.
After a couple of hours the sky starts to lighten up. It's nearly dawn. Maybe I should head back to Portdellath. Before I can do anything, Gilan comes out of the forest.
"May?" He says. "Are you there?" I quickly climb down and jump the last couple of meters. I land soundlessly He's standing with his back to me.
"I'm here." I say. He turns around and looks at me.
"I'm sorry I ran away. I couldn't stay in that house any longer." I say.
"I get that. That's why we already packed everything. Do you want to come back? Will's making breakfast. If we're quick we could even see Horace try to ride Hunter." He grins. I nod and walk besides him.
"I take it Horace told you the story." It wasn't a question. Gilan nods, and he puts his arm around me.
"Yes, I hope you don't mind." He says. I shake my head.
"I'm actually kind of glad I don't have to do that anymore. How did you find me?" I ask.
"I know you." Is all he says.
"You searched the village first didn't you?" I mockingly say.
"Maybe." He says while he looks away.
"I knew it!" I shriek.
"How?"
"Because I know you." I grin at him.
"Very funny May. Race you back to the house?" He asks.
"What is it with men and always trying to prove they're the, fastest, strongest, and dumbest." I sigh. Gilan shrugs, and I take off without a warning.
"Not fair!" He shouts before running after me. I laugh. He catches up with me. When I look back, I don't see the tree root sticking out from the ground, and I fall. Just befor I reach the ground, someone catches me.
"Easy there, fox girl." Gilan says.
"Fox girl?" I say. He puts me back on my feet, and I have to look up to look him in the eyes. He nods and leans down.
"Yeah, fox girl." And he kisses me.
When we get back, Horace indeed was trying to ride Hunter. He just mounts him when we walk past. I stop to see what will happen. A while nothing, then Hunter jumps up, and kicks Horace off of his back.
"That's my boy." I say to my horse. Hunter snorts in response.
"How on eart so you rangers ride on those?" Horace says, while he cracks his back. "I can't even sit on it."
"Easy. I use my creepy fox powers on him." I laugh. Soon Gilan laughs with me, and eventually even Horace.
"No every ranger horse has a code. If you don't say it, he'll throw you off of him. Nobody can steal them that way." Gilan says, taking a pity on the young knight. He nods.
"What's his code then." He says.
"I'm not going to tell you." I sing. My stomach grumbles. "But I am going to find something to eat." Again we laugh. Will walks out and stares at us.
"What's so funny." He says.
"A horse, a knight, and something to eat." Gilan says.
A few minutes later I'm sitting with a cup of coffee.
"I've been thinking." I say.
"Very dangerous for an apprentice." I mock glare at Gilan.
"Anyway, if anyone wants to take down the ranger corps. They would just have to steal all the coffee, and wait untill every ranger goes insane!" I say.
"Let's not let anyone find out then." Gilan says. "I'd hate to live without coffee." We all laugh at that. We finish breakfast, clean up and are on our way again.
"We're going to make a small detour." Gilan says. "I want to go to Gwyntaleth, to see if anyone's there. Not like the border post and this." We all nod and ride in silence. I'm looking around and all I see is familiar grounds. A few miles later we can see the beautiful city, Gwyntaleth. We're too far away to see any movement, but close enough to again meet unnatural silence. It's just weird, not to hear anything. No banging, no hammering, no banking. Nothing.
"Let's go to a side spot, where you can set up camp. I'm going to look around in the city alone." Gilan says.
"Why are you going alone?" I ask, remembering Dylans letter.
"Because I want to get in and out unseen. No offence, but that won't be easy with a knight." He says. I nod "Oh and no fire. We don't know what's going on, so we better stay as unnoticed as we can. I should be back before dark." Without anything else he's gone. Camp was set up pretty soon, becuase there's not much to set up. A few tents, and just in case he would change his mind, a fireplace. Ready to be lit. When I'm done I lay down and close my eyes. I had way too little sleep last night. Will and Horace are talking about how much better it is to camp in forests. I pull up my cowl to shield my eyes from the sun. I smile hearing a comment about firewood falling from trees. Not much later I'm asleep.
Will:
"You're right about forests, much more comfortable place to sleep." I say. A pointy rock is digging into my back.
"Doesn't bother her." Horace says. He points to May, who is fast asleep. I nod.
"True, but May can fall asleep anywhere." I point out. "So she doesn't count."
"Want to practise? It'll pass time." Gilan showed me how to use the two knifes defence yesterday. I cut out two wooden knifes so we wouldn't hurt each other too much.
"I don't see why not." I say while I get up. I take the belt with my real knifes off so I can move more freely. Horace gets his wooden sword and we begin.
Carney: (The guy trying to mug Will and Horace.)
I can hear someone nearby. I signal Bart to follow me, and we head to the noise. We're on a cliff and below us there are two boys fighting. They're ou of sight, but you can still clearly hear them. Easy target. They're busy fighting so they won't notice us.
"Two young boys. Easy enough." Bart whispers besides me. I scan their camp, and notice a figure near a rock at their left.
"Three, Bart. There's another over there. Looks like he's sleeping. You tie him up and meet me over there." I point at a rock a little higher than the rest. Bart nods and sneaks away. This will be easy, but something is bothering me. The sleeping person is in a very familiar cloak. I just can't remember where I've seen it before.
I sneak down and Join Bart, Who has the sleeping boy, who actually is a girl, swung over his shoulder. I can see a forming bruise on her forehead. She must have woken up. Well at least she's asleep again.
"Let's try again." The small boy says.
"Let's not." I say, catching their attention. "Put down the sticks little boys, and stay still." Thay keep those sticks in their hands, and make no motion they're putting it down any time soon.
"Come on now, boys. Don't you know sharp sticks're dangerous for young lads like you." I hear Bart say next to me. He puts the girl down. "Your little friend over here knows all about dangerous sticks. Would be a shame to mess up her pretty little face, won't it." Bart has always been one for the drama.
"Back away Will." The big one says. So the small boy's name is Will.
"Yes Will, back away." Bart says. "Oh and don't go neat=r that neat looking bow will you? I saw you looking at it. But we don't like bows very much do we Carney." I nearly curse for him giving away our names. The idiot.
"No Bart, Boy, didn't I tell you to put down the stick." I tell the big one. He just unsheathes a sword.
"Oh dear, got your daddys sword with you?" I mock.
"I'll give you one last chance to walk away." He calmly says.
"Oh dear, last chance. What are we going to do?" Bart says.
"Well why won't we run." And as one we charge at the boy. Bart is off to fight the big one, when I see the little one, Will, running to his bow. I cut him off. I barely got to parry the blow the big one gives me. I stumble back and by accident drop my sword. He hits me in the head with his stick and everything is a daze. I have to sit down so I won't fall over. Who is this guy?
Will:
I see my chance and sprint to my weapons. I quickly grab them and nock an arrow.
"Don't shoot him, I'd like to see how this will end." A voice behind me says. I jump up and turn around to see Gilan standing there. He's sitting and holding an unconsious May.
"Gilan!" I shout.
"Just let him go." He says softly. "As long as we don't distract him he'll be fine."
"But…" I start, but Gilan cuts me off.
"He can handle this Will. He's a natural. He can do this." I shrug and toghether we watch Horace kick the mans ass. I believe his name was Bart. I look up to Gilan and see him stroke May's head while he watches Horace. When he's about to deliver the final blow, Gilan interrupts.
"Don't kill him Horace I'd like to ask him some questions." Horace shrugs and flicks Barts sword aside.
"Where did you come from? And why didn't you help?" He asks. Gilan shrugs.
"You didn't seem to need it." From behind Horace Carney slowly gets up trying to sneak away. "Your other friend seems to be leaving early." Horace turns around and swings his sword to knock out Carney.
"I still think you could have said something." He says. Gilan Stands up and puts May down, carefully. Then He moves to a barely consious Bart and throws him against a rock.
"So these two sneaked up upon you?" He asks. I lower my head in shame.
"Just how long have you been here?" Asks Horace.
"Since they arrived," Gilan says. "I hadn't gone far when I saw them skulking through the rocks. So I left Blaze and doubled back here, trailing them. Obviously they were up to no good."
"Why didn't you say something then?" I ask incredulously.
For a moment, Gilan's eyes harden.
"Because you two needed a lesson. You're in dangerous territory, the population seems to have mysteriously disappeared and you stand around practising sword craft for all the world to see and hear."
"But," I stammer, "I thought we were supposed to practise?"
"Not when there's no one else to keep an eye on things," Gilan points out reasonably. "Once you start practising like that, your attention is completely distracted. These two made enough noise to alert a deaf old granny. Tug even gave you a warning call twice and you missed it. Beacuse of that, May got hurt."
"I did?" I say and Gilan nods. This won't happen again. I promise myself sliently.
"Now," says Gilan, "let's find out what these two beauties know about the price of coal." He turns back to Carney, who was now going quite cross-eyed as he tried to watch the gleaming saxe knife pressed against his throat.
"How long have you been in Celtica?" Gilan asks him. Carney looks up at him, then back to the heavy knife.
"T-t-ten or eleven days, my lord," he stammeres eventually. Gilan makes a pained face. '
"Don't call me "my lord"," he says, "These people always try to flatter you when they realise they're in trouble. Now …" He returnes his gaze to Carney. "What brought you here?" Carney hesitates, his eyes sliding away from Gilan's direct gaze.
"Just …wanted to see the sights, my … sir," he says. Gilan sighs and shakes his head with exasperation.
"Look, I'd just as soon lop your head off here and now. I really doubt that you have anything useful to tell me. That, plus you knocked my girlfriend out. But I'll give you one last chance. Now let's have THE TRUTH!" He shouts the last few words. Carney was about to answer before we where interupted.
"Gil can you please not shout. Hy head is trying to kill me, and you helping it isn't very helpful." May says.
May:
Why did he have to shout. My head hurts. It usually doesn't do that. I just fell asleep. Why would my head hurt. I look around and see Will and Horace standing. Gilan has his saxe pressed against some guys throath. Oh right, that guy. He knocked me out. I slowly stand up.
"May!" He shouts again. I cringe. seriously. It hurts.
"Yes that appears to be my name Gil." I say. He rushes to me and hugs me.
"Are you alright?" He asks.
"Yeah, just a headace. Did you just call me your girlfriend?"
"You where awake then?" He asks.
"I never thought I would see you blushing." I joke. "No I wasn't awake, I can read minds now." I'm in a very sarcastic mood and I don't know why. I can see the guy who knocked me out trying to get away.
"Your crook is getting away." I point out. "I'd better get him if I where you. He did knock out your girlfriend." I grin. Gilan quickly catches the man and continues interrogating him.
Something about them hearing every town is deserted, easy for them to rob. I admit I'm not really paying attention. I can see a girl, at least I think it's a girl. She has her hair cut short. Anyway, she's coming our way. I'm about to tell them, when she speaks up.
"Oh they're alive." Who is alive? Oh rigth, townspeople. "But Morgarath has them." She says. It's a girl, I can hear it in her voice. I have to admit, she must be very quiet to be able to sneak upon two rangers. I like her. Gilan springs up and turns around.
"Where the devil did you come from?" He shouts. I cringe at the noise.
"Gil…" I say.
"Oh right, sorry." He says. The girl shrugs
"From over there." She says.
"Do you have a name?" Gilan asks. I sit down, this is going to take a while. The girl seems like she's trying to remember her name. Who forgets their own name?
"Evanlyn Wheeler, from Greenfield fief."
A/N: Just to clear something up. It is possible to forget your own name. I speak from experience. I was writing my name on a test. It started good, but then I came to my last name, and I just forgot it. Lucky me there's only one Matilde in the entire school XD.
See you next chapter! as always please review!