Chapter 5

"Rise an' shine, Sleeping Beauty!"

Groggily, Garfield opened his eyes. Victor was standing above him, grinning. Groaning, the green boy closed his eyes again and buried his face into the pillow he was sleeping on.

"Ten minutes," he grumbled, face still in the pillow. He smiled lightly as the scent of jasmine and green tea tickled his nose.

"No can do," Victor replied. "It's already around ten. We've been waiting for you to wake up for about three hours now."

Sighing, Garfield rolled onto his back and sat up. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked around the campsite. Everything except his blanket and pillow, and a plate with sliced fruit on it had been packed up already.

"Okay, you're awake, now get up so I can put away my blanket and pillow," Raven commanded. With slight surprise, Gar looked down.

"Oh, sorry about that," he replied, recognizing that he had in fact been sleeping on Raven's pillow, under her blanket. "I must have moved onto your side when you got up."

For some reason, his statement caused a faint blush to work its way onto Raven's cheeks, and Robin and Victor quickly muffled snorts of laughter behind their hands. Slightly confused, but not really caring, Gar shook it off and stood up.

After rolling up Raven's things and putting them in a saddlebag, Garfield walked over to the plate of fruit that had been left for him to eat. He finished quickly and soon they were all ready to leave.

They set out with Raven in the front, Victor and Gar riding in the middle, and Robin trailing at the back.

Every few minutes, the king would stop and turn in his saddle to look suspiciously at the surrounding forest.

"Are you okay?" Raven asked, halting her horse and turning around to look at Robin. Victor and Gar follow Raven's example and looked at Robin curiously.

"I just feel like… we're being watched." He shook his head, chuckling. "Never mind. I'm sure it's nothing. Let's keep-"

Abruptly, he stopped, twisted in his saddle, and jump off his horse into a large bush. With yelps of surprise, Victor, Garfield and Raven spurred their horses over to Robin. Their eyes grew wide with surprise when they saw their king rolling around in the bush, wrestling with a young woman.

Grunting, Robin tried to pin her on her back, but she was too strong and was able to push Robin onto his. Realizing he couldn't get her off with his arms, he curled his legs up to his stomach and forced her off with his feet. She flipped over his head and he quickly rolled over, lying across her stomach. Before this could go on for too long, Raven lifted her hand and chanted.

Using her magic, she was able to pull the two apart and hold the savage woman in an orb of dark magic. The woman narrowed her glowing green eyes and banged on the sides of the magic walls, but she was unable to break Raven's hold.

Lifting himself up from the ground, Robin looked at the girl with an intimidating calmness. "Why were you following us?" he asked authoritatively.

"Robin," Raven snapped. "She's done nothing wrong, so don't talk to her like she's a convict. YOU attacked HER. This is her home. She was probably just wondering what we're doing here."

Sighing, Robin nodded and softened his tone. "I'm sorry. Could you please tell me why you were following us?"

Slowly, the girl lowered her arms and regarded the group with confusion. Raven lowered the hemisphere of magic surrounding the girl. She didn't run, but she didn't say anything either.

"Maybe she doesn't speak our language," Victor suggested. The others nodded.

"I do," she replied. The companions jumped in surprise and looked at her.

"Though, I am much better at speaking Tamaranean," she admitted. "I apologize for causing you alarm. You are strangers here, and I wish to know why you are here."

"We're here to save a Princess from our own dimension," Raven explained. "She was taken against her will by the sorcerer Malchior."

The native's eyes hardened at the sorcerer's name. "Then, you are enemies of the evil man known as Malchior?"

Raven nodded in confirmation. "And you are as well?"

"Yes," she confirmed. "Though he usually leaves my people alone, there are times when his magic requires the blood of our young. Then, he is merciless."

"He kills children?" Garfield exclaimed, shuddering.

"We believe so, yes," the young woman confirmed. "But we do not know for sure. Once he has taken them, we never see them again."

Raven looked at the ground, silent.

"We should be going," Robin insisted, climbing back up on his horse. "We can't waste any time."

Nodding, the girl turned around. Lifting up from the ground, she flew into the forest and out of sight. The travelers watched in slight surprise for a few minutes before continuing on their way.

As they rode, Robin found his thoughts returning to the girl. He could still see her clearly in his mind's eye. With her fiery red hair that fell down her back, emerald eyes and bright orange skin there was no denying her exotic beauty.

She had worn leggings, like a man, but they had been a soft shade of violet. Her slightly darker purple top was like a tight fitting, short dress that stopped at the top of her thighs. Finally, a metal plate protected her throat and chest.

Robin was jolted from his thoughts as suddenly the ground began to shake, and a rumbling growl reverberated around them. The four travelers moved their horses closer together, confusion evident on their faces.

"What's that?" Gar asked, rubbing his horse's neck nervously.

"I don't know," Raven admitted, turning her head as she searched for the source of the noise. "I can't tell where it's coming from."

That was soon solved, however, as a large pile of rocks nearby began to shift. With a loud roar, the rocks lifted themselves, forming a giant monster. And it didn't look too happy.

Lifting one of its immense hands, the monster reached towards Raven's horse. The steed reared in fright, tossing its rider off like a rag doll as the monster's hand came closer.

With a great war cry, Robin leapt forward from his horse, ripping a long branch off a tree as he did so. Creating an arc in the air with the stick, Robin swung at the monster. The cracking sound that was made when the stick hit the monster's rocky hand turned its attention away from the horse, and Robin found himself being stared down by the great mound of living stone. With a smirk, the king prepared to really fight. He knew all those combat classes would pay off.

Seeing that the monster was distracted for the time being, Garfield slid off his horse and ran over to where Raven lay on the ground, losing consciousness. Kneeling down, Gar rolled her onto her back. She groaned in pain.

"C'mon Raven, you've gotta stay awake," Gar told her. He spoke in a whisper, mainly because he didn't want to sound harsh, but also because he didn't want the monster to get tired of Robin and decide to go after them. "If you go out like a light, I'm going to be totally scared and think your dead."

"D-don't get sappy on me," the sorceress hissed in pain, trying to sit up. Gar let out a surprised chuckle and helped her to her feet. After taking a couple deep breaths, Raven was able to straighten completely, and look out at the scene before them.

Robin continued to fight the rock monster, swinging his roughly made staff with skill. Though the monster didn't seem to be weakening, it no longer appeared interested in anything but the king fighting it.

Victor was trying to calm down the horses, which were not reacting well to the current situation. Raven and Garfield quickly ran over and were able to help quiet the beasts. With the horses dealt with, they were free to watch their fearless monarch in his battle against the monster.

He wielded his staff expertly, and several of his strikes caused the rocky beast the cry out, but it didn't seem to be enough as it continued to swing its massive fists at Robin.

"We have to help him," Victor decided. The other two nodded their agreement, and without further contemplation, the three moved in.

Realizing he would hurt his hands if he tried fighting the monster with his fists, Victor picked up a small boulder nearby. Grunting, he tossed the rock towards the creature. He grinned when the boulder smashed against the brute's rocky back.

Not having Victor's incredible strength, Garfield quickly unsheathed his sword and ran toward the monster. With cat-like agility (or dumb luck), Gar was able to dodge the flying rocks that were the unintended result of Victor's attack of choice. With the creature's attention already split between Victor and Robin, Gar was able to get in close before raising his sword and slashing at the monster.

Raven hovered above the monster, fists glowing. Careful not to hit Robin or Gar during their own close assaults, she unleashed dark whips of energy. The monster winced at each blow.

Though it looked as if they were going to win, the monster refused to give in without a fight. With a loud roar, it flailed its rocky arms around. Raven and Victor were both out of its reach, and Robin was able to dodge it, but Gar was too slow. The creature's powerful attack was enough to send the lithe knight at least ten feet into the air.

Halting her own attack on the monster, Raven quickly flew after him.

Robin and Victor watched uneasily as the green man was hurled through the air, but Raven easily caught up to him and stopped his dangerous descent. Growling, the rock creature picked up a chunk of boulder and threw it towards the sorceress. She grunted loudly as the rock struck her in the back, and the two fell the last few feet to the ground.

Though it didn't last long, the creature took advantage of Victor and Robin's distraction, and grabbed hold of Robin before throwing him towards Victor. The two crashed painfully into a nearby tree.

The four companions all struggled to get back up, but they knew that with everyone weakened, the monster had the advantage. All seemed hopeless as the monster confidently stomped over to where Robin lay.

As it lifted its stone foot, preparing to crush its first attacker, a feral cry rose up from the bushes. The four friends watched in surprise as a red and purple blur shot towards the rock creature, unleashing a barrage of bright green orbs of light.

For several minutes all that could be seen was a massive cloud of dirt and smoke where the monster had been. As the dust settled, everyone watched in wonder as a tall young woman stepped away from a pile of motionless rocks, wearily brushing dust off her vibrant red hair.

-

King Caldwell sighed, lowering himself into his study chair. A piece of parchment was clutched in his hands as he reread the note scrawled on it.

King Caldwell,

I received your letter an hour ago, and was quite disturbed by what you had to say. However, soon after, I was told that one of my most loyal and trusted friends was given a note from the evil sorcerer Malchior, informing her that he has stolen your daughter away to his own realm and will only return her for a price.

Though I'm sure you would like to be more involved with this, I saw it as my duty to take action as soon as possible. Also, as they are in another realm, it is impossible to take many people on this mission, let alone an entire army.

As you read this, I have taken with me one of the best guards in my kingdom, the knight you sent and the Great Sorceress Raven, and we will retrieve your daughter.

If I am being too vague, or sound too rushed, I apologize. I am only writing you to inform you of your daughter's whereabouts and so you know that it is being taken care of, and I will be leaving as soon as this has been written and given to one of my messengers to take to you.

Sincerely,

King Robin, of Tamborinia

Setting the letter down, Caldwell wearily rubbed his temples.

An evil sorcerer in another realm had stolen his daughter. The only people capable of saving her were a young king, a single member of the Tamborinian guard, a witch, and possibly the worst knight he had ever had.

Unable to sit still, he stood up and began to pace his study. Worry for his only daughter seemed to take up every fiber of his being, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Sighing in defeat, he opened his door and looked down the hallway. A guard stood down the hall.

"You there," the king called, pointing at the guard, who immediately pulled up at attention. "Find four messengers and send them after the troops I sent out yesterday morning. Have them send word to return to the castle. They no longer need to search."

"Yes, your majesty," the guard saluted and silently walked away. Sighing again, he stepped back into his study and closed the door.

"I am scared."

The quiet voice of his wife made Caldwell start, and he turned around to see her standing next to his desk, the letter in her hand. The door that led to their attached bedchamber was open.

"I am too, Aila," he admitted, walking over to his queen. "But there is nothing we can do."

She nodded, drawing closer to her husband for comfort. Stroking her back, Caldwell gazed sadly at a large portrait hanging on the wall. His younger brother, Owen, looked back at him with painted eyes. His heart had broken a little when his brother had been killed five years ago because of the war. He knew his heart would break again if he lost his little girl.

"I just hope they know what they're doing."

Heh, hey everyone. It's been a while, eh? Sorry, I haven't been getting much writing done lately. I've been pretty busy lately, as well as distracted, but for the most part it's all been pretty good.

Okay, think back to chapter two. Remember that seemingly unbelievable part that talked about how Robin played a key part in ending a century-long war? Is it starting to make a little bit more sense? I sure hope so, because I'm pretty sure that's the last we'll be hearing about Owen, unless I can squeeze it in later without it seeming out of place. Heh

Anyway, thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. I really do appreciate every single one, every single time.

-Tammy