Also Titled: Arthur and Tino Make a Stupid Decision
Arthur added some more wood to the fire he and Tino had built. He looked around at the surrounding darkness warily. The thought of spending the night next to some crazy Daikini with soldiers looking for the baby wasn't comforting to say the least. He glanced at the baby and was relieved to find her asleep. Tino handed him some bread toasted over the fire and he bit into it hungrily. He turned to look at the Daikini, who was looking at the bread and fire longingly. Arthur considered giving him some food but quickly dismissed it. There was no way he was getting close to that madman again.
Sunlight poured over some distant hills, bathing the sleeping Nelwyns in light. The night insects had stopped chirping and the morning birds replaced them with their songs. Arthur and Tino were so deeply asleep they didn't hear the horseman nearing them until it rode right past them and the horse neighed loudly. Tino jerked upright and looked around. "What was that?!" he squeaked.
"Mornin' boys," the Daikini mumbled, chewing on some leather. "Rough night last night, wasn't it?" Tino nodded but Arthur glared. The Daikini was acting much friendlier than before, suspiciously so. What was he up to?
"I don't think I introduced myself yesterday." The blonde placed a hand on his chest. "My name is Alfred F. Jones, and you are, uh-?" he held out his hand to shake theirs.
Tino walked forward eagerly to take it but Arthur pulled him back. "No Tino, don't go near him! That git is dangerous."
Alfred huffed indignantly, "I am not!"
A distant whinny came from down the road, another Daikini! "Oh good," Arthur sighed.
He ran to the side of the road and waved at the oncoming rider. He was galloping very fast but Arthur had to stop him! "Stop! Wait!" he shouted. The rider ignored him and Arthur dove to the side of the road to avoid being trampled. Alfred chuckled at Arthur's naivety. Arthur looked at the disappearing rider then at Alfred. "What's going on?" he demanded.
"Smells like a battle," Alfred yawned, managing to look bored.
This cocky arrogance annoyed Arthur. He got to his feet and challenged him. "Oh, and I suppose you're a warrior?"
Alfred looked at him very seriously. "I am the greatest swordsman and hero that ever lived."
Arthur rolled his eyes and walked back to the fire, which had gone out. He pulled out a cup and poured some water from a water skin into it. Alfred watched him cautiously. "Hey, uh…could I have some of that water?"
Arthur said nothing, he merely sipped at his cup. He still didn't trust this man, though he had done nothing today to try and insult or harm them. Alfred's face slowly crumpled and he dropped his head into his hands. His shoulders shook and he sobbed, "I don't know why I try." Tino was touched by this and looked at Arthur pleadingly, who sighed and slowly approached the cage. "I guess I am gonna die here," Alfred continued. "Who would care?!"
Arthur tsked at this display of melodramatics. "Here you wanker," he thrust the cup out at him. Alfred immediately dropped the act and snatched at the cup. But before he could get a hold of it, Arthur saw something in the distance that made him step away from the cage and closer to the road. "What's that?!" he yelled.
Alfred looked as well at a long, dark shape approaching them. "Well…I'd say two or three hundred horses, five or six wagons, and about a thousand fools." Arthur looked again, surprised by Alfred's tactical eye. So it was an army then, surely someone would take the baby. He ran to the baby and threw the cup at Alfred, who reached to catch it but it fell to the ground. Alfred moaned and licked at the precious drops of water on his hands.
Arthur unstrapped the sleeping babe from her papoose. She looked at him and cooed curiously. "It's going to be all right, little bobbin," Arthur murmured. As the army got closer the sound of drums filled the air. Arthur held the baby and he and Tino waited by the road. He walked up to the first rider.
"Excuse me, sir?"
"Out of the way, peck!" the man commanded brusquely. Arthur stumbled back, but he tried the men behind him.
"Uh, pardon me?" They all walked by, most of them not even looking at the two Nelwyns. Alfred watched them pityingly. A white horse detached itself from the line and Arthur seized his chance.
"Excuse me sir?" The man looked at him and Arthur could see that his armor was finer than the rest; possibly he was a captain, though he couldn't see his face as it was hidden behind his helmet. Arthur gestured to the baby. "We found one of your babies in our village. Will you please take care of her?"
The man removed his helmet and Arthur saw he was a young man with spiky blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He squinted at the baby. "We're going into battle, little ones. Find a woman to take care of her." Arthur's shoulders slumped. At least he hadn't called them pecks…
"They thought you were a woman, Matthias!" Alfred laughed. Matthias swiveled around in his saddle to look at Alfred for a moment before recognition dawned on his face.
"Well-" he chuckled. "Alfred F. Jones, what did you do this time?"
Alfred shrugged. "Nothing you wouldn't have done."
Arthur and Tino looked at each other in shock as Matthias continued, "I always knew you'd end up in a crow's cage."
"At least I'm not down there herding sheep!" Alfred shot back, looking at the passing army. "What are you doing this far north?"
Matthias' voice turned serious, "The Nockmaar army destroyed Galladoorn." Alfred's jaw dropped.
"The castle?" he whispered, leaning closer to the cage bars.
"Ivan's troops are crushing everything in sight."
Alfred shook his cage. "Come on. Let me out of here Matthias! Give me a sword! I'll win this war for you!" His eyes gleamed and his smiled turned wicked at the thought of battle.
"Alfred." Matthias sighed and tucked his helmet back on his head. "I still serve Galladoorn. You serve no one. Remember?" Alfred bowed his head and Arthur raised an eyebrow, was Alfred a mercenary then? Matthias' face contorted angrily, as if remembering some unpleasant experience, and snarled, "Sit in your coffin and rot!" Alfred glared at him dumbly, unable to speak.
Matthias turned his horse around, "Hyah!" his horse sped to a gallop and Tino pulled Arthur back before he got trampled again.
Alfred shouted out a last parting shot. "I'm gonna be around long after you're dead! When I get out I'm gonna chop off your head and stick it on a PIG POLE!" he slumped against the cage moodily and the baby started crying. Arthur rocked her gently and stared at Alfred curiously. There was much more to this man than met the eye.
Arthur watched the last soldier walk by. He was getting desperate, he needed to find someone to take care of the baby! His gaze kept wandering over to Alfred, perhaps he… No! Of course not! That man couldn't care for himself let alone a child.
"I miss Francine and the bobbins," he whispered, homesickness getting the better of him.
Tino checked the packs. "We're running out of food."
Alfred watched them. "Nobody's gonna take care of that baby," he predicted. "You know why? Nobody cares."
Arthur had to admit this was true. So far every Daikini he'd met had shown no interest whatsoever in her except for Alfred, and he only cared about getting free!
Alfred stared at the babe intensely. "Except me. You want to go back to your families. I want out of this cage. Let me take care of that baby. I'll look after her like she was my own!"
Tino studied him. "I…believe he would Arthur," he decided.
Arthur scoffed, "He doesn't know anything about babies."
"Right, but I know a lot of women who do," Alfred reasoned. Arthur rolled his eyes at that. "If I had somebody in my life, a little daughter perhaps, I might have a reason to go on living." He looked off in the distance and Arthur was again annoyed by his melodramatics. But… his eyes looked so sincere, and he was obviously skilled with weapons. He could protect the baby… Alfred looked at Arthur and blue eyes met green. "You can't leave me in here to die," he begged. "Not when all I want to do is protect her."
Arthur looked at the baby, she giggled and waved an arm in Alfred's direction. Finally, he nodded and Tino leapt to his feet. He grabbed a spear Heracles had left them and cut the bonds holding the bottom of the cage. With a whoop Alfred fell out of the cage and did a somersault. Tino backed off nervously but Alfred was too happy to contain himself. He lifted Tino into the air and shouted, "I... feel... BETTER! You've done the right thing!" He whooped again and set Tino down, much to his relief. Arthur watched incredulously. This man seemed to be drunk on freedom! Alfred jumped and spun in the air, staggering slightly when he landed.
"You've got to promise to feed her," Arthur told him sternly.
Alfred held out his arms and picked up the baby. "Come to Daddy, little darlin'!"
"And keep her clean!" Arthur reminded.
"Absolutely!" Alfred cradled her to his chest and looked hurt. He giggled at the baby and she laughed too. Arthur flinched in alarm when he spun her around but the baby loved it, she laughed even more. "Aw, she likes me!" Alfred cooed.
Arthur held up a few items. "Here are her changing rags, and her milk skin."
Alfred stared and the bag hungrily. "Any milk in there?"
"It's for her!" Arthur scolded.
"I wouldn't steal from a baby!" Alfred protested. He knelt down next to Arthur and Tino. "You worry too much, peck."
"It's Arthur!" Tino said.
"I meant Arthur." Alfred grabbed the rags and milk skin. "Now listen boys... Arthur. You've done the right thing. I want you to get home and bring your crop in." He clapped Arthur on the shoulder. Poor Arthur was totally confused now as to Alfred's personality. He went from being savage to kind to arrogant in a single minute. Could he really trust this man with the baby?
…He had to.
He kissed the babe on the cheek. "Good bye, little one," he said fondly. The baby smiled and waved an arm. Alfred grinned confidently and stood up walking down the road in the opposite direction the army had been going. "Please take good care of her!" Arthur shouted in farewell.
Alfred turned and held up his right hand, "I give you my word of honor!"
Arthur watched him leave with the precious bundle, his emotions at war within himself. Tino tugged on his arm after a while and they began the journey home.
THE END!
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Just kidding! XD Did you really think Alfred could take care of the baby? Here's what really happened five minutes later…
Tino waded his way through some tall ferns, chattering excitedly all the while. "If we hurry, we can be home by tomorrow morning. We'll be heroes!"
Arthur grinned. "Do you really think so?"
"Sure!" Tino held up a hand. "'Look! There's Arthur and Tino. The heroes have come home!'"
Arthur laughed, getting into the spirit of things. "'Welcome back boys, you deserve medals!'" He stopped walking for a second. "Tino…did we really do the right thing?"
"Absolutely," Tino assured him. "There's nothing to worry about." Just as he finished speaking a huge black eagle swooped out of the sky and flew right past them. A dark haired brownie, one of the few creatures smaller than Nelwyns (seriously, they were only a few inches tall), was riding on its back and clutched in the eagle's claws was…
"The baby!" came Arthur's strangled cry. He watched in horror as the brownie urged the eagle higher.
"I stole zhe baby!" it shouted. "I stole zhe baby!" The baby wailed inside it's papoose as it was rocked to and fro.
Arthur ran after the eagle. "That's my baby! Stop! Hey, come back!"
"Left you imbecilic bird, left!" The brownie shouted, flying deeper into the forest. Arthur and Tino ran as fast as they could after it but the underbrush soon got thick and-
"Ow!" Arthur winced as a tiny arrow pierced his arm. He saw several brownies standing in the trees. The fur-clad miniature men were aiming at them with small bows.
Tino ran past him. "Let's get out of here!"
They covered their faces with their arms to avoid getting hit. More and more brownies appeared and it was getting harder to dodge the arrows. Just as Arthur thought they would get away from the tiny menaces, the ground beneath then gave way and they fell into a pit. Arthur hit his head hard at the bottom and the last thing he heard was the brownie's chattering laughter.
Haha, I like this chapter for a lot of reasons. XD Our cast is broadening a bit, no?