We saw them in the distance, the elf boy and Sabre. Nine hunky figures on horses were gunning straight for them. Sabre breathed out a small wall of flame, forcing the horses back. Bertolt increased his pace, getting closer. They heard us, ugly looking dark green faces staring up at us agape. Shocked into stillness, gawking at Bertolt's immensity. It was sparing us the vital seconds we needed to get there in time. However, one broke out of the trance, biting down on his bottom lip. He shouted to others,
"Scatter!"
They split up frantically. Bertolt swept past Sabre and the elf as he gave chase. I heard a faint growl underneath us, glancing down, I saw three small brown creatures and what seemed to be a wolf-like beast. The growl turned into a whimper, Bertolt unknowingly stepping on it, crushing it into the earth. The three small beings looked relieved and danced in a circle as we dashed past them. While most of the green men had scattered, one was a little slow. Bertolt's relentlessly run had caught up, kicking the creature and his horse into the air. Soring to god knows where. All the green men looked to Bertolt terrified, their leader gritting his teeth.
"He's too fast for us to escape on horses" he warned his men. Hearing this, they suppressed their urge to flee.
"Archers! Fire at his eyes,"
Three of them primed their bows, keeping their distance. The flames around Sabre and the elf had finally started to diminish completely. The elf stared at Bertolt and me, hesitation in his face. Hardening his expression, he twisted away from us and leapt into the trees. He probably figured a giant could handle himself. He jumped from branch to branch, disappearing from view. Sabre wanted to give chase, but I called him back, flying into my arms. Whoever that elf was, he clearly didn't care for our help. Plus we had more significant problems at the moment. The archers aimed for Bertolt's eyes and fired.
He raised his arm to block the arrows, causing them to penetrate into his skin. While not doing much damage, the shots were like bee stings. Bertolt slightly yelped as little trickles of blood dripped from them. It enraged him, and he ran at one of the archers. The green man tried to rear his horse to ride away, but Bertolt's charge was too sudden. With no time to respond, the man and his horse were sent to meet their maker in the sky, Bertolt's kick increasingly fierce.
Another was nearby, this one wielding a cleaver. He spotted Bertolt distracted in his anger, riding up behind him, ready to swipe at his legs. I noticed his small figure quickly getting close, and warning Bertolt. Who simply raised his foot high. Regret and terror filled the little green man's face, but Bertolt showed no mercy. Stepping on him outright like a boot to an ant. Not before turning his rage and direction to a different archer. Arrows flew at both of us, this time. I was frozen still,
apprehension locking up my body, only able to watch as it came towards me. Bertolt blocked them with his arms, saving me but covering our vision.
"Arrgh!" he suddenly screamed then fell to one knee. I was knocked forward. I tried to grab hold of his clothing, but my grasp wasn't firm enough, falling. He barely caught me in his hand, setting me on the ground safely. I heard the sound of galloping, and a horseman rode out. Blood dripped from his long blade, presumably Bertolt's.
"Bertolt are you alright?" I asked, looking at his pained expression.
"Yeah, he just got at my heel," he explained.
Arrows whizzed at us again, and Bertolt arched over me, letting them stab into his back. The green men were gathering, slowly mounting closer and closer. We were getting desperate, but I couldn't do anything. Bertolt had to fight them himself. My very presence hindering him.
'I wish I could disappear, I'm so sorry, Bertolt'. He looked around, grabbing the nearest tree and uprooting it completely. Swinging it about randomly, trying to keep the riders at bay. The leader of the band stepped out, a feeling of dread caused my eyes to suddenly focus on him. He did something unexpected, sheathing his jagged sword. Instead, retrieving a spear on the side of his horse. Muscles pulsed, his veins bulging as he aimed it at Bertolt.
"Watch out Bertolt, spear!"
Bertolt was tired out from swinging so frantically, reacting only last-minute even with my warning. The metal-tipped spear pierced through the air heading for his heart. Dodging barely, the spear missed its target by inches. It still thrust into Bertolt's chest, knocking him down with the sheer force behind it. Sabre struggled in my arms, wanting to rush out. I hugged him tight, tears welling in my eyes watching Bertolt fall. The ground shook as he dropped. The world went silent, everything slow and distant. I phased out, sinking to my knees, staring at his still body. For what seemed like an eternity, I was stuck in that state. Only pulled back by a forceful gush of wind as a horse sped past. The leader on top of it, his jagged blade extended outwards.
Despair filled my very being, not even being able to move; I could only shout with desperation.
"Get up Bertolt, GET UPPP"
His head rose up slightly, giving me one last dumb smile, the leader about to slash at his neck.
At the last possible moment, a black figure dived from the trees-
"Shadow step,"
-a black aura surrounding him, creating after images. His sheer speed and power slamming his foot into the leader, nearing penetrating through his armour. Throwing him off his horse. The figure landed on top of the leader then kicked away his jagged sword. It lift him up and held a dagger to his neck. I slowly started to recognise the figure, at least, once his blur of movements had finally stopped. The elf boy had returned and directly threatened the green men.
"Surrender, or he dies."
A sense of cruelty glinting in his eyes. The others were hesitant, not sure how to follow the sudden change in the situation.
"The girl, get her!" the leader ordered in a daze.
One of the nearby green men started to approach me, his cleaver gleaming, another aimed its bow.
"You don't seem to want to listen," the elf shouted.
He then whispered in the leader's right ear, "Let me help you with that". Fear overtook the green man, "wait, no" he began begging.
The elf's dagger flashed, and the leader screamed in agony. All the other green men watched, their faces darkening. The elf then rammed the squealing man's head into the ground, rendering him unconscious.
"Now where is my treasure?" the elf asked sternly, flicking blood off his dagger.
Everyone looked to the tree with a single arrow stuck into it. However, the pouch that was attached to it was nowhere to be seen. The elf glanced round searching for someone before cursing loudly.
"Those thieving goblins!" he was livid. Having no choice but to give up on the treasure, he tossed the leader forward to the nearest green man.
"Take him and leave," he ordered.
The green man begrudgingly got off his horse. Hoisted their leader onto his back and threw him onto the end of his horse, retaking the reins. But he and the other green men didn't leave.
A silence permeating the air.
All that could be heard was a blowing wind. The green men looked amongst each themselves, saying nothing.
"Hey, giant boy, get up. It seems some people don't recognise grace when they see it," the elf stated with a vicious smile.
Bertolt grunted through the searing pain, clenching his teeth as he raised his upper torso. Even injured and breathing heavily, he looked fearsome. He grabbed the tree he tore out previously. It was a staredown, both sides looking for even slightest weakness. The deaths of their brothers before a clear indication of how easily Bertolt could potentially kill them. I imagine that played in their head, some looking down. Throughout my breath was held, so focussed on this moment, my surroundings fizzled out.
Till finally, one moved, spitting onto ground. Cleaver gleaming in the sunlight, but then he put it away. As did the rest, withdrawing and riding off defeated. Bertolt and the elf remained on guard until they were absolutely sure they had left. Once confirmed, both released a sigh of relief then utterly collapsed.
It was finally over, I slowly got up, releasing Sabre as I told him to get Madam Mopta. I waited in the tranquil quiet, watching over Bertolt and the elf. Lamenting over my inability.