My eyes and ears may have been young but I could still hear the hushed conversations passed between adult lips.
words like war, massacre, and monsters they tried to keep our younglings in the dark.
but how can you keep us from the truth on the battlefield when your fathers are the ones making the calls and leading the armies?
"The enemy is on this side of the forest." a young male voice was heard in the room, it wasn't hard to identify him. "It's probably a patrol. We're gonna take them out before they get any closer to camp." He spoke as loud as he dared, and his friends around him agreed with him.
trying to be invisible was my job as I filled the men's goblet with water.
"why now? I feel like we should wait" one of the men asked.
"no if we wait we put our lives and the lives of our family at risk, fairies are cunning and bloodthirsty and if give them any sign of weakness you might as well dig your graves now" replied my father to his men " we leave at dusk I want bows only we will take them at a distance" no one dated argue with him, father was a decorated war hero he had fought these beasts before.
I kept myself tucked away, back pressed into the canvas tent wall,
listening to every word the men said. They were discussing who goes with which group and what they were going to do after this little adventure of theirs ended.
I listened as their orders went through and I took it all in, there was no way they'd listen to me, but I knew I would need this information.
the younger boy spoke again this time with determination heavy in his tone "father let me come this time" I held my breath I knew father would never allow Throine to go, plus the tongue lashing he would get from mother from just asking.
"Throine I know you are eager to fight," he said gently, then placed a hand on his shoulder.
"but"
"but what I've been training my whole life I'm 18 I'm no longer a child please father---- captain let me accompany you" Throine pleaded, father, turned his face towards the map suddenly finding it very interesting.
" your right I've trained myself and you can handle this" Throine eyes grew wide and I gasped, which to my displeasure drew every eye to me.
I knew the moment father turned around I was discovered and with a nod of his head dismissed.
The men dispersed to the other sides of the room and I slipped quietly out of the tent.
I made my way silently across the camp, my small feet barely making any noise as I climbed over rocks and logs, I didn't stop until I reached my safe zone. I crouched behind a rock where I would sit from the moment they walked out of our camp till the moment they returned safely.
I must have drifted off to sleep and woke with a start, as I watched a small company of men with lanterns and bows and arrows most likely dipped in iron, they followed father and throine into the darkening tree line.
my heart sank I've never missed seeing them off before and it set me on edge, I began to pray to the old gods to keep them protected from the bloodthirsty fairies.
The sky was pitch black by the time I felt someone's presence and I knew who it was immediately,
I looked up, expecting to see his familiar blue eyes, instead, I met his grey ones staring straight at me with so much fire and anger that I shivered.
"I can explain" I choked out.
"go on then?" mother pried one hand on her hip and a bowl of porridge in the other.
"you missed supper," mother said.
"I know but I needed to see them off to keep them safe" I explained, which caused mother's eyes to turn soft.
"I'm sorry love...come sit by me" she pats the spot next to her on the log, which I happily did.
we sat in silence, neither sure what to say, I was too scared to ask about what happened in the meeting and mother seemed content just sitting here watching me eat.
"I feel like even if I ask you to come to sleep I will still find you here in the morning" mother finally broke the silence with a laugh.
"it seems so" I laughed as well.
then it was quiet again.
mother brought me a blanket but we both knew I wouldn't be sleeping that night.
even as I tried to keep my eyes open all night my body betrayed me and I woke with the first few rays of light touching my face.
looking towards the woods I saw not a shadow of anyone there.
however, I couldn't shake the feeling I wasn't alone.
I grabbed the dagger hidden under my dress and slowly pushed off the log, the cold stone ground chilling the bottom half of my legs but I ignored it, I knew the area was like the back of my hand.
as I made my way through the grass, I kept a close watch of the trees for any movement, or sound.
just as I thought the woods were empty I stumbled upon a clearing and in the middle I noticed a figure standing still.
I froze in fear.
what if it was a fairie or some evil monster?
I wanted to run back home, but my legs were weak and I felt as if every move I made would be watched.
as my eyes adjusted to the light, I recognized the silhouette,
and it wasn't any fairie.
his back faced towards me it was Throine unmoving, he stood oddly why was he by himself where were the other men? where was father?
I crept silently blade at the ready, I didn't dare call out to him to tell him I was there.
When I got closer I noticed he had something clutched in his hands, a piece of fabric I realized with horror.
I could just make out his silhouette his face turned up towards the sky his face frozen in horror a staff shoved through his Open mouth, the sharp end protruding from his gut into the ground holding him up.
I rushed forward, my heart breaking as I neared, he had an arrow embedded deep in his chest.
a whimper escaped his throat, and it took everything in my power not to fall to my knees beside him, I held onto the staff firmly in hopes to steady myself.
"Throine....oh god..." I whispered as I stood on my tippy toes and brushed my fingers against his cheek. I cringed at the warm wetness that greeted my skin, my gaze fell onto his chest I could see the arrow wound bleeding profusely.
I had never seen Throine so lifeless...he always had such a lively soul but now he looked dead. I was so overcome with grief and sadness that I couldn't speak.
I didn't even realize that a group of men had surrounded me but I could sense they were watching.
they must have thought I was mad because I continued holding onto the throine, but I didn't care.
my mind was racing, thoughts of my dad, my friends as throines eyes glazed over he was dead.
and I was empty tears falling down my face as I cried, he was gone and there was nothing I could do about it. I couldn't help anyone anymore.
so I sobbed into Throine chest.
"well looks like our trap worked men" barked out a teasing voice, causing the men surrounding the small clearing to laugh at my sorrow.
"Who are you" I managed to say. I didn't dare look if this was a trap I knew what they were, not anything human but the very monsters we fought.
"you don't need to know who I am, child." he mocked. He moved forward and I backed away "now you're a bit of a coward aren't you?" I could tell he was enjoying my reaction. I was trembling, I was completely terrified, how were these monsters capable of getting close enough to our camp?
he was now standing in front of me, he reached out for me and I flinched as if he had touched me.
His laughter echoed throughout the silent forest "look at you" he mused "your shaking, you should be afraid, but you haven't seen a real live monster yet have you?"
I shook my head no "no" my voice shaking.
"well look at you pathetic girl you are too weak, too helpless to protect yourself, and you won't even fight, you're a woman you can't protect yourself now can you?"
tears fell freely and dripped onto my cheeks, I felt hopeless they had used my brother as bait and I would be used as the same.
I looked around at their faces, evil faces. I had to think of some way to escape, anything.
I glanced around me at the large trees, perhaps that is what they want I thought, maybe that is where we shall go.
I turned to my brother and whispered " I'm sorry"
then turned and ran in a random direction hoping the trees would shield me, I ran deeper than I'd ever gone before I heard their cries of frustration and chased after me.
the ground was muddy and uneven making running difficult, and the trees seemed endless but I couldn't run back towards camp for fear of leading them to my mother and the other soldiers family's, my only option was to keep running and hope I find father, that was the last thought I had before I tripped on a root my ankle snapping as it becomes lodged between them, and I fell so hard I saw stars as my head collided with a tree.
I rolled and lay on the ground gasping for breath, I could hear them closing in but I refused to stay here, not while I may still find father.
I pushed myself into a stand and made to break through the trees when I felt my ankle buckle, another crack resounded as the bone gave out and I collapsed to the floor pain resounding through my body as I threw up the contents of my stomach.
"poor little girl" the fairie mocked as he came up behind me, he made a tisking sound as he looked at my ankle "that's not a pretty sight".
I could barely breathe let alone fight.
he bent down and gripped my chin pulling it upwards forcing me to look into his cruel gray eyes and I flinched away as he lifted my arm towards the sky above me.
"what do you think of this," he asked me.
I closed my eyes in fear of what may happen, when the pain shot through my leg making me cry out in surprise, all the air left my lungs as I fell to my knees screaming in agony, my foot hanging limply, as I lay there helpless.
he raised my right arm and pressed it against my neck making me gasp for air, I could feel the pressure on my windpipe, I could feel my life slipping away.
"you're going to die," he said with a smirk.
"no" I gasped out, trying to push him away but he was stronger than me.
"yes" he chuckled "you're going to die"
I took one last look at the sky as my vision became blurred.
"NO!" a screaming echoed then I was released, I began pulling in breath filling my lungs every breath burning.
I suddenly felt a hand on me then someone lifting me into their arms.
I looked over quickly to see where the fae man had gone and to my surprise, he was pinned by his neck to a tree an iron-tipped arrow protruding from his neck, and he hung dead.
I stared at the body for a second before looking over to the man that now carried me.
it's father!
I struggled against his grip, struggling to free myself from his arms as I looked around. I needed to warn him but he just kept walking he was silent.
I couldn't focus, I could feel my strength leaving me, and I was losing energy fast.
he placed me on a large rock near a stream that ran nearby, he sat there watching me with sad eyes. I tried to get up and run to him but fell to the ground once again my body unable to move.
"hush now baby don't move I'll take care of you," he cooed rubbing circles along my back as he stroked my hair.
"where's everyone?" I asked looking forward unable to meet his gaze,
"dead, I saw Throine escape I've been looking for him we need to get back and run, why are you In the woods??"
I looked at him finally, "I felt uneasy so I went in and I found a clearing, and that's when I found Throine" I sobbed out.
"what do you mean found Throine?!" he shouted in disbelief "you lost him in the forest!? you don't know where he is?"
"I know where he is father," I said flatly "but I don't think you want to know" I hated the words as they left my mouth but suddenly I was filled with rage throine was dead and we were alive, father had saved me but not my brother.
He grabbed me by the shoulders roughly shaking me, "tell me! where did you find Throine!?!"
"I found him run threw with a pike with an arrow sticking out of his chest they used him as bait"
father let me go stumbling back tripping on a small rock falling to the ground as pain crossed his face a silent sod.
"no" he cried
he sat like that for a long while when the ground started to tremble under our feet as an ear-splitting screech rendered the sky.
"We've got to go daddy" I cried desperately but he wasn't budging from his spot
"get off the ground, we need to leave now"
"Daddy you need to stop crying, you need to be strong"
he ignored me, instead, he looked toward the sky.
he took one last deep breath and stood pulling me onto his back " it's a dragon I saw it and it's coming"
he said hoarsely
I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, knowing that no matter what happened I couldn't lose him.
"don't look back okay" he begged then took off in a run. He jumped over some bushes and branches then crashed through the tree line and we both fell to the forest ground, I was laying across his chest and he held me tight trying to cover my eyes.
I heard thorns breaking behind us then we landed harshly on the forest floor "are you alright"
"yes, we need to warn everyone" I yelled but when I look up towards our camp everything shattered, people ran mounting horses grabbing children and screaming.
The whole camp was burning.
"We need to leave now." father stated calmly taking my hand to help me up but I screamed in pain I couldn't walk he dropped my hand as far as men broke the tree line he stoop up losing arrow after arrow into the front line, I watched in awe as they fell but not enough to make a difference.
"go crawl find your mother" he yelled back as fire consumed the entire camp as the flames licked up into the air, it was only a matter of time now till everything was destroyed.
"no daddy I won't, I'm staying here with you"
I turned and began to crawl toward the entrance of the forest.
"No you aren't," said an angry voice
"MOM!" I broke down completely as she came up beside us in full leather armor daggers strapped to her thighs bow in hand.
she hugged me tightly and kissed my head "we will get you out I promise"
"promise?" I questioned staring at her in confusion she nodded smiling "you're not mad?"
"of course not I knew you would come back to me" she smiled wiping tears from my cheeks
"come let's hide"
smoke filled the air heavy and odorous mother crouched in front of me so she could carry me to safety.
"what about father!?" I asked her worriedly
She paused her hand on my face "if you leave now you may yet live" she whispered as the smoke grew thicker, then as I was getting dragged further away I could see through the darkness a figure running towards us,
and it wasn't father.
"MOM!!"I cried as she whipped around throwing me into an outcropping of rock.
"get in and stay till we come for you do not move no matter what you hear" she ordered, I hesitated for a minute but soon climbed into the outcropping hiding as best I could inside the hollow rock.
I waited, I didn't move even if someone walked past the stone, I heard shouts of the men, and I strained my ears to try and hear more. It was quiet until I heard my father's voice "you will all pay!" he screamed a scream that ended in a gurgling that I knew meant he was no longer alive.
I could hear the dragon's wings beat in the distance growing louder as I began to feel the panic rise within me.
"DAD" I called out.
nothing.
I could hear thunders rolling overhead, it made the hair on my neck stand on end. There must have been hundreds or thousands upon thousands of them, they planned this I could see them pass by my hiding spot not an ally in sight so I sat and wept quietly listening intently to their thunderous cries and roars.
I crawled out of the small gap in the rock to get a better view of the sky and gasped in shock when I spotted a huge black shadow passing by my position. I could hear it roar in fury above my hiding place, the sound deafening.
the dragon was going to land right above me I realized. Then the ground shook violently underneath me.
It began to rain, a heavy downpour, the water soaking me instantly. The dragon roared again, its shadow covering the entire hillside, I covered my head, the noise was horrible, I watched in horror as the last of our men and my mother held bows to strike the great beast, the fire drake let out an ear-splitting roar, it's massive jaws filled with jagged fangs.
mother let out a growl and pulled her daggers strapped to her thighs out and ran head-first at the monster.
she no more than three steps before the dragon brought its massive jaws snapping her in its teeth, I threw up, as blood drenched the earth killing her instantly.
he ate her greedily.
I scrambled back into the rock hiding in fear from the creature above me and prayed it was finished, I wanted to die at the moment.
I heard footsteps crunching through the dirt approaching the rock, I held my breath, praying that it wouldn't see me, but the footsteps stopped directly above me, so I dared to peek out from my hiding spot. My heart pounded painfully as the creature hovered directly above me its talons ripping the stone apart, its enormous wings flapping sending ash and debris flying around. Its claws dug into the earth tearing the soil apart and exposing my hiding spot to its view, my heartbeat picked up quickly as the monster stared down at me its eyes narrowed in hatred I shut my eyes tightly waiting for death.
it was still there for a few minutes, before slowly flying off and disappearing from my sight, the silence was deafening.
I pulled my body further into my now mostly exposed hiding place. The weight of grief crushing me I curled up hugging my knees I was scared to open my eyes afraid to see the remains of my mother lying in a pool of her blood. I didn't want to believe that father was gone forever, it was a cruel joke and fate was playing a cruel trick on me again.
I sat for what seemed like hours till it was silent the winning fairies retreating with their spoils,
I was alone not a man left alive the sun shining down on the bloody killing ground, seeing such a beautiful sky with so much tragedy it broke my soul my will to survive was gone.
my ankle completely destroyed would make sure I died here.
I had just begun to drift off to sleep, the sound of voices startled me awake
My breathing was shallow as I forced myself up, I was shaking in terror and shock, I'd been caught. They had seen me, or maybe the dragon; it wasn't difficult to imagine a dragon hunting for prey.
I shuffled backward, looking toward the source of the voices, they were coming toward me from behind my hiding place. One step at a time I tried to run but every time I made a single motion pain shot through my foot.
"Come out little girl, we know you're there" came an unfamiliar voice.
I froze in place, what should I do, they can't possibly see me.
"come out, don't be afraid" another one spoke, I closed my eyes tightly willing them to disappear.
"let's talk first, we just want to speak to you" a third voice joined in.
"come out now"
"why don't you go home now, we won't hurt you"
"Please come out now"
"There is nothing to fear"
"We are just asking a question little one, please answer us if you're there"
my hands felt cold and wet with sweat as my stomach twisted. What should I do, I was trapped.
"do you understand child? we mean you no harm" a fourth voice spoke.
"you can come out now, we will not hurt you"
I stayed where I was for a long time then slowly started crawling forward my head bowed down.
"that's it we will take you somewhere safe"
the fourth voice said.
I found my way out of my safe space looking out at the men that now stood around me, at first they look like human men, but I saw their ears and the sharp point, fairies, I had come right to the hands of our enemies.
"thank goodness you're ok" the fifth man spoke, he looked to be in his middle twenties, he had dark blond hair, light blue eyes, and wore green clothes with brown boots on his feet. he had a dagger hanging by his hip and looked dangerous as hell.
"thank God you're alive, can you tell us your name child?" he urged.
"i... I don't think I can" I answered, knew the law of the fae, if I gave them my name they would own me.
"Come now, I am very sorry for your loss and would love to help you, but first you need to tell us your name"
"it doesn't really matter" I deflected.
"then who are your parents? why are you here?"
"they are dead... I'm alone..." I stuttered unable to form the words.
"What happened to you? how did you get here?" he asked, concern evident in his voice "did you get injured in the battle?"
I sighed.
"it was my fault... I shouldn't have followed him...." I replied,
"followed who?"
"Father"
"your father?"
"yes"
"Who is your father?"
"he is the captain of the king's armies"
"the king's captain?"
"yes"
"Well, I am very sorry for your loss little one, but we need to get you somewhere safe"
"how can I trust you you monster took everything from me" I blurted.
"monster?"
"yes, you killed my mother"
"wait! wait a minute. let me explain"
he reached out his arms holding them up indicating I should calm down.
"your father and mother?, we didn't kill anyone."
I looked at him in surprise.
"How can you even say that I watched your fairies kill them with that dragon!" I screamed at him.
he held both his palms upward in a placating gesture,
"Now calm down child, you need to listen"
I bit my tongue, trying my hardest not to lash out at him,
"Please let us explain"
I couldn't bring myself to speak as my tears streamed down my face, I turned away sobbing once more.
He placed both his hands softly onto my shoulders as I cried I could feel a strange warmth spreading over me but before I had a chance to respond another man's voice interrupted,
"We can explain later right now she needs to rest."