Roses and Thorns

Chapter 16~Problems, Problems, Problems

They had been on their way to Drauri for 3 days. Two more days... So far everything was okay. They spent the previous night in a forest called Foresta Cinefactus (the forest turned to ashes) by the elves. At first, Ivelle didn't know why they called it like that. For about an hour the forest was beautiful. The trees were very high and they had huge emerald leaves. Birds were chirping and they saw many beautiful and strange creatures. Once they saw a snow-white bird. According to Áedh, it was a caladrius. They were able to take away the illness of a person. Ivelle found it amazing. As they got closer to the middle of the forest, the trees had black marks on their trunk. They were burnt. Soon they didn't have leaves, and in the middle, the trees were burnt, and the beautiful green grass turned to black dirt.

"Delaney did it." said Áedh "As a revenge for killing Erebus." Ivelle looked at him and saw sadness and pain in his eyes. Sometimes it was just too easy to forgot that he fought against the Dark King. He must've lost many people close to him. She was curious, but she didn't dare to ask.

They resumed their way in silence. Two hours later they left the forest and a few hours later they stopped for a short break. Everything was very silent, like in that bad ominous way. Ivelle looked at Áedh. He stood still and was listening to something.

All of a sudden, strange, black-dressed men jumped out from behind the trees and drew out their swords. Áedh quickly pushed Ivelle away and drew out his sword. He motioned her to hide behind a rock not far away from them. Ivelle wanted to resist, but she remembered what Áedh had said: "Whatever happens do what I tell you." Ivelle quickly hid behind the rock and prayed for both of them to survive. He heard the swords clashing and yelling. A few minutes later everything went silent.

They dragged Ivelle out from behind the rock and made her kneel before their leader. There were about 15 bandits, and many were laying on the ground. Áedh didn't have a chance.

"I'm Aeron." started their leader "Give us your values and we won't harm you."

"Both of us know, that you're lying." Ivelle heard Áedh's voice, but it was very very weak. She turned towards him. He had a cut on his abdomen. It looked bad.

" We're being smart at rapertee, aren't we?" he sneered "Too bad, you won't live long." he turned to Ivelle "Who are you?"

"None of your business," said Áedh.

"Oh, it is. Maybe I'll kill you, rob you and then, play with her a bit." he caressed Ivelle's cheeks. She freaked out. It was her fault. Cirillo was right. She shouldn't have come. There was no way they were going to survive it.

"I assume you put your weapons down." said an unfamiliar voice. The bandits raised their swords. At once more brown-hooded man appeared from the woods. All of them had bows "I said put the weapons down." the stranger's voice was deep but very calm. The bandits looked uncertain.

"Or what?" asked Aeron still sneering. The man -who assumed Ivelle was the leader of the other group- he looked at his men and back at Aeron.

"Or we'll kill you." he said still very calmly. Aeron lifted his swords but before he could turn around arrows flew towards them. Ivelle laid on the ground. A few moments later the storm of the arrows stopped and the bandits were dead. The leader approached her. "Great. Out of the frying pan into the fire. So typical..." she thought.

"Don't be afraid, we won't harm you." he said "I'm Íomhair, the leader of the Ghosts. Who are you?" Ivelle stayed silent. Another man approached them.