The Nutcracker

Chapter 11

Hellooo i havent updated for almost a year xD sorry! But now that i have a little time i decided to write a bit :P enjoyyyy :D
Chapter 11
Clarie wrapped her arms around the children and looked at the Nutcracker, clueless on the next step to take.
The Nutcracker put both wooden arms up as a sign of 'surrender'   and tried to clarify matters. "Wait, listen to me. We are not the mouseking's men, we came from the town down south. We were fleeing from the mouse king's army when we saw the ladder that led us here." He took out his sword steadily and placed it on the ground before the armed men. "We mean no harm, we just need a place to stay for one night".

The armed men looked at him in dismay, then they turned to look at the burly man standing in the middle of the troop. Just as the burly man was about to speak, a small built lady ran out from the shelter behind them. "Sam? Kattie? Is that you?" She quickened her footsteps as she caught sight of the two children.
"Aunt Pam!" The little girl slipped out of Clarie's arms to embrace the small built lady. "Oh, i thought i lost you! Thank goodness oh thank goodness you are alive!" The lady was close to tears.

The burly man nodded at the armed men and the men put their spears down in a synchronised manner, still glaring at the Nutcracker in distrust. The men then returned to the shelter, and the burly man walked towards Clarie and the Nutcracker. "I'm the chief of that town. Thankyou for saving the children. The town was attacked a week ago, but we were not swift enough. They seized the town before we could get everyone out. Where are you from?"

Clarie was about the open her mouth to speak, then she realised that she didnt actually know where she was from. What was she going to say? "I'm from a world without magical creatures"? Or "i came from a magic tunnel"?
All this was too much for her to contain or comprehend, how was she going to explain her existence when she couldnt understand it herself?

"We are King Joseph's servants. We managed to escape before the mouse king attacked the castle. Since then, we've been wandering from town to town finding refuge." The nutcracker explained.
Clarie heaved a sigh of relief, at least the nutcracker was a smooth liar.

"We've been trying to find the sugarplum princess. Legend says she is the only one who has the power to defeat the mouse king. Will you help us?"

The burly man scrutinized the nutcracker and Clarie for a moment. "I've heard of this princess. Very well. It is our only hope. I can provide you with the food you need for the journey and temporary shelter. As for the men, i need them here to protect my villagers so you will have to fend for yourself." He said firmly.

"Yes, thankyou. That is more than enough." The Nutcracker said gratefully.

"Take them to the guest room", the burly man placed Clarie and the Nutcracker in the care of a young man who was probably around Clarie's age. The young man had curly ginger hair and was quite well-built for his age, he had squared shoulders and the posture of a dancer. The Nutcracker stared at the young man's back, missing his real self; missing his human form.
The young man led them up two flight of stairs to a guest room which had a single bed and a study table. After handing them the key and telling them where to get food and drink, the young man gave a slight nod and left the two.

The two stood speechless at the entrance to their room, and for a while there was deafening silence.
"Wh... Whyy... Why dont you take a nap? You must be tired after all that trekking and climbing" the Nutcracker broke the silence.
Clarie nodded and sat on the bed. "I'll errmmm... I'll go get some bandages for your arms" the Nutcracker said, he didnt forget about the rope burns she suffered while climbing up that ladder.

The Nutcracker came back with a pail of clean water, a towel and some wound dressing. He put the damp towel on Clarie's wound, gently tapping the open wound to get rid of the dirt and dried blood. Clarie winced at the burn as the water touched her grated skin. Despite the pain, she noticed how hard it was for the Nutcracker to tend to her wound. His wooden forearm was bent in an unnatural position, and his arm movements were stiff and restricted. Nevertheless, he held her gently, and she could see the determination in his bright painted eyes.

"Can i ask you a question?"
The Nutcracker looked up at Clarie, surprised at her sudden initiation of a conversation. "Of course you can" he said with a smile.
"Can you promise to answer me honestly?"
The Nutcracker placed the towel into the pail and looked Clarie in the eye, giving her all his attention. "Yes"

Clarie took a deep breath. "Who are you? What is your real identity? I know you were probably a human before you turned into a nutcracker."

The Nutcracker paused for a moment, he wasnt sure about where to start. It was a long story he never shared with anyone. But somehow he felt compelled to tell Clarie everything about himself.
"I'm.... I'm Prince Eric"