Once upon a time, in the medieval times, there was a gifted couple; each were gifted with a special talent. The man was an incredible blacksmith and the woman was a beautiful archer but was trained as a seamstress. One day they had a little girl and named her Sarah, Sarah grew up to be an excellent fighter beating the best of the best. She was liked and loved by everyone for her kindness and generosity, she loved to explore and had a never-ending imagination for a 4 year old. The family lived in a small village outside the kingdom of Molania. Molania was famous for training knights and the most famous knight was Sir Michael but he was preparing to pass down his crown to his son who was in knight training James. The town was happy and cheerful but then an omnous stranger threatened the town for power, they pleaded for Sir Michael's help but he gave non. The town was destroyed and everyone was killed, except for Sarah.
~~~~~11 years later, Sarah's birthday~~~~
The girl woke with a start. Thud as she hit her head on the tree branch "Ow!" She cursed quietly, "I need to stop living in trees or I will have a permanent indenture in my head" She looked around to make sure the cost was clear before she could climb down. Sarah lived in the woods right out side the kingdom, where bandits appeared most. The woods were filled with tall, luscious, oak trees since the kingdom had many lakes and ponds. She untied herself and jumped down. "Time to start patrol" But her stomach disagreed as it grumbled noisily. "Oh be quiet you will be fed soon" She said to her stomach, "Or maybe not till tomorrow". Sarah did not receive much since all she did was fight off bandits but sometimes they dropped a few coins here and there. Sarah reached inside the tree trunk and grabbed her sword and bow and arrows, they were the only things she had left from her parents. She slid them on and started walking, as she passed a pond she thought of why she was doing this again. Before her parents died they told her if she ever lived through that fateful night to always keep her talents a secret, even her identity. So she lived in the woods, protecting the kingdom Molania from bandits as she vowed. She vowed if she ever found another home she would protect it with her life, and so far Sarah has been known as the mystery girl, the shadow, and many other names created by villagers. No one has ever seen her…..well without a mask at least. It was the perfect setting, other than the lack of food which she did not mind. Sarah was nearing her favorite clearing as she heard an all-to-familiar sound Snap Sarah dove behind a tree, she was also popular with the bandits. "Come out come out, Shadow!" He sneered, "There are some people that want to meet you!" Sarah peered over there were 3 men, the one that spoke was tall and broad shouldered. The other two men looked like twins, they both looked like little scared servants, tiny and wide-eyed. She stepped out into the clearing slowly and faced her morning prey. "Huh they sent you guys to capture me? You all 'must' be desperate" She taunted "We will see when we bring you back tied up!" He yelled. The leader advanced towards Sarah as she positioned herself in her fighting position. The man was no more than 5 feet away from her as she caught him off guard and sidestepped out of his way, he slammed into the tree; but it was not enough to knock him out. Sarah laughed, the man shook his head out of the daze looking mad. "I will not be fooled by a mere girl!" He unsheathed his sword and faced her, "Let us see how you fight!" Sarah unsheathed her sword as well. The man came forward and jabbed at her, she sidestepped and the battle begun. Sarah blocked everything he threw at her but he could not block her shots. He quickly tired and summoned his other men and they joined the battle. Just as Sarah was planning to finish her battle, a knight spotted the fight. He dismounted his horse and hid behind a tree, watching the mysterious girl battle off 3 men. Sarah grunted 'They sure are strong' She swung her sword and knocked the both of the servants's swords out of their hands. They ran away frightened. "I guess I will have to finish you off myself!" He swung and missed. Sarah backflipped as her foot connected with his jaw. She ran forward and with incredible strength swung her sword. He dropped his sword and ran "I will get you someday Shadow!!" He yelled as the forest swallowed him up. Sarah watched as he disappeared then turned around to pick of the swords. The knight stared in disbelief She is Shadow?! She cannot be more than 14! This cannot be! Sarah picked up the swords and stashed them in a tree so no bandits could reach them. As the knight stepped out from behind the tree his horse neighed startling the girl. Sarah saw the knight and ran up the nearest tree. A knight! But in these parts?! "Wait!" He shouted, "Are you really the Shadow?" Sarah peered at the man, he had brown hair, broad shoulders, tall, and boy like. He looks close to 16 and if he tells the kingdom they will think he is delirious. "Yes, I am. Who are you?" "My name is Sir James" Sarah froze The king's son?! "Are you not the king's son?" He blushed "I am, please come down. I just want to talk to you, I promise I will not hurt you." She looked skeptical at him There is something about him that is……comforting. She jumped down and then walked cautiouslu towards him. "Thank you, may I ask how old you are?" "I am 15 Sire, and you are 16?" "Please just call me James, I do not care for titles. Yes I am 16" Just when Sarah was going to reply her stomach cut in. Sarah blushed, "Sorry" "I am guessing by that sound that you are hungry" He walked over to his saddlebag and pulled out a blanket, he unrolled it and set it on the ground. It automatically set a wondrous array of food fit for a king. James sat down, "Come, there is enough for 5!" Sarah stared at the food, her mouth watering. She had never seen such foods in her life "I..I" "Come, this is not all I have!" Sarah approached the blanket, sat down, and started to eat. Once their bellies were full Sarah asked "How did you produce the food?" "Merlin my father's wizard gave this to me, it will produce different foods each time I unroll it. It is amazing, I am fascinated by it each time" He leaned back "How come you are out here in the woods by yourself?" Sarah asked "Oh, you do not know?" She shook her head "I have lived in these woods ever since I was 4" James looked shocked "4 years! Amazing. Well when a king's son turns 16 he must undergo a quest" "Is there an objection?" Sarah wondered "Yes" He said bashfully, "I must find a bride" "Oh, sorry" She bowed her head "It is fine, I plan to stall as long as I can until I feel ready to find the right woman" He thought for a moment, "I hope I am not intruding but do you think I could stay in your woods until the time is right?" Sarah looked up 'Him? Stay in the woods' "I..um…" She bit her lip, "Yes, that would be fine under some circumstances" He smiled, "And what would they be?" "Please do not fight off any bandits with or for me, do not tell anyone where I live, do not attract attention to yourself, do not wonder around by yourself, and please follow my orders when needed" "I promise" James replied. He stared at her, there was something about her that he found….comforting almost. "Then follow me" She said as she started to walk deeper into the forest. He followed her but with difficulties, she was very agile and quick for her age. "Where is your home?" He panted. "Just up here" She replied with no signs of exhaustion. He jumped over a log and stopped. He was standing on the outside of a very small clearing with a large oak tree in the middle. She punched the tree and a rope fell down "I hope you know how to climb" Sarah chuckled "Does your hand hurt at all?!" He stared in shock "No, I have grown used to it" She said as she started to climb up the side of the tree. Once he reached the top he surveyed the area. It was just like a little bedroom in a normal home, a bed in the corner, along with a table and a chair across from it. "Is this all you have?" James questioned. "Yes, beating bandits does not pay well" Sarah walked over to the wall and grasped a tiny handle that James did not notice before. She pulled it down and revealed a secret compartment, which she retrieved several blankets and a pillow "This is all I have unless you would like to scavenge for more" Sarah tossed him the items "Thank you, this should suffice" James replied. Sarah slumped down on the bed while James walked around and looked more closely at the room. He found another knob and opened it. It contained binoculars and more clothes. "I recognize these binoculars, but from where" He puzzled. Sarah grabbed the binoculars and shoved them back into the compartment then shut it. James stared at her "You are the girl who always watched the knight training in the trees!" "N..No!" She stammered. "Yes you are! That is why I recognize you!" Her mouth hung open as she tried to find words. She started to blush as she admitted "Alight I am, but how did you see me?" "Well after you fell out of the tree that day we could pin point you. Why would you always watch us?" "It was interesting" She replied "We always thought it was because you liked one of us, or at least we hoped" Sarah giggled and blushed "Well I might have fancied one in the group, but I did like watching" "Well, I do know one of my comrades
