Archer

Chapter Five

Flynn clenched his teeth with the sudden pain of his fist coming into contact with the soldiers armor. The young girl screamed along with a number of other people screaming as more soldiers poured into the square, seizing both of Flynn's arms. A hard look was on the black haired archers face as the man he had hit jerked the helmet from his head and Flynn was pleased to see a jagged cut on his cheek and a bruise forming around it.

"You will pay for this," the man spat in Flynn's face, causing him to fight back against the two other soldiers that held him back, "I will cut off your hand for assaulting a Knight in the Kings Guard."

"Why don'tcha just take my whole arm?" he questioned, a cocky tone in his voice, "I'll hit you with the numb that's left if I ever get the chance!" The soldier sneered at Flynn and pulled his silver sword from it's sheath.

"Hold out his arm," he commanded. Bringing the edge of the blade to rest at his shoulder he raised the blade above his head ready to strike.

Flynn watched in slow motion as the blade came down, ready to hack his arm off when a black arrow with read tails sunk deep into the soldiers arm. He cried out in pain, the sword falling from his grasp just as another arrow sunk into his leg causing him to fall down. Using the soldiers surprise to his advantage Flynn ripped his arms from their grasp and grabbed the sword from the cobblestoned street and turned to the two soldiers, but when he turned there were more than two...way more than just two.

Soldiers surrounded Flynn, swords drawn on him while their eyes searched the skies from where the black arrows had come from. A smirk played on Flynn's lips as he knew where the arrows had come from. Arianna. Where she was he had no idea but he did know that she would make sure the soldiers couldn't see her. As a soldier advanced another arrow came out of no where and made its mark in the mans chest. As soon as he fell to the street, blood pouring from his wound a hooded figure leaped from a roof and landed neck to him. Back to back they stood. The hooded figures bow string drawn tight, Flynn's sword at the ready for any attack, and there was one. A few men at a time advanced on them, but not before the were stuck with an arrow or slashed with a sword. Man after man advanced on the two until many ran from the two, either injured or afraid until only four men were left.

"You take those two," Arianna whispered so her feminine voice wouldn't be heard, "And I'll take these two."

"Got it," Flynn answered her raising his sword to attack when a large bay horse galloped in before him. The man that sat upon him looked his age but radiated power and authority. His eyes were slits as he looked down at Flynn and Arianna with disdain before looking to the remaining four men.

"Don't kill them, take them to the jails," he sad before stating his horse off again. Arianna didn't miss a beat and shot an arrow at him perfectly, landing it in a chink between his shoulder. Startled but unhurt, the man wielded his horse around to face them again. Arianna shot another arrow at a cage of pigeons, releasing them in front of the horse causing him to spook and rear, throwing his rider from his back.

The horse kicked and bucked around, avoiding the four soldiers hands that tried to grab it's reins while his rider stood slowly. Arianna acted fast knocking the soldiers out of the way and swinging herself up on the horses back and kicked him towards Flynn, holding out her arm Flynn grabbed on and swung up behind her as the horse flew through the streets.

"Get my horse! Get those two men!" the man that had fallen from the horse shouted pointing at the two riding away. The people around them cheered as two men ran after them on foot while two more tried to wrangle themselves horses to follow.

"Captain Favell!" A solder called running towards the man that was thrown from the bay horse, "Are you alright?"

The Captain threw the man's arm off of him and turned on him with cold eyes, "Find those men," he spat, "And my horse too."

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Flynn looked behind him and could no longer see the soldiers in pursuit of them, "Ari we're good. They're gone."

Ari nodded and pulled the horse up to a trot and turned him into the forest. As they made their way deeper into the woods Ari slowed the horse down to a walk. He was lathered with sweat and his breathing was labored and fast.

"We need to get off of him Flynn," she said and dismounted quickly. As Flynn dismounted she unbuckled the cinch on the saddle and pulled it off of him. The horse let out a deep sigh and instantly relaxed once the saddle was pulled from his back.

"Leave it here," Flynn said pointing to the ground, Ari tossed it to him and he pulled branches from a bush back and tossed the saddle underneath, "They'll follow our tracks, we have to cover them." He broke of branches from the tree surrounding them and lashed them together. Tying them to the horses tail he nodded satisfied with his work he went to the front of the horse and grabbed his reins. As the walked forwards the branches swayed back and forth, covering the tracks making it look like no ne had even been there.

Arianna was silent. She watched the ground and forest around her never once looking towards Flynn. Her mind raced over the events of the past day and as they did she became angrier and angrier with Flynn until she snapped.

"You're an idiot!" she yelled turning quickly, her fist connecting with his chin. Flynn's head was thrown back with a sickening crack and he stumbled until he fell. He looked at Arianna, eyes full of shock and anger as she came at him again, "You have all the Kings men on our tail now!" Her foot connected with Flynn's ribs and he cried out in pain letting go of the horses reins. Rearing the bay took off at a full gallop and disappeared into the forest.

"Now look what you've done! You are so stupid Flynn, you're an idiot!" she screamed before tearing off after the horse. Flynn coughed, spitting blood from his mouth as he stood on shaky legs. His eyes looked towards the area of trees where both Arianna and the horse had disappeared into and grimaced as the began to walk in that direction. Ari's words stung as he replayed them in his mind over and over again. She had never spoken to him in such a way before. Yes, she had been angry at him and stormed off, but she had never struck him with such force as she did moments before.

Step after step Flynn took he began to wonder if Ari would even come back this time, or if she was gone for good.