Chapter 8
I woke up with a start, to yells and rushing people. The first people I saw outside in the corridor was Brian and Mark, both just wearing pants and boots and tugging tunics over there heads. 'What's going on?' I asked, now wide awake. Brian nodded down the corridor at the fast approaching Kevin. 'Jane your up!' he said a little out of breath, 'the army! They're here for us!' I sighed 'Yes I know, I.... just dreamed about it.' I knew I couldn't tell them about the man, they really would think in crazy. All three boys gave me a shocked look that made me sure I shouldn't tell.
'How do ye know the army is for here?' I asked.
'A scout has been watching them since they appeared, they are showing signs of preparing for battle. Also one of there scouts have been caught. There here for us.'
I felt my stomach twist with worry.
'I have to go find David!' I said to Kevin.
'No.' He said. 'First you have to get armour on, them we must prepare a defence plan.'
' I will put armour on, but then I am going to find David and he can help us make a strategy.' I stuck my chin out stubbornly. He rolled his eyes at me. 'Fine! Go now, Bridget will take u to the armoury where appropriate amour will be waiting.' At the mention of her name Bridget appeared beside us. I followed her down some more long corridors - though the hotel was only three floors high it was impossibly long and wide- to a flight of stone steps. A group of men ran up the steps with there arms full of armour and shields. While we trotted down the stairs we were always accompanied by the clinking of people running down and up with us. After exactly fifty steps we reached yet another huge room filled with swords, armour, shields and other valuable objects. While I stood taking in all the objects in the room Bridget bustled to a long wardrobe and opened it. As the large doors swung open I saw six shining suits of armour. Two of these suits were obviously made for women. I gasped in shock as Bridget pulled the smallest of the female suits out of the large wardrobe and dropped it carefully in front of me. I picked it up to examine it, with much more ease than it took Bridget. The breast plate was made of a front piece and a back piece, which were linked with more metal on the sides and thick leather straps on the top. The leather had small holes where arm plates were tied on. With a closer look at the arm plates I saw that they were in fact a series of smaller plates, all connected together so that the wearer could move freely. The end of the arm plates had a ring of elastic material on it. Underneath the amour there was a tight leather tunic that had a high collar and ended just bellow the armour did. There was also plates that resembled the arm plates which looked like they went on your legs. On the bottom left of every piece there was a circle that looked like it was on fire and a large oak tree in the centre, this was marked with what looked like gold. All in all the amour was beautiful. And surprisingly light. Bridget frowned at me waiting. 'Well are you going to put it on or do I have to?' I gaped at her. 'I'm wearing this?' I looked at the suit of armour again, I looked much to expensive for me to where especially in battle. 'yes of course! Now come on we don't have all day.' I looked around. 'Im not changing here!' I said in indignation. She sighed 'you have to, nobody will be looking at you anyway.'
Very shyly I took of my jumper and tunic standing there in my bra. The leather tunic almost fit like a glove, it was thick but light and even though it was just a little too tight it didn't restrict my movement. Next on was the armour, it fit just like the tunic. The arm plates and leg plates had to be put on separately and had a lot of straps to keep them on. Bridget stood back and smiled proudly. 'Just like an elf!' she exclaimed. In my shock at her enthusiasm I almost forgot to ask her what she meant. 'Well this is elvin made, and with the hair,' she indicated to my hair, 'you look like the princess this armour was made for.' I gawped at the armour. 'this was made for a princess?'
