Soldier

Chapter 12

Yo, yo, yo! Not much action in this one, but I think the characters needs some resting from it. I hope you'll like this as much as I liked writing it :) And it's unedited, so please. Show some mercy about the mistakes.

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Chapter 12

We didn't stop until we reached the forbidden forest. Once we got there we set the horses free. Phee didn't seem to stop hugging me and I started to appreciate air more than before. “I've missed you too, but we have to save some hugs for later as well” I said and tried to loosening her grip. “Are you okay?” I asked Nicholas as he still sounded dry in his throat. I noticed Tom kept asking what had happened in Heddel, but I was tending Nicholas and Phee kept clinging to my leg. Both Thyon and Yoesphin kept their distance. “I've felt better” Nicholas managed to answer between his swallows.

“What blimey happened back there?” Tom's voice was high and I knew he was irritated.

“I was rescuing Nick from being hanged!” I cried back. “Well, we rescued him”

I gestured at Thyon and Yoesphin. “Thanks. Who are you, any way?” Nicholas asked. Thyon and Yoesphin gave each other a quick glance, but Phee was quicker with her tongue. “You're elves”

Just like that and our cover was blown. “Don't be ridiculous. Elves don't exist” Tom said and covered his face in his hands. Phee walked over to Yoesphin and studied her eyes. She gazed over to Thyon's ears, like it would prove everything. “You're part of that story, aren't you? About the Elfoak” Phee was very brave to ask directly, compared to me. I freaked when I found out what Yoesphin was. “Yes, we are” Yoesphin answered quietly. Now Nicholas was quick to move away from them. His face reminded of the one he got in battle. I saw his knuckles turn white, ready to go in for a battle even though with his bare fists. I was soon by his side. “They won't hurt you” I said quietly and lowered his hands. He didn't look at me, but lowered them anyway. “Trust me” I said reassuring and he relaxed.

“No, that is absurd” Tom ranted and seemed to be most talking to himself. I wanted to shake some sense in him, but I knew it would be wasted. Tom needed to figure out himself of what was the truth or not. “Yes, they're elves and they helped me with this. We should all be very grateful” I said out loud. “Now, can we keep moving? I don't like to be this visible” I said and looked out on the field beside us. We agreed and began to wander into the forest. Phee kept asking every question she could possibly think of and Yoesphin tried to answer as best as she could. I laughed inside remembering I've been in something similar when I first met Phee. You'll get used to it.

“Thank you for saving me” Nicholas said as he approached my side. We kept ourselves to the back to make sure no one started to wander off. To be lost in this forest wasn't pleasant.

“Your welcome, and besides it was a bit exciting, wasn't it?” I teased. “If you say so, but make sure that next time you'll rather be there earlier than later” he said and felt for his neck.

“So you're saying you want to get caught again?” “No, but if you're there to save me, I'll be the damsel in distress any time” Nicholas smirked at me and I rolled my eyes. And he was back to the old him. “You know, we're even now. You need to catch up with the score before I'll make any move” I flinched at him and went over the others. Somehow it felt good to be teasing him. He is not the only one who can play that game. I noticed that Tom had moved away from us and was walking behind the trees. “Are you okay?” I asked him once I managed to catch up. He winced at my words and when I touched his shoulder. He looked stressed and worried. He kept looking around, like if something was following us. “I'm fi... actually, I'm not. They can't be... I mean, it is only a story. None of this is true” Tom's words sounded like water, trying to find its way to the ocean. It was like he was trying to convince himself that he only had a bad dream.