*The Chronicles of F.R.E.E. Earth's Knight - Ruth Watson* Part 2 - NARTHWICH

Chapter Fifteen - Reunited again

*Hodgson POV*

After losing half our team, our progress through the forest had slowed down considerably. The loss had taken it's toll on all of us and weighted us down emotionally. We dragged our feet and found it difficult to talk to each other. The only time we spoke was when I decided it was time to rest. It was still very light, the sun had only just started to tinge pale pink, but I felt I couldn't do anymore today.
"It's starting to get much colder." Hunter shivered, putting his sheet around his shoulders rather than on the ground.
"Yeah," Perkins nodded. "Last night was freezing."
"Let's hope we find somewhere soon," I muttered, copying Hunter and pulling my sheet around my shoulders.
"Like there?" Edwards asked.
We looked at him, bewildered to see he was looking over to the right, behind us.
We twisted our head around and saw a hill in the middle of a small clearing, you could just about make out there was an etrance to a cave.
"Perfect!" Perkins cried out and picked up his stuff again.
"Hold on!" I stopped him. "We need to make sure its clear first."
They all nodded and we picked up our swords, Edwards holding his shield too, and slowly advanced towards the cave.
As we rounded a corner, we stopped short when we noticed a grave. It had been recently dug, about a month or so ago by the looks of it, and had a sword at the head of it with something lying on the ground in front of it.
I motioned to the others to be on guard, while I sheathed my sword and approached the grave for a closer look. I picked up what was laying on the ground in front of the sword. It was an under sixteen's bus pass. A picture of a round boy wearing glasses, grinning cheerfully, with the name James Benson next to it.
"Jesus," I breathed out, my heart clenching at the smiling picture of the boy who obviously now laid in the grave.
I bowed my head in mourning for a moment before looking up at the sword. My breath hitched. I knew that cursive A anywhere!
"Guys! Come here!" I called out, a warmth spreading through my body. They were closer than we thought!
"What is it?" Hunter said as they reached the grave, but before I could answer, they noticed the sword. All eyes widened at it. Perkins started to breath heavily.
"This is dug recently," I showed them that the ground hadn't yet settled. "They're closer than what we thought!"
"Who's grave is..." Perkins didn't finish his question.
I immediately knew what he was thinking. "It's not one of theirs!" I comforted him straight away. "The grave is for him, James Benson." I showed him the bus pass.
Relief washed over him and he looked at the sword. "Whose sword is that then?"
"No idea. I didn't think the girls had any other weapons." I admitted.
"They must be close!" Hunter grinned widely. "We should keep going a little further. We might find something else."
"I agree." I said, a new found energy flowing through me. "Get your stuff together and let's move out."
We dashed back to collect our belongings when a screech reached our ears. We knew the sound belonged to a Duskwing, and it had seen us.
We drew our swords, ready for a fight, and spun round to face it. But it wasn't just one Duskwing, but five! Their huge winged bodies with their human faces bobbing on thin necks were focused on us, their backs to the setting sun.
There was no way we were ever going to take on five with the four of us. That was suicide!
"RUN!" I screamed to the others and we all turned tail and ran for our lives away from the beasts.
We heard them flapping their wings, but knew the dense trees would give us some type of protection. For the second time in two days, we fled. Jumping over things on the ground, dodging and weaving through the trees, our focus on getting as much ground between us and our predators.
Edwards screamed behind me and I skid to a halt, whisking round to see where he was. He had fallen over, and by the looks of it, had badly hurt himself. Hearing the creatures beating their gigantic wings above our heads, I ran back to him and gave him a quick check over. He had tripped over a root that jutted out of the ground and he had broken his leg.
"PERKINS!" I cried out, wanting him to help me with Edwards.
Within seconds Perkins appeared on Edwards' other side, he helped me hoist Edwards up and the three of us awkwardly staggered onwards, with Edwards in between hopping on one leg. Hunter had hung back slightly to make sure we were on our way again and took our lead, cutting a path for us to make things a little easier.
Another high pitched screech pierced our ears and there was a loud rustling directly above us, showering us with leaves and twigs. The Duskwings were trying to get through the forest canopy to us. We tried to move quicker, but that was impossible with us trying to keep hold of Edwards too.
The mutilated bird tried to break through the trees again, this time breaking a branch which came crashing down on top of Hunter, who was just in front of us.
"HUNTER!!" Perkins bellowed out. "HUNTER!"
Hunter popped out from beneath the branch. He had been luckily standing where the branch arched up, so when he crouched to protect himself, he had avoided getting hit. We breathed in relief.
"YOU THERE!" Came an authoritative voice. "GET DOWN!"
All of us gazed around to where the voice had come from and there stood a group of about eight people, all clad in full gold armour, with red plates on their shoulders and red edgings, wearing helmets that surrounded their entire heads and covered most of their face. They all had bows and arrows pointing skyward towards the Duskwings.
Perkins and I helped Edwards sit down before we knelt beside him, watching the soldiers fire their arrows. The screeches of the birds meant their arrows had found their target, and the sound of wings beating rapidly became more and more discreet.
Breathing heavily, I stood to thank our saviours, but the one that had called out to us reached us first.
"Are you all ok?" He asked, concerned.
"Yes, thanks to you!" I wheezed. "Our friend had a bad fall while we were trying to get away."
"Right, let me take a look." He nodded, and bent his knees to take a closer look at Edwards injured leg. "Does anyone have any healing potion on them?" He cried out, looking back at his crew.
They all shook their heads, the soldier sighed. "We better get you to the infirmary, mate. Baskins, Smith, help this poor lad to the infirmary, will you?" He instructed two of his team. They came over and helped Edwards up gently.
"Follow me," the boy said, and Perkins, Hunter and I gladly followed our heros through the forest.
As we walked, the boy introduced himself. "My name is Packer. What's yours?"
"My name is Hodgson. This is Hunter, and this is Perkins." I gave him a quick introduction.
"You're lucky we were out this way. We were looking for some Qilin Essence for our apothecary. If it wasn't located over this way, we never would have heard you." Packer chuckled.
"That's convenient for us, then!" I grinned. "Remind me to thank them for sending you out here."
"What were you doing over here?" He asked, cheerfully.
"We're actually looking for someone." Hunter briefly explained. "Have you seen four girls by any chance?"
"Four girls?" Packer furrowed his brow, curiously.
"Yeah, probably wearing long skirts in red, green and purple?" Perkins added eagerly.
Packer thought for a moment. "Not that I can recall. When did they get here?" He asked.
"We don't know exactly," I admitted. "It could be a few months ago?"
Packer shrugged. "Sorry, bud. I don't remember."
I shook my head. "No, don't worry. They may be further along."
We continued walking on until finally we broke out of the forest and a long road with building lining it came into view. It was like Ozryn minus the porches, and it had a lot more flowers and better shop selection. My eyes wandered over the town before us. It was busy. Very busy in fact. Most of the people in the town seemed to be gathered around a restaurant type shop, that stood opposite a Blacksmiths.
"Welcome to Narthwich!" Packer announced to us proudly.
"Wow." Was all we could say.
The atmosphere was cheerful and bright. It felt homely and we hadn't even had a closer look yet.
As we walked up to the mouth of the road, one of their fellow soldiers, clad in gold with red trimmings and a gold helmet, emerged from the Blacksmiths followed by a young girl with a tanned leather apron and long flowing blonde hair. They kissed each other then the soldier looked over our way, striding towards us, raising his hand.
"Sawyer! Good to see you, buddy. How's the wedding planning going?" Packer chirped.
"I don't fucking know, do I?" Sawyer grunted and his eyes, that were just about visible beneath his helmet, travelled over Perkins, Hunter and I then to Edwards, who was being held up by Baskins and Smith. He was a huge bloke. Tall, broad and muscly. Intimidating, but his eyes gave away his softer side. Just like Perkins.
"Who's this?" Sawyer huffed, staring at us.
"Oh, this is-" Before he could start introducing us to his giant friend, a shout came from further up the road.
"What's going on here?" Squeaked a chubby boy, he was marching down the high street towards us, looking suspicious.
"Oh. Hey Needham. We found these guys in the forest running from some Duskwings." Packer explained.
"Where did you travel from?!" Needham demanded, his piggy eyes narrowed at us. He didn't seem to trust us at all.
"We're from Ozryn. We're looking for four girls-" I began to ask him, but he cut across me.
"Ozryn?!" He blanched and looked at Sawyer, whose eyes also widened.
"Uh, yes. Ozryn..." I confirmed slowly.
"Put them in the Dungeons!" Needham ordered the soldiers.
"Wait. WHAT?!" I cried out.
"No! Wait!" Perkins yelled as his arms were pulled back behind his back and he was pushed towards a large Hall at the end of the road.
With the four of us fighting to be released, trying to explain and shouting for them to let us go, we were forced up the road into the hall. They took us through a door on the right and after shoving us through a long, narrow corridor, down some stairs. The air became cooler and the smell grew damp. The stone walls had moss growing on them and the dark wooden floor creaked badly as they marched us to the cells.
"PLEASE!" I cried out in desperation again. "LET ME EXPLAIN!"
The guards who had guided us here, threw us into a cell together and clanged shut the door. I scrambled to my feet and banged the heavy door with my fists.
"We don't want to hear it!" Needham snarled to me through the door. "No one from Ozryn is welcome in Narthwich!"
"What?" I asked him.
"You will stay here until I've figured out what to do with you!" And with that, Needham disappeared from my line of sight through the tiny hole in the door.
I put my back against the door and slid to the floor, putting my head in my hands with my elbows on my knees.
"The fuck was that all about?!" Edwards grunted from the pain in his leg.
"God knows, but they seem to dislike people from Ozryn..." Hunter whispered slowly.
"Hodg, you don't think... The girls..." Perkins' voice dripped with worry and panic.
"I-I don't know," I breathed, removing my hands from my face and looking back at him, sadly. "But for them to know about Ozryn, that means they have met them... But it doesn't look like they made a good impression."
"Oh god!" Perkins broke down. "No... No please!"
"Perkins," I tried to calm him down. "We don't know what happened. It could be that..." I trailed off, trying to think.
"What do you think the girls have done?" Edwards asked.
"Edwards!!" I shouted at him. "That's not helping!"
"Well, the girls must have done something to make them dislike people from Ozryn!" Edwards shouted back.
"Edwards, just shut the fuck up!" Hunter snarled at him. "The girls wouldn't have done anything, right Perkins?"
Perkins wailed miserably. "My baby!" He was saying. "What did they do to her?"
"Come on, mate." I scooted over to him, regretting it as I scooted through a puddle on the floor that smelt strongly of ammonia.
"This place is disgusting!" Hunter murmured, looking around the cell.
It did look like whoever had been in here last had smeared their faeces across the walls, pissed on the floor, and scratched messages into the walls. The writings were difficult to decipher in the dim light, but it looked like typical graffiti as one such scratching seemed to look like 'G FU  WOZ ERE'.
I got to Perkins and put my arm around him. He leaned into me, sobbing uncontrollably. His sobs forced my own tears to the surface and I let them fall. We fell into silence and waited to find out what was going to happen to us.

After what seemed like an age, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs reached our ears. We then heard Needham's squeaky voice and an unrecognisable girl's voice.
"They said they had come from Ozryn." We heard Needham mutter.
"Did they say why they had come?" The girl's emotionless voice asked him.
"Kind of, they're looking for four girls."
"Hmm. That's not good. It seems he hasn't been listening to me after all." The girls voice slurred with venom.
The four of us exchanged confused looks before the door to our cell opened and a young asian girl entered the cell, followed closely by Needham.
"I understand one of you is injured." The girl asked, thinning her lips. She had long, black hair, pulled loosely back into a very low ponytail and harsh brown eyes.
Edwards raised his hand, shaking slightly. The girl strode over to him and produced a small bottle with green liquid in it.
"Drink this." She instructed him.
He took the bottle and drank the fluid. He suddenly gagged and clamped his hand to his mouth to stop him from throwing up.
"It'll start working soon." She said to him quietly before turning to the rest of us. "What are you doing here?"
"We're looking for four girls that go by the names Watson, Green, Goodwin and Dean." I answered nervously. I don't know why, but she intimidated me. She seemed to have an aura of authority around her.
"Why are you looking for them?" She asked, her face void of emotions.
"We were instructed to find them and bring them back to Ozryn." I replied.
"Why?"
"They're wanted for murder..." I felt that telling her the truth was the best option, but felt the need to put our side across too. "But we don't have any intention of taking them back there!"
The girl's eyebrows raised. "Oh? And why don't you want to take them back? If they're wanted for murder, you've obviously been sent to bring them back for sentencing."
"They have already been given a sentence." I said back to her, looking at Hunter.
"What is their sentence?" The girl asked, more like demanded.
"Execution..." I whispered.
"EXECUTION?!" Needham's voice bellowed behind me, making us all jump. "Sugo, he's giving executions?"
"I heard it too, Needham. You do not need to repeat what they said." The girl called Sugo addressed him. "I think I have heard enough."
"Wait!" I went to grab her ankle, but stopped myself.
She looked down at me with a filthy look on her face. "Yes?"
"Are the girls... Ok?" I asked quietly.
"What do you care? You're here to bring these girls their deaths and now you ask if they're ok?" She spoke with such venom in her voice it made me recoil.
Before I could answer her, she had brisked away out of the door with Needham in close pursuit, locking the door behind him. Their footsteps retreated back up the stairs.
"What do you think is going to happen to us?" Edwards' strained voice whispered behind me.
"I don't care anymore." I admitted. "I think we have failed."
"Why did you tell them the truth?" Perkins asked.
"I felt it might help us get out of here, but then they seemed to know who we were coming to get and I tried to back track, but it was too late." I put my forehead to the ground and hunched myself over.
"Did it seem weird that they-" Hunter didn't get to finish as more footsteps came thundering down the stairs. It sounded like a group of people and they were descending the step quickly.
Our cell door opened again and in came the giant soldier we met earlier, Sawyer his name was. He stood defensively with his hands on his hips, before taking a small side step and allowing a smaller soldier into view. This one was dressed all in black from head to foot, and this soldier was definitely female judging by the way her armour curved itself around her body. The only part we could see of her was her mouth.
The black soldier stood still for a few seconds, taking in the sight of us before her mouth broke into a wide grin.
"Well," She said. "This is a surprise."
I knew the voice, but I was having a hard time placing it. That is, until she called out over her shoulder.
"Green, there's someone here to see you!"
Perkins shot to his feet. "Green?!"
Green's small figure appeared in the doorway to the cell, her face stained with happy tears as she gazed upon Perkins for the first time in months.
"Perkins!" She cried out and ran into his arms.
Perkins engulfed her in a huge bear hug, crying out in a cross between a laugh and sob.
I got to my feet grinning widely at them, before turning back to look at the black soldier. She stood with her arms folded and her mouth was pulled back on one side as she watched me.
"Where are the others?" I asked her.
"They're here, too," She said and gestured to the other side of the cell doorway.
I looked through and saw Goodwin and Dean. Goodwin grinned and waved at me while Dean had her arm tightly round another girl and was beaming.
Hunter appeared by my side.
"Goodwin..." He breathed out and took a few steps towards her. She held back a little bit before running to him and leaping into his arms.
"Hunter! It's so good to see you all again!" She cried. "You too, Hodgson." She gave me a cheeky wink.
I couldn't help but feel like I was missing something though. I looked back at the black soldier and Sawyer, my eyebrows bunched together in the middle.
"Looking for someone else?" Sawyer grunted at me.
"Uh, yes." I rubbed the back of my neck. "Th-there was another girl. Um, she has long brown hair? Called Watson?"
The two soldiers looked at each other, grinning.
"Well, let's go look for her then." Sawyer huffed.
I walked into the cell slightly to help hoist Edwards up and take him with us, but Goodwin called out to me.
"He should be fixed up by now, Hodgson." She smiled.
Sure enough, Edwards gingerly put weight on his foot and he felt no pain. He jumped up and down to be sure making us chuckle.
"How?" Perkins asked Green.
"Those bottles in the cabinet at ours were potions. I'll tell you more about them later" she smiled sweetly and gave him another squeeze.
We followed the two soldiers out of the cell and back to the hall.
Goodwin, Green and Dean were giggling among each other. What were they planning?
"So, Dean?" I said as we travelled back along the narrow corridor lined with doors. "Who's this new girl?"
"Oh, this is my girlfriend. Her name's Hewitt." She said proudly, and, as if to prove it to us, she planted a big kiss on the girls lips, making her blush deeply.
"Wow! Congratulations!" Hunter laughed.
"Plot twist! Sorry, Edwards." Perkins laughed along with him. Edwards shrugged.
"Goodwin, I, uh..." Hunter tried to address Goodwin as we neared the door to the hall.
"Yes, Hunter?" Goodwin smiled widely at him.
"I... Never mind." He chickened out.
I heard the black armoured soldier mutter something to Sawyer and Sawyer laughed, but I didn't hear what she said.
We came to the main hall and Needham was standing there alone waiting for them.
"All's well that ends well?" He quipped at the two soldiers.
"Almost." said the girl soldier. "Seem's we're missing someone."
"Oh dear. Who might that be?"
"Watson, it seems?" The girl laughed. Suddenly it clicked. I knew that laugh anywhere.
"You sneaky bitch!" I exclaimed at her and she turned round, grinning.
"How am I sneaky?!" She complained.
"Hiding behind armour?! Cruel move, Watson! Very cruel." I folded my arms at her and tried to pout.
"Oh stop moaning." She laughed, and removed her helmet. Her long brown hair cascaded down over her shoulders, her eyes sparkled, and her lips pulled back in a wide smile.
I couldn't help myself. With two strides, I snaked my arms around her waist and pulled her into a kiss I have been waiting an age to do. I felt her body relax and she started to kiss me back. We got so caught up in exploring each other's mouths that Sawyer had to cough loudly into our ears to get us to stop.
We broke apart, looking sheepishly at each other. Watson looked even more beautiful than the last time I saw her.
"Hi," she blushed.
"Hello, gorgeous." I responded, the corners of my mouth almost reaching my ears. I was smiling so wide.
"And just in time for the wedding too!" Green announced and Perkins blanched.
"You want to get married?" He blurted out.
The girls and Sawyer burst out laughing. Watson's laughter was like music to my ears.
"Not our wedding, doofus!" Green laughed. "But if that was your proposal, it will get a big fat no from me. That was shite!"
"She meant my wedding..." Sawyer grunted.
"Oh, to the pretty blonde we saw at the Blacksmiths?" Edwards asked.
Sawyer shot him a disapproving look, but Watson patted his arm. "Breathe, big guy." She soothed.
He smiled down at her, and she turned to Needham.
"What did madam say about Atkinson then?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips. The black armour suited her really well, especially on her curves. However, the sword on her back looked huge. How can she have the strength to swing that about?
"She'll deal with that bastard. She's gone back now to sort it out." Needham smiled warmly at her.
Watson nodded, looking back at me. She noticed I was checking out her weapon and she grinned, an evil glint in her eye.
"Watson..." Goodwin said slowly. "I know that look. Don't be evil!"
Watson looked at her and acted all innocent. "What? I didn't say aaaanything..." She removed the sword from its sheath, the blade was as thick as her thigh, completely black with silver, razor sharp edges, and a leather bound hilt with a ball on the end. She moved it so easily as she showed off a few swings with it, before placing it on the ground.
"Oh, I know what she's doing now." Green spoke with realisation.
Hunter, Perkins, Edwards and myself were lost on what she was up to, but she was acting cocky, meaning she was definitely up to something.
"Fancy a go with it?" She asked us, lifting one side of her mouth and wiggling her eyebrows.
"I will!" Edwards cried out, and strode forward to have the first go.
He bent to pick it up, but jolted when he tried to rise up. He tried again. He couldn't lift it. He shot Watson a knowing, cocky look.
"You stuck it to the floor!" He said, standing up straight, leaving the sword on the floor.
"With what?" She responded, confidently.
"I dunno, but that ain't budging!" He looked back down at the sword.
Perkins laughed. "Let me have a go!"
He bent and placed his hand on the hilt, looking back at Green to make sure she was watching, he went to stand but jolted and almost fell to the floor.
"Ohhhhhh, you almost had it there..." Watson jeered, trying desperately not to laugh.
Hunter gave it a go, but he couldn't and so it was my turn.
I clamped my hand around the hilt tightly, looking at Watson to gauge her reaction. She had an amused look on her face while she stood there watching with her arms folded neatly in front of her. I couldn't help but notice how the Cuirass stopped just at her chest, bringing an accent to her cleavage.
"HODGSON!" Edwards bellowed right into my ear making me jump.
I had been so distracted by Watson's chest, that I hadn't realised the others had clocked on and were rolling around with laughter. I ignored them and tried to lift the sword, but just like the others, it didn't move an inch. No matter how much I heaved, pulled, shook or pushed at it, it wouldn't move at all.
Watson started walking slowly towards me, her arms still folded and shaking her head. "And I thought you would have at least made it move a tiny bit." She said, feigning disappointment.
"What have you done to it?" I asked her, getting to my feet and backing away.
"Nothing..." With that she stamped her foot on the ball on the end of the hilt, sending it flying into the air spinning and twirling before she stuck out her hand and caught it by the hilt. She lowered herself into a defensive pose, before sliding the blade into its hilt and straightening up. "It's my baby." She beamed proudly.
"The fuck...?" Perkins, Hunter and I said together, unashamedly gaping at her.
"Who are you and what have you done with the real Watson?" I asked her, jokingly.
She chuckled before striding over to Needham. "I need to have a quick chat with Needham for a bit. Girls, take them back to ours, won't you? Dean, any chance of another buffet to try and convince Ashdown?"
"Oh yes please!" Sawyer said, giving Dean pleading eyes.
Dean laughed, "sure thing, Watson. Be home in an hour ok?"
Watson saluted. "Yes sir!"
Needham and Watson walked together, already deep in a whispered conversation, before going through a door and disappearing. Goodwin clapped her hands together.
"Let's get moving then, fella's!" She chirped.