Thunderbolt of Laurels

Chapter 6-Alone, in the Forest, Fighting

"Why is this the reason? Who are they?" Merlin asks. But there's no time to explain. If we can get out of this, then I guess I have to tell him.
"Do you not know who I am?" Char comes towards us and asks.
"I can't know every single prince and princess in this entire island!" Merlin exclaims.
"This is a problem," I say nervously.
"Oh is that what I am to you now? You were completely fine with me before," he says.
"Yeah, I don't want to go back. Char, I like you, but not in the same way. I was just doing what I had to until I realized, I couldn't go through with this. It's my life too. There was nothing at stake if I didn't stay with you!"
"This has been set from before you were born. It's our destiny to marry. To unite the kingdoms."
"Our kingdoms are on good terms now, this isn't necessary anymore."
"Maybe ,but doesn't mean we should break rules."
"Unite the kingdoms? Rules?" Merlin asks.
"It doesn't matter," I say.
"Princess Eira and I are betrothed, always have been," he says. He just used my real name, these dwarfs may be hiding something but so was I, but for the sole reason that I wouldn't be found by this blockhead. I just hope my lie hasn't caused to much damage. Merlin looks at me.
"Betrothed? You never told me. . .that's why. . ." he trails off and looks at the stupid prince. The fact that he's not shaken about my real name surprises me. Maybe he already knew. Only a few people called me Alaura; my sister and my archery trainers because they were my closest family, no one else ever called me that. I tried to get my father to but he insisted on using my first name, after all he's the one who named me.
"Look, Eira we can do this the easy way or the hard way, regardless you're coming back with me," Char says.
"You know they always say that." I step out and start pacing. "It's always 'easy or hard way' and everyone always chooses the hard way, want to know why?" I take out my bow and put an arrow in it. "Because we're not giving up what we've longed for that easily." I release the arrow which just misses him, making him flinch. I didn't want to hit him but rather make a point that I'm standing my ground. My aim in impeccable.
"You're not making this any better. Soldiers, get her!"

I grab Merlin's arm and drag him with me as I run through the forest. I can't lead the army to their home so I don't go near it, however I have to think about what to do about Merlin. I can't bring him into this. A little ways down the riverside, I find a curved tree, which looks like a den. I look behind me, the soldiers haven't caught up yet and head towards the den. "Okay, Merlin you have to stay here okay?"
"No, I'm not leaving you alone with those guys after you. Stay here too." I nod. Maybe they won't find us here. We both get in and make ourselves as small as we can to avoid being seen.

Ten minutes or so goes by without a trace from Char and his men. "Those guys kind of suck," Merlin laughs. "They can't even find us."
"I don't know about that. Char's smart. He could be around, just being careful, observant."
"Then we'll be surrounded, we have to get out of here. Back to the house."
"I don't want to lead them to the others. Char might think they were hiding me and can get in trouble."
"We can't stay here." I weigh our options, both are risky.
"You go. They're not particularly looking for you. You have a chance."
"I'm not leaving. I already said that. I'm not losing you again. We stay together." Lose me again? What does he mean? He doesn't seem to notice.
"Merlin, I have to go, alone."
"Out of the question." He won't listen. He's not going to let me go; I have to trick him and lose him.
"Alright, let's go back."
We check our surroundings before we leave, it's clear. We travel light on our feet, turning out heads every possible angle making sure we're alone. We don't get far until it's time for me to go on my own and turn back. Merlin's distracted, looking around, focused. I stop and watch him keep going forward, he hasn't noticed I'm not behind him anymore. Good. I slowly walk back, until he's out of sight. I'm sorry Merlin, but I can't let anything happen to you, or the others. I know he'll be okay. As long as he's not with me, he won't be a problem. I walk the opposite direction of Merlin. I know the group is around here somewhere, so I have to still be careful. I reach a plain land. That's too risky to cross. I'd be out in the open, so I go around, within the concealment of the trees. . .

. . .This was bound to happen sooner or later, no matter what path I took. The soldiers are in front of me, and they see me. I can't run from this, time to fight. I load my bow and start shooting. I hit one guy in the arm and another in the leg, impairing them but not killing them. The rest charge at me with their swords drawn. Do they know they're not supposed to hurt me? I shoot them as they come to me and they fall, but a few dodge my arrows and are getting a little to close. I tightly grab my bow with both hands and strike the soldier as he comes at me. He drops. The rest come and I do the same. I swerve the incoming knights, avoiding their piercing sword and hit them hard with my bow. Fortunately, their no match for me. I take two of them down. Rookies probably. I keep going forward until I hear rustling and movement behind me. "Thought you could get away again?" Char says as he emerges from the shadows.
"I was hoping," I say.
"Why Eira? What did I do to you?"
"You did nothing, Char. I just had to go."
"But it was always about you and I, we were a team."
"Actually it was mainly about you." I cross my arms.
"Enough. Let's go home."
"That's not even your home Char, and it's not mine anymore."
"Just grab her," he tells his soldiers who come out from behind him. I'm surrounded.

I load up my bow again and start shooting, taking the three soldiers around him down. Char then starts walking up towards me in a haste, so I aim at him. He immediately stops. "Eira, you wouldn't." I smirk at him and shoot as he screams. When he opens his eyes, he can see that he's not dead, but in fact stuck to a tree. My arrows pierced his clothes and attached him to the tree behind him.
"Sorry Char. I don't want to hurt anyone but you've given me no choice." I run out of there.
"Get her!" he screams. "And get me off this thing!"

I think I've outran them. I don't hear anything anymore, so I take a minute to breathe. I'm exhausted. Suddenly, they swarm around me. They form a circle, enclosing me in the middle. What do I do now? They're trapping me. I take out my bow again and carefully figure out where to shoot to get out and so I don't waste any arrows. I need a weak link, an opening. But these guards have shields, my arrows won't do a thing. I'm actually trapped. 

That's okay I can think of something. Something. My breathing becomes more rapid as I start panicking. I can make it, I can be free, I. . . Char comes into the circle towards me as I take deep breaths. How do I get out of here? He knows I'm not going to stop running. "Let me out," I manage to say.
"Eira, I can't let you leave. Your fathers worried and so is your sister and so was I! We need to take you home."
"Tell them to move out. There's too many."
"Oh right, you don't do well with crowds. Men stand down."  The knights lower their weapons and scatter. This is my chance. I could get out if I run fast enough. So I do. I take this risky chance. I whirl past Char. Past a few knights, about to get away.

THUNK

I hit the ground dazed. "What are you doing?! You don't just go hitting ladies in the head!" I hear Char scream. In the near distance, I see a flash of blue emit. Was that my imagination from getting hit in the head? No it wasn't. The blue flashes become brighter and closer. Then one hits the knight in front of me; electricity. I attempt to get up, but I can't. The hit knocked out my senses. Ouch. No I have to keep going. I can't. I fall back on my face. Something falls in front of me, a piece of paper. I grab it and take a look at it as my eyes start falling heavy. A card, but I recognize it. It's like the one he gave me. I hold on to it as I see a small figure in front of me, wielding the power of lightning. Did he come for me? Is he back? I reach towards him, but I don't touch him. My eyes close before I can know for certain.