Author:
Geminya and Kaylar Streamrudder
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 01:28:44 10/09/07 Tue
Chapter Five
Roseapple and Elmtree walked silently about the slave dorm in the abbey attics. Picking a chosen few slaves, they grabbed a rope from the eaves where Roseapple had hidden it and looped it over a stony protrusion on the abbey wall. As they rappled to the orchard floor, they small band was careful not to make a sound. If they were detected, it would mean the uncovering of almost a seasons work.
For just under a season, Roseapple and Elmtree had been taking a small bunch of slaves to the underground tunnels leading to Moledeep where the rest had their headquarters. Only half a score had been liberated so far, guards and other problems owing to the little progress. Elmtree and Roseapple were often seen whispering together and all of the guards thought it was young love among the slaves. The two rebels didn’t discourage the rumor, why should they? They truly were in love. An unspoken understanding of what had to take place had gone before them and their whispering was about breaking the reign of the ferret warlord so that they could let their relationship blossom.
As the latest bunch of reinforcements entered the window, Roseapple grasped the climbing rope and shinnied nimbly up to the window. Looking down below she saw what was holding her friend up.
A band of guards had caught Elmtree and they were leading him towards the Great Hall to await Oiltongues pleasure. She must try to save him.
Calling her band of fighters the squirrel passed out the arms that had been given to her. As she slung her bow and quiver over her shoulder she gave the final instuctions. “Now all of you hide in and outside the hall. I alone will try to face them and save Elmtree. If you hear my signal, come in and join me. Try to form a circle and hold our position. When the tide is against us, fight out to the escape route and head for the headquarters. We must live to fight another day!” As she finished speaking she slid a sword neatly into her belt. It was Elmtree’s first weapon and he prized it above all other weapons. Roseapple hoped that she could give it to him to fight another day. They’d make it though, they were planning a life after the war together.
When she entered the hall, Oiltongue was interrogating Elmtree. “Who are you with, What are you doing, Where did you go last night?” Firing shafts at the two guards holding her love, Roseapple rushed to his side. Standing back to back the two began to fend off all comers. As they horde drew closer, the brave squirrelmaid cried out. “Hemlocks Live On!” Immeadatly, reinforcements came. In the tide of battle, Elmtree was separated form Roseapple. When she spotted him over the heaving mass of hordebeasts and rebels, he was facing Oiltongue who had grabbed a spear form a dead hordebeast. Elmtail threw his sword. Oiltongue stepped aside and the weapon clattered harmlessly off the wallstones. Then, with his face alight with an evil grin, he released his weapon, aiming at Elmtree’s unprotected heart. His aim was true and Elmtail fell to the floor, his face awash with pain.
Roseapple fought like a berserker as she battled her way to where he lay. As he looked into her eyes he breathed one last sound, “love..” After that he breathed no more. Roseapple stood defiantly over his body, an arrow knocked on her bowstring. “The Hemlocks live Oiltongue. I have come to finish you.” Fear gave the warlord speed. In a lightning move, he slashed her bowstring leaving a line of blood crossing her right cheek, from chin to ear. As she fell to the ground beside him, he raised his sword for the killing blow. Fortunately for Roseapple, the remaining rebel forces retrieved her from the floor, dragging Elmtail’s poor body behind them. Roseapple was in a trance as they led her to Moledeep, and upon arriving, she passed out.
When she regained conciousness, there was the funeral of Elmtail to be attended to. She stood stoicly, through the whole ceremony, but as soon as it was done she ran into the woods. As she sat by the weeping willow she and Elmtail had dreamed about getting married under, she let the tears flow. Her love was gone, and she was left alone in the tyrants clutches. How could she continue on?
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
|
Feedback: 