My Journey-Part Three

*cruch* *cruch* *crunch* as the footsteps drew closer, louder, scarier. I closed my eyes. I felt a hand on my wrists and I screamed loud. He covered my mouth quickly. I opened my eyes then to see not a filthy, smelly bandit, but a fair looking and what seeming to be a knight of Apolon. He smiled for a second and gave me a shush sign. I nodded. Then he untied me and because I had been hurt badly (something I did not notice until then) he carried me out of the tent and snuck us both past the drunken group of bandits.1

He had already retrieved Eleave and put me onto her. He obviously had no stead for he lead me out on Eleave, while he walked beside holding the reigns. Once we were safely out of the bandit camp he helped me off Eleave. Then without words he began to heal some cuts that I had been given in my sleep from a dull blade, of a somewhat disturbed man.2

" Thank you kind sir" I said to him not sure of who this man was, and why he rescued me.3

" I saw your encounter with them in the forest as I was umm.... scouting for the army for spy's. It wouldn't have been right just to sit there and let that happen to you. So I waited until they became very drunk, to avoid bloodshed." He said then looked at me with a lot of pity.4

" I am afraid that I have nothing to reward your kindness toward me, just please accept my greatest appreciation. I don't know what would have happened if you didn't show up." He then had finished bonding my wounds and started to build a fire.5

" I desire nothing as a reward except that you do not mention our meeting to anyone again." He did not look at me when he spoke which at first I thought rude, but soon it was clear that he was shy.6

" I will not speak of it then, if it is what you wish of me. (He was trying to light a spark now with some stones) May I ask it of you for one more favour." I felt helpless now, like a lost girl searching for her mother in a marketplace.7

" I will do what I can to help." He spoke softly, then lit the fire with ease.8

" I do not know of my whereabouts, perhaps you know how to get back on to the road to Apolon?" I asked desperately realizing that I was indeed lost in a dark wood.9

" I will show you to the path tomorrow, I need rest as much as you do. I have been scouting all week." He then laid out a blanket on the ground, and patted it, telling me to come and sit.10

" My name is Eve." I said, it seemed his secrecy rubbed off on me before. 11

" I am Paul a umm... knight of Apolon. I hope that you do not mind my manners. Though from the looks of you, you are a peasant." He looked me over then tossed me my sword.12

" I believe this is yours, I found it outside the tent. It is not like bandits to carry swords, so it must be yours. (I nodded) So my question is why is a peasant woman all alone in the woods, with a strong horse that would no doubt be expensive and a gold lined sword that is not old or dull?" He seemed to read me like a book, however I had a counter statement.13

" I suppose I could ask you what a knight of Apolon is doing scouting,  for a week when Apolon itself has not had an enemy in 100 years. But instead of asking you that I will keep to myself." I said not realizing that I was supposed to be a peasant.14

" Fair enough. I will lead you to the path tomorrow. Now I will keep to myself and sleep." He said then yawned and set up a bed at the other side of the fire for himself.15

There was something about this knight that I didn't trust. I stayed awake in fear of a betrayal but then realized that it was not fair for me to not trust this man who had just saved my life.16

" Goodnight Paul." I said to the already asleep man.17

I had a huge urge to tell him the truth of who I really was then maybe, he would tell me what his secret was. I decided I would sleep on it and maybe tomorrow tell him the truth. If he would still be there when I woke up that is.18

I had a strange dream that night. I was running through the woods looking for someone. I saw my father. He smiled and yelled for me to come to him. I ran to him and he hugged me. Then he threw me to the ground in anger and he ran away. I chased after him but as I did my feet began to slow. Then I was grabbed by the fat bandit who breathed heavily on me and forced me into a cave. I did not see anything except black, but then I saw Peri who guided me out into a tall corn field. I ran again searching for my father but instead Dorian came. Dorian the general of my fathers army appeared and leaned over as if to kiss me. It was at this point that I got scared and awakened. I could not see Paul anywhere.19