Oswald spotted elves through the trees, flowing to and fro through the kingdom's grand archway.
"We've finally arrived."
They cut through the treeline, greeted by burly elven men hauling cargo-filled carts, children skipping beside their parents, and—standing tall beneath the kingdom's grand archway—twelve elite guards, six on either side.
"Aaah. The elven kingdom in Sylvian Enclave. It's very…" His nose wrinkled. "Mossy."
Moss nestled between the bricks that formed the ancient wall, protecting the kingdom.
"Forsooth, the heavens do oft shed tears in plenteous showers, by whose grace the moss doth prosper betwixt the bricks."
You don't say…
Oswald craned his neck upward.
Oh my!
His eyes fell on the huge arch's tip where the curves met, seeing an almost smoothed faceless symbol of the first elven monarch—the king looked left while the queen looked right.
So beautiful.
"Speaking of frequent showers." He craned his neck even further, seeing the clear blue sky with clouds drifting by. "I guess we're lucky today."
They continued to the kingdom. At the entrance, six elite guards stood on each side—each as tall as a basketball player—all donned golden armor while the commander wore shining silver, holding spears pointed skyward.
When the trio entered the kingdom, the commander barked.
"LIFT THINE ARMS ON HIGH!"
THUD!
In a single sharp motion, the guards slammed the butts of their spears before raising them in perfect salute.
"FOR THE DELIVERER OF THE FAIR PRINCESS!"
Deliverer? Fair Princess? Huh?
"Can you uh, ask them what they mean?"
Aelindor approached the silver-armored commander, speaking in the elven tongue. Oswald understood nothing, but his face told him everything.
"Thou didst rescue the princess?! At what hour?"
Oswald's neck jolted backward. "Me?! What Hour? I don't know. I mean, all I remember is saving women from this camp and brought them to their homes. One thing I found weird was that the last one requested me to… drop her by the…"
His gaze shot at the guard.
"SHE WAS THE PRINCESS!"
Percival walked in front of Oswald. "I need to understand this." He pointed at him. "You rescued the Princess? The one who has been unaccounted for a year. And you retrieved her?"
"T-That's what I want to find out."
The commander called out.
"Savior, come forth!"
Oswald jolted upright.
"Yes, sir!"
He walked toward the commander in a pseudo-soldier walk and stood before him—his own reflection staring back from the polished silver.
"Shall mine own valiant champions be permitted to journey with thee unto the castle, that they may safeguard thy passage?"
I-I… Do I? They're doing this for me and… I think… Yeah, I think I should.
He looked at the commander with renewed resolve.
"Sure! But include my friends in the protection too."
With a nod.
THUD!
"MEN! DEFENSIVE FORMATION!"
The twelve elite guards formed a protective pentagon around Oswald and his friends, the commander standing just outside.
"Whoa! Haha, this is so cool."
The guards began marching forward, their footsteps falling in synchronized metallic thuds as Oswald was escorted toward the castle.
* * *
"I'm still quite taken aback. How did you encounter Her Highness after a year of absence?"
Oswald nodded, then gazed upward.
"It all happened in the middle of the night. I woke up andseeing it was still nighttime, I wanted to go back to sleep—but then I remembered how he…" He gestured at Aelindor. "…described the nighttime beauty. So I exited the cabin and… Haaah." He sighed, shaking his head. "It was really a sight to behold."
Facing forward, he asked, "Am I right, guards?"
The guards replied, one by one.
"In good sooth, I concur most heartily!"
"Verily, you are most correct."
"My longing to behold it doth near overwhelm me! Prithee, is the splendour so exceeding great as to enchant the soul?"
"Exceeding great? Oh, no no—it will be far more captivating than anything you've pictured. After this, I think a vacation is in order."
"Ahem. Continuing, after marveling at the beauty, I…"
Decided to test my true strength.
"…decided to head back to the cabin, sleep heavy in my eyes. But as my hand neared the doorknob, a shrill pierced the night. Hearing it shook me to the core but also sprang my body into action. I ran until I heard men's voices in the distance. I slowed down my pace until I spotted a camp with a cage, men patrolling around it. When my eyes fell on the cage, I…"
His hands balled into fists, a creak sounded as his armor scraped.
"There were women… disrobed completely. A single glance burnt a harrowing image…"
Another shaky breath.
"Then comes… the worst part. One of them… acted strange… excited…"
He clenched his fists even tighter, his teeth gritted.
"And then, he opened the cage…"
He let out a silent whistle and shook his head.
"After he opened, everything was a blur. A blur of men being hurled by their necks… tied with a thick rope and… blindfolded by the very masks that covered their faces. I then borrowed the men's clothes and handed them over to the captive women, bringing them back to the kingdom on the cart. One by one, the women were dropped off at homes they hadn't seen in a long time. Heh."
He scoffed, eyes glistening under the sun.
"The reactions of their significant other, parent, child, friend—all were a sight… to behold…"
After his recollection, he fell silent the rest of the way.
Everyone was left speechless by his recollections as they continued their long trudge toward the castle.
* * *
Oswald's entourage neared the castle courtyard. The keep and its green spires pierced the sky.
Man, all that recalling has made me mentally tired. Is this what remembering trau—
"Ah!"
He winced, holding the side of his head, the inside pounding like a drum.
Is that what remembering trauma does?
"We draw nigh unto the castle. Art thou certain thou wouldst meet the monarchs in thy present state? 'Tis but a trifle for their graces to allow thee lodging within the keep."
"I don't know, man. I'd like to take you up on that offer, but… I'm a simple guy—all this lavishness and royal lifestyle isn't for me. There is always a tinge of guilt within me when doing stuff like that. I guess it's just a me thing."
"Haaah. Are we to understand you would choose the ministrations of an infirmary?"
"Yes, but… Haaah. It would be an insult to go for something simpler when they're offering greater… or something like that. Now that I said that, I sound… selfish."
"No, it is not selfish. However, we cannot comply with your request either. Leave the talking to us."
Percival said as they entered the castle's courtyard. The elite guards split on either side and bowed.
Percival placed his hand on his heart and bowed slightly.
"On his behalf, we thank you for granting us protection."
"'Twas mine honour," said the commander, head slightly lowered, fist close to his chest.
Thanks, man.
Oswald rubbed his temple, the throbbing intensifying.
Fuck, the headache's getting worse.
The trio continued to the castle's entrance, its pathway a clean and interwoven set of bricks, wooden statues of former queens and kings on either side—each pair facing one another.
As they neared the stairs leading to the entrance, a girl's voice—calm yet deadly—welcomed them.
"Welcome to the castle."
Huh?
Oswald, looking downward, raised his head to see the source of the voice. His eyes fell on a violet-haired maid with matching violet eyes and a dagger tucked under her wrist—except this one had shoulder-length pigtails, was younger, and stood about Oswald's height.
"Please, follow me," she said, slightly bowing. "I shall lead you to Her Highness."
What the— Are they sisters? Cousins?
"We are the savior's close acquaintances. Regrettably,his audience with Her Highness must be postponed, due to his present ill health. We request your indulgence to allow him the necessary rest prior to the audience."
Her gaze shifted to Oswald, still holding his head.
Damn it! Why did it have to happen at such an important time?
Her gaze shifted back to Percival. "Understood, he shall be taken care of."
Coming from you, with that dagger under your wrist—double meaning. Gulp. Double connotations.
"But only he shall pass within the castle walls."
"We have no qualms with that arrangement."
With that, the two left Oswald alongside the maid, entering the castle protected by two elven guards.
Lord, please don't let this be a repeat of passing out and waking up in a guest room.
* * *
ns216.73.216.247da2
and then Add to home screen.