The Writers Corner

Apr. 9, 2009

Chapter Six; Part Two

    Now you undoubtedly want to know what Smith's friends have been doing since we left them. Let's allow Smith to sleep for now, as he will need his rest later, and move to Arcon, Tina, Jalor and Earagorn. When we last saw them all, the whole group was all together again... well, except for Smith, of course. Tina was the first to comment.
    "Grandda! Arcon! How did you find us?"
    "I believe the question is, how did you find your way here? And before us?" Responded Arcon, puzzlement in his voice yet nothing on his face.
    "After I lost sight of you, I just ran for all I was worth. I stumbled across here, had a little... disagreement with a large pack of huge wolves-"
    "Disagreement?? More like a fight, from which I saved you." Interrupted Earagorn, chuckling to himself.
    "-Met Earagorn here, and now your here, so we're all together again, except for Smith, who's still missing." Tina finished, ignoring Earagorn. Arcon was disturbed by the news that no one knew where Smith was, and it showed on his face. For once.
    Earagorn noticed his friend's worried expression. The two of them went to the side for a moment. "Arcon, my friend, what is troubling you?"
    "Smith has gone missing. That is what troubles me. Only the Great One knows what could happen to him in this forest." He looked out into the thick forest that surrounded them. "I pray for his safety."
    The group camped at the ruins that night. The next morning, Arcon and Earagorn went into the ruins to look around and see if this was the fort they were looking for.
    "Arcon, how, if I may ask, are we going to tell if this is the right fort or not?" Earagorn asked once they were out of earshot of everyone else.
    "Well, for one thing, the fort we are looking for will be enchanted. Look for moving, inanimate objects, or doors closing on their own, or perhaps a dark sense of dread and death." Arcon responded.
    "Cheery."
    "I wasn't joking with you there."
    "I was." Arcon rolled his eyes and Earagorn grinned.
    The two friends moved through the giant once-great fortress, wary and silent, each looking out for the other and ready for anything... or so they thought.
    As they moved toward the inner-keep, they began to notice more and more skeletons skewed everywhere, many still waring their armor and holding their weapons in their hands. As the duo moved deeper into the keep, they had yet to see- or feel- anything out of the ordinary. There were old tapestry's on the wall, each displaying still-vivid images of epic battles, golden halls, beautiful ladies and brave knights.
    "Amazing." Mumbled Arcon, gazing at the tapestries. "These tapestries still hold all their color, and hardly show any age."
    Earagorn glanced behind them. "I see something even more amazing." He said, turning Arcon so that he would look behind them as well. "All the skeletons are gone."
    Arcon glanced around. "That cannot be good. Come on, let's get back to the others." The two began making their way back to the front of the fortress, keeping on the lookout for anything that could mean trouble. As they moved along, they noticed that there were no skeletons left anywhere. Earagorn looked they slightest bit nervous, and was looking around so much, Arcon told him to stop before he shook his brains out.
    They reached the front gate without incident, and Arcon told them that they needed to keep moving. He received questioning looks, but since no one else knew exactly where they were, no one argued. Arcon looked around, glanced at the sun, and started off.
    It was just past noon when Arcon's highly sensitive ears picked up the soft pattering of many feet following them. He motioned for the group to stop, and whispered his hearings. "I will do a quick scouting of the area, just to be safe." He moved soundlessly into the wood. Within moments of Arcon's disappearance into the wood, an arrow flew out of the thicket and hit a tree right next to Tina's head! Everyone turned in alarm to where the arrow had come from, and none believed their eyes when they saw the archer. Standing in a clearing, trying to string another arrow into it's bow, stood a skeleton in battle gear!
    Suddenly, nineteen more skeleton archers popped out of the surrounding wood, and they began unleashing a rain of arrows upon our brave group of travelers. Tina, Earagorn and Jalor scrambled to get out of the line of fire and find cover.
    "What in the world is going on?!?" Demanded Tina, shooting a wicked glare in Earagorn's direction. He shrugged innocently from his hiding spot.
    Jalor, who had fought in many a battle, surveyed the situation with a battle-hardened gaze. "I think the bigger question is, how to we stop it? They're already dead! Or at least, should already be dead." He glanced at Earagorn. "This is out of my league. I fight Norgins and Eastern rats, not skeletons!"
    Earagorn nodded, then glanced out to the wood. "Come on, buddy, where are you?" He whispered.
    At that moment, four arrows shot out of the wood behind Earagorn, each hitting a skeletal warrior right in the chest. To the great surprise of all who watched, all four dropped dead! Before anyone could so much as blink, four more arrows came out of the wood, only this time, from behind Tina. Once again, they all hit their mark, and once again, the skeletons dropped dead. Again.
    At this point, the remaining skeletons were in utter confusion. They no longer were aiming their arrows at Earagorn, or Tina, or Jalor. They were aiming at the wood behind them, firing at their unseen foe with the lethal arrows. Arrows continued to fly back and forth, but the only ones that hit something besides trees were the ones coming from the unseen archer. Before long, there were only five skeletons left, and they had dropped their bows and drew swords, hoping for better luck with these. They charged a reckless charge, and three of the five were "dead" before they reached our party. Tina, Earagorn and Jalor drew their own blades and took to the offence. The last two were swiftly dealt with (as it were, they died like anything else) and Earagorn threw back his head and screamed an inhuman scream at the sky. When he was done, everyone was staring at him, including the unseen archer, who had yet to be seen. Earagorn grinned.
    "Sorry!" he said. "Couldn't help it." He was still grinning. Wolfishly.

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Apr. 11, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Created4CHRIST