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8/9/2019 Marshland Home

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Character List

Sharlayna Main characterJeff and James twin brothers, Sharlaynas best friends

Sam Jeff and James younger brotherPuton village smithLaurence village guard


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Sharlayna

Laughing and calling, we chased each other through the marshes that wereour home, winding in and out between the various structures located

wherever land was stable. We slid in the mud, dirtying our ragged playclothes but we didnt mind and pushed on.I felt someone shove me from behind and I crashed headlong into

someones sack of carefully picked marsh fruit, sending the whole sacktumbling into the muddy water. Jeff! I screamed, knowing that it was him.The two twins grinned at each other and ran as I chased after them.

Jeff and James were twins and they were my best friends in the world,though they sometimes drove me crazy. They were identical down to the lastbrown hair on their heads and so everyone got them mixed up all the time

even me, who have known the twins for my whole life because they were soperfectly alike that it was hard to tell who was who.But before I could reach either of the twins, a rough hand grabbed the

back of my shirt, hauling me into the air. Sharlayna ! Puton, a bear of a man,roared in my face. You will go get me back my fruits and you will scrub every single one of them until they were as clean as they were before !

He dropped me on my rump in the mud and pointed a large finger at thedirection of his house, which I realized, was the one with the sack of fruit infront of it. Meekly, I obeyed. I lowered myself into the muddy water,

shuddering as the water filled my boots up, soaking into my socks and mypants. Mothers going to have a fit when she sees me , I thought with a sighas I reached down into the water and grabbed the first fruit and dumped itinto the sack on the shore that Puton was holding up.

Eventually, when the sack could sit on the bank by itself without tippingover, he left me to my work and disappeared back into his hut. I could hearmetal banging against metal inside and knew that Puton, our village smith,had returned to work.

Layna? a voice called curiously. I looked up to see Laurence, one of the young men trained to defend our village against any attacks, looking down atme curiously, leaning against the railing. What are you doing?

I flushed a deep red. Of all the other young men, Laurence was the mosthandsome one. It made me embarrassed to have him see me like I was soaked in mud and in ragged clothes. I accidentally knocked Putons marshfruit into the water and he made me pick them up, I replied, leaning down tograb another fruit. He sat down on the path next to the sack, his booted


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feet dangling over the water and took the fruit from me as it came up. Heexamined it as I went to grab another one.

You mean, someone accidentally shoved you into the sack, causing it totumble down into the water so you have to pick them up, he commented

calmly.I had to smile at that. Laurence knew me way too well. Yes.He smiled back and set the fruit back into the sack. Why do you spend

your time with the village brats? Youre almost a woman now, and you shouldbe preparing for it, instead of running around in dirty clothes, picking upafter your friends, he asked me. Then he pushed himself off the edge andsplashed next to me in the mucky water.

My throat tightened as I saw the mud splash up his clean boots, dirtyinghis neat and spotless clothes. He removed his gloves and tucked them into

his belt and reached down into the mud. His fingers held up another fruitand he tossed it into the sack. No, let me do this, I protested, trying topush him away and back up to the shore again. Its my job.

He smiled at me and held me at bay with a gentle hand, another fruit inhis other one. Answer me first, he told me.

I sighed. Theyre my friends, I said simply.Hmm, he said, letting me go. I see.Now, will you get out of the mud now?Afraid to see me dirty, Layna? he teased me.I knew that he knew how much I liked him, but he never really brought it

up much. After all, almost all of the village girls liked him leaving no doubtthat when it was time for him to marry, there would be no shortage of girlsfor him to choose as his wife from. But strangely, he spent the most timewith me the most ragged one of the girls and probably the dirtiest. I spentmy days with the village brats, as Laurence put it, running across thevillage, slipping around in the mud.

I also spent some time with an old retired knight named Sir Darius whohad once been in service to the king before he retired here. The old man wasas close to a father as I could get, seeing as my own father drowned in themarsh bog when I was really little. He trained me in swordplay, only becausehe wanted me to be able to fight back if I was ever attacked. But he neverreally saw me as one of his own warriors the same warriors that he trainedto defend the village, like Laurence. Maybe it was because he only saw me asa project and a test an amusement to spend the rest of his life working onand perfecting.


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I didnt care because I liked the lessons he gave me and I liked spendingand studying with the old man because he was patient and kind to me.

Losing myself in my thoughts, I didnt see that Laurence had alreadymoved back up to his seat next to the sack of fruit, which I was pleased to

see was almost half full. I plucked another one up from the bottom of themarsh and threw it into the sack.Then, as my fingers brushed another one, a horn blew, loud and urgent,

across the village. Without hesitation, Laurence jumped to his feet as thehorn blew again. Layna, go home, he shouted at me before he disappearedinto a crowd of his fellow guards rushing to the direction where the hornblow had sounded.

Layna, go home? I shook my head, dropping the fruit back into the mud.I hauled myself up onto bank where Laurence had just been sitting a moment

again and ran for Sir Dariuss house in the center of the village. I wasntabout to go home was going to fight next the warriors, as Ive always done.Here, Layna, Sir Darius said the moment I entered. He handed me my

gear and I made my way to the back, apologizing for the mud. I saw him, outof the corner of my eye, hide a smile at my apology. It is quite all right,Layna, just get geared up. They will be expecting everyone at the gate soon.

Any idea what it is this time? I asked him. Sir Darius always seemed toknow before the others what they were going to face because the old man,despite his years, was still wary and alert and often took walks in theforests around our marsh.

Often on these walks, he would spot prints in the dirt and he would tellour village guards what to watch out for and we were always preparedwhenever an attack occurred mostly because of Sir Dariuss numerous walksoutside. But he was the only one to walk outside because it was said that theforest was cursed and our ancestors had forbidden us to enter it.

Sir Darius had come from outside of the forest, even beyond them, soour people believe that he would not be harmed by the beasts of the forestsbecause he was not one of our people by blood.

But this time, he shook his head. I have not seen any tracks recently,he commented as I changed behind a screen into the clean clothes of thevillage guard.

I quickly donned the armor and my sword and securely strapped on myboots around my feet. Leather gloves and armguards were the next to go onand then came my belt with its sword.


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But unlike Laurence, I also bore an elegant long bow that Sir Darius hadgiven me for my tenth birthday and had taught me how to use it. The bowwas white and naturally so, and it was so flawlessly made that I didnt believein his story about the bow that he had found it on one of his journeys when

he was younger.Then what could be attacking us this time? I asked him.He turned to his stew pot and stirred it a little. You will just have to see

for yourself this time, Layna, he told me, tasting the soup a little. I saw himsmile as I pulled the screen back. And you must return after the battle forsome soup. I am afraid that this soup is too delicious for one to drink byoneself.

I grinned at him. I will, sir, thank you, I told him as I fitted my helmonto my head, over my hair which I had swiftly pinned up onto my head. Sir

Darius helped me strap on my greaves and my metal-backed gloves over mythin leather ones and hooked the clasp of my cloak together. With a pat onmy shoulder, he nodded and I left after giving him a squeeze in return.

I ran as fast as light armor would let me and soon, I arrived at the gateas one of the last ones in the back. I was glad, because the person standingat the very front next to the guard Captain was Laurence and he wasscanning each and every one of the mens faces intently. Movement has beenseen in the forest and scouts have reported that it is a regiment of footsoldiers, the captain called out to his men.

Yes, sir! everyone cried. I had to smile and I tugged my hood down alittle to make sure my whole face was covered even though I was wearing afull helm that everyone else would be wearing later.

Good then. Ten men to the forest were going to chase them towardsour walls and pin them down with the archers on the walls. Its a simple linedrive, understand? the captain shouted.

Yes, sir! the men roared. I had been watching Laurence the whole timeand now, I watched as his gaze was set on me. He started forward.

Time to vanish , I thought with a small smile to myself. I slipped out inbetween two men who let me pass without hesitation they were too busylistening to the rest of the captains speech to bother with me.

Behind me, I heard a movement and began to move faster. Wait,Laurences voice called.

I slowed and then stopped, my cloak swirling around my feet gently.Behind me, I heard him stop too as soon as I did. I know you, Laurence

said softly behind me. Ive seen you before, havent I?


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I smiled underneath the cloak. Yes, I replied.He seemed startled at the sound of my voice but muffled by the cloak

and the full helm, I knew he wouldnt recognize it, only that it soundedfemale. In the distance, the sound of the battle started. Behind me, I heard

him turn slightly.We both must go, I pointed out.Then he was gone, his footsteps fading away into the distance. I followed

him for a ways. Then, grabbing the lowest branch of the nearest tree, Iswung up into the tree and began to climb.

As soon as I was high enough, I leaped to the next tree and the next,often using my hands to swing myself over because the branch wouldnt bewide enough for me to stand on.

I reached the wall and moved onward, towards the direction of the

battle. By the sound of the fighting, I knew that the plan did not go asplanned. Locking myself upside down underneath a branch with my legs, Itwisted, at the same time, the quiver on my back, drawing my bow at thesame time, so that the arrows wouldnt fall down. I drew three arrows andwithout aiming, I fired. My white arrows, as white as my bow, screamedthrough the air and buried themselves into the chests of enemy men below.More arrows followed the first volley.

I stopped only when the enemy men realized that they had to repositionthemselves. Putting away my bow and drawing my sword, I twisted the quiverback into position, swinging myself back upright again. I waited until theright moment to leap from the tree with a battle cry.

Men from both sides looked up as I flew towards them. With a jarringthud, I landed on them and cut down at least five men before they realizedthat they were in danger. Then, they came to life again, attacking me fromall sides. I managed to keep them at bay for a short while but before theycould overwhelm me, someone joined me at my side and I looked up intoLaurences blue eyes. He grinned wolfishly at me.

We fought together against the enemy, standing with our backs together.Laurence was a good fighter, and I matched in skill, though not in strength.One of his blows could send an enemy soldier sprawling, though mine onlymade the enemy become more aware of me despite my small size. But I wasquick too and that gave me the advantage.

Were outnumbered! Laurence bellowed into my ear over the din of thebattle. I looked around and saw that he was right almost half of the men


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that the captain had sent to start the line drive were down. Our smallnumbers had barely diminished those of the regiment.

Retreat back to the gates the enemy will probably follow you there, Ishouted back, cutting down a man wielding a heavy battle axe and had been

about to charge us.What about you? Laurence shouted back.I snarled and kicked down a man on the ground who I had thought had

been dead before and had just tried to spear me on his sword. Dont worryabout me, just go! I shouted at him.

He nodded and clapped me on the shoulder. Retreat! he bellowed at ourremaining men. Fall back to the gate!

I fought my way out of a throng of enemy men who had surged forwardinto the empty gap that Laurences absence had left. I glanced up into

Laurences eyes and nodded. He was far away now but he saw my nod andsaluted me with his sword. The last thing I saw was his mud covered clothesbefore he turned and disappeared into the crowd of his fellow soldiers.

I fought harder and harder, trying to hit as many as I could to buyLaurence and his men some time to retreat to the gate. I was getting moreand more tired with every blow and my opponents knew it.

Then pain exploded at the back of my skull and I felt my body crumpleand fall. With a sigh, I slipped into the darkness.


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Laurence

Whoever that warrior had been, he was buying us time to get away.Retreat! I hollered as I ran after my men. One of the men stumbled and I

hauled him up to his feet again, dragging him as I went.However, I was still very mystified by the voice of the warrior and theway he dressed. He had the voice of a young boy and by his size and height,he could have easily been a young boy, but the way he moved and fought withdetermination told me that he was very well trained. Not only that, but healso wore the uniform of the guards of the Marshland Village, even thoughhis armor was differently crafted than ours.

Shaking my head, I looked up to see the gate ahead of us. Fire as theycome out of the woods! I shouted at the archers at the top. Dont hesitate!

Just fire! There are still a lot of them left!The leader of the archers saluted me to show that he had heard and hegave a shout. The archers brought up their longbows, aiming it towards thewoods. My men never stopped running until they reached the gates whichsome of the stronger villagers had opened for us. They closed it the momentwe entered, putting up the huge bolt across the gates.

With a roar, the enemy surged out of the woods. I ran to the neareststairs that led to the top of the wall to watch as arrows rained down on theenemy. There were screams and the army halted where they were and tried

to back up into the cover of the trees and was unsuccessful because theirfellows at the back had charged right into them.During the last few volley of arrows, I glimpsed through a gap in the

trees a rider riding quickly away, something slung over the back of his horse.He vanished behind the cover of the outspread branches of a tree but thenappeared again. This time, I glimpsed the curved of a white bow.


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But whats that part about my bow?He glanced down at me. The White Bow of Queen Arwyn is a legendary

elven weapon used by the elf Queen Arwyn who once used the bow itself tofire the arrow that speared the heart of a wild dragon who attacked the

elves at one point in their history. It was well known among the elves, andthe humans, that she gave the bow away almost a hundred years ago, two years before the elves vanished from the land, never to be seen or heardfrom again, he explained.

Oh.You didnt know this?I scowled at him. No our people have better things to do than learn

about stories like this. It doesnt help either that your people have beenconstantly attacking us. We are a peaceful people but youve forced us into

war, I snapped at him, my temper returning.He seemed to realize this too because he moved off the path we were on,slowing down his horse as he did so. Im sorry for what my people have done,really, I am, but yelling at me for it now wont do your head any good, hepointed out, turning into a clearing. He stopped his horse and helped me off.I tried to stand on my own but instead, I grew dizzy and with his help, I satdown against a nearby tree.

He brought out several rawhide cords and began to tie me up with them.Is that really necessary? I asked him, amused. I can barely stand, letalone walk.

He shrugged as he finished. I personally dont think so, but Ive beenordered to tie you up every time we stop and I must follow orders, heexplained to me as he went to unload his horse.

Very soon, he had a fire going and he served me my meal and his. Sittingdown beside me, he began to eat after placing my bowl in my lap. I handledthe spoon rather awkwardly with my bound hands, nearly dropping it twice,and after a moment, I heard a sigh, and gentle hands took the spoon fromme and fed me the delicious stew.

You still havent told me your name, I pointed out after a moment.His spoon scraped the wooden bottom of his bowl for a moment and then

stopped. And you havent told me yours either, he said reply. He stood upand took my bowl from me, stacking it on top of his and after cleaning it outwith a bit of sand from his pack, he stored it back into the saddlebags onthe ground.


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Then he came over and scooped me up easily into his arms and set medown by the fire. Reaching over, he untied my hands and feet and tucked thestrips back into a pouch on his belt. Why did you do that? I asked himcuriously, rolling onto my back to watch him.

In the flickering light of the fire, I saw him smile and he lay back on thethick grass. Because I know that if you escape, you wouldnt get far beforeI would find you again, he said quietly. And also, I know your features wellenough now that if you do escape and somehow manage to find your way to atown or a village, I could draw out your image and put a ransom on yourhead.

I smiled in the dark, turning my back on the fire. Hes smart , I realized,my smile widening in the dark. Itll take more than just a few tricks up my sleeve to escape from him . I thought to myself for a moment. But maybe it

doesnt have to be elaborate. Hes expecting an elaborate one. So.I sat up and he watched me. I need to go relieve myself, I announced.He made to sit up and I grinned at him. You actually have to come with me?

In the firelight, I saw him turn slightly red. And then, I took a chance toreally look at him because during the whole day, all I saw of him was theshadow of his helm or his hood or the back of his head. Now I saw his face.He was a young man, from what his face showed, with dark intelligent eyesand equally dark hair. But of course, in the dim light like this one, it was hardto tell what color his eyes were.

No, Ill stand a ways off, he replied.And what about your words of my escape? I asked him cheerfully.He stretched a little, almost too casually, but he didnt reply as if he

didnt hear me. Instead, he turned his back to me. Go do your business, hesaid to me briskly. I grinned.

All right then.I took one step forward and stumbled. He caught me by an elbow and

pulled me back to my feet again. You need someone to hold you up? heasked me with a grin.

I scowled at him. No, I snapped, snatching my elbow back.He grinned again and beckoned for me to keep going.

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