Memory in the End

Chapter 39: Not Useless

I took a couple deep breaths. For the first time in a long time, I was alone without the Five. Suddenly, I was afraid. I can't do this without them. They needed help, but...I don't know if I can. I'm not strong enough or skilled enough to do this. I feel myself getting lightheaded and do my best to take soft breathes to keep myself from passing out. I leaned my head against the wall of the tree and closed my eyes.

When I hear the three approaching, I sit straight up and do my best to calm my nerves. I held my sword close to my side and get in a fight stance. Right now, I couldn't waste time panicking; I had to escape these people. I peered past the leaves and I see them stop not close by but not far either. I could overhear them talking.

"We have the Five, I don't see why Hugo had us go after the princess," a red haired one speaks, poking his sword past the foliage. He's the scrawniest of the three with a horrible personality as it turns out. His blue eyes glinted with a savageness that matched his thin curling lips.

"Hunter, You know Hugo wants the whole bounty. Besides, it is only a princess, she won't give as much trouble as those others did," the one with brown hair responds. He's clearly the leader of the three with matching brown eyes and a fat face. "Not that capturing the Five was difficult, what with the information that was given to us on how we could weaken them. Their almighty leader gave in the minute we threatened to harm the girl..." He was talking about Michael. "That dumb blonde leaped right into one of our traps in the trees and basically at our feet. The other two acted too hastily and exposed themselves trying to save him, backs turned to us and everything. A couple shots from our arrows and they were quickly dealt with. That last one should've known better than to do an attack like that. He was way too vulnerable and in the open. A princess wouldn't be difficult to deal with whatsoever."

"Besides, the princess won't last without the Five. She doesn't have a kingdom, she can barely hold a sword, what does she have left? She needs the Five to stay alive, without them she's nothing," the last black haired warrior speaks.

"How does the Princess even expect to lead her people if she leaves her friends behind like that. Her kingdom needs a strong leader who will fight for them and not back down or run when it's hard. Poor souls who have to have her," the brown haired guy speaks.

The black haired one laughs, "You do have a point Remy."

"Don't I always, Julian?" He chuckles and I take a deep breath. As much as I hate to admit it, they're right. I can't be a leader if I'm scared of a challenge. I have to fight for my friends, just like they fight for me, and I have to save them. If I don't try, how do my people expect me to protect them? Taking my sword in my hand I moved silently along the tree root. I grabbed on one part of the root, preparing to flip myself upward and surprise them. Taking a rock near me, I threw it on the other side, making sure they heard it. When their attention is caught, they split up. The redhead, Hunter, stays. The brunette, Remy, heads towards the sound, while the black haired one, Julian, goes the other way. With them split up, I make my move.

I flipped myself up, trying to get Hunter before he alerts the others but to no avail. My landing is uneven and my sword's swing intersects with his, but I can tell by his movements that he was underestimating me. With my strength I push him back. He doesn't fall but his sword flies away, I strike him down quickly just as he pulls a knife aiming for my gut.

Behind me, Julian runs at me. He's a lot stronger and the force of his sword knocks me off my feet. I rolled out the way before his sword hits the ground I was on. I used my foot to kick him in his ankle, which stops him for a second where I manage to regain my balance, aiming my sword at him. Even though he is strong, he's clumsy, so when my sword hits his, he wasn't expecting it this time and he falls. I get him before he can get me.

Remy smiles at me, impressed, "I'm impressed, Princess. You are not as weak as I thought."

"I am not weak at all."

"We shall see," he smiles, running at me. I let him make the first move, knowing that they can't collect my bounty with my dead body. He hits his sword against mine first and then kicks me in the gut. I topple over and roll. My sword flies away and then he tries to get me again. I kick out my leg, even though he saw it and jumped over, I use the distraction to grab a rock, throwing it at him. It wounds him which allows me enough time to grab my sword. I'm back on my feet in less than a couple seconds. This time I make the first move. I don't hit the sword against his. Instead I make the motion which reflex makes him want to put his sword up. I use my foot to get him in the gut, he would block my sword if I tried to get him, but he wasn't expecting me to hit him.

It doesn't do much damage but does shock him. I try this time to get him but he grabs my wrist, and twists it. The sword falls down. I use my other hand to punch him, which releases his grip and blinds him, I got him right in his nose. I use my feet to drag them along the ground, hitting into his, and making him fall down. His sword flies clear across the field and I grab mine. I hold it above his heart.

"Kill me if you have the guts, Princess," he coughs.

I smiled, "I'm not a Princess...I'm a Queen." With that said I stabbed the sword right through him, killing him. I stand a second to catch my breath a chuckle softly. I did it, I took down three skilled men all by myself.

I stand up and turn around. I see the smoke from the camp and sigh. Now I just have to save the Five.

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It's exciting to see Arrabella finally be the bad a** that she is! I absolutely amazing and I'm glad she's finally showing it!

Stay tuned for the next chapter because there'll be a lot more bloodshed!

H and S