Elam ended up separating from Arslan and Zofia, off to get a replacement pail for the one they lost earlier.
Zofia and Arslan waited for him to return in the abandoned house nearby. It was awkward. Like when they had first met. Those were strange times.
Eventually they got over that. It took a couple of months but, they got close. Now Arslan was her best friend. The thought of him being mad at her made her feel...disgusted with herself.
They sat in silence as Zofia slowly removed her arm from the shirt. When Elam had pulled her back, he'd accidentally reopened her wound.
She winced in pain as her shirt brushed against it, catching Arslan's attention. "Oh my..." He muttered, his face full of worry. Zofia only laughed.
"Don't worry. It's just a scratch."
Arslan careful placed his hands on her shoulders and made her sit down on a large wooden chest. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"...I didn't want you to worry."
"Zofia. We're friends, aren't we?"
She looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Of course we are."
He smiled. "And we tell each other everything."
She chuckled. "We do...don't we?"
They went silent.
"Let me try and patch you up." Arslan offered. Zofia handed him the bandages. She turned around to pull her hair out of the way, lifting her arm so he could wrap the bandages around her shoulder.
"What are you thinking of then? Why do you look so sad?" Zofia asked. She already knew the answer.
The prince sighed. "Is there anything I can do, Zofia?"
"What do you mean?"
"As it is, I am nothing but a burden to everyone. Yet you and Daryun have been loyal to me." Prince Arslan said.
"Arslan-" Zofia said, but was cut off.
"Please don't do this!" A faint voice yelled from the distance.
Zofia and Arslan shot up and went to the window, Zofia's hand on her sword, ready to fight.
They saw a group of Lusitanians on the road, attacking a father by holding his daughter hostage.
"If you value your daughter's life, hand over your valuables!" The Lusitanian demanded.
"No!" The daughter yelled, but was silence when a soldier held his sword at her throat.
"I've already given everything I own to you Lusitanians! I even converted to your faith. My daughter is all I have left!" The father pleaded.
"Don't lie to us!"
"It's the truth!"
"Don't you care if your sweet girl lives?!"
"Please don't hurt her!" He begged.
Zofia was quick to let her emotions get the best of her, storming out of the house to fight off the Lusitanian group. Arslan followed behind her, but held her back.
"Wait. They'll recognize us from our swords." He said.
"Crap. I forgot about that." Zofia said. "So how are we supposed to fight them off without swords?"
Arslan looked around, trying to find a suitable weapon. He ran down the stairs and picked up a plough on his way down.
"Arslan! There is no chance you're going to fight a group of Lusitanians who want your head off your shoulders with a plough. That's just stupid."
"There's no other way. We have to save that girl."
And though she knew it was the right thing to do, she still wanted to stop him. She should be the one doing that. Not the prince.
"Stop at once!" Arslan yelled to the group. He took out the plough that he was hiding under his cloak, and took a fighting stance.
"Who the hell are you?" One of them demanded.
"None of your business." Zofia spat. "Now let her go before we deal with you."
The Lusitanians only laughed. "Your just a scrawny girl and a boy with a plough!"
"What? You'll attack us with a farming tool?" They took out their own swords, trying to scare them away. "We'll see how well it fares against our swords."
Arslan was not phased. "Release the girl and her father and I won't harm you." They came closer.
"Are you kidding?" The Lusitanians said, baffled at these kids. "I don't think you understand the situation here."
Another soldier came behind his men on a horse. He was clearly younger than them, and with a slightly higher pitched voice, he said. "Hold!"
Zofia felt as if her heart stopped. It had been years since they had last met, but that voice sounded exactly like...
"What are you doing?" The soldier asked.
The soldiers under his command let the girl and her father go. "C-commander Etoile!"
"So it is him..." Zofia mumbled. She looked at Arslan, who still hadn't realized who it was yet. Etoile hadn't noticed them either. Instead, he was focused on disciplining his men.
"Stop for a moment. Consider your actions! Is what you're doing in accordance with the will of god?"
The men hesitated to reply to their commander.
"Get on with you!" He said in an angry tone. The men grumbled 'yes sir' and walked on.
Then Etoile turned to the two civilians, the father holding his daughter tight, safe from those soldiers in his hug.
Zofia remembered her father being much different. Fathers weren't supposed to treat them like circus animals for their merchant business.
The scene of those two made her a little jealous.
"You are free to go as well." He said to them. They both bowed and ran back to their home.
Arslan looked at Etoile with suspicion. How come these two idiots still haven't recognized each other?
"How long are you going to stand their holding that?" Etoile asked. He pulled at his horse's reigns and moved closer to them.
As the two boys got a better look at each other, they realized.
"No...it couldn't be." Etoile said. All the memories were flooding back to him.
Zofia genuinely smiled at him. It had been so long since they'd last met. Since Etoile promised to return back to Ectbatana to rescue her and his fellow comrades.
She wonders if he remembers promising her that.
Arslan's jaw dropped.
"It is you." Etoile said.
"You're that Lusitanian soldier!" Arslan pointed.
"And you're that spoiled little rich boy! And Zofia, the Wind Witch!"
Zofia cringed at the name. "That's how you've been remembering me for the last 3 years, Etoile?"
Etoile smiled. "I'm glad you haven't forgotten me either."
A.N.
So they meet again! Aw I really love these three :D
So let's recap some things/explain things that ppl might not have gotten.
The merchant from my first chapter (How's it Hanging?) is actually Zofia's dad. If you don't remember, you might wanna read through that chapter again.
And for the people wondering if Etoile really did remember to look for Zofia and his comrades when he returned to Ectbatana, he did! He remembered guys, and it was so sweet. Check out chapter 15 (Alley Fight) to see it!
Guys, I love u all so so much. I'm really glad some of you are enjoying, reading, voting and commenting. It actually brings me joy 😭
Love you all and happy reading <3
(Working on the next chapter as we speak and will have it done this week)