Rescue of Lady Moon, AGAIN!

[DamedEscrime]

AH HA! 100, I beat you this time, ARCON!

[lochinvar]

He broke from the trees and looked around him.

He was at the edge of a grassy clearing. On one side, the forest stretched away in broken terrain. On the other, the clearing ended abruptly in a cliff, a river gorge. In the middle distance, birds could be seen stooping and soaring across the sheer rock face of the opposite side. Before him was a small stone house. He knew this place; he had come here occasionally with Arcon and Moon, back in the time when she was still called Buffy. Long, long ago.

At the edge of the cliff was a small group of people; he recognized Zelda among them, and Meekal, of all people. Someone was lying on the ground, a woman. She appeared to be resting. The rest were just standing, looking at each other and, occasionally, out over the drop-off.

It had taken Loch longer than he wished to arrive at this place. The trail had been well-marked and easily followed, a horse ridden hard, deep indents showing that whoever had ridden Morgan to his death had been taken up by this rider. Even so, he knew from interrogating the scout the night before that Zarcon's men were about, and riding into an ambush now would help no one. So, rather than galloping headlong after his quarry as he burned to do, he had held the gray to a careful pace. Alternating walk and canter, and stopping frequently to scan and listen, he had ridden with bow at the ready, constantly expecting trouble.

Having encountered none, he was grateful but somewhat apprehensive. Now, seeing the somber group before him, his misgivings deepened into alarm. Everyone was too quiet. And he didn't see Arcon among them.

He rode to within a few yards of them, when a man he didn't know stepped to interpose himself between Loch and the queen. Meekal spoke up; "It's alright, Sir Latenight; that's Sir Lochinvar. He's an old friend of the king's. Hello, Sir." "Hello, Meekal," replied Loch, then dismounted and limped forward until he stood by the queen. She didn't seem to notice that he was there. Gently, he took hold of her shoulders and turned her to face him, and spoke in a quiet but firm tone. "My Lady. Zelda. Look at me. What has happened here? Where is Arcon?"

She focused with effort on his face, and murmured, "Loch? What…where…?" Her eyes drifted, involuntarily, back to the yawning gorge.

Again gently, he shook her slightly and firmly turned her back to face him. "Zelda. Stay with me. Where is Arcon?"

She frowned slightly, as if forming words was difficult for her. "They…fought. Arcon and Zarcon. They…fell…" Her hand made a vague gesture towards the cliff edge, where her eyes had once again wandered. Releasing her, Loch turned to Latenight and Meekal, question in his eyes. "It's true," Latenight said soberly. "We saw it."

"And then the Lady Moon jumped over, too," Meekal said, morosely. His voice was thick with tears waiting to be shed. "She just stood up at the edge, and stepped off. Nobody could stop her. Why would she do that?" Meekal searched Loch's face intently, as if he could read the answer there. "I don't know, Meekal. I don't know," Loch replied, even though he thought he did know. He knew very well why someone would do such a thing - for the same reason he himself had contemplated doing it a dozen times in the last few years. For the same reason he was contemplating it now.

But then he glanced again at Zelda, and knew he would not. One old friend was gone, but here was another who would need help and support in the coming times. He could not just abandon her, even if it seemed that it would solve all of his own troubles.

Turning to Latenight again, he asked, "What of Lady Rosaline? And the others?" "Willow is here; she just now fainted when Lady Moon jumped. Rosaline followed Jo to find a way down there to look for Arcon and Moon."

"Jo? Jo is here, too?" "She was in Zarcon's grasp when we arrived," Latenight answered. "She went over the cliff first, but Arcon and Zelda saved her. That's when Arcon and Zarcon clinched and went over, together."

Loch looked between Latenight and Zelda, in obvious conflict. Finally, he shook himself. "Look after the queen, and the Lady Willow. I know a few ways from here down to the river, from my times here before. I'll try to catch up to them, and perhaps the three of us can find Arcon and Moon - though I doubt we'll find them alive."

He hobbled back to his horse, and remounted. Then, still leading the scout's horse, he started off along the cliff in the opposite direction from that taken by Jo and Rosaline.

Now he had two more old friends to mourn, when he had the time. The ledger tally just continued growing; he wondered if he would ever be able to pay the bill.

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: lochinvar ]

[DamedEscrime]

Jo trudged along more slowly now. The events of the day were taking their toll and her stomach had begun to complain for lack of nourishment. She could not remember when she had last supped.

As she plodded along she grew more tired and had to forced herself to scutinize the water and the surrounding banks for any sign of her friends. The water made a soothing, pleasing sound as it rushed over large rocks which peeked at her from a distance. It made her want to stop and listen or better yet climb in and float away.

"Perhaps if I just rest a moment, take a drink of it, splash my face... just a moment, that's all. Then I can go on," she thought.

It was then that she noticed not far from the bank on old knarled apple tree laden with fall fruits. The fruit was malformed and scarred, but that did not stop her from taking but one dark rouge pomme. She hastily wiped the fruit on her blouse and bit into it. It was over ripe and sweet. Juice dribbled down her forearm. Perhaps it was all that had happened that had heightened her senses, but she did not remember any apple ever tasting so delicious. She made quick work of this one and snagged two more which she popped into her pockets for later.
Then she turned and knelt by the river. Her hands chilled as she splashed the cool water upon her face and she drank deeply feeling the coldness as it rushed into her near empty stomach.

Finally she rested her back against the old apple tree and closed her eyes...........for just a moment.

[ 10-27-2001: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

[Zelda]

The queen felt a stinging slap on her face. It jolted her out of her trance, allowing her to see Rosaline in front of her. She vaugely heard her say something about following Jo and then she was lost to them again. Alone in her own thoughts and emotions.
She then felt someone shaking her, trying to get through. It was Lochinvar. She sort of answered his questions but it was too hard, and hurt too much. She had lost 2 friends, one of whom she have vowed to share her life with.

Then she heard Lochinvar say he was going to go down....that got the Queen back onto ground.

"Loch....please dont go. Stay here with me. I need you...." The queens voice cracked with emotion as she turned to face her old friend.

[lochinvar]

He almost didn't hear her. He was already moving away, thinking about what he would need to do, where he should look. The river was strong here, and turbulent. Not far downstream, it joined the sea. If they had fallen into the current, they could have been swept away, never to be found.

The alternative was worse; there was no soft landing anywhere along that bank. The unknown horse he led would be needed to bring back bodies - or what was left of them.

The raw, naked pain and loss in that voice penetrated Loch's musings, and he circled the gray back to where they were all standing. He pulled up short, and looked down at Zelda. What he saw there, in her face, stabbed him like a knife.

He dismounted and limped towards her. Wordlessly, uncaring of her dignity or his, he opened his arms and enfolded her. He stroked her hair and shoulders, murmuring comforting noises as one would to a wounded child, as the dam holding back her sobs and tears finally broke.

[Zelda]

Zelda, on feeling Lochinvars arms finally let go of all the pain she felt. She knew, in her heart that Arcon was alive. He had to be...he wouldnt leave her. She felt Lochinvars strong arms around her and just sobbed. Her shoulders were racked with sobs and she couldnt foucus. Lochinvar just held her, offering the comfort she so desperately needed.

[Zelda]

After what seemed like an eternity Zelda appeared red eyed and puffy faced out of Lochinvars arms. She took a deep breath and turned to face the assembled company of soliders and knights.

"My friends...." her voice wavered for a moment, and Lochinvar came up next to her, ready to offer support if needed. She started again."My friends, what has happened her today is a tragedy. But the kingdom can not stop because we may have lost our king. WE must move on. I believe my husband and your king in still alive, dont ask me HOW I know, I just feel it in my bones. Lady Moon and Zarcon I dont know. But this is what I propose.. A party of you will stay here, lead by Lochinvar to scour the countryside for your king. I will return to the castle, and carry on the business of ruling this country." The queen turned to Latenight, who despite his grumblings at the beginning of this quest was now looking sad and bewildered. "Latenight, in the absence of the King I will need you to countersign the papers of Knighthood. I dont know if anyone has remember but we were Supposed to have a knighting ceremony before this all happened. I believe it is what we need to boost moral."
Latenight just nodded, knowing that ast this rate he was NEVER going to get back to the lovely Miss Spears and his boat.
"Is everyone clear on what they are doing?"
The group nodded....Lochinvar was moving amongst the soliders, choosing the ones he wished to remain.
"Right in that case, those not staying, we leave NOW! Someone please help Willow to a horse."
The Queen mounted her horse, which had been bought from the camp, and waited for the soliders to get into formation.

[latenight]

"Ahh, paperwork! How I have missed thee!!" Straight away!

[Lord Tellurine]

Meekal brushed the tears from his face and approached Queen Zelda. "I'm going back to Arconia too," he said. "I need to send the Fauldergrafts Kliff's personal effects..." His voice trailed off.

"Of course, Meekal," said Queen Zelda in a kind, understanding voice. "It'll be nice to have your company."

"Thank you, Queen Zelda," said Meekal, managing a smile. "On the way back I can relay to you Rufus's hypothesis based apon your belief that King Arcon survives." Rufus was a stone of Meekal's that was described as very clever, but a bit overbearing.

Queen Zelda nodded half-heartedly. "That'll be swell, Meekal. Find your horse and we'll get going."

Meekal found the late Capt. Zorn's horse and climbed on. The horse was glad to be in the company of other horses from Arconia and did not mind the daft prince being on him.

[lochinvar]

moved to new thread

[ 10-30-2001: Message edited by: lochinvar ]