JC kept glancing uneasily at the trees. "Jace what's wrong?" Alex asked. The others turned their attention to him. JC sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid. I keep thinking I see something." Alex immediately stopped walking. "Jace, if you think something is wrong, tell me." JC shook his head. "I don't know, that's the thing." Alex walked over to the tree line. She gazed intently inside with the others watching. She was about to turn back when she heard a noise. She took a few steps inside trying to get a better look, her curiosity overcoming her fear.
"Lexi, come on!" shouted Ari. Alex only plunged further in. Suddenly a hand snaked over her mouth and began to pull her. Alex brought back her heel and then whirled around as he released her. She kicked him in the stomach and then ran as fast as her legs would carry her out of the forest and toward the horses. The others ran after her. They had seen her disappear and then comeback out in fright. Alex reached Iris and grabbed her sword hidden under the bags.
Justin looked at her with confusion. She started to run back to the spot. Why was she carrying a sword? He looked over and JC was following her, sword in hand. He shrugged and he, Chris, Lance, and Joey all grabbed their own blades. Alex stopped at the trees and carefully took a step toward them. Then a tall man jumped out, sword held high. Alex raised her blade and dodged, but not before the enemy's tip ran down the side of her arm. Alex whirled and blocked the blade while her good hand wielded the sword. JC came and jumped in front of her. He parried and struck at the man's undefended side. His sword sliced through the skin lightly, causing him to gasp in pain.
Chris and Joey came and held the tip of their blades at the man's throat. JC backed off and ran to the girls who crowded around Alex. "Lance, go find one of the guards," instructed Justin. Lance nodded and ran toward the horses. "Alex," said JC urgently.
"It's not that bad," said Alex, clutching her arm. "Just a scratch." JC snorted. "Hardly. Let me see." He took her arm and looked at the wound. He cursed, seeing it run all the way up her arm. He pulled off his shirt and ripped it in shreds and began to make a bandage.
Dei and Lydia walked over to look at the enemy. Dei gasped. "What is it?" asked Joey.
"That's Rand. He's a spy for King Dain of the Horus Kingdom. He must have been trying to kidnap Lexi." At that moment, dozens of guards poured into the clearing. JC looked up as he finished the bandage. "Lexi, can you walk?" he asked.
"Wha?" she asked. The loss of blood was making her drowsy. "Guess not." He picked her up and went to Storm with Justin following him.
"She can use a sword?" he asked quietly. JC nodded. "She wanted to learn in case she ever got caught without a guard or something. She's actually quite good. Here hold onto her for a second." JC handed Alex to Justin and then mounted Storm. Justin passed her up to him so that she was sitting in front of him, his arms encircling her. Eric walked up to them, his face tight with anger. "What happened?! And why is the princess injured?!" JC glared at him. "I don't have time to discuss this. Alex is bleeding and in need of medical attention."
"And she wouldn't be there if she weren't being stupid!"
"I shall have a word with you later," JC said through clenched teeth.
"What could you do? You are just a servant." JC's eyes widened from the new approach. "But I'm not," said Justin. Eric looked at him. "Prince Justin," he said bowing low.
"JC, get her out of here." He nodded and sped off, half of the guards following him. "I don't want to hear what you have to say on the subject, so don't even try." Justin turned and walked over to the others who were waiting by the horses. "Let's go." They rode away, with the remainder of the guard following them. Eric sneered at their retreating backs. They had taken Rand away, barely conscious. Maybe it would be better for him not to go back. He would probably be treated better among enemies than among his 'friends' due to his failure. Eric mounted his horse and took one last look around the clearing. Shaking his head, he galloped toward the castle.
Alex moaned as they galloped to the castle. "Hold on Lexi, just hold on," said JC. Alex sighed, loving the feeling of him having his arms around her. "My arm hurts," she said stupidly. "I know baby I know," he said without thinking. He looked down at her with shock. What did I just call her? He asked himself. They rode up to the castle and were greeted by the medical head. He helped hand Alex to him and they ran into the castle as JC led Storm to the stable.
He groomed him and then jogged to the medical wing. "Joshua!" shouted King Roald as JC opened the door. "What happened?" JC bowed and then chose his words carefully. "We were at Clearwater Lake. Then we began to walk around the shore and I kept thinking that I was seeing things in the trees. Alexandra asked what was wrong and I told her. She walked into the forest and then came running out in fright." JC stopped and thought about how he was going to word this next part. "We got our swords and Alexandra showed us where she had been frightened. A man jumped out and his sword sliced down her arm before we could react. But then we overcame him and I made a bandage for her while Lance went to get the guards. We then came back here."
Roald and Cythera both stared at him. "Well, thank you for all that you did do. I believe she is asking to see you, so you may go in." JC nodded and walked into the room where she was laying down on a bed. Bandages tightly wound around her arm. "Lexi?" asked JC as he sat down next to her. She opened her eyes. "JC, thank you for helping me." JC shrugged. "It was nothing."
"Well thank you anyway. Now can you please help me stand up?" JC helped her up as the others came into the room. "How are you?" asked Justin with concern. "I'm fine, besides my arm hurts like heck. "They all smiled. "At least you're okay," commented Dei. "Yeah. Now I'm going to go lay down." They walked to her room and JC helped her lay down. "Thanks JC. Seriously."
JC smiled and nodded as he walked out. He went back to his own room and pulled on a new shirt. He sighed and sat down on the edge of his bed. "I have to think about this." He leaned back and stared at the ceiling as his mind wandered.
"What happened?" asked Dain through clenched teeth. "Rand was captured," said Coram, the second in command. "That servant of hers kept looking to where Rand was as if he could see him. The princess went to look and Rand tried to capture her, but she got away. She and the men got their sword and he jumped out, injuring her. He was wounded and then caught."
"He hurt her?" asked Dain furiously. "He will pay for that alone. I take it that he is being held prisoner and is being questioned?" Coram nodded. "That is what our operatives tell us. They also say that the princess will most likely heal quickly." Dain nodded. "Good. She will need to be healed when she comes to us.�
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