Chapter 20 ~ One Step Closer ( Leggy's POV)

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Now…… Chapter 20!

(Leggys’s POV)

“What do you mean you found their hideout?” I asked Adan.

“Sir one of the scouts we sent out a couple weeks ago found hundreds of horse tracks so he followed them.” Adan started.

“Keep going!” I cried out with excitement.

“So when he followed the tracks he came upon a huge camp with about 500 men. Some of those men he recognized as the ones that attacked the castle.”

“Well what are we waiting for? Pack up camp immediately, we are heading out as soon as possible!” I shouted.

The men started to pack all the equipment and supplies across camp. Once I was done pack my saddle bag I went and helped my men. I just couldn’t wait to see her beautiful face any longer! I was losing hope in finding her since the bandits didn’t leave behind many clues to where they were going.

“Sir we are ready to leave!” I heard Adan call out.

I jumped on my white speckled horse and we were off.

After a while Adan rode up next to me, “How far away are these tracks?”I asked him.

“About three days ride from here sir,” was his reply. Three days wasn’t bad at all.

“If we push the horses through tonight do you think we would be able to get to the camp faster?” I asked.

“I said the tracks we found were three days away; the actual camp is about two days ride from where the tracks were first spotted.”

“Oh, well then we will keep a steady pace and will set a camp late tonight. I want to be up and moving again by dawn,” I said.

“Sir don’t you think you are pushing the horses too much?” Adan asked.

“Adan, these horses have faced much worse than a couple days ride to find some bandits,” I explained.

“But sir!” he protested.

“What I say is final Adan,” I said before riding ahead. ‘What does he think I’m a child’ I asked myself. ‘I’ve seen more battles than that elf!’

Soon the sun was setting in the distance, I let the horses have a water break then we were off again late into the night.

The next morning we set off again trying to get to the tracks as soon as possible. This could finally be the lead I’ve been waiting for! We didn’t run into trouble until later that night.

“Sir I think that’s one of our scouts!” One of my men yelled.

I looked into the distance and I did see one of my men. I wish I hadn’t. From what I could tell he wasn’t moving at all. I rode over as fast as I possibly could and got off my horse. Adan was already kneeling over the man.

“He’s not responding, I don’t think we should move any further. Until we know what did this to him,” Adan said a hint of worry in his voice.

I nodded even if I didn’t want to. I wanted to keep my men safe.

We set a small camp, and the unconscious scout was put in a tent. An hour later I heard Adan calling me.

“Sir he’s awake! Sir come quickly!”

I ran over and walked into the stuffy tent. And I saw that the scout was indeed awake and responsive.

“What news do you bring,” I asked.

“Go- goblins,” the man coughed. It was obvious that he was not going to make it through the night.

Adan looked at me worried, “What else can you tell us?” he asked.

“The tracks do lead to the… to the…”

“Keep talking!” I ordered.

“The girl they have the girl,” he just managed to say.

“And what about goblins?” Adan asked.

“They have a small camp of thirteen about three…”

“Three what?” Adan asked.

“Miles…”

“That’s too close for my liking your highness,” Adan said to me.

“We will attack by foot at nightfall,” I informed him. Adan left me and a guard with the dying scout to inform the men of the attack later tonight.

“You have done a great deed to your kingdom,” I told the man.

“I know… I am dying,” he sputtered. “Just tell my family… that… that … I love them.”

“I will tell them, and they will be rewarded for your work.” I reassured the man.

“You will be… be… a great king.” Were his last words before he passed on into a better place.

I sat there looking at him for a little while, tons of things racing through my mind. I looked up at the guard, “find out who this elf is and reward the family immediately, and let them know he has passed.”

Two elves came in and got the body ready for the long journey back to Mirkwood. A burial would take place later this week.

I got two warriors and took them aside. “A couple days ago I got news from Gondor things have been stolen and destroyed and stolen from them. I’m guessing the doing of the same group of bandits. I also contacted Rohan, they reported the same thing. Lorien has not been attacked yet, but I’m guessing that’s their next target. I contacted Strider, a ranger, and he has notified other rangers of this, he will meet me at the tracks. I want one of you too go to Rohan and the other to Lorien. I want as many warriors as you can get as fast as you can get them. You know where to find the tracks; we should be at a camp close to there.” Both elves nodded as I told them the information.

“Hurry I’m afraid these bandits will be harder to bring to justice than we thought.” Both elves jumped on their horses and set off to get back up.

“Where did you send those men?” Adan asked.

“Out to get help,” I told him.

“But who said you could? Your fathers going to be very displeased with you.”

I turned around and looked at the elf standing before me, “You have no say in what I do.” I told him. “And what I do is to help Mirkwood and other surrounding kingdoms; you will not question me and my choices!” I stormed away from him.

Later that night we made our way three miles towards the goblin camp. When we saw the firelight we stopped and turned to my men.

“Today we have lost one of our brothers, and I intend to get revenge. Because no being on this planet can kill one of my men without feeling my wrath!” all the man held up their swords knives and bows in recognition.

We split up into three groups and I sent out the signal when we were ready to attack. The signal  -a flaming arrow- landed in one of the goblins head and within minutes the camp was destroyed and aflame.

“Move out!” I shouted. “If any enemy is nearby then I don’t want to run into them.” We moved away from the flames as quick as possible and we were off into the night.

We ended up setting camp early in the morning before the sun rose. We rested up, since we should be seeing the tracks later tonight. And by midmorning everybody was on the horses ready to leave.

We weren’t in a hurry to get to the tracks that lead to the bandits. Either way we would find them since there is so many of them.

After riding for a couple hours I saw Adan ride up next to me.

“Your highness?” he asked me.

“What is it Adan?”

“I was wondering…”

“You can ask me.”

“Why is this girl, Eda so important?” he asked.

I definitely was not expecting that question. “Adan have you ever had someone that you just felt like you had to protect?” I asked him.

He looked down, “my mother,” he told me.

“You wanted to best for your mother and went something went wrong you felt it was your fault, am I correct.”

“You are correct.”

“There is a word for that.”

Adan looked at me and nodded.

“That word is love, and Adan?”

“Yes sir?”

“I am in love with Eda, deeply in love.”

This is it chapter 20 everybody! I can’t believe we got this far! Hoped you liked it!

I might take a while to update I’m getting my wisdom teeth out Monday. Wish me luck I’m so nervous!

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