Archer: Part 4 - Adelwyn

Part 4

Adelwyn

Etta sat perched on my shoulder chattering about a crow who tried stealing his winter stash.

I was standing over a pot of vegetable soup I was making for dinner.

My uncle had been gone for two days and I was missing his company.  We live far enough away from the nearest little town that no one misses us.

I heard a knock on my door and stood up strait.  There was immediate silence.

Who or what could that be?  I thought, a little nervous.  I went quietly to the door, still holding my soup ladle.

I opened it, and there stood a tall young man; wheat colored hair, grey eyes.  I stared at him.

“I know you.”  I said blankly.  In my mind there was a whirl of confusion, recognition, heart break, disbelief and bewilderment.

“And I know you, your highness.” He bowed.  He shot me a crooked smile.

“WHAT?” I squealed and took a step back.  Etta squeaked in my ear.  Then a name hit me like a thunder clap.  “Gordon.”  I whispered softly, surprising myself.

He was staring at me.

“Gordon?” I said loud enough for him to hear.

He looked surprised.  “You remember me?”

“No!”  I was starting to feel panicky.  “Who are you?  What are you doing here?  What do you want with me?  Why did you call me highness?!?!  HOW COME I KNOW YOUR NAME!?!?”

My voice rose higher in pitch.  My heart was racing, my head was throbbing  I was suddenly dizzy, faces of people I didn’t know crammed into my head with sickening speed, their voices ringing out at the same time creating a blast of confusion and sound.

I covered my ears with my hands the ladle falling with a deafening crash, and Etta’s startled squeak when he jumped off my arm.

“Stop!”  I yelled at myself.

Then I did something I never thought I would do.

I fainted.

I woke up with a cry.  I was lying on a bench that was up against a wall.  I sat up.

I put my aching head in my hands.  “What happened?”  I asked myself.

“You fainted.”

“Ah!”  I shrieked.  I hadn’t noticed the person stirring the soup I had been making.  “What are you doing here!?!?!” Then I remembered what had happened.

“Shhh.  Calm down!  You hit your head on the ground pretty hard when you fainted and that knocked you out cold.  I brought you inside.”  Gordon turned and faced me.   Something was on his shoulder.

“Etta!”  I exclaimed. I looked at the man hard.  “What is he doing?  He never makes friends with a complete stranger!”

“Toolo nan whan,” He said, his gray eyes flashing. “Kae ton rak.”

I opened my eyes wide. “Nonan.  How do you know this?  I have never met anyone other than my Uncle who could speak in Klorinan.”

“Every one of the royal house can speak it, milady.” He said.

“Again you speak of the royal family.”  I stood.  “You must be hungry.  That soup should be done.”  I got 2 bowls and spoons.  I put the steaming bowls on the table.  “Come, sit.  You must tell me everything.”

“So, I have a brother, you are my cousin and I am a long lost princess?  That seems pretty farfetched.”  I looked up at Gordon.

“Yeah I know.”  He frowned.

“I didn’t say I didn’t believe you.  I know it’s true.”

“So you’ll come with me?”  His eyes brightened and he smiled.

“Yes.”  I smiled back.

Enjoy!

Maddie

Archer: Part 1 - Adelwyn

Hi.
I'm so sorry for not posting in FOREVER! (like seriously, I haven't written since The Cry of Humming Bird :P {I am going to try and finish that by the way....})
I'm going to try to get my newest story down until it's done.  So on with the first part of the story!

Inrto~
Title:  Archer

Main Characters:  Adelwyn (girl), *Gordon (boy) and Elendor (boy)
(*Gordon and Elendor aren't mentioned in this part!)
Kingdom(s): Gwindola (this is where Adelwyn lives.) and *Keitt
(*Keitt is only mentioned...)

Part 1:

Adelwyn

I walked through the forest, making my way back home.  I had my bow in my hand and an arrow on the string.  

I fingered the feather fletching.  I heard the tree next to me creak.  I heard a sound and whirled around, ready to shoot if it was trouble.

"Etta! Aey lono mylana endos drabach?"  I whispered.  

I smiled and lowered my bow.  It was Etta, one of my squirrel friends; Ett meaning Speed and just add a to make it Speedy.  

Etta (or Speedy) bounded over and ran up my cloak.  He perched on my shoulder and chattered in my ear. 

I had asked him in ancient Klorinan why he was here instead of the Eastern wood, his usual occupation.

Klorinan was a language that all animals understood, and if you knew that language, you could have yourself a very interesting conversation.

As it turns out, my Uncle Iack had sent him to find me.  

My uncle told him that I needed to be home to receive his instructions, as he was getting ready to leave on urgent business.  

His work calls him away quite suddenly and often.  

Even though I've lived with him for my whole life of 15 years, I was never allowed to know his job.  I never questioned it, but I that doesn't mean I was any less curious than any other person in my situation.

I hurried along the well worn-path.  

"Etta!  Tell Iack I'll be there quickly."  I said in Klorinan.  Etta chattered his okays and goodbyes as I slowed to let him down.  He scurried up a nearby tree and leaped from branch to branch ahead of me.  

I wanted to stop and rest because I had been walking all day.  But I didn't.  It had to be very important for him to send Etta to get me.  

Any other time he would have just left left a note on the table saying he'd be back in a day.  But this time, It meant he would be gone for a week or two.

Its crazy. I thought.  Why do I have to be gone for this kind of thing?

My uncle had told me this morning he was going to take me on a trip to Keitt, the neighboring country, this week.  He had sent me to town to get food and clothes for traveling.

"Uncle!  I'm home!"  I shouted as soon as I could see our gates. I raced up the path to our front door.

"Addie!  Your home!  I was afraid I would miss you!"  My uncle ran to meet me outside our door.  He gave me a hug.  "Addie, I have some bad news-"

"I know uncle, I can guess... You'll be gone for a while and we have to post-pone our trip?"

My uncle laughed a deep belly laugh, the kind that makes you smile and your heart happy.  "That's my girl!  Sharp as a whip and prettier than the summer sky!" 

I smiled.

Uncle Iack put his hand on my shoulder and walked me into the house, got me out a chair (where I gratefully sat), set a plate of delicious venison stew in front of me and spent the last hour and a half telling me everything I needed to do while he was away.

And now?  I watch him gallop away and quickly vanish from sight.

I hope you enjoyed the 1st part of Archer!    I personally enjoy Adelwyn (I know...  I'm the only one who knows everything about her...) and I hope you do too once you get to meet all the characters!

Yours,
Maddie