Chapter 1

A “thumping” I heard behind me. A “slit” I heard. A “whoosh” I felt. A “thump” I saw. I stopped promptly to see a huge brown horse, and on it, a tall figure. Strapped to his side was a long sword, a shield on his back, and a shoulder guard on his shoulder.

His voice was deep and menacing, like he controlled an army. ”Were is the Oak Tree?” He questioned. I stuttered, being a twelve year old boy, I was sort of scared to see a bulky man throw a dagger at me and ask me were a tree is.

“G-go down this rode, turn left and there it is on your right.” I said staring at the man while pointing.

“Thank you peasant. You have assisted in a very important scheme.” And with that he galloped away. I didn’t really understand what he said, but I really didn’t think about it because his horse kicked up a lotof dust.

I pulled his dagger out of the ground. I would of taken it home, but someone would ask about it and then confiscate it. I might as well give it back to him. I thought.

I seldom went to the Oak Tree. If I went, it was only to marvel at what took place there one hundred years ago. In that spot Glorin, the dwarf, saved Torin, the Ranger that brought us out of captivity from Moria. Glorin slaughtered the Morian King, giving his life for Torin. In the end, Glorin died of a fateful blow from the King. Still to this day the Morians thought that the King killed Torin, and died doing it.

The man, was he a Morian? I thought on the way. If he was why didn’t he kill me, I thought Morians hated Rangers and their children. After the rebellion they hated us and tried to get us back every opportunity .I wondered, Long ago when we lived with the Morians. But then we rebelled and fled into the woods. Oh well. That was the last I thought of it. My mind set on one important thing. I was going to return his dagger, Morian or not.

I heard voices. I stopped; I knew that tree, the Oak Tree. Near it were two hooded, cloaked men. They seemed to be arguing about something.

The first one, the one that threw the dagger at me, was yelling.

The seconded I didn’t know at all, but his voice sounded familiar.

“I won’t let you,” said the first one.

“It doesn’t matter, Ill still get It.,” said the second.

“Die.” The first one said, while drawing his sword.

“You first.” was the answer from the second, while drawing his dagger.

There was a “clash” and a “clinging” after this. I couldn’t really see because as there blades met, I backed up and tripped over a root. I tried to get up, but I felt a sharp sting in my arm. While I had fell, the blade met my arm, and there was the proof, oozing out of my skin. When I got up again, my arm was tide tightly with a Winder leaf.

I had the knife in my hand, stained with blood, but I didn’t worry about that, I was worrying about the second fighter. His arm was slashed, and the first one had the better hand, or sword in this matter. Finally, the first one fell but tripped the second. The second fell, just as the first got up.

“Its over.” The first one said, drawing his sword back, like a tiger’s paw, rose to strike at his prey. A “whoosh” I felt. And a “thump” I saw. I saw a dagger in the first’s back. I looked and saw my arm raised in a throwing position. I had just killed a man.

The man fell, right on top of the second man. I ran into the clearing. Climbed onto the first mans back, and pulled the dagger out. I rolled off, and rolled the first man off the second man. I pressed the dagger to the second mans neck.

“Don’t move or you’re a goner like that one.” I said gesturing my head over to the first man.

“You were brave to do that Eric,” said the stranger. He pushed me off of him, while grabbing the dagger out of my hand. He pulled the hood off his head. Their sitting up was Arthur, my best friends brother. He reached into his shirt and brought out a silver leaf,” I’m a member of the Greenleaf Watch, which means don’t ask about anything unless I choose to tell you something. Understand?”

I nodded once, understanding the law. I stood and helped Arthur up. Arthur was about seventeen, short, with long black hair. He looked dazed for a couple of seconds like he was having a dream.

“Were did you get that Winder leaf?” he finally questioned me.

“ Over there.” I said pointing to the tree I tripped over.

“Thanks.” He uttered under his breath. He walked over, like he was drunk, bumping into things, and talking to him self.

After five minutes under the tree caring for his wound, and mind, he came out looking refreshed, and gestured for me to come and walk with him. We walked for a while in silence. Arthur stopped to look up a tree at something. He then turned to me.

“Can you climb a tree fast?” he asked me.

“ Yes, why.” I reapplied.

“Don’t question me, climb this tree Ranger!” He yelled in a soft voice. Like he didn’t want to be heard.

“Yes sir.” I said under my breath. I quickly began to climb the tree. This tree wasn’t a tall tree, but a tree in the middle height. I estimated fifteen feet off the ground. When I reached the top Arthur was right behind me.

I was surprised; the top of the tree was floored. Almost like a tree house. The tree trunk was covered in wooden planks; on either side of the tree trunk were closets. What was really interesting was that there were other trees all around that were the same as this one. Another thing was they were all connected to each other with rope bridges.

“ What’s this?”I asked.

“ This is one of the Greenleaf Watch look-out-posts. There are lots all around the forest. Separated one hundred feet apart, connected with bridges.” He answered. We walked around the look-out-post in silence for a while.

“ So you threw that dagger really good. Did you learn that from your brother?” He asked raising his eyebrows. We walked over to the bridge and started to walk.

“ No, I just let it fly.” I answered quietly. I hated bragging.

“Well you have natural born talent then.” He reapplied walking. He wore a dark green-worn-out-cloak that could blend in easily with the dirt, trees, or shrubbery. At his side he wore a leather belt, with three daggers at his side. One dagger was the longest, mostly for fighting against swords. The second, smaller then the one before, mostly used for throwing, or fighting against a short sword. The third dagger, the smallest one at his side, was mostly used for throwing, and cutting.

“So,” he said while we were nearing the seconded look out post,” are you exited about going to the Ranger Academy?”

“Its not a Ranger Academy, it for Healers too.” I said stubbornly.

“So is that a Yes, or a No?” he asked as we walked onto the next look out post. He gestured for me to sit down. He then opened up, one of the two closets, and pulled out some food.

“ I guess, it’s a Yes. Why are we stopping to eat?” I said wincing, for the thought he might yell at me.

“Because some one is following us, there about fifty feet away, and there running. The reason he is so far behind is because he studied our footprints along the tree we climbed up. He can’t climb a tree, because he has too much weight on him. He obviously is a foot soldier, equipped with too much weaponry. So, we stop here for you to eat, and for me to kill.” He quickly brought out a bow, drew an arrow and weighted. I thought that right as the scoundrel came in to plain sight, he would shoot him. But that didn’t happen.

The scoundrel came in to sight. He was like the one I killed, but different. He wore the same clothes, but he had more weaponry than skin! His weights were laden with

a dagger, a sword, and a quiver of arrows. His back held an enormous battle-ax, a longbow, a shield, and another battle-ax. He cared a leather pack on his shoulder. He looked up studying the trees. He then looked at the ground; he saw something, and bent down to examine it.

A “twang” I heard. A “whoosh” I felt. And a “thump” I saw. The soldier was lying there dead, an arrow portraying between his neck and shoulder.

“ Nice shot.” I said chewing on a piece of bread.

“ Thank you.” He said. And with that he jumped off the railing of the lookout post, landing softly and quietly, he walked over to the man. He took the leather pack off the soldier, and rummaged threw it. He pulled out a couple things from the pack. I couldn’t see the objects from the place I was sitting.

After a couple of minutes, Arthur’s head shot up. He quickly gathered the things together, and stuffed them into the pack. He swiftly climbed the tree. When he got up, he gestured me to come and walk with him. When I ran up to him, he drew out the dagger I had killed the Morian with.

“This is just incase of a fight.” He said solemnly.

“Why.” I asked tacking the dagger from him.

“I just heard horse hooves.” He said looking down at the grown below. We ran to the bridge. Just as we touched our feet on the bridge planks, we heard shouts and screams behind us. Just as I heard this, I saw that Arthur had stopped to watch.

Five horses came into view. Four, carried men, all in armor, the last one carried a beautiful fourteen-year-old girl. She had long brown hair that was braided in a princess like fashion. She wore a long brown cloak. She was armed with a dagger, which was inlayed with Jewels such as diamonds, rubes, and gold.

“Look,” said one of the men,” Its him!”

Another got off his horse, and examined the young boy. “Yes, this is Stephen, your husband to be.”

The girl started to cry. I looked at Arthur his face was grim. He turned away from the scene. He started to walk. I fallowed him.

“CRACK.” Arthur had tripped, and fell off the bridge. He landed on his feet [which normally a Ranger would do] with his bow drawn, an arrow knocked ready to shoot.

It happened in an instance. The men got off their horses with their sword drawn. Arthur shot one man threw the gizzard, and then tripped over a stick. He scrambled to get up, but in an instance, the lady sprang from her horse, and was pressing the dagger to his neck.

“Did you kill Stephen?” she asked, tears dripping from her eyes onto his leather shirt

I saw that Arthur couldn’t look in her eyes. She obviously noticed this.

“Did you?” he still couldn’t look her in eyes. She raised her dagger. The soldiers were watching intently.

I have to do something. I jumped off the bridge. Normally, I would fall on my feet but I fell on one of the soldiers.

I landed on his shoulders, and stabbed him in the back; I pushed of his falling body, kicked a guy in the gut, pushing off him, and stabbed the final guy.

The lady was up and trying to figure out what just happened. All she saw was the soldiers lying on the ground. By then I was in a tree weighting to strike. She turned back to Arthur, who was not there.

“CLUNK.”I hit her over the head with the hilt of my dagger.She fell like a dead bear. I stood over her like a cub wanting to know what happened to his mom.

“Thanks.” said Arthur, as he jumped down from a tree.

“Welcome.” I said studying the Lady.

“Why did you do it any way? Why didn’t you run?” asked Arthur.

“Hunter would never forgive me,” I reapplied,” Who’s this.” I said, gesturing to the lady on the ground.

“ Lady Rowena, she the third princess, the oldest. The next princess has to weight four years to get married. They get married at fourteen.” He answered moving her face around with his boot.

“ That’s crazy.” I answered, starting to climb the tree.

“ Tell me about it.” He said following my lead. We walked in silence from tree to tree.

“ Arthur?” I finally asked.

“ What.” He replied.

“ What does betrothed mean?” I asked stopping on a footbridge.

“Betrothed is when,” he took a deep breath,” when your born your parents decide who you will marry.” He said still walking.

“ Does it matter if they don’t love each other?” I said beginning to walk again.

“ No Eric, it doesn’t matter you still have to marry him, or her.” He said, deeply.

“ That’s horrible”. I exclaimed.

“ That’s one of the reasons Torin led us out of that dreadful place.” He answered walking with me.

“ What are the other reasons?” I asked puzzled.

He hesitated. “ You will learn those in the Ranger,” I glared at him,” and Healer Academy.

· · ·

We were nearing are settlement when Arthur suddenly halted.

“ What’s wrong?” I asked looking around.

“ Nothing, its just we cant go any farther, because the bridges don’t go into the settlement.”

We dropped to the ground in a matter of moments. Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes ahead of us. Arthur motioned me to stay back. He walked over to the bushes drawing his bow.

“ Don’t any of you move? We have you surrounded.” One person skidded out of the bushes, bow drawn, and arrow knocked. To my surprise it was a girl.

“ El it’s me, Arthur.” Arthur said approaching the figure.

“ Prove to me you are.” The woman, El, said.

Arthur drew out his silver leaf,” I’m Arthur, of the Greenleaf Watch, Silverleaf rank, and with me is Eric, apprentice of Moran.” He said at attention. Two hooded Rangers came out and walked around us. One was short, the other was tall, but his back was bent a little. They walked around for quite some time

One spoke,” This one is Arthur.”

The other walked quietly around me,” This one is indeed Eric, my apprentice.”

The hooded men pulled off their hoods to revel their faces. The short one pulled off his hood to revel, my best friend, and Arthur’s younger brother, Hunter. He was smiling like crazy. The tall one pulled of his head to revel my trainer, Moran. With a stern look Arthur looked suspiciously at his brother.

“ What have you bean up to.” He said suspiciously. The smile faded from Hunters face. Hunter turned away saddened.

“ You don’t turn your back on me.” Arthur said sweeping Hunter into a great big bear hug.

Hunter, like me, was twelve we were the same age, born the same day and second. Are Mothers were real good friends, childhood playmates. We were born next to each other. Are Mothers were always there for each other. So my Mother was their for her, and his mother was their for mine, giving birth at the same time. After that, both are mothers died in their beds.

Our fathers weren’t runaways. They died the same day, as are mothers. They died serving their country. They were together too. They were spying on an enemy camp when Morian soldiers ambushed them.

· · ·

Hunter and I walked through the Town. It wasn’t really a Town. It had walls to keep out the Morians. The walls were made out of Oak trees. They were literally trees planted so close together it formed a wall. The trees were at least fifteen feet tall. Planks for Ranger watchmen were just below the branches. So that the leaves hid are guards. Inside the wall were more trees. These trees were scattered everywhere around the inside of the wall. In each tree were two tree houses. It was like the Greenleaf Watch look-out-posts, but with two big look-out-post, or in this case houses, in one tree. The houses were all connected with rope bridges. In the town center you could see at the base of the trees were holes. More like caves under the tree itself. In these caves there were shops, blacksmiths and other small business that the family, or family’s in the tree above owned.

We walked over to my tree. We didn’t have a shop or business, it was just a cave. With tables, maps scattered all around them. This was the Greenleaf Watch headquarters. We weren’t aloud to go in.

My tree had one big house, with six rooms. Most houses had three. But this house belonged to a Dwarf family back in the old days.

“ Lets go up and talk. Before the Healers get back,” said Hunter. I smiled. Healers were girls. When they were old enough they went to the Elves for Herb and medicine training. Hunter’s ex-girlfriend, Sara, a cute blonde haired twelve-year-old girl, that turned him down when she left for the Elves a year ago. Now today they were coming back. We climbed up the side steps, watching the gates.

When we reached the top, Hunter stepped in front of me and. Pulled the door open. He then rushed inside and slammed the door in my face. I was about to yell at him and tell him this was my house. But then I understood. Right when he shut the door in my face. The Guard yelled, and the gates opened, to reveal beautiful young ladies, all dressed in eleven fashion. The ones in the front I recognized.

The one smiling wildly was Sara. Next to her was the beautiful, brown hair, blue-eyed beauty of them all, Arleen. The other ones I didn’t recognize.

Sara must of spotted me staring, because she waved and tapped Arleen on the shoulder that waved too.

I smiled and waved back, as I pulled the door open. I walked in and closed the door behind me. Just as I closed the door, a knife whooshed past my head and landed with a thud on the door.

I stood their stunned. I reached up and yanked the knife out of the door. I turned to see Hunter sulking in the corner.

“ You think that was funny.” I said, red in the face.

He looked up,” Maybe.” He growled

“ Really,” I said, redder in the face,” well then this must be hilarious.” I reached over to a table that held weapons that belonged to my brother. I picked up a dagger analyzing its sharpness. With one sharp twist of my wrist, the dagger flung threw the air and landed dead center in Hunters sleeve. He looked down at the dagger; he reached up and pulls it out. He got up.

“ This took me forever to make.” He yelled. He ran at me, dagger ready to kill. I reached down and grabbed a sword.

My sword met his dagger with a cling. I kicked him in the stomach; he went reeling across the room. I ran at him, my sword rose.

“ Hello.” A voice came from outside the door. Hunter and I froze. That was not just any voice. It was Sara’s voice.

“ Straiten up.” I said in a low voice.

“ I don’t want her here!” was the reply from Hunter.

“ Arleen can be out there to.” I said grinning. Hunter sighed, he gestured for me to go on. I reached and opened the door. Standing in the doorway were Arleen, and Sara.

“ Hello girls, would you like to come in?” I asked gesturing inside.

“ Yes, we’d like that very much.” was the answer from Sara. They walked in cautiously, looking around. Hopefully I turned around looking to see if the mess was picked up. I let out a sigh of relief, it was.

“ So how bout you ladies sit down.” I said looking around to see were Hunter went. Probably hiding from Sara, why can’t he just push it aside, or if he’s that depressed about it he can just ask her if they can start again. I wondered.

“ So…. what brings you here?” I said, hoping they wouldn’t yell at me.

“ I want to see Hunter.” Sara said, in a matter-of-fact-tone.

“ Oh… well to tell you the truth, he was just here a minute ago an,” I started but a voice cut me off from the doorway.

“ What were you thinking,” I looked up to see my brother, red faced and smoke steaming out his ears. He stood in the doorway shocked at the scene.

“ Lady’s, I think your visit to my house is over.” He gestured for them to get up, and get out. They reluctantly got up and shuffled to the door. When they were out, and climbing down the stairs my brother turned and slammed the door. I could see Arleen jump at the sound of the door.

He turned on me. “What do you think you were doing, interfering with Greenleaf business!” he yelled, walking over to me, with one hand clenched into a fist, and the other on his dagger.

“ I sorry I was only trying to help.” I said backing behind a table.

“ Oh were you. You nearly got Arthur killed twice!” he yelled kicking over the table.

“ Twice! No, I saved his life TWICE!” I yelled back, walking over to the table with weapons.

“ Really. You told a Morian soldier were the Oak Tree was, and he, knowing were it was, could find Arthur, kill him and scout out are fort. And if you hadn’t bean there, Arthur wouldn’t have fallen of that bridge. And now, there’s half an army scouting out these woods for the murderer of a King to-be, and the captors of a Queen to-be. Now we have to hunt down half an army by night, with only four patrols. How’s that for saving someone life. You just put ten’s more in danger!” he said slowly advancing toward me.

I picked up a dagger and threw it at him. It flew the air like a bird, but he was to fast. He sidestepped, grabbed the dagger and threw it back at me. I landed with a soft thud in my gut.

“ Ahhhhhhrgg!” I toppled over and landed on my face, the dagger, and deepening into my flesh with every nudge.

He stood over me. “Get out of my house coward.” And with that he stormed out.

I laid there for several minutes, putting force on my wounded, but it didn’t do any good. I knew I was gowning to pass out. And I did.

· · ·

I woke up on a bed. I looked around the room. The room was dark, except for one w1indow that brought in a silver pool of moonlight that rested on me. The bed I was on was laid with blankets, some were wrapped around me like a cocoon, and others were laid around me like a nest. My gut was wrapped tightly, so tightly I couldn’t sit up, with what felt like a Winder leaf, but it was to big for a Winder leaf. I reached down to pull it off.

“ No!” was the reply from a voice in the corner, and I understood why. As I lifted the leaf, or cloth, I felt a sharp pain, like a hundred daggers were slashing me.

“ Arrrggggg!” I yelled slamming the leaf, or cloth, back on my wound. The person who shouted came rushing to my side. He pulled tightly on the leaf, now I was sure it was a leaf, he then looked in my face and yelled softly.

“ What were you thinking!” at that moment I discovered something strange, this man was no man, it was a girl, a very beautiful girl. And then I did something strange.I fell a sleep.