The Shadow of Amulets

The Hidden Forest

Link's POV

Darkness is what filled my vision as a blindfold was put over my eyes. I was captured and being transported to their camp. We walking for about 25 minutes and I was told to keep quiet. As I was being transported I heard someone walk next to me. "I didn't plan on my camp to raid the house, the shooting light must have caught their attention," she says. "Yeah of course you didn't know, it's not like you weren't suspicious of me from minute 1, but thanks for tricking me Elvia, it's been a while, "I say sarcastically. There was silence for a few seconds.

"I see you heard my name... so you mind telling me yours?" she says looking forward. "How about when I can actually see again then I'll think about it, that sound good? " I say.

"Alright," she said. I heard her walk forward leaving me behind.

We all arrived at their camp and I was thrown into a small room for a period of time until the three men returned to ask me questions.

"Alright what is this and how did you get it to light up," the man said holding the emerald stone I found. "Look chief, I just found that stone right before you came and it just shot out a green light for no reason. I had nothing to do with it" I explain.

There was a silence and then my face was swung to the right as I got punched by the man. A little blood spilt down from my mouth. "That's a nice story, I wish I could believe that. Unless you tell us what you know, say hello to your new life" the man smirked as he left the room with the others. I stay there strapped in a chair looking at the floor. "What is that stupid stone," I say frustrated.

A while had passed since the others came in. I was sitting there pondering that stone and why it was connected to me until I heard the door slowly open and someone walked in.

"So your plan hasn't gone quite right I take it," Elvia said as she let out a small laugh. "I'm glad you find it humorous," I say with a blank expression.

"What I can't figure out is why that stone shot out that light when you walked towards it?" she said with a confused face. "Listen! You mustn't tell them! I don't know what that stone is or why it lit up, but I know it has something to do with me..." I say determined leaning forward in my chair. "Well, you seem just as clueless as" - - - - she was cut off by me.

"Please! I need to have that stone. It's the only way I'll figure out what it wants with me and to finally stop those dreams" I say. "Dreams...?" she says." Look that isn't important now!

I need to get that stone back" I say slightly louder. Elvia paused for a moment. "And what makes you think I'll help you" she replied. "I think you owe me that considering you had a hand in me being kidn*pped. And if you didn't plan it, then help me escape" I say as I look her straight in the eyes. "You think I can just set you free without the captains say. I have to follow his orders and so does the rest of us" she replies. There was a pause. "Who is he"? I ask. Elvia paused for a moment and then started to speak. "His name is Lester. He is the captain of our camp. He founded this camp and recruited many homeless people and gave them a home here... including me. I'm very grateful for his actions.

I paused for a second." You didn't have.. parents to look after you...?" I say slowly. She paused for a moment too. ".. It doesn't matter," she said as she shrugged it off. Despite what Lester has done for me, I don't think what he's doing is right. That stone is connected to you somehow and it wouldn't do us any good keeping it here. I assume the shooting light intrigued them after all that is a strange occurrence" she says. "Does that mean you will help me escape?" I say quickly. "We have to be quick and quiet and you have to listen to my instructions closely," she says seriously as she looks straight at me.

She was formulating a plan with me for the next 15 minutes and it seemed we were ready.

"They probably put your bow and arrows in the storage room. I can get that for you but the rest is up to you" she explains. "If you can get my bow and arrow, the rest will be a piece of cake. Now I'm hungry, I shouldn't have said that" I say with regret. "haha" she chuckled a bit before she left to go get my equipment.

After 5 minutes she returned with my gear.

"Thanks," I say as I fill my quiver with my arrows and pick up my bow. Put my hood on. Put my face covering on.

"Alright! time for some escaping. Hehe, this will be fun" I say with a smirk. "You don't seem nervous at all, you should be, Lester is not a man you would want to anger," she says. "I'll be fine. As long as I have my bow and arrow, many things are possible. I say getting more excited." Your a strange guy" Elvia says with a confused expression. We decided to wait a few minutes before executing the plan. Elvia left to go to her station for the plan to work. A few minutes passed and now we started.

I open the door with ease and I try to locate Lester and his henchmen. Elvia said they would be in the guard room on the other side. I saw one henchman walking back and forth as it looked like there were a few on patrol. I silently sneak behind one and quickly wrap my bow around his throat for about 5 seconds causing him to fall unconscious. "Okay 1 down, a few more to go," I say as I locate the others. I managed to find the other 3 henchmen and shot once in the foot, the other in the arm, and the last one I knocked out with my bow. The arrows I shot weren't fatal and were only enough to make them unconscious from the pain. I head to the guard room, open the door, and point my bow to Lester. "Return my stone and I won't hurt you. I'll leave and it will be like nothing happened." I say calmly. "What have you done with my group. Where are they" he said feeling cornered. "Uh..well you see, they're kind of sleeping temporarily if you catch my drift," I say with a smirk. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt so take your artefact and you can leave," he says as he threw the stone at me. I catch it and place it in one of my pockets. "I'm only taking back what is mine, I hope you understand," I say as I back out of the room and into the open. I kept backing away still pointing my bow.

At that point, Elvia came out of one of the side rooms looking surprised with Lester's notice, which was also part of the plan to throw off suspicion that she helped in my escape. What happened next however caught me off guard as a ton of guards came out from the forest behind me, trapping me in the middle. "Where did they come from," I say a little angrily. "One battalion of the backup soldiers I hope you don't mind kid" Lester smirked. "dam. I'm cornered, this wasn't what we planned" I said in my head as I kicked the ground in frustration. After a few moments, a thought came to mind. I dash towards Elvia, pull out one of my daggers, and put it to her throat...

Everyone stopped and Lester told the extra soldiers to stay put. "Stay where you all are! Move one inch and I'll kill her!" I say fiercely. "This isn't gonna work out you know" Elvia whispered to me with a bored expression. "It will if you play along, now act scared and weak" I reply. Lester had no choice but to let me go now. "Tell your archers to back away," I shout as I bring Elvia along with me. Lester pointed to his archers who backed away immediately. Once I was far from everyone, I shout "Okay, Lester it's been fun but I have to go now. Say sorry to your henchman for me" I say with a smirk. "This isn't over we will meet again ranger" Lester smirked back. I release Elvia and push her forward to create some distance and then I run off into the woods. "Elvia! run after him! Try and see where he goes off to" Lester says furiously. "He won't get far, I'll find him," she says as she runs off into the woods trailing me.

After 5 minutes I stopped. "Wow I was gone the whole day and now it's sunset. I hope Alaan covered for me or I wouldn't be in the best situation when I get back" I say as I look into the setting sky.

I then heard someone from the trees drop down to the ground and that person was Elvia.

"I guess you don't run as quick as I thought you would," she said as she stood up. "Well, I wasn't really in that much danger. No point in running for my life" I say with a laugh.

We both started laughing until I looked towards the setting sun realising the time. "Oh crap, if I'm any late, it's gonna hard to sneak into the castle," I say with a slight panic. "You...live with the Knights? Arent Archers supposed to live in the Forests?" Elvia asks with confusion." I've lived with the Knights for many years. They gave me a new home " I say with a smile." An Archer living with Knights, now you are definitely the strangest person I've met" she said.

"Also thanks for helping me escape. I know it was hard turning on your group" I say with gratitude. "I felt something when you held that stone. It almost felt like it was drawn to you. I don't know but it definitely belonged to you not them" Elvia explained. "I won't save you next time so you better hope Lester doesn't find you. You owe me one now" she added. "Alright haha," I say. I then extend my fist and point it to her. "huh" she said confused. "It's a fist bump. It means we're friends" I say. "Alright then," Elvia said as she joined her fist.

I then start to sprint towards the outside of the forest when I stopped suddenly. "Oh yeah, I forgot. The name's Link" I say as I start to sprint again taking off.

"Link"... She whispered.