[center][h2][color=fdc68a]THE ESCAPE[/color][/h2][/center]


While running, Vestar still had whatever he could grab in his hands, calling out to his horse. [color=f7976a] BEEEEAST!!![/color] It didn't take long for his horse to gallop over to him, allowing Vestar to jump on his back and get some distance before hiding away behind a hill. Vestar took this moment to get dressed, set aside his axes and opened the cloak that held a few items. He noticed that he had in possession, Marewen's coin purse and hairbrush. Seeing how she tended to use the brush a lot, it must've been important to her so, he vowed in his mind to bring it back to her personally when he rescued her. It would take a little time to travel back to her home and castle from where they were, which would be his best open window of opportunity to save her before she ends up getting into territory that he would need an army to fight through.

Getting back on beast, Vestar headed for the road he could take to catch up to them so to get his lover back out of the clutches of Bastien. On his way though, while riding through the woods, a man stepped in his path, causing Vestar to stop Beast. [color=f7976a] Beast! Whoa![/color] He yelled out causing his horse to come to an abrupt stop and rise to its hind legs while neighing and snorting. The man who stood in the way, flinched a little. [color=orange]"Oh for fuck sake man, are you trying to kill me!?" [/color]

[color=f7976a] You're the one who stepped in my path! Be gone! I have a matter I have to tend to![/color] The man looked up at Vestar and stared for a moment. [color=f7976a] Did you not hear me, I said move![/color] That same man focused his eyes on Vestar before speaking. [color=orange]"Wait....I know you....you are....Vestar...Vestar Bragisson, right?"[/color] Vestar just stared on not really recognizing the man [color=orange]"You don't remember me do you? My name is Grimar...about 3 years ago, you and I were on the same ship raid where we saw the sea creature and you saved me!" [/color]This man was a viking just like Vestar. They seemed to have a history that Vestar more than likely forgot about. He did take the moment to remember that man's face. [color=f7976a] Yeah, I think I remember you. you were that silly man who talked too much.[/color][color=orange] "Loki's sack, that's right! You do remember me! Hey, I never took the time to thank you for saving me life. If there was anything I could do to repay you...I'll do it....just name it!"[/color]

Oh why did this guy have to say such a thing at this exact moment It was as if the gods truly were looking after Vestar and his dire needs. A smile displayed on Vestar's face before taking a moment to get down off his horse. [color=f7976a] So you want to repay me for my deeds towards you? Well today, you have luck. I need help. Do you have any men here? There are some Englishmen I need to catch up to so I can vanquish them and take back my woman they've stolen from me. They could still be on my trail to kill me.[/color]

Grimar stared into Vestar's eyes when he asked for his help in getting his woman and since he was still willing to keep his word in helping, Grimar nodded. [color=orange]"Oh? Your lover huh? Those Englishmen...they just think they are superior to everyone. Yes, my lads are not far from here. There's 4 of them back at our camp. I can get them and join you on this quest. Come!" [/color]He beckoned Vestar to follow him. 

Great! There may be a chance in success but they needed to hurry. Vestar followed and after a few minutes of walking and talking, they reached the other 4 vikings.[color=orange] "Ay! Lads! I want you to meet someone! This is Vestar Bragisson. He was a valiant hero that helped us during the raids at sea and saved me from the sea creature."[/color] He said while one of the older vikings spoke.[color=bc8dbf] "Yes, I remember him! This is quite fortunate to run into you again!" [/color]The older spoke. Vestar nodded. [color=f7976a] As much as we'd all like to kiss each other arses, I have a matter I need your help in. As a viking brother of yours, I have a situation and I don't have much time but...this is what I request....[/color]

Marewen glared at Bastien.[color=bc8dbf] "How can you do this? You know what Edgar is. You KNOW what kind of man he is. How could you let them force me to marry him?" [/color]Marewen's voice shook with a mixture of fear and anger. 

Bastien looked at her and gave a twisted smirk. [color=orange]"It is my duty to bring you back. I have no care for you either way. My feelings do not matter in this case. Our friendship is not allowed to interfere."[/color] He said stoically.

Marewen reached over and slapped him across the face hard.[color=bc8dbf] "Our friendship is over! You are not fit to be my friend."[/color]

Clenching his jaw Bastien turned and looked out the window of the carriage. Marewen thought about her viking. She hoped he would get to her before they got too far away. She looked all around her in the carriage looking for something to use as a weapon or to use to help her escape.

Bastien's voice was made of ice when he spoke to her.[color=orange] "We will be almost halfway home when we stop for the night tonight." [/color]Marewen refused to look at him. She noticed that he had started yawning and she closed her own eyes for a little while. When she opened them his were closed and he was lightly snoring.

Carefully she stepped up and over his feet and opened the door and jumped out. Tumbling into the bushes at the speed of a running horse is not comfortable and she was cut up from the thorns when she heard Bastien yell. The horses stopped and he jumped out of the carriage and came running after her. Panic struck and she ran headlong into the trees.

Running into the woods she barely missed Bastien's hand as he reached for her. She ducked backwards and elbowed him in the ribs hard enough to hear him grimace and yelp in pain. Fast as a squirrel she scurried into the woods and sent a couple of large rocks about the size of your fist flying at him. 

[color=orange]"Son of a bitch! Marewen! Stop it! I'm gonna beat your arse when I catch you!"[/color] She nailed him in the side of the face and he stood there a moment before he started to fall and grabbed a tree for support. [color=orange] "Damn it Marewen! You are supposed to be a God damn lady so stop throwing bricks at me!"[/color] He screamed at her. He couldn't see her but he could hear her and he followed her until he caught sight of her. Marewen ran around a curve and he seemed to have lost her.

He could hear his men still on the road. They were starting to catch up to the carriage. He heard some of them following him into the darker woods. Sending them in different directions. Bastien saw her and she was just standing there. He reached for her and yanked her back [color=orange]"Damn you Mare- "[/color] Bastien was suddenly struck by a coiled snake that had been in front of Marewen. 

Bastien was now standing in the middle of the snake nest. As he screamed he was bitten several more times. Marewen quietly and slowly moved away and further into the forest. Just when she thought she was going to get away Hector grabbed her around the waist and yanked her off of her feet. Kicking and screaming Marewen put up a big fight. By the time he got to his horse he and his men had her hands tied up. Bastien was in the carriage with multiple snake bites. He would not make it to the castle alive.

Hector was now in command and he decided that Marewen was riding on his horse in front of him so he could keep her still.[color=yellow] "Thanks to you we will be getting back later than we thought."[/color]

Marewen stayed quiet but smiled just a little. She hoped that she bought Vestar more time to get to her. Marewen wasn't too happy about Hector's body directly behind her on the horse and his arms around her. It severely limited her ability to get away.

After speaking with the older Viking named Bard, Vestar along with Grimar were welcomed with backup of the four vikings they spoke with at their camp. 6 men? Maybe that was enough for Vestar to chase down and get his beloved princess back. Grimar is considered a good archer and dagger user. Bard was quite handy with a claymore sword. There was another Viking who is quite large, named Haf who uses a war hammer and 2 other vikings who carried spears and shields. 

Nice well rounded group if you had to ask Vestar. Vestar mentioned which way he remembered them going and while they were all on horseback, Vestar picked up the pace to try and catch up. The others followed. Vestar promised a raid with them after this was over. He didn't share any specifics that the woman he was rescuing is an Englishwoman...better yet....a princess. But that was not necessary to tell them that right now. All that matter is catching them, killing the men who are taking her back and then continue their journey for a new life together.

It didn't take very long in their travels for the group to catch sight of the carriage. Quite honestly, Vestar thought that they would have been much further out than this. As much as Vestar wanted to just charge right in to take them down, he couldn't risk having her get away as the men would more than likely be a distraction to keep him and his group busy while the target gets away. 

Vestar looked over to Grimar and Bard. [color=f7976a] Alright, they seem to number at about 12...maybe 16...I would say we charge straight at them but the soldiers would just stay in the way. We need to cut them off. Grimar...can I trust in your archery skills?[/color] Grimar chuckled "When I'm not getting hunted by a sea creature...I'm the finest archer around!" [color=f7976a] Good...I need you to hide in the woods. Provide cover for us. Once we start our attack, I'll need you to strike down those who try to escape. We don't need any survivors. The spear brothers...I'll need you up ahead with Bard to intercept them. Giant Haf will join me at the rear to come in strong. We may be few to their many but with our skills that I've witnessed during our raids back then, I believe we can lay waste to them with little trouble.[/color] His words were taken into consideration. These men worked with him before and from his heroics in the past, they were willing to follow his plans as they hurried off ahead while Grimar went into hiding to make sure he keeps to his role in all of this. Vestar looked at Haf and nodded waiting for the signal for them to step in and provide back up.

Marewen did not make it easy on Hector. She kept fidgeting and when she heard a commotion behind them she felt Hecter kick the horse into a gallop and she struggled against him and yelled out. She grabbed the reins and reared the horse back on two feet and Hector barely held onto her. The horse reared sideways and she slammed fully into Hector and when the horse bounced back down she continued fighting with him but her hands were tied together. She swung her leg over the horse's head and tried to slide down. Hector reached down and yanked her back up and tossed her on her stomach in front of him. When she started to struggle again he hit her on the ass hard. Fear of falling off of the running horse and onto her head made her stop fighting. She felt humiliated at being carried on horseback this way.

Bard and his team took another route through the woods to get up ahead of Hector and his men so to cut them off. Vestar and Haf continued to follow but not close enough where the other men would suspect too much. Grimar continued to move through the brush to find a good position. 

He did take a good look while keeping an eye on Hector and his men of the girl that Hector had, giving him a hard time. Was quite amusing. Maybe this was the reason why Vestar liked her. She was aggressive! Well...or this was just simply desperation on her part to get away. Either way, this was a good thing that she was causing such trouble because by then, Bard and his men, after riding as far up as they could, managed to block the roadway to try and force Hector to stop. The three vikings that were ahead, stood firm, waiting for a moment before the awaited fight to begin.

Vestar looked on ahead from a small hill. He saw Bard and the other two blocking the passage and signaled Haf to come with him to get behind the group. Grimar was now ready. He took his first arrow and pulled back, holding for the first victim. 

Bard spoke. [color=orange]"This is a far as you Englishmen will go. You're coming upon territory that will soon belong to the vikings. Give up now...and you will not be harmed."[/color]

[color=yellow]"I am with King Phillip's army. You will let me pass as I am on official royal business for the king. If you refuse my men will remove you." [/color]Hector replied knowing that they were close in number and now that he had Marewen with him he couldn't really fight someone else at the same time without putting her in danger. 

Marewen was annoyed and she glanced at Hector's leg in the stirrups and she saw a dagger jutting out of his boot. She grabbed it and started kicking her legs against the horse and it allowed her to slide backwards off. She would have gotten down but Hector reached forward and in that moment he exposed his stomach as she brought the blade across him. His shrill scream pierced her ears as she fell to the ground. Gaining her feet she got up and ran. Her hair was in her face and she couldn't see well who was where now that it was getting dark. Her hands were still tied so she couldn't do much other than hide.

Bard listened to Hector's words but what he said was not enough to leave him worried. Bard and his people hated the royalty of England and would love nothing more than to stand over their corpse laughing. Bard chuckled from the threat that men would be sent after them. He noticed the movement of the young woman and the scream that Hector made thanks from the attack that Marewen executed was enough for Bard to charge after the remaining men. 

One of the spearmen threw his spear at one of the soldiers impaling one while the other rushed in using a shield tackle. Bard gave a few mighty swings at some of the men who were closest up front. One of the men attempted to try and run after Marewen but was introduced to an arrow to the back by Grimar. Vest and Haf rushed from the rear, taking the men who were in the back by surprise when Haf delivered a devastating attack with the swing of his hammer, hitting a soldier in the chest, causing him to fly a few feet away, coughing up blood afterwards. 

Vestar kept his eyes on where Marewen was going and headed her way to free her, cutting down the first soldier to stand in his way while trying to reach his lady love. He took his two axes, using one to block and swing the sword out of the way, following up with the delivery of a headbutt to the face to knock the man back enough for Vestar to swing his axe in a leg sweeping motion, cleanly cutting the man's leg off from right below the knee. The next soldier tried to provide back up, leaping and attempted a thrust with his sword only for Vestar to spin out of the way and swing his axe to strike the man in the back. To add insult to injury, he went to attack again from behind, lodging his axe into the man's shoulder, nearly hacking it off while the man screamed. He ended it with a beheading and continued on. 

It didn't take long for his team to finish off the majority of the men while maybe 1-2 ended up with an arrow into their backs trying to escape. Vestar rushed over to Marewen to help her. [color=f7976a] Hey....it's me...don't be afraid, I'm here![/color] He said putting his axe down and came over to her to move the hair from her face, placing his palms on her cheeks to check on her. [color=f7976a] Hey....are you hurt?[/color] He said in a quieter tone. 

Marewen stopped  when she heard his voice. [color=bc8dbf]"Vestar?"[/color] When he moved her hair and put his hands on her face her eyes shone with tears. [color=bc8dbf]"I did everything I could to stall them. I knew you would find me." [/color]After he cut the ropes from her bleeding wrists she wrapped her arms around him in a fierce hug. [color=bc8dbf]"Bastien is dead. I ran and he yanked me back and he got bitten by a snake seven or eight times." [/color]She moved and grimaced in pain from her injuries received during her escape attempts. She looked at Hector's body. He was slumped over in his seat on the horse. There was an arrow in his back and his stomach had bled out. She quickly averted her teary eyes. [color=bc8dbf]"I didn't mean to kill him." [/color]

Marewen was clearly upset and in rough shape. She had cuts and bruises all over her and she was feeling guilt at the Hector's death. She was shaking and holding onto Vestar as if he were the last person on the planet.

Seeing that she calmed a little upon hearing him, Vestar smiled while checking on her [color=f7976a] That was very brave of you to do that. You've made me proud.[/color] Hugging her after the ropes were cut and kissed her a little. [color=f7976a] So that bastard is dead by snake bites? He got it easy. But then again...I'm pissed that I was not the one to end him.[/color] Sighing that he couldn't get his hands on the one who ordered his death and grabbed his woman. 

Vestar looked over to Hector's dead body and turned back to Marewen. He could see the guilt in her eyes, taking a life for the first time. Vestar shifted his eyes downward and didn't want her to feel bothered. [color=f7976a] Listen...it was not your fault. You did what you had to do to escape. You didn't kill him, the arrow that struck him, killed him. You only injured him. The archer that shot him took his life, not you. Your hands are clean. You understand. You're not a killer.[/color] He told her trying to cheer her up and to not have Hector's death weigh on her mind. It's said that when you kill your first person, it's the hardest thing to get over and you'll always see the person you've killed over and over again and even the next person you kill will look like the first you've kill in your mind. He didn't want that burden for her. [color=f7976a] Come, let's get you to a healer.[/color] He told her, lifting her off the ground to carry her in his arms and walked out to the road to meet with the other fellow vikings. 

[color=f7976a] Men...I appreciate your help. This is Mary....my woman...I know we have an agreement but allow me to take her to a village to get her healed.[/color]  Grimar came from out the woods and Bard along with the others looked at Marewen. [color=purple]"She's quite the star gazer despite her cuts and bruises. Fine...let's get her help and we can discuss our agreement later."[/color] Bard said as they headed off to a nearby small village.

Marewen let Vestar carry her and she snuggled into his arms as he climbed aboard the horse in one smooth movement. She was not content. The stress of her day was still with her but she felt like her future was getting brighter if he cared enough to fight for her life.


[@Wick]