I remember the day we first met. He'd walked through the doors of the orphanage half shrouded behind a tall woman I would never see again. It had been difficult to make out his face in the dimly lit hallway, but I could tell he was terrified of everything around him. Then again, who wouldn't be?
Unlike him, my first memories had been of this place. I imagine I would have been just as terrified of these rundown walls in his shoes. For me, this was home, and even back then at the tender age of 7, I knew they would be home for him too.
No child ever came through those doors unless they were here to stay. And few of us ever left.
Our eyes had met just before he disappeared through the doors of the matron's office. It wouldn't be the last time we would lock eyes.
It wouldn't be very long until we'd meet again. Just after breakfast the following day, I found him sitting on the old swing staring out into the wilderness. Out in the early sun, his shaggy light brown hair had the most gorgeous tint.
I'm sure to everyone else he must have seemed intimidating and closed off, but to me, he just seemed scared and vulnerable. It seemed like he needed a friend.
I'd made my way towards him and had stopped dead in my tracks when I noticed a nasty bruise peeking slightly over his collar. I thought it looked like he might have been trembling.
I'd steeled my resolve, taken one last step forward, and called out to him, "Hello," I'd said.
He'd almost fallen out of the swing with how quickly he'd jerked to action and turned to face me. I watched him study me carefully and cautiously, almost as though he was waiting for me to make a move.
So I did. I outstretched my hand like I'd seen the adults do when they greeted one another.
"Hello," I repeated, "I'm Rowen."
He looked at my outstretched hand with suspicion as though it would bite if he wasn't careful. I didn't get his name or so much as a word from him on that occasion. In fact, it had taken several tries to get him to say a single word to me or anyone else for that matter.
By the time we'd both turned 12, it was hard to believe that Orin was the same boy who had been afraid of his own shadow when he first arrived. Where once he had been timid, he was now the brave one between the two of us.
He was the one with the daring plans that often got us in trouble, and even then, he was the charming one that often got us out of it.
And on those unfortunate occasions that typified my later years at the orphanage, he was the one that protected me.
"They only pick on you because you act like a girl," he'd told me one afternoon after my hair had been yanked so hard it had sent me flying backward into the dirt.
"No, I don't!" I'd argued sharply.
"Well, you look like one," he'd muttered under his breath just loud enough for me to hear.
"I can't control how I look," I muttered in response.
He turned to me with a frustrated look. "Just cut your hair then. Only girls have hair like that."
I backed away defensively as though Orin would cut my hair when I wasn't paying attention. Of course I knew he wouldn't do that. He would force me to climb a tree or jump in the lake, but never to cut my hair.
My reaction told him there wasn't a chance in hell I would ever do that, so he sighed in resignation.
"At least learn how to fight," he pivoted, "They wouldn't mess with you if you fought back."
I shook my head, and that was all it took for him to drop it. He knew I wasn't like him in that way. I couldn't punch people or kick them like he could. Not that I was judging him or anything. I envied him.
I knew he'd been secretly practicing how to use a sword out in the forest when no one was looking. I often wished I had the courage to join him so I wouldn't have to rely on him all the time like I did.
Not that he minded.
"I'll protect you, so don't worry," he'd said to me that afternoon, and that's exactly what he'd done since. So much so that it painted an even bigger target on my back.
It certainly didn't help that even as we approached our 17th year, he and the other boys had long since bulked up with age enough to take up manly work in their various apprenticeships in town to help the orphanage, I had unfortunately remained slight and oddly pretty.
At my age, it was becoming a real concern that I would remain like this.
Still, despite our growing differences, Orin remained my friend and never failed to keep his promise.
He'd shared the secret of his training sessions with me as we grew more inseparable, and on days like today, I would spend them perched beneath a tree watching him as he trained with a stick he'd shaped to resemble a sword.
Today I watched quietly while shaded from the afternoon sun. He needed no such protection, content to sweat away with each swing of his pretend sword.
He caught me stifling a laugh after he grunted loudly following a particularly forceful strike at the defenseless air.
"What's so funny?" he turned to look at me and I got a better look at his sweat-covered body, the outline of which was perfectly visible through his soaked clothes I would likely help him wash later; One of the few ways I could show my gratitude to him for always being there.
"Nothing," I smiled.
"What, you think this is easy?"
"Oh no, quite the contrary," I replied, "You just seem so serious swinging that stick around."
"This--" he gestured at the sturdy piece of wood in his hands, "This is a perfectly crafted blade capable of cutting a man clean in half."
"Oh? I didn't know it was so dangerous."
"It is indeed. Now that you realize your grave error--" he pointed the stick right at me, "apologize."
I bowed playfully in response, "Oh kind sir, I am so very sorry for offending your great big stick, sir. Do forgive me?"
"Aha, I see you still need to be taught a lesson," he said as he let the stick fall to the floor. "Come here then."
I shrieked when I saw him begin his chase, hurried to my feet, and ran, "Stop, stay away!"
I only ran a few paces away before deciding to resort to the tried and true strategy of circling a tree. I was under no illusions that I could outrun him. Maybe when we were 7 I might have managed it, but not now.
We circled a few times before I quickly admitted defeat. "I'll apologize, I'll apologize," I pleaded. Anything for him to keep all that sweat to himself.
"It's too late for that," he laughed.
In a brief moment where I wasn't paying attention, he lunged around the tree and grabbed my wrist, pulling me out of cover. I screamed as though a woodland beast had seized me in its clutches.
Orin pulled me into a sweaty hug, lifting me clear off the ground and sealing the fact that I would be washing two pairs of clothes instead of one. The moment that realization passed, a far more sinister one reared its head.
It dawned on me just how tiny I felt pressed against him like that. It felt awkward and wrong.
With more force than I intended, I pushed away from him. He must have felt a shift because he quickly let go of me and apologized.
"It's okay. I'm sorry." I apologized too: "That was weird."
He shook his head.
"Let's head back." I tried changing the subject. "I have to get out of these clothes now thanks to you."
"Not yet," he replied. "Come on, I want to show you something."
"Okay."
We walked, chattering about something or another, until we arrived at a seemingly unimpressive spot. After making sure the surroundings were clear, I watched Orin clear up a pile of leaves and dig up what, no matter how I looked at it, looked like an actual sword.
Not the fake one I'd seen him practice with for months; no, this was the real deal.
"Where did you get that?" I quickly scurried closer and whispered.
"I didn't steal it if that's what you're worried about," he replied.
"No, I know that. I'm just surprised."
"I've been saving up some of the money I made," he explained. "Rowen, we can't stay in the orphanage forever."
"What are you planning?" I asked with a hint of worry on my face.
"Let's leave," he told me. "We can pack our bags and go to the city. We can start afresh."
I looked at him like he'd just said the most ridiculous thing in the world, "You're joking. That's crazy. We can't leave, you know that. We're under obligation."
We owed a lot to the matron and her sisters for taking care of us all these years, and some of what we owed was mandated by law.
"Who cares about that?" He quickly dismissed my concerns: "How long are we going to be tied to this place?"
"But we can't just--"
"Think about it," he pressed, "I could find work as a guard, or a soldier, or something, and maybe we could find something for you too. Between the two of us, I'm sure we could make enough to get by."
"Why can't we just stay here?" I asked him, "It's not so bad here, is it?"
"It's not but--"
"Then why?" I asked him. "You're saying we should run away from everyone we know."
"Rowen, I want more from life, don't you? Are you satisfied just being a couple of orphans out in the wilderness?" he asked me. He looked tense, as though this has been weighing on him for a while. How long had he been planning this?
"How are we even going to get to the city?" I asked him, "I don't suppose you saved enough to buy a horse too?"
"Of course not," he said as he buried the sword back beneath the brush enough that it was unnoticeable unless you were looking for it. "We'll make our way to the next town and figure things out from there."
"I don't know—" I started to say, but he interrupted me.
"Listen, I'm leaving." He told me plainly while our eyes met like they had on that first day, "I really, really want you to come with me."
He looked so earnest and sincere, and I could tell he meant every word. And deep down, I knew that there was nothing here for me without him, so there was really only ever one thing to say.
"What's the plan?"
He smiled. "Just pack a few things and try not to draw any attention," he explained, "and don't fall asleep tonight."
"Tonight? We're leaving tonight?" I asked.
"Why wait?" he asked. "Remember, be ready."
I couldn't have known it at the time, but that decision would turn my life upside down in all the worst ways.
=^..^=
Orin and I made our escape like thieves in the night, carrying only what little we owned. He abandoned his apprenticeship, and I, all the tasks I'd been assigned. Come morning, there would be a search, but we would be nowhere to be found.
It wouldn't be long until there would be notices of our disappearance, but two runaway kids wouldn't be very high on the priority list, so they were unlikely to come looking for us. Or atleast that's what Orin had said to convince me.
"Do you even know where we're going?" I asked him while fighting off the first signs of a shiver not even an hour into the walking. I'd worn a second tunic underneath for warmth since neither of us owned any fur coats, but that didn't seem to be helping much.
"We'll worry about that in the morning," he replied without slowing down. "We just need to put as much distance between us and that place as possible."
'That place.' I wondered whether I was the only one that had found the orphanage bearable. Had it been so terrible for him? Maybe I'd had an easier time of it because that place was all I'd ever known.
Orin had always refused to talk about his life before the orphanage. And I certainly knew better than to pry. I'd seen the scars.
"Keep up," I heard him call out in response to my slowing pace.
"I'm trying," I replied. Unlike him, this was already the farthest I'd ever been from home.
I let out a deep sigh as I hurried to catch up with him. If I had to guess, it was only around midnight at that point. There were still six hours or so until sunrise.
I had to shake away the despair and steel myself for the journey ahead.
I fixed my gaze on the moon in the night sky even as it disappeared behind the trees and came into view a moment later. Anything to keep my mind off the discomfort I was feeling.
When that didn't work, I counted the seconds to distract from my ailing feet and the cold that was becoming unbearable.
The time passed with the two of us walking in silence, with each step making it farther and farther away from home.
"I think we've made it far enough," I heard Orin say after a while. I looked up to find an expression on his face that told me he was worried about my condition. "Let's stop here for tonight. I'll get a fire going."
"Is that a good idea?" I asked him while making my way over to rest beneath a nearby tree.
He only nodded, which didn't do much to convince me.
As my only friend set out to gather suitable wood to make a fire, I brought my fingers to my lips and blew. I was thankful, at least, that we'd done this at a warmer time of year.
I had wondered briefly whether we were doing the right thing. In a few years, would we look back and be happy we'd made the decision, or would we regret it?
I shook my head to get rid of the thought. I had to trust Orin.
No, I was sure I did trust him, so why couldn't I get rid of the looming sense of dread no matter how hard I tried?
=^..^=
It didn't take long for him to get the fire started and hurry me over. I looked at him admiringly as the newfound warmth washed over me.
"What?" he asked with a smile.
"You're so dependable," I told him. "Me on the other hand—" I turned my gaze to the crackling flames below.
"Shut up," he said as he perched next to me. He dug into his napsack and uprooted a piece of saved bread from dinner, "Eat" he said out stretching it towards me.
"I'm not hungry."
"It'll warm you up," he impatiently shoved it in my hand.
"Thanks." I reluctantly took a bite before cutting it in half and handing him the other piece without saying anything else.
As we ate the bread in silence, I couldn't help but note that it was the least talkative we'd ever been. I thought maybe he was just as tense as I was; he just knew how to hide it better.
"Do you think anyone has noticed we're gone yet?" I asked him.
"I doubt it," he replied. "It'll likely be till morning before anyone starts looking for us. Just think, Rowen, in a few weeks, we'll be starting our new lives in the city."
I watched his expression closely, illuminated by the light from the flames. His eyes shone with hope that had been entirely absent from the eyes of the boy I'd met a decade ago.
"I'm going to get a job as a guard with the city, and we'll make good money to be able to buy things and own them for once." He said excitedly, "Is there anything you'd like? I'll be able to afford it soon."
"Right now, I think I'll settle for a warm coat," I confessed while trying to get my trembling fingers under control.
"Are you still cold?" he noticed and reached out to touch my hand. I pulled them away. The last thing I wanted was for my hands to get swallowed up by his, another reminder of what I lacked.
"I'm fine," I said hurriedly before changing the subject. "I'll get a job too, you know? It won't all be on you."
"I know that," he said finally as his hand retreated. "We should get some rest. We have a lot of walking ahead."
I didn't argue. I shuffled even closer to the fire before lying on my side next to it. A few moments later, Orin lay down next to me.
"For warmth," I heard him say quietly.
I didn't respond. I turned my attention to the day that was to come and to Orin's vision of our future. I had to admit I enjoyed the thought of it.
Being an orphan, you don't get a lot of opportunities to think fondly about your future. Orin had given me that at least.
As I drifted off to sleep, I held it deep in my heart that I had to be of more help to him, just as he'd been for me.
=^..^=
I was awakened by the sound of footsteps and crunching leaves. It sounded close, too close. I quickly opened my eyes and took in as much information as I could.
It was very early morning. The fire was out, leaving only a trail of smoke rising into the air. The footsteps were getting closer.
I quickly repositioned Orin's arm, which was draped over me, and sat up.
I gasped as soon as my gaze fell upon the several approaching, armed men.
I shoved Orin as hard as I could to get him up. He sat up quickly enough, made one pass over our surroundings before reaching for the sword I hadn't noticed last night.
He got up to his feet quickly before unsheathing the blade and pointing it at the still approaching men. Following his lead, I quickly rushed to my feet before Orin promptly pulled me behind him.
He kept the sword held firmly in their direction while we slowly retreated. A quick glance told me there were 7 of them. No matter how much he'd been practicing, it was clear he stood no chance.
We'd have to find a way to run somehow.
"Careful, lads, we got ourselves a lone swordsman," one of the men spoke giddily. He was a thinner man than the others with greasy hair and a rough beard to boot. Like many of the others, he was clad mostly in wool and leather, and the dark color of his garments seemed intentional.
He joyfully unsheathed his blade, and the sound of 6 other men doing the same made my heart sink.
"Orin, no." I reached out and grabbed my friend's arm, who stared down our foes unfazed. I grew more and more concerned about the determined look on his face. It was as though he didn't realize he could die. Or didn't care.
"Stay back," he told me without taking his eyes off the men that I assumed were bandits, local outlaws.
"Please, we don't have much; you can take whatever you want," I pleaded.
The one that had spoken earlier licked his lips while looking in our direction. "And here I thought our luck was beginning to run out."
I glanced back at Orin, who was now holding his sword with both hands and getting into a ready stance.
"Please, just let us--" I'd heard a twig snap behind us, and just as I was getting ready to turn, I was grabbed from behind and pulled away from Orin. I struggled to get free to no avail.
Orin quickly turned his blade to my captor but was dissuaded by a short dagger placed near my throat. I swallowed hard and suddenly found it hard to breathe.
The one who held me captive clicked his tongue three times before ordering, "Drop it, boy."
I was so afraid I couldn't think. My heart beat faster than it ever had as I stood frozen in shock.
Orin, sensing there was little else he could do, threw his sword into the dirt.
"Good," The one from earlier spoke again. Following a subtle gesture from him, one of the others walked forward and retrieved Orin's sword before forcing him down to his knees.
The jolly one that seemed like the leader of this troupe walked up confidently and began searching through the packs that held all that we owned in this world.
I heard him sigh loudly in disappointment, "What are you, some runaways?"
Neither Orin nor I answered.
"Let her go; you're scaring the poor girl," he ordered, and a second later, the shiny dagger retreated away from my neck.
Despite that, my legs gave way, and I dropped to my knees. I glanced over at Orin, who remained defiant in his expression but was now unarmed and defeated.
"You know these parts aren't safe," the leader helpfully said, "especially for one such as yourself. Dressing yourself as a man does little to change that."
It wasn't the first time I'd been mistaken for a young girl, and it likely wouldn't be the last. The question was whether I should correct them or not. It shamed me to think of using what I hated to my advantage, but I had few other cards to play at the moment.
"Please let us go, sir." I begged in a slightly softer voice than usual, "You've seen for yourself that we have nothing of value."
"That's not true, is it?" he chuckled as he walked closer to me. He placed a finger beneath my chin and tilted my head so our gazes met. "You are very valuable. Both of you," he turned to gesture to Orin as well.
"What--" I began to speak, but he raised a finger to stop me.
"Tie them up," he said to his men before turning to walk away. I trembled even at the sound of the men sheathing their swords.
Everything was going terribly wrong; anyone could see that. I didn't want to die. I didn't want Orin to die. All we'd sought out was a better life, but if I knew this was going to happen, I would have gladly remained at the orphanage.
As my hands were bound, I couldn't help but feel angry at Orin for having caused this. He couldn't just leave well enough alone, and now look.
There was also anger there directed at myself. I knew if Orin had been alone, he likely would have suffered through the cold of the night without a fire. I cursed myself for being so weak.
As one of the men moved to bind his hands, my friend saw an opportunity to act and was met with the hilt of a sword to the side of his head.
"No stop, please!" I screamed as he fell.
"Children can be so rash, don't you think, boys?" the leader commented.
I couldn't take my eyes off my friend as he squirmed in the dirt, reeling from the pain.
"Alright, help him up." I looked up to find an almost disinterested look on the leader's face as he spoke. "Watch her; make sure she behaves."
"Yes, boss." The one that had grabbed me earlier once again took hold of my arm. At the time I could only pray Orin and I would both make it out alive.
=^..^=
They dragged us through the forest like pigs being led to slaughter. Orin, much more harshly than I was, despite the fact that he was still unsteady from the hit earlier.
"Please, let me tend to him," I said as I tried to go over to him, but I was shoved forward.
"Keep moving," the man said harshly.
"Easy," the leader called out from near the front of the group. "Don't damage the merchandise now."
"I'm okay," I heard Orin call from somewhere behind me. Last I'd seen, he was being helped along by two men. "Don't worry about me."
It took all I had in me to keep from rushing over to him. Instead, I walked obediently.
It wasn't long before we arrived at a much larger group, and what I saw sent shivers down my spine. There were more of those rough-looking men, and with them, more like me, bound together.
It was then that it dawned on me who they really were. Slavers.
"Men, our luck has turned around for the better," I heard the leader call out as we approached.
I took in as much as I could. I knew I had to if I was going to find a way to get Orin and me away from these people.
There were a number of horses tied together and watched over. Some of those horses drew along carts with people caged in them. The smaller wagon had only women no older than in their twenties.
There were more people sitting on the ground bound together. Upon closer inspection, I noted that those were only men.
"And look at this one," the leader's voice cut through the sound of the other men cheering. I looked up to find him closing the gap between us. With one hand, he grabbed my jaw and inspected my face. It was useless to struggle with my hands bound. "She'll fetch a fine price, I know she will."
He flashed me a sinister smile before letting me go.
"And look--" he said as he walked past me and towards Orin, "a package deal."
I used the opportunity to get a good look at Orin, who was still slumped over. I didn't even know how he was managing to stand after the hit he'd sustained. I had to find a way to get us away from these people.
"Put her in with the others," the leader said to the man whose job it seemed to keep me in check. "And be careful—" he added while my gaze still lingered on him, "That one is going to make me a lot of money."
I knew I had to be careful. I didn't make a fuss even as I was led into the smaller cart with the three young women. All I could think about was how everything had gone so wrong so quickly.
=^..^=
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Hiya, sorry I disappeared. Needed some time. Anyway, new short story. Let me know what you think so far.