Girl in Knights Armor

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt stumbled under the weight of his friend green blood matted their faces and swords as Matt guided them through the under brush. The stars over head did not provide any light to see by and the moon was a blotted out by the sea of dark leaves. Matt carried his friend over his shoulder the other Knight was quite light and shorter than Matt who stood at 6'4. He wore banded armor and his sword was stained from the gore of battle. He panted as he hurried through the undergrowth looking back now and then or stopping to listen for pursuit. Only the sounds of the forest surrounded them, they came to a cave and Matt smiled in relief. "Don't worry little brother we're safe." he said to the figure over his shoulder.

He hurried into the cave and gently placed his friend on the floor of the cave, he left and returned with what dried wood he had found. He had little in his waist pouch but he still had flint and tinder, soon there was a warming fire in the cave. Matt looked at his friend blood stained his for head from a wound he had received from there attackers and now Matt feared it was a fatal blow. With no thought of his own wounds he removed his friends helmet and pushed his hair aside to look at the cut, it was not deep but enough to enough to knock out his friend. He looked now at the broken arrow in his friends shoulder the arrow had just missed anything vital and though he was no surgeon Matt knew he had to remove the arrow and treat it as best he could. Goblins often poisoned there arrows he prayed to all the gods of his fathers that this one had not been.

Again Matt left the cave he soon came back with water from a stream he had splashed into, He removed his friends pack and made a bed for him. He started boiling the water with his Knife in the fire to seal the wound due to the lack of needle and thread. He left to see if he could recover anything from their camp to use especially food, "I'll return soon just stay alive till then." he said and left. He was gone a few hours having trouble finding their camp the goblins had taken everything save a single pack of field rations. He entered the cave and saw the water was boiling he tended the fire as he steeled himself for what he was to do.

 

[Forbidden]

The "boy" tossed and turned with the strange images filling her mind. Images of an attack and the feel of rushing through a darkened forrest before being laid to rest. A familiar voice spoke to her, but she couldn't place where the voice was from. The depths of her mind were her only haven at the moment, the only haven from the pain in her head and shoulder. She didn't know that she was safe now, but that also her biggest lie was in danger of being discovered.

Years ago, when her family was killed she'd vowed to protect the innocent. As a female she couldn't become a knight legally so her hair was cut short and her breasts bound to her body with heavy wraps. She'd completed her training without her disguise being discovered and had made friends that would carry her through life. Especially Matt. He was the one she'd come to admire, and respect. He was the one who'd watched her back as carefully as she watched his. And even he didn't know her secret, didn't know that his "little brother" was really a girl.

A soft moan left chords as pain pulsed through her very being. Even while her mind couldn't process the feeling her body could. Matt was Tyler's only hope now, and hopefully the older male would be able to save his best friend.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt sighed as he picked up the knife he had set the water to cool he was not a will Knight in service of this kingdom his father's tribe had been conquered and now served the kingdom with an offering of strong lads to fill its forces he was the latest in a long line of recruits from his people. With the water cool enough he approached his friend and began to gently remove his armor he wore scale mail armor and beneath a thick leather jerkin, with precise hand Matt cut the jerkin around the wound and removed it the sight that met his eyes stunned him his friends chest was wrapped in heavy bandages. Matt was in shock all this time he had fought beside a woman and she had never revealed herself, Matt looked back and remembered certain things that should have tipped him off. Now she laid before him wounded and unconscious, Matt shook his head and steeled himself he gripped the arrow in a strong hand and pulled it out quick the second the arrow was removed he sealed the wound with the dull red knife. Then he poured water on it to clean it then applied cold water to ease the burn, he looked at her a few moments longer then tended the wound on her for head washing and bandaging it.

Matt stood outside the cave in the predawn light mist rose from the river in tattered lines, he had removed his armor and now stood outside sword at his side and thoughtful yet determined look on his ruggedly handsome face. His red stubble itched one of his many oddities but one he felt blessed to have as it set him apart, his left hand rested on the pommel of his blade as he watched the forest awaken with the dawn. "By the Fathers why couldn't I have taken the arrow." he growled as he had many times sense he had discovered Tyler's secret.

 

[Forbidden]

The girl moaned softly as her consciousness returned to her, along with a fresh wave of pain. Her fingers sought out the wounds, touching the bandages that encased her head and feeling the cauterized wounds where the arrows had been embedded into her skin. It was then that she made the realization that her chest was bared, save for her wraps. She let out a weak but long stream of curses as she tried to maneuver herself to a sitting position. The movement left her winded and she gave a low grunt as she fell back. "Matt...I'm sorry." She didn't know where he was, and couldn't really see straight anyways. He could be right in front of her for all she knew and her vision would lie to her, saying he wasn't there. She hoped the words would reach him though, wondering what was going through his mind. She knew that he was the one who'd saved her, anyone else discovering her secret would've killed her on the spot for treason.

Even knowing that she would someday have to reveal her secret she'd never imagined the rush of emotions it would bring. She was scared, and hurt, though her training wouldn't let her reveal either of those emotions to those outside her own mind. A part of her was ready for whatever may come, maybe even a little excited. And there was definitely some relief, that at least someone besides herself knew what she had been doing all this time. Why some of her behaviors had been deemed so odd.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

When he heard that she was awake he entered the cave as she apologized to him, he said nothing and grabbed the water skin from last night and knelt beside her he unstopped the sack gently lifted her head up. He helped her drink then laid her back down still saying nothing as he tried to come to terms with somethings, he had to admit he had not expected this and some of his thoughts turned to fantasy which he pushed away. He sat across the fire from her as he tried to master his mind and come to some decision, he knew the law demanded that he kill her but he could not his peoples code of honor would not allow it. Though she was a woman she had fought beside him and they were friends in the ways of his people that made her his shield brother though as a woman he did not know what it meant. He sighed and ran a hand through his short dirty blonde hair, "Why? Why did you not tell me?" he asked her as he stood and came over to her. A knife in his hand he would not harm her but he needed answers.

 

[Forbidden]

She stayed silent as did he, though she did mutter a soft thank you as he helped her ease her parched throat. She looked up to him, silvery green eyes wary as she eyed the blade in his hands. "I couldn't tell you. I didn't want you to be in trouble for protecting me. I didn't want you to treat me differently. I earned your trust and respect as a boy...telling you I wasn't who you thought I was..well I thought everything would be destroyed. I was more afraid of losing the one person I trusted with my life than actually losing my life." Her words were slightly jumbled and her voice was hoarse, both from the exertion of speaking and the emotion in her chest. She very well could die at his hands. It wasn't something she was thinking would happen, but it was something that was a very real possibility.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt tossed the knife away, "You are one of my closest friends and I can not do what the law demands." he said as he came over to her and sat her up so she could look into his storm grey eyes. He handed her the water skin and sat beside her, "Where do we go from here?" he asked more himself than her. He tried to think of something he knew that she could continue to hide her self but then another thought entered his mind. A smile crossed his face then he began to shake then giggle before long he was gripping his sides and laughing hard, he calmed down and looked at her, "Did you ever sneak a peek?" he asked her. She could guess what he was asking the public bath for the recruits had a thin wood wall on one side and he had often taken his baths near that wall. Now that he thought about it his mind had thrown up images of her in dress' and trying to be a lady of the court which had been the reason for his laughter. He waited for her response just smiling at her as he sat there next to her.

 

[Forbidden]

Her frame relaxed as he began to laugh. A smile on her features she regarded him in the way she'd wanted to throughout their training. Sipping from the skin she nearly spat the mouthful out as his question made her laugh. The laugh was followed by a pained grimace but it was well worth it. "Well....maybe....." she hemmed and hawed for a moment before giving him the more direct answer that he wanted, this time with a mischevious smirk. "Of course I did. I had to see how you could fill out your pants so well." She was both teasing and truthful as she smirked at him, splashing some of the water on her face to cool the skin. "Were any of my "odd" behaviors almost a giveaway?" It was her turn to ask the questions now as she settled back against the wall of the cave. Her eyes watched him with ease, waiting patiently.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt scratched his stubble as he thought about it, "I would have to say mostly it was how you avoided taking baths with us and a few others but I can't recall." he said shrugging though he had a smile on his face. "Well I can see your a beautiful woman have you ever had thoughts of 'us'?" he asked her curious and feeling rather one sided on the getting a look though he now saw a strong woman where he had seen a man he couldn't help but wander why she had chosen to risk her life in such a way. He looked out toward the woods for a brief moment before looking back at her and waited for her reply.

 

[Forbidden]

She nodded, figuring that was what he was going to mention.His words about her "beauty" made her raise a skeptical eyebrow. Her hair cut short and her breasts bound flat to her body, these things could not be the stuff of beauty. Before she could say something his next question left her slightly speechless. Thoughts of her..with him? They'd been in her mind at every turn, thoughts that had plauged her as much as they entertained her. Running a hand over the unbandaged part of her face lightly she paused, still trying to gather her thoughts enough to tell him. Should she tell him? Well she'd seen how far hiding things had gotten her..her lips parted. "Sure. You're my closest friend and one of the most attractive soldiers. Not to mention one of the best. I was drawn to you from the start." She shrugged uneasily and drank again from the skin to calm her nerves. The shrug pained her, but the pain was something she could focus on and absorb while she was waiting for him to form a reply to her. This could go in many different directions and the warrior inside her was nervous about just which of those directions he would choose to take.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt smiled at her and laid his head back, "I was worried for a while when you were unconscious I thought you may have... that I had failed you." he said his voice grave yet serious. "Losing you would have been very hard on me, now I can't help but feel something deeper." he said looking at her, "I feel rather one sided in this as I have never seen you with out your armor on." he said chuckling as before looking out toward the forest again. "If your feeling up to it we need to get you dressed and then try and make our way to the tower." he said their post was a watch tower that looked out over the forest there was another one which they had been going to scout out when they stopped receiving Letters from the Forest Tower. "I fear the Goblins may be making a push on our borders." he said as he looked back at her he was in no hurry but the Goblins had been to well armed to just be random raiders. He just sat there waiting to hear what she decided and was willing to do what ever she wanted.

 

[Forbidden]

She touched his hand briefly as he explained what losing her would've meant to him. "Well I'm here, so I'm sure seeing me without armor might happen one day." She teased him lightly as she tried to stretch up, to see if she were able to move very much. "I think if you can help me dress and stand I'll be alright. It will be getting me standing that will be the trick." She knew it was wrong to push herself so hard after sustaining injuries, but she also knew the gravity of the situation they were in. They could be ambushed here, or be needed to help their people. "Get me up." she gave him the order with the softest of smirks, them both being the same rank and all. But she had to keep things light. "I don't suppose I have any of my own weapons anymore?" The thought blurted out before she could stop it. So much for the optimistic outlook she'd been hoping for. Sighing she waited for him to move, waited for him to speak.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt stood up and helped her stand, "I'm sorry I couldn't find your sword." he said to his people losing ones sword was like losing an arm. His own sword had been forged for him by his father a well accomplished black smith, instead of the clear steel blade that reflected ones face his swords blade was black due to it being forged from a strange metal that fell from the sky long ago. It had been the weapon he had trained with a few of the recruits had wanted to steal it but found attempting to take it more costly than they had perceived for even at his age he had been taught to fight with fists better than many of the grown men in the army when he was a boy.

He quickly gathered her armor and helped her put it on and once again she was that slightly to pretty boy he knew, "Come on little brother we have long march ahead of us." he said winking at her. He drew his sword its black blade shimmering in the light of the sun, "Lets pray that we do not encounter any of those bastards." he said wrapping an arm about Tyler's waist the act brought a few more images of her and him to his mind but he fought them down, "Ready?" he asked her.

 

[Forbidden]

She shrugged at his words. "I'll make another soon." Her people hand forged their own swords, and the fact that she'd been given that one to use by the forces meant that it had never really suited her as well as it should have. It would be nice to make a weapon that was specifically tailored for her own hand. As his hands expertly buckled on her armor she fought the smile that tipped the corners of her mouth, reminding herself that they had to act as if nothing had changed between them, else it would mean her life.
"They'd better pray they don't meet us. I'm in a shit mood." Her temper around the camp was slightly infamous and she'd been know to dump her fellows on their asses if they crossed her when she was in a less than perfect mood. Yes in her current state she probably couldn't do that, but hey he could take it as a jest then if he wanted.

"Ready as I'll ever be." she grumbled, leaning against him lightly for support as they began their walk out of the cave and toward the tower that was their destination. Each step sent shockwaves of pain throughout her frame but she adjusted easily and soon her mind was so overwhelmed with pain that she couldn't feel anything at all. Her body numb all she concentrated on was putting one foot in front of the other.

 

[HaloHeroWolf118]

Matt helped Tyler as much as he could picking paths through the underbrush that were clear of undergrowth and that were reasonably level, by this they traveled slowly at an easy pace. Matt constantly looked at her then around them watching for any attack or a sign of the forest road that would lead them to the tower. Birds chirped and fluttered about the branches over head when they came to clearing sometime past noon, "We'll rest here." he said leading her over to a hallow tree big enough for both of them to stand in or lay in comfortably. "I have to check your wounds and change the bandage." he said after helping her sit, he went to remove her armor but found he was slightly nervous. Instead of removing her armor he hand her the water skin and sat down across from her, "How are you feeling?" he asked worriedly.