The Soul of Scarlet's Lost Tears

It all came down to where, with one yank of the covers pulled toward me, it then became apparent that the young prince was not lying in bed as it was only pillows that made the shape of the lump underneath the covers, that I took for being the prince still sleeping.

From there I started to become more and more concerned to even worried, that it was my responsibility to watch over him.

To even start to ponder the consequences and assume the worst, where the many possibilities went through my head, what happened, where he might be.

Then when all seemed faded, it once again changed when someone entered the tent a said in a demanding voice “what did I tell you about being in here without my permission” which I then turned right around to confront the one who said that, to where I had a puzzling exasperation came over my face when I saw who it was as I turned right around as if he didn’t say anything, and would have pocked me on my shoulder.

Realizing it was the young prince that said that he was walking into his tent, then placing a bow with some arrows onto of the small table that was across the tent from his cot. I then proceeded to ask him in a friendly manner “I see you managed to get up early this morning, may I ask why you did?” he answered back, “you’re not my father why should I tell you anything”, understanding why he questioned me with that stern response I then replied with, “well it is because of your father I have to ask such questions for your safety and mine”.

There was a brief pause, followed by him motioning me to leave by raising his right arm, and pointing with his finger toward the entrance flap of the tent. By saying nothing I obeyed and took that as ‘exit stage left’.

Once outside, the sun was just starting to peer through the thick brush of trees and clouds. I started to here whispers from the other men who started packing up their tents, as they were getting ready for another day of riding.

I had a small inkling that what they were mostly talking about as I briefly walked pass only a few of them, and every time I do I hear them comment about how they don’t see me lasting in this group of higher ranks than I was just a mirror rookie to them, but never the less.

Trying so desperately to fit in, I knew it was going to be hard and quite some time for me to be included, but I could only try my best whether it was good enough or not, I still perused my own path and just to be here in the presents of the young prince was satisfying enough for me.

Once I was relived of my duty, I then walked over to my tent, which by that time my tent companions where already leaving with their belongings, as well as a smile on their faces when they saw me walking closer, continued to walk into the tent.

Once inside, while a soft breeze blew gently on the light fabric of the tent. I went over to where my small cot sized mat was placed on the ground, where I then knelt on my left knee alongside the thin padded mat looking around the tent making sure there was no one watching me, pull my traveling bag flattened from being underneath the cot since I didn’t want anyone taking my bag that my father gave me when I left home as I made a promise that I will bring it and me back home.

Then by placing it on top of the mat, once I stood back on my feet, after I packed my things in the bag, by rolling up the blanket and folding my other pairs of clothes that I brought with me on this trip which a few of my own rations to snack on, a journal to wright in or sketch into as well as a few momentous from home like my grandfather’s pocket watch, my mother’s handkerchief.

Didn’t want to waste any more time as quickly as I could finish packing while I even proceeded to walk toward the entrance of the tent when I was just putting the last strap through the buckle.

I was greeted by a few men, who I shared the tent with, gripping onto my bag tightly against my chest, I tried to barge my way through the small group of tent-mates without a look at them let alone a word.

But with no promise of success, I was soon deflected by all three of them when they stopped me from going any further, as they first pushed me with one hand back, followed by them grabbing me not only from the front of my shirt but also one of them pushing me from behind which was very typical of their bullying.

The momentum of the formidable force and non-resistance from me, made it easy for me to be thrown quiet the distance since I was told I weighed like a sack of potatoes.

Landing in the middle of camp in front of the other men who were there, skidding only a few more inches on my knees, I instantly looked back toward those who shoved me as all three of them were laughing hysterically, while I soon noticed that one of them, the one that stood in the middle of the small group was vigilantly looking through my bag like a raccoon scavenging for food.

In a quick hasten retreat I then flipped myself around to where I sprung back onto my feet, which I then using the same momentum I reached to where the three where standing.

One of them stopped me from getting any closer “whoa, whoa, whoa that is close enough there” he said as he held out his right hand, pressing against my left shoulder.

Stopping me from getting any closer to Kravis who after all had a smirk on his face while he continued to proceed trifling through my belongings, until he came across my grandfather’s pocket watch, as sly as he tried to be. Kravis then looked it over once, then he placed it into his coat pocket, that’s where I shouted “hay, that’s mine, not yours” he/ Kravis stopped what he was doing looked up toward me and when he did he also released his grip on the bag, letting it fall to the ground, on top of the pile of stuff that he dumped prior to dropping the bag.

With pure discussed written on his face of how I a lonely corporal in ranking terms would have the audacity to speak to someone like, a person who is somewhat above him not only in rank but in stature (older, and taller).

Then, with his mid-dark greenish-blue eyes, Kravis looked at his two friends, one at a time, as he slowly brought the watch back out with is right hand.

By using his left hand, he grabbed onto the gold link chain that was connected to the pocket-watch that had a gold inlay on top of a silver locket, with a small single granite stone in the center of a continues spiral design that you could feel every ridge, even inside the locket was covered in a gold leaf on the back side of the front and there was an etching of elfish letter’s scribbling “the heart of the one is as much importance than the heart of family”.

“You know as I look at it again, this is a bit to cheesy for me to even have, so hear you go”, offering it back to me by holding onto the chain in front of me at first thinking he would hand it back to me in a kind enough way but nope, as I patiently waited and reached with an open had, he then acted like he lost his grip on the chain.

Falling to the ground, that I didn’t have the quick enough reaction, that I couldn’t catch it in time, witnessing it hit the ground hard in front of me.

It brought me to my knees, in total discuss, hoping in the back of my mind that it wasn’t too damaged. Just by picking it up, I slightly heard the rattling sound of loose metal, sounding like a rain stick filled with piano beans.

Noticing how I reacted, and pleased at how I reacted in the way not only him but all three, as they wanted me to become that distraught, as they just walked away laughing.

Everyone looking on, some of them shocked, as they all had a look of discus on their faces too where some of them had their hands covering each of their mouths.

With a cool breeze soon made its presents, sweeping over the tall trees, which the morning dew began to fall off the leaves on to the already fall colored leaves of auburn and grass of faded lime green, around that time my emotions were already at a simmer as I then felt a warm friendly hand cursing my left shoulder.

Where I looked up to see another soldier who was approximately a year or so older than I and being one of the platoon leader of this small group of men, stood there with a concerning look on his face, he then slowly knelt onto both of his knees, becoming closer to my level as he didn’t say a word, put out his left hand out in front of me, without hesitation I placed the broken watch into the palm of his hand.

He said only a few words “I’ll see what I can do, though in the meantime get you and the horses ready”, as I am whipping my tears from my eyes, I said “yes, sir” and almost at the same time we stood up.

He walked in one direction away from me as I turned around, quickly picked up my stuff that was scattered on the ground, placing it back into my bag, taking several deep breathes, as fallowing orders from the platoon leader.

I soon walked to my horse and swung the saddle including my bag over the back of the horse, which I call Luna, not forgetting the other horses that I must tend too.

Thinking once again it’s going to be another long ride. That I’m not really looking forward to, when I saw standing on his two back feet a squirrel looking at me with his gray fluffy tail twitching behind him, as he was holding onto an acorn in his front paws.