I grab my bow, taking aim and shooting the blade of the scythe, getting both boys attention. Being a local hunter, the two nobles only recognise my garb.
"Stay out of this!" One shouts, and I can hear the pain in his voice.
"We won't see her suffer like this!" The other shouts. He raises the scythe again, and again an arrow throws him off his mark. The two look at me, growling.
"Insolent dog." The first growls.
"If you will not let us do what is demanded for our own kin, then you will suffer her fate." I watch as they turn to me, they are certainly well trained, and their posture is exactly what one would expect of a warrior. I ask why she needs to die.
"Are you blind?!" First growls.
"We could not defend her from corruption. Her defeat is our shame, and our family will not tolerate shame." Looking at them I ask if she has to die for their mistake then.
"What would a whelp like you know of matters like this?" First is startled as an arrow lands behind him. They are in no position to call me a whelp, here they are clearly the pups. Second charges me, scythe cutting through the grass as he readies for a sweep.
At night it's effortless for me to blend into the woods at the edge of the clearing. The two look around for a minute, before abandoning me and going back to their sister. I ask again if she has to die for their pride. The first whirls around again.
"SILENCE! Show yourself and fight, or be silent and let us do our duty!" Firsts startled again by an arrow landing next to his foot. Leave the girl to me. None will see her, and she will live happily. Second turns, looking for me among the trees shadows.
"She is a monster. Only her form remains that of our sister. And this will soon be rectified." He turns back, rushing for his sister, scythe at the ready. He screams as an arrow pierces his arm. The girl did nothing to earn death. This fault is on their heads, and if they will not leave her to live her life, I will see them punished.
"Grr. Do you even know who I am? I am prince-" Another arrow lands by his foot. I don't care for titles. I'm a simple hunter, and they wouldn't be the first ones I've removed as a threat to another.
"Brother. Do we need to end her? It would hurt no one if she wasn't seen again." First looks to his sister again, but second growls.
"Do not be foolish, others would stumble upon her, and then we would be punished for failing our duty." He straightened again, turning to his sister. His brother nodded sheepishly, but I could see whos decision this was. I gave second one last warning. Leave her, or suffer. His brother looked around again, trying to find me, before shaking his head.
"This isn't right!" He shouted, running up to second, then standing between him and their sister. "He's right. This is our failure, not hers. Why must she die for our mistakes?!" Second was stunned, clearly he wasn't used to being denied by first.
"It took our sister! We must kill it before it can ruin her memory too!" First stood firm.
"No, brother. We won't force our vengeance on this one." Second raised his scythe, and I could see the anger growing in his eyes.
"If you will not stand aside, then I will cut you down too." I saw first falter, his stance shuddering. So I chose then to strike. A blunted arrow, tipped with a circle of stone instead of a proper head, struck second in the head.
"ARGH! I've had enough of this!" He screamed, rushing his siblings. My next blunted arrow struck his shin, sending him tumbling, his scythe falling to the side. I stride into the clearing, taking the weapon as second groans in pain.
Thrusting the haft of the scythe into first’s hands, I tell him to take it with him, and to return with a party for his brother. At his look of fear I assure him I won't harm the boy. He then runs from the clearing, taking both his and his brothers weapons. I turn to the one on the ground, now recovered enough to glare at me.
"You are a fool. I will have you found and end you myself." Knocking another arrow, this one sharp, I aim it at him, asking if he wishes to meet his end. "If I must, I do so with nothing but hate for you." His glare doesn't falter, and I have to admire his will. I let the string slacken, before returning the arrow to my quiver, telling second he is lucky his brother had me promise not to harm him.
"Then you cannot stop me from this." He lunged up, trying to tackle me. I stepped to the side, tripping him. I cannot wound him, but I will end this useless struggle. I walk up behind him and grip his throat, holding him still.
This will not hurt, but it shall be uncomfortable. I hold him like that until he goes limp. Letting him go, I look at the girl, her eyes are still glazed over in pleasure. Without care for my own attire I lift her up and carry her to a safe place deeper in the woods.
When I return there is another monster looking at second, evaluating, at my approach she backs away. Most know me in the woods, and if I approach with my bow drawn they know to leave what has my attention alone. I sit there, watching the boy as I await the hunting party. It doesn't take long.
I hear them long before I see them, calls and clanging armour making them obnoxiously loud. When they enter the clearing, one in the most decorated armour rushes to the boy. It should not take long for him to recover, and I don't wait for the hunt to begin, taking my leave.
I return to where I left the girl, still hazed with pleasure. I await her return to sanity, sitting nearby and hunting when I need food. She takes a few days to return to her senses, the overload of sensations finally becoming normal. She looks around, spotting me.
"Wh- who are you? Where are my brothers?" She asks, fidgeting as she still experiences flashes of pleasure. I tell her of what happened, how I found her brothers, and how I stopped them killing her.
"Th- they were going to... to kill me?" She looks stunned, apparently finding it hard to accept. I tell her she was going to be punished for their mistakes, and she nods. "That... that does sound like Ty. He was always trying to push his faults onto others." She looks up at me. "So, what do you want with me?" I smile kindly at her.
She doesn't owe me anything, other than to never be seen within the kingdom. I promised that none would see her again. She nods again, looking up at me.
"Wi- will these feelings ever fade?" She asks, fidgeting again. I sigh, I'm not one to speak to about such things, though I doubt it. She's already shown remarkable restraint. I get up to leave and find a slimy tendril wrapped around my leg.
"Please don't leave me alone!" She cries, terror in her voice. When she realises the tendril is there she retracts it, blushing furiously. "Sorry." I sigh again. There's no need to apologise. Though, I guess I'm stuck with her for a time. I give her a stern look and tell her I am not going to be her husband. She nods furiously.
"Of course, I never would have thought of asking you." Looking at her, I realise she still believes that. This will take some adjusting, but I should be able to help the poor girl.