"I Need to Protect" by Riley L. (3rd Place in the T.H.A.G.S. Fall Contest 2022)

I Need to Protect

by Riley L

~~~

“Protect,” Artham Wingfeather thought.

There were Fangs surrounding him and Esben, and he needed to protect his brother. Even if it meant risking his life, Artham was the Throne Warden and had to protect the High King at any cost. That was what he had learned when he was a kid–that even if it was hard, it was what he was born to do. He had to fight. Even when they were kids, Artham protected Esben from any possible threat.

He was trained by his mother to do so. He knew that everything rested on the fate of Esben Wingfeather. The whole of Anniera itself rested on its King. Fighting was tiring, but he had to do it. His nose was bleeding, his chest ached, his back felt like it was broken, his head was throbbing, and through all of it, he still fought.

He killed Fang after Fang, and it was the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life–before he had only fought eight, or ten of the creatures at most.

Esben was helping too, but if a Fang was about to strike a potentially lethal spot, Artham had to step in. He didn’t know what he would do if he lost his brother. Artham heard the clang of swords all around him.

He was so tired, weary, frightened for Esben’s life, and in pain, that it was the biggest challenge to not just leave.

Esben also looked like he was struggling and Artham asked, “Are you ok?”

“No. You?”

“No.” Artham said. Well, this doesn’t look like a good situation, Artham thought. He was so terrified for their lives, that he wasn’t focusing for a second and was hit with, (luckily), the hilt of a sword. Artham was in so much pain all over his body but he kept repeating to himself one word:

Protect.

Artham eventually started thinking he was hallucinating when he saw a black shadow swoop by, then disappear.

“Did you see that?” Artham asked.

“See what, the black shadow?”

“Yeah,” Artham said.

”Yeah, why?”

“Nothing.” So I wasn’t hallucinating… Artham thought. I was just seeing something that didn’t want to be seen. The black figure swooped back down and Artham said, “Who are you?”

The figure responded, “’Tis I, the Florid Sword, here to help thee on thy quest.”

“We’re actually fighting, not on a quest… though, it’d be nice if you’d help.”

“It would be my pleasure, though who might thou be?”

“Artham Wingfeather.”

“Throne Warden?”

Artham nodded.

“Oh well, then, I shall help thee, Thy Majesty.”

“Just call me Artham.” Artham thought, “Why is this man so mysterious?”

“What doth thou need my assistance for?” asked the Florid Sword.

“Aiding us with these Fangs would be nice.”

“Anything for thee, Thy Majesty.” Then the Florid Sword swooped into battle. The battle kept raging on for about an hour then Artham started slipping into unconsciousness from being so weary. He tried to stay awake, but it was so hard.

His vision started to get blurry, and his eyes started to droop, and as he fell into unconsciousness he thought one thing:

Protect.

He woke up in a bed in the hospital of Anneira, and the first thing he asked was, “Is Esben ok?

The doctor said, “He’s unconscious but will survive.”

“At least he’ll survive.” Then Artham looked over at Esben; his face was pale and he didn’t look so good. Artham kept reminding himself of what the doctor said, but he wasn’t sure how much he believed her. He was scared for his brother’s life and he wasn’t sure what to do.

When this happened, Artham was eighteen–that was a while ago. Esben did survive, but barely. The doctor gave him medication to help, and they found out many of Esben’s bones were broken. It took him nearly 8 moons to fully recover. Now Artham had turned nineteen, and there was another situation where he had to protect his little brother.

Artham and Esben found a camp and decided to look around. There were lots of trees and people didn’t look too happy to see them. Everyone was glaring. Artham realized he had heard of these people and said, “We should get out of here.”

“No, I’m interested. Let's stay for a bit.” Esben said.

“Whatever you say, High King,” Artham said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. Then Artham went off looking to see if he could find the Strander leader so he could possibly steal the Pone and get them out, unscathed.

Eventually, they found the man. The Leader was tall, muscular, bulky, and looked like he could kill Artham easily.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” asked the gruff voice of the leader. He had to make up a name fast.

“Ummm, I’m Samuel Grangerford. What’s your name?”

“You don’t need to know that.” said the Strander leader.

Then Artham realized–he left Esben alone! He went to find Esben and found him in a Strander cage. Artham panicked. Why did I leave him?!

“Are you ok?” Artham asked.

“Yeah, I think so,” Esben said.

“We will figure–” Someone approached Artham from behind and was smacked on the head. He was out cold.

When he awoke he was in a cage next to Esben.

“Are you ok?” Esben asked.

“Not exactly, I could be much better,” Artham responded.

“Well, that’s obvious, idiot.” Esben said. Artham thought of a good idea: to search through his pockets for something he could use to pick the lock and get them out of there. A woman passed and Artham managed to grab a pin out of her hair to use.

He could hear footsteps–the Stranders were coming! He started trying even harder than he already was. It was getting close but so were the Stranders. He would have to battle to protect Esben. He couldn’t do it and have time to run.

He finished picking the lock and Esben was out with him, but there wasn’t time. He decided that while fighting he’d try and nick the Strander leader’s Pone. When the Stranders got there he got to fighting. What most people don’t know is fighting can be extremely difficult work. It can be so hard to keep up with and could easily get you killed. But Artham had to do it to protect his brother.

He kept at it, fighting and fighting. He heard swords clang all around him.

Who was it that helped last time? Artham thought.

I think it was the Florid Sword. Yeah, it was.

He decided to call for the person.

“Florid Sword!” he called. Nobody answered.

So he needed to do it on his own.

Everything was hurting on him.

This is the end, Artham thought. I'm going to die here. But if I die, I can’t protect Esben. So I can’t die, because I’m the Throne Warden. I need to try as hard as possible. I’m going to help Esben.

I have to.

Artham kept fighting and fighting and fighting. He tried to ignore the pain. Esben needed him. Artham was reminded of that time when he was eighteen–with the Fangs. He didn’t want to slip into unconsciousness like that day. Although the pain made him consider it, he couldn’t. He had to protect his brother.

“Esben?” Artham asked.

“Yeah?” Esben responded.

“I’m extremely sorry if we don’t survive this.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know that you and I together are unstoppable.”

“We barely survived last time.”

“I know, but we’re older now. More experienced.”

“...true.”

“Alright, now shush and keep fighting. We don’t have time to talk.”

Artham shut himself up. He couldn’t believe he had decided to talk. That is the most dangerous thing you can do in a battle, because you get distracted.

He had gotten a few wounds while talking to Esben. He was hurting even more now. Eventually he saw the Strander leader–and then a black figure swooped down.

Yes! The Florid Sword was there! He could help distract the Stranders and Artham could try and get the Pone. He started trying to reach for the object but the Strander leader kept blocking him off.

I’ll need to kill the Strander leader to get it! He thought with frustration.

Just as he thought that, his brother came over to the Strander leader and snatched the Pone. As Artham saw Esben do that he fell into unconsciousness.

Artham woke up in another hospital in the Strander place. Unlike last time he fell unconscious in battle Esben was waiting for him to get up.

“Are you ok?” Esben asked.

“Kind of.” Artham replied, but then he winced in pain.

“You are kind of ok? Then what’s with all the bandages, huh?”

“I’m fine.”

“Sure.” Esben rolled his eyes.

“I swear, I’m fine,” he said with frustration. He wasn’t fine. Artham thought he had to have broken a few bones and was in immense pain.

“This was the tale of Esben and Artham Wingfeather and their dangerous journeys.” Nia said to Tink, Janner, and Leeli Igiby. Janner was ten, Tink was nine, and Leeli was seven.

“Was Artham ok?” Janner asked.

“He was alive if that’s what you mean,'' Nia responded.

Nia had read to them from Artham’s diary… but she wasn’t ready to tell them about their father.

All parts where it mentioned Esben in the book, she kept hidden from her children. However, the details were still included in the specific records you are reading.