am willing to lay my own life down for the boys. Now I am going to settle this War of
Sarah Beth even if it means life on the line for me.
*********************
“I am going to miss you, Sarah.” Joseph says to me while hugging me. I have always
known Joseph was muscular, but not this muscular for I felt every muscle with the slightest
movement. While he looked handsome in the Botlan uniform, dark green jacket and pure
white trousers.
He is leaving today while Tim leaves tomorrow. I know I will miss him.
He lets out a soft breath. He pulls a little a way, but not too far. His head leans down—
What is he doing? I find out the second I thought about it. I often wondered at how his lips
felt but I never thought I would find out. He pulls away from me but only slightly. His intense
blue eyes look into my dull brown ones which are barley able to take in all of this.
“Did you know ,Sarah, that I have always loved you and I wanted to know what it felt
like to kiss you before I go away. But, I swear I will come back for you and you will be my
bride, but only if you desire that, dear.”
I can not believe it. After all this time he really loved me. One of my best friends, the
one who I always thought loved me like a sister. Now it means I must make my plan work the
easy way. I must say what I have always thought:
“I have always loved you and always will. If you love me when you come back I will be
yours.” I say in a shaky yet happy voice.
He kisses me once more and bids me goodbye. I will miss him but it will only be for a
few days.
My departure with Tim was more formal. We just hugged and wished each other good
luck. He still did not speak alot even though he thought it would probley be the last time we see each other.
Now I must put my plan in action for it will be rather hard to do. My plan consists of
getting the Botlan leader and the Metban leaders to come and give each a third of the Neutral
Zone and keep a third for my self. Hopefully that will do for if it does not I decided to kill
myself for if a peacemaker dies without having a child or close relative than the land is not to
be claimed and all will be lost. That would hopefully end the war if the first option does not.
Now I must find some old white material to make trousers for i am to be disguised as a
messenger. For I am 15 and I will look like a twelve year old boy ,but that will have to do. I
find an old dress from when I was younger to make the trousers.
I set to work and finished in a short amount of time. I have never been a perfect
seamstress but they will have to do. I find mothers old black dress and cut it to a blouse that
should fit. It will be a little big but shall do for I do not waant to show any part of me that looks feminine.
Now my hair which will be hard to pass for mans hair so I grab one of mothers knives.
Lord please do not let it frizz it anymore than it already is. The Lord will watch over me during
this scheme of mine.
I set out on my way. First to get my plan to work I must act like a messenger so I must
get a horse. So I get a wad of grinets, which is our currency, that mother stashed for
emergency. And now is one.
I come across a horse seller about a mile into Botlan territory. We made an exchange of
money for horse. It was my mothers life savings but it was worth it. I got a pretty, young, black
mare. Her name is Dixie. She is a beautiful but has a frisky attitude to match,at least that is what the horse seller told me.
Dixie and I set out to the Botlan army encampment. Hopefully, I will see Joseph but I
doubt it for the Botlan encampment has thousands of soldiers. First thing first, I must go to
the Botlan army general, General Louis M. Meyer.
“Come on , Dixie , faster,” I tell my horse . We are racing down the hill pass hundreds of
tents. Past the men, horses, and mere boys trying to make it through a soldier's harsh life. We
made it to the Generals' tent in three minutes. I decide to make it urgent.
“Permission to enter , Sir.” I say in the deepest voice I can muster up. I hear a rough , yet
deep voice say, “ Permission Granted.” I walk into a small yet lavish tent with a bed with silk
curtains, silk linens, and silk embroidered rugs. The general's tent is more than I expected.
I see a man that is tall, brown headed, and in his late 40s who i suspect is the General
and beside him is , Oh My God , Joseph, whose eyes look like they are about to pop out of
his head. I give him a look that says Do not say anything or we will both get it later. He does not speak because of my glare but his eyes still bugged out of his sockets.
out. Then I address the General.
“Sir General Armand, requested you at the Deadly King Tavern tomorrow night.” I say
hoping he will believe me but by the tensing of his body he is believing me so far, “ at eight
o'clock sharp.
“What is your name ,son?” he asked his brown eyes piercing into my own.
“Ijori Fletcher,Sir”
“Tell that man I will be seeing him tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp.”
I did the same thing at General Armands encampment but I did not see Tim. Also, I had more of a time with General Armands but suceeded in the long run.
They are both coming to my meeting. So far they believe me but one glitch equals dead me.
I am waiting for both Generals to come. The Deadly King is one of the decent taverns. It
is the nearest to the Neutral Zone. I bribed the old innkeeper to give us a private room.
Everyone could use extra money, so he takes the bribe. It is a large room used when people
have banquets or hold meetings. It is perfect even though it is going to be only the three of us but it is more private than the main dining room. I nwhich the nosy innkeeper would be listening.
I hear the deep, rough voice of General Meyer. I decide to sit myself in one of the
chairs. When he walks in I say very curtly,” General, how are you?” He looks at me and asked”
What are you doing here Mr. Fletcher?” I thought quick for I did not think this over.
“Sir, General Armand requested I would be here.” Then I hear the sound of General
Armands boot outside of the room. As he comes in he nods and General Meyer does the same
Now it is time I step in.
“Generals, I am sorry but I am the one who called both of you here-” I said until General
Armand Interrupts me with “ What do you mean ,Fletcher? You are going to lose your head for
this!”
“Sir I called you here for I am not a messenger-nor a boy. I am a Peacemaker whose land your
kingdoms have been fighting over for I am the owner and I have an offer to give you each one
third the property for your kingdoms and I am also a girl.”
They both thought about it for a good hour. When final General Meyer spoke up,” I am
willing to take her offer. What about you, Armand?”
With a lot of consideration he spoke, “ I believe it should be fair for both Botlan and
Metban.”
“Generals, may I please be excused?”
“Of course Miss.-,” says General Meyer.” “Sarah Beth-Sir.”
As I go out to get Jacky to go home. I see Joseph and Tim. I run into both of their arms. I
hug them both. I hope Tim will find a real nice girl for he deserves one, for Joseph if he still
r /> wants me he can have me.
I get the answer before I even say a word with his lips clamped on mine. A war ended
and love found. I have not have a better day yet in my life then I realized something it is my
fifteenth anniversary of my birth. I for once had a Happy Birthday.
The End
Look soon for the sequel to the Neutral Zone called No Rights To Freedom including Sarah's grandkids.....
Heres the Preface:
I see life on Earth as punishment or redemption from heaven and hell. Hell is all bad while heaven is all good. Earth is in the middle of the two. You can choose how to live it until you are placed into Gods forgiving hands or into the devils torturing tools. If you have ever heard the saying," Only the good die young." I think it is true. Those who die young are redeemed early and are forgiven by god. That is why babies come out of there mothers womb crying begging God to forgive them for doing wrong or crying for delight for another chance to be redeemed to the Golden Kingdom. As we get older these memories fade away and we believe we are humans. While we are fallen angels either being redeemed or punished.
That is how I see life on Earth as. While I am a princess. I am treated like garbage. For I do not look like royalty. While my mother and all my sisters are extraordinary beautiful and graceful. I am quiet ugly and rather clumsy all the time. Nothing like royalty. I refuse to wear the rich golds and purples in dresses but dress in pure black as a sign of rebellion. Most believe I am not even the King's daughter for I look nothing like my parents in any manner yet none would like to suffer under Franded II of Botlan by calling his daughter odd. What even makes it worst is that I have a twin that is extraordinary beautiful and she is bright and follows all the rules a woman should. The opposite of myself.
My raven black hair is rather wavy unlike my sisters blonde self. All of the commoners adore Aredelia while most would try to assassinate me if they had the chance for it makes their kingdom look bad when one of its royals