19 Troll hills

"We are crossing the hills without our horses" sir Magnus said. I was confused. Why can't we cross with our horses? and does that mean we will trek to Draven after we've passed through the hills.

"What about after sir Magnus, does this mean we trek to Draven?" I asked curiously. "I'm sorry my lady but there is no other way and then not just because of the trolls, according to the map, horses can't go further than here" sir Magnus explained with the map rolled open in his hands. "Right, ok. Do we have a choice?" I said and reluctantly got off my horse.

"My lady, stay close to me, I've been through this before" Kahlan said grabbing close to her. I nodded and moved close to her then we all slowly headed up the hill. We moved slowly and quietly so we wouldn't attract any troll though we saw none yet. "I feel humans moving across here" a shriek voice said. We turned around to see two ugly trolls standing behind us. "It's been so long we had them for dinner" one of them said and they laughed weirdly. "My lady keep still, they won't notice us, even if they touch you do not move, do not breathe, just stay still" Kahlah whispered to me and grabbed my hands.

We all stood still as the trolls smelled around the area searching for us. One of them came to sir Owen for some minutes "it smells like human. But it's not moving. I think it's a dead one" one of the trolls said in disgust. I was still watching sir Owen when the other troll held my hand and smelled it so much. The troll traced my body to my face and placed a finger across my nostrils but I didn't breathe. I stood still. "This one's dead too" it said and licked my face, at that point, I couldn't contain it any longer. I screamed and pushed it off. Before we could decide whether to fight them or not, other trolls trooped out of their hiding places and surrounded us. "We're trapped" sir Magnus said as he pulled out his sword. We were nothing compared to the trolls. They were too many. We all pulled out our swords as the trolls charged towards us. They were really blind but they fought like they could see really clearly. We fought so hard until my sword was knocked off my hand and then it held me by the throat. I struggled for long before I was able to loosen it's grasp on me but then fell into the hands of another troll that was very strong, stronger than the other one. Before I could realize it, I was apprehended. When the others realized that the more they fought, the more danger I got into. This made them weak and in no time they were also apprehended and we all were taken to their leader.

"Intruders! Intruders!" Their leader said as it smelled us. "Tie them and prepare a feast. Announce to all trolls that there will be the human feast tonight".

We were tied and locked up. Our swords were no were on sight. Those trolls were blind but could see with their noses. We thought of ways to escape before their dinner time. "We can't end up like this. Darca needs us. We need to find a way out of here" I said as I tried to pull out of the ropes I was tied in. "There's no need my lady, the ropes won't come off easily. It's bound by magic" Kahlan said without even making an effort to pull out. "How would you know? Kahlan we can't die like this. If we do not escape now we'll all be these trolls food. They are already planning dinner" I was desperate to get out of their hostage.

"My lady I promise no harm will come to you. Just give me a little time, I'll definitely figure something out" sir Magnus said.

Few minutes later, a troll came to us with a plate filled with a disgusting meal. "Eat up, eat up, you do not want to taste bad do you?" The troll said in a shrieked voice. "Let us go. Don't trolls feed on dungs?" I said in confidence. The troll laughed in a loud and cracked voice "not these trolls. Now here, eat up" it said and finally left. Sir Karl looked around and whispered "I'm untied my lady". What? didn't Kahlan just say these ropes were bound with magic? I looked at Kahlan. "Yeah, I know what I said. His own isn't and believe me my lady I don't how or why". We looked around and didn't see anyone coming so sir Karl tried to untie us but he couldn't. "I'll see if I can find anything to help, my lady I'll keep you safe. If I have to give up my life to get you to safety I'll do it happily" he said and turned around to leave but fell into a ditch. A ditch that was previously invisible.

"Sir Karl?, are you okay?" I asked concerned but he didn't respond. "You really don't have to give up your life for. We'll get through this together" but he still didn't respond. Soon the trolls trooped in. "Bring him, and prepare the rest. We won't wait till night fall" a troll said and the others grabbed Karl and took him away. Sir Magnus and sir Owen struggled to pull off their ropes and save sir Karl who was unconscious but they could not. "We are done for" Kahlan said and sighed. I had never seen that look on her face. She was tired and scared. "Kahlan we will get out of this I promise" I told her confidently. "My lady, I'm willing to give up my life for Darca. But not without a fight" sir Magnus said. "My lady, we will protect you, no harm will come to you or Kahlan". Kahlan looked at him and smiled and nodded without saying anything at all.

A few minutes later, some trolls walked in and untied us and took us with them. Sir Magnus motioned to sir Owen who in turn nodded and then hit the troll closest to him with his elbow so strongly that it slumped and then he took us to make an exit. Sir Magnus quickly grabbed a dagger close by to defend himself and fight his way up to rescue sir Karl who was lying motionlessly on the stake. We were still trying to find a way out when we were surrounded, we had no sword or dagger. "For the love of Darca" sir Owen shouted and pounced on the trolls. He fought with his bare hands. I and Kahlan joined him. I couldn't do much since I had never fought like that before.

We were almost defeated when the entire hill was covered with fog. We were unable to see each other. "My lady we must escape" Kahlan said grabbing my dress "oh, sorry" she grabbed my hand and we quickly started to stagger while running "what about the rest?" I asked as we ran. "They will find their way out" she responded. Soon we were out of the hills and waited for the rest while panting. Sir Owen was the first to get out. We looked intently at the fog and saw sir Magnus quietly staggering towards us. "Where's Karl" sir Owen asked. "We, we, we lost him" sir Magnus said and quickly passed out. That was when we noticed he was bleeding on his left shoulders.