Short Stories in English for Beginners

Chapter 2 – The Journey
Lars and the guards followed the Northern Road. Behind them came the
horses and the wagon of gold. After some time, Alfred, the main guard,
said, ‘Lars, what is along the way?’
‘It’s not an easy way. It’s very dangerous,’ replied Lars.
‘So, what will we do?’
‘Well, there are some dangerous men and animals on this road. I
recommend that we stay away from them. We’ll try not to fight.’
‘Do you fight well, Lars?’
‘I’m well known for my skill. I can fight very well.’
‘I hope so,’ said Alfred. Three men carried on walking. Soon they came
to a big stone bridge. It was 
similar
 to the bridge at King Andur’s castle.
‘Lars,’ said Alfred. ‘This bridge is very similar to the castle bridge.’
‘Yes. You built it a long time ago.’
‘I built it?’ said Alfred with surprised.
‘Well, not you. The people of your kingdom. They built it a long time
ago. They built it for a reason. But I will not tell you that now.’
The men crossed the bridge. Then they walked into a big wood. It was
full of trees. But there were no animals. In fact, it was 
silent
.
‘Why are these woods so silent?’ Alfred asked.
‘We are in the Silent Woods. There aren’t any animals here,’ Lars replied
‘Why not?’
‘A long time ago there was a great 
battle
 here. It was between King
Andur and his brother.’
Alfred was young. He didn’t know about the battle. He thought that King
Andur and King Arthuren trusted each other.
‘You look surprised, Alfred,’ said Lars.
‘I am,’ Alfred replied.
‘Why?’ asked Lars.
‘I thought the two brothers never fought.’

---

Lars laughed. ‘Oh, I see. Well, they did. But that was many years ago.’
Lars stopped talking. The men moved on.
The Silent Woods were very dark. The trees were tall. You could hardly
see daylight.
Later, Alfred asked, ‘Do you know where we’re going, knight?’
‘Yes. I’ve been here before.’
‘When?’ asked Alfred.
‘A long time ago.’ Lars thought back. He remembered the fight between
King Andur and King Arthuren. It was one of the biggest battles in history.
Before it, the woods were called the Animal Woods. But after the battle,
they became the Silent Woods.
Lars continued talking. ‘When I was younger, I fought for King Andur. I
was in the battle in these woods.’
‘What was the battle for?’
´King Andur started it.’
‘And why did he fight his brother?’
‘King Andur wanted a 
fountain
in the woods.’
Lars walked in silence for several minutes. Alfred stayed silent, but he
was thinking. He wanted to know more about the great battle. He had
always thought that King Andur was a peaceful king.
‘Can I ask you something, Lars?’
‘Yes.’
‘What kind of fountain is it exactly?’
‘Wait and see,’ was all Lars said.
Lars and Alfred were silent for an hour. The other guards talked softly at
times. There were only trees and silence – nothing more. At last the group
came to a lake. ‘We’ve arrived,’ the knight said.
‘What is this?’
‘A long time ago, this lake was a fountain.’
‘The fountain from the battle?’
‘Yes.’

---

The guards and the knight walked to the lake. Lars finally spoke. ‘A long
time ago, there was a fountain here. There wasn’t much water. Nothing like
this. But the original water was