Chapter 8
1284 Words
-Laelia-
“This ends now!”
It was a powerful voice that woke me from my deep sleep. I took a second before opening my eyes to try to remember what had happened … I fainted, didn’t I?
“My lady?”
Libelle stood over me, as she noticed my eyes blinked open. She helped me sit up and held onto me, as the world slowly got back into the right position.
“Sh*t,” was all I whispered.
I looked around myself to see everyone was there in the bedroom I had been given, as Ashes brought me here. Even the king who stood in front of Rathilion did not look very happy.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, trying to sound calmer than he looked.
“A little better.”
“You have pushed yourself too far, Laelia. This training with my son will end today.”
“No!” I yelled. “We aren’t done.”
“Laelia,” Liam sighed. “You fainted. It is time to stop.”
“Not yet. Not until-“
“It’s over!”
I kept quiet, as my brother’s voice echoed in the room. It was hard to argue when you had just fainted because you ignored everyone’s advice about slowing down, but how could I when others were in danger?
“You will rest now, and this plan of yours … cancel it. You are staying here.”
“Are you going to tie me down?” I asked sarcastically.
“If I have to!” he warned me.
Then he turned around and walked out of there, followed by the rest of the men. I quickly got up before Rathilion could leave the room and grabbed his hand.
“It isn’t over,” I said.
“I believe it is.”
He pulled his hand back and walked out of there, leaving me frustrated and angry behind.
“Maybe you should listen to them, my lady,” Libelle said.
“I can’t. I have to save them!”
“And who will save you when you are caught?” Kayda asked.
“You said you would help me.”
“Yes, but we won’t see you get hurt like this.”
The two girls silently started to leave the room, and I watched as the door closed behind them. I couldn’t believe them. They promised!
***
After feeling so defeated, as everyone told me to stop this nonsense, I walked to my brother’s room. Samuel was still sleeping but he had gotten so much better. I was sitting on the floor again, resting my chin on my hands in front of me, as I watched him. I hoped he would recover soon. I needed him. I needed to see that he would be okay. I couldn’t lose him too. I sighed and placed my forehead against my hands. What was I going to do now? Everyone thought what I was doing was crazy, pushing myself, but I could not stop. Not yet. I needed to save them. Who else would? I felt my heart ache at the thought of letting them go. I just couldn’t do it.
“Laelia?”
I looked up to see Samuel looking at me, his eyes a bit glassy but clearer than when he woke up awhile ago, all feverstruck.
“Samuel?!”
I lifted myself, looking him over, as I ran a hand down his face. He grabbed my hand, held it while he looked around confused.
“You are awake!”
“Where am I?”
I didn’t get time to answer him, but just swung my arms around his neck, almost strangling him so hard I hugged him. He groaned, and I quickly let go of him.
“How are you feeling?”
“I … I feel like sh*t,” he said.
I laughed a little, as I felt tears form in my eyes. Oh, he was finally awake. I had been so worried.
“And you?” he asked.
“Me?”
“You look really bad, sister, what has happened?”
“It is all just so … messed up lately,” I told him.
“What do you mean?”
He lifted himself and leaned against the wall behind him, as he looked me over.
“I … I want to go save them,” I whispered.
“What?”
“The others. I want to save them.”
“Laelia,” he said, not believing my words. “Are you insane? They were waiting for us. They are waiting for you too.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“You were the one who suggested it,” I said.
“What?”
“You woke up a little while ago, telling me to go save them,” I told him.
“I … I must have been dreaming or something. I don’t remember.”
I sighed, feeling even more defeated to hear Samuel agree with the rest. Was I really so crazy?
“Laelia-“
“I’m glad to see you are awake. I’ll get the rest,” I told him.
“Laelia!”
Samuel called out to me, but I did not listen. I knew I would find no help here, so if they did not want to come, then that was fine. I would go do this on my own then.
I walked further into the palace, finding the healer Amoya, telling her my brother was awake. Then I went to find Libelle, Kayda and Liam, giving them the same message. As soon as they had all gone to my brother, I went to my room where I grabbed a bag, and packed some clothes, took the sword Rathilion had given me, and then I left the room, determined to get back Ashes and the rest, but as soon as I opened the door, I was met with a tall and strong elf prince.
“Going somewhere?” he asked.
“If I say yes, will you stop me?” I asked.
I had my bag resting over one shoulder, and held the sword in one hand, while my free one went to rest on the handle.
“Will you use that against me if I say yes?” he asked back.
“You answer first, and we will see.”
My answer made him smile almost cruelly, and it told me his answer, before he even said any words.
“I’m coming with.”
“It will be dangerous. We might die,” I said.
“It will definitely be dangerous, and you will die if you go on your own. So, it is a good thing you have me then.”
Suddenly, he leaned to the right and lifted a bag from the ground, together with a white bow, handing me it.
“You will need this as well.”
I attached the sword to my hip and took the bow and arrows that I was handed.
“I hope you have got a good plan, queen of dragons.”
“I told you to stop calling me that,” I said and walked past him. “And about the plan … I got one.”
I could hear Rathilion follow right behind me. We walked all the way to a big grass area, where the horses stood freely to eat by themselves. We walked over to them, and just as I was about to get up on one of them, Rathilion looked at me and asked,
“Are you sure?”
I didn’t hesitate, as I turned to look at him.
“I am.”
- Writer
