Chapter 8
1180 Words
-Laelia-
“This ends now!” A powerful voice jolted me from my deep sleep. It took me a moment to remember what had happened. I fainted, didn’t I?
“My Lady?” Libelle was standing over me, noticing my eyes flutter open. She helped me sit up, holding onto me as the world slowly came back into focus.
“Sh*t,” I whispered.
I looked around to see everyone was in the bedroom I had been given when Ashes brought me here. Even the king was present, standing in front of Rathilion, and he did not look pleased.
“How are you feeling?” the king asked, trying to sound calmer than he appeared.
“A little better.”
“You’ve pushed yourself too far, Laelia. This training with my son ends today.”
“No!” I shouted. “We’re not done.”
“Laelia,” Liam sighed. “You fainted. It’s time to stop.”
“Not yet. Not until—”
“It’s over!” My brother’s voice echoed in the room, leaving me quiet. It was hard to argue when I had just fainted because I ignored everyone’s advice to slow down. But how could I when others were in danger? “You will rest now, and this plan of yours... cancel it. You’re staying here.”
“Are you going to tie me down?” I asked sarcastically.
“If I have to!” he warned.
Then he turned and walked out, 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 insisted.
“I believe it is.” He pulled his hand back and walked out, leaving me frustrated and angry.
“Maybe you should listen to them, my Lady,” Libelle suggested.
“I can’t. I have to save them!”
“And who will save you when you’re caught?” Kayda inquired.
“You said you would help me.”
“Yes, but we won’t stand by and watch you hurt yourself like this.”
The two girls silently began to leave the room, and I watched as the door closed behind them. I couldn’t believe it. They promised!
***
Feeling utterly defeated as everyone told me to stop this “nonsense”, I walked to the infirmary. Samuel was still sleeping, but he had improved so much. I sat 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 sighed and pressed my forehead against my hands. What was I going to do now? Everyone thought I was crazy, pushing myself like this, but I couldn’t stop. Not yet. I needed to save them. Who else would?
“Laelia?” I looked up to see Samuel looking at me, his eyes a bit glassy but clearer than when he had woken up earlier, feverish.
“Samuel?”
I quickly got up, running a hand down his face as I looked him over. He grabbed my hand, holding it while he looked around, appearing confused.
“You’re awake!”
“Where am I?”
I didn’t have time to answer before I threw my arms around his neck, almost strangling him with how hard I hugged him. He groaned, and I quickly let go.
“How are you feeling?”
“I… I feel like sh*t,” he said.
I laughed a little, tears forming in my eyes. He was finally awake. I had been so worried.
“And you?” he inquired.
“Me?”
“You look really bad, sister. What’s happened?”
“It’s all just so… messed up lately,” I told him.
“What do you mean?” He lifted himself and leaned against the wall behind him, looking me over.
“I… I want to go save them,” I whispered.
“What?”
“The others. I want to save them.”
“Laelia,” he said, clearly in disbelief. “Are you insane? They were waiting for us. They’re waiting for you too.”
“I know.”
“Then what are you talking about?”
“You were the one who suggested it,” I reminded him.
“What?”
“You woke up a little while ago, telling me to go save them.”
“I... I must have been dreaming or something. I don’t remember.”
I sighed, feeling even more defeated as I heard Samuel echo the others’ concerns. Was I really so crazy?
“Laelia—”
“I’m glad you’re awake. I’ll get the rest,” I said, cutting him off.
“Laelia!” Samuel called out to me, but I didn’t listen. I knew I wouldn’t find any help here, so if they didn’t want to join me, that was fine. I would do this on my own.
I walked further into the palace, finding Amoya and telling her that my brother was awake. Then I sought out Libelle, Kayda, and Liam to give them the same message. Once they had all gone to see Samuel, I went to my room, grabbed a bag, packed some clothes, took the sword Rathilion had given me, and then left the room, determined to get Ashes and the others back.
But as soon as I opened the door, I was met by a tall prince. “Going somewhere?” he asked.
“If I say yes, will you stop me?” I countered.
I had my bag slung over one shoulder and held the sword in one hand while my free hand rested on the handle.
“Will you use that against me if I say yes?”
“You answer first, and we’ll see.”
My response made him smile almost cruelly, and I knew his answer before he even spoke.
“I’m coming with you.”
“It will be dangerous. We might die,” I warned.
“It will definitely be dangerous, and you will die if you go alone. So, it’s a good thing you have me, then.” He leaned to the right and picked up a bag from the ground, along with a white bow, and handed them to me. “You’ll need this as well.”
I attached the sword to my hip and took the bow and arrows he handed me.
“I hope you’ve got a good plan, Queen of Dragons.”
“I told you to stop calling me that,” I said as I walked past him. “And as for the plan… I have one.”
I heard Rathilion follow right behind me. We walked all the way to a large grassy area where the horses roamed freely.
As I was about to mount 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
