The Runic Heart
By Richard LeBlanc
Act six: abduction
In the old tower - the light of a new day was slowly creeping up on the two sleeping lovers. As soon as the dawn's rays touched the face of the prince he began to stir and awaken. It was then that he had become aware of what he - and Lady Angela had done. He looked over and saw that she was still fast asleep. He sighed looked up at the roof. Just then - Angela sat up.
"What's wrong?" he asked hesitantly.
"It is morning?" she asked nervously.
"Yes," he replied.
"We slept all night?" she asked.
"Again - yes," he replied.
"Oh - they are going to kill me," she muttered in a panic as she began to quickly get dressed. Harmen quietly laughed and watched the princess try to frantically put her dress back on.
"Be calm - I am sure that the sisters won't be too cross," he reassured.
"I was grounded. If they checked on me - oh - I will be in so much trouble," she whined. Harmen began to get dressed himself and looked over at the worried princess.
"My intentions are noble," he said seriously.
"I'm sure they are - and I am sure that the sisters won't care," she replied. Harmen walked over and gave Angela a hug. She wanted to still worry - but being in his arms seemed to melt everything away.
"We'll go back together - I'll explain," he reassured.
"Explain what?" she asked hesitantly.
"That I intend to marry you - if you will have me that is," he replied. she could feel all color drain from her face. She had heard about such things from the older girls at the school - she had read about such things in stories - but to hear a prince ask such a thing of her? It was almost too much to even imagine. "Angela?" he asked curiously.
"Uh - yes?" she replied timidly.
"Yes to what?" he asked coyly.
"I will marry you - silly," she replied as she tightly hugged him. It was then that the two heard the sounds of galloping horses. Harmen tensed up and hesitantly looked around the empty room - to try to determine which way the horses were coming from.
"Angela?" he hesitantly began.
"Yes?" she asked.
"The men that guard the abbey - they don't have horses do they?" he asked.
"No," she replied. Harmen hurried over to the window and looked down. Through the branches and leaves he could see riders. They wore black armor with familiar markings on them. he was about to comment when he recognized the rider in the center of group - Hunter! They were soldiers from the Witch Queen's army!
"This - is not good. Is there a back way out of this tower?" he asked hesitantly.
"No," she replied. Harmen quickly got dressed and drew his sword
"I was afraid you would say that," he muttered.
"What is going on?" she asked timidly.
"Remember the people that are attacking Eversky?" he asked. She nodded. "Well - apparently - they are here," he muttered. Angela hurried over to the window and saw about a dozen armored knights and a scary looking dark elf.
"Why are they here?" she asked nervously.
"They must have learned I was searching for the Runic Heart and have come to stop me," he began as he looked over at her. "How far is it to the abbey?" he asked seriously.
"I don't know - it's a fair walk though," she replied.
"We can't outrun them - they have horses. Find someplace to hide - I will try to deal with these monsters," he said bravely. She watched as he raced down the stairs and vanished into the shadows.
"Be careful," she whispered. Just then - another dark elf silently climbed up through the widow and stalked his way towards her. Before she could react - he had her arms pinned behind her back - and had a hand over her mouth.
"Move - scream - act up - do anything - I will kill you," he hissed.
* * *
Down below - Hunter motioned for two knights to go in. two knights entered the dark tower. Seconds later they heard sounds of conflict. The other knights got ready to go in - but Hunter held them back.
"No - just wait - he will come to us," he replied calmly. Moments later - Harmen exited the tower and glared at the remaining soldiers. Hunter calmly smiled and mockingly bowed to the prince. "His royal highness boys - Prince Harmen. It has been - far - too - long," Hunter said coolly.
"Not long enough. Why are you here?" he demanded.
"Why? The good queen - she misses you so," Hunter began. From the corner of his eye - he say that his man had the princess secured.
"I don't miss her," he retorted.
"Pity that. Did you hear what happened to the duke?" he asked calmly.
"I have," he replied.
"Then you must know that we found his wife - that would make her - your aunt?" Hunter asked seriously. Harmen glared at the dark elf that was attempting to goad him - and doing too good a job at it at that!
"You're bluffing," he began.
"I am - actually - but we will find her soon. My best people are on it - and when she is found - he-he - everyone - will be on her. It's a shame really. All of that - pain - all of that humiliation - and degradation - that she will go through - over and over again - will be - because - of you. Tell me highness - how does that make you feel?" Hunter asked with a chuckle.
"Spare the mind games. This war isn't over yet. The Witch Queen will not win this time. She hasn't got the Runic Heart - and it will be the key to her downfall," he retorted seriously.
"The Runic Heart? Ah yes - the supposed ultimate weapon. Face facts hero - your quest was in vain. The Heart - doesn't exist. All of the Runic Arsenal - are in the possession of the queen," he began as he slowly drew his sword and looked at the finely honed edge.
"You would like me to believe that," Harmen retorted.
"I honestly don't care what you believe. You can believe the sky will open up and deliver you from the forces of evil. You can believe - that your father and what is left of his forces will be able to undo the damage caused by Greel's fall. You can even believe that the Runic Heart actually exists and is just waiting for you to find it - but let us be quite frank with each other - we know - that all the believing - or make believing won't change any of that. Reality - is harsh son. Shall I teach you one of its lessons?" he asked coldly as he motioned for his men to stand back.
"You should make boasts that you can not keep," Harmen retorted as he slowly stalked his way towards the smug looking dark elf.
"I never do boy," he replied - Harmen leaped at Hunter - the dark elf effortlessly dodged to the side. "Do tell me when you are ready to begin," he goaded calmly. Harmen hissed and made his way towards the calm looking adversary. Just then - in blur of motion Harmen attacked Hunter - there was no arrogance in the dark elf now as the prince's attacks came frighteningly close to hitting their mark.
"Where is your smart mouth now?" Harmen demanded. Just then a scream from the tower got his undivided attention. A fist as strong as stone slammed across his face and knocked the prince out. Hunter looked up and glared at the dark elf.
"If a hair on her head has been harmed - brother - the fate of the duchess - I promise you - you will share!" he warned.
"Nothing was done brother - I told her to scream - to distract him," he replied.
"I am so sure - bring her here - now," he ordered. The two vanished from the window. Seconds later - the princess was all but dragged over to where Hunter was waiting. "My lady - has this - piece of filth - touched you - and I think you know what I mean - by touched," he asked seriously.
"He - he grabbed my," she began. Hunter raised his hand.
"Brother - the queen did not say that she was to be molested. She said that she was not to be touched - at all. What part of that did you not understand - on our long ride over here?" Hunter demanded.
"She - is lying," the other dark elf replied.
"I know people - I know when someone is lying - she is too young and innocent to have mastered that art - unlike you. When the duchess is found - and the men are breaking her in - I will be sure to tell them - to do the same to you," he stated coldly.
"You can not do that!" the dark elf retorted.
"Perhaps you are right - maybe I can ask the queen what she would have done to you. Who knows - perhaps she will be more lenient than I - what do you think brother?" Hunter asked as he glared at the dark elf.
"I will remember this," he retorted.
"If you live. You made a lot of boasts - hiding in my shadow - a shadow - you will no longer be in. I will see to that personally. Tie up his little princess," Hunter ordered. A knight walked over and began to secure the terrified princess. "I wouldn't be thanking me for any of this lady - I am sure - whatever the queen has in store for you - will make you wish death had taken you before we did," Hunter warned as he hoisted Angela up onto his horse. "The note - if you please," he called out. another knight walked over and handed a scroll to him. "I know you can't hear me Harmen - but on some level you might. I underestimated you - it won't happen again," he stated as he dropped the scroll onto the unconscious prince.
"Orders sir?" one of the other knights asked.
"That is simple enough - we go home," Hunter replied. he hopped onto his horse. He looked down and quietly laughed at the unmoving, unconscious prince. With a wave of his hand - they all rode away.
* * *
Some unknown time later - the prince began to wake up. His head was ringing from the punch he had taken - it was then that he remembered what had happened.
"Angela!" he shouted out. he raced back into the tower. There was no sign of her there. He hurried back out and looked around in a panic - it was then that he noticed the scroll on the ground. He hesitantly picked it up. He broke the seal and slowly opened it. "It has been too long since I have seen your fair face Prince Harmen. I miss you. If you wish to see your new girlfriend again - you will come to me. Love - Tamina," he read as he crumpled up the scroll in his clenched fist. "Hold on Angela - I'm on my way," he said solemnly.
To be continued...
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