|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Shards of a Broken Heart | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Eleven: reunited | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| It was night in the northern province - but things were far from quiet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alarms had sounded as soldiers scoured outward from the castle. A wave of fear overcame Bethany as she hid in an alley. It had become painfully clear that her absence had been noticed. Dozens of soldiers both dressed as invaders and provincial soldiers were scouring the area trying to find her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How did I get into this mess?" she muttered. She pushed herself flush to the wall blending into the shadows as several gruff looking soldiers hurried by. "I must get away from this place," she muttered as she pulled the hood up from her cloak - hiding her face. She looked around and saw a bunch of peasants attempting to escape amidst the confusion. She rushed out from the alley and bolted for the woods. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Over there! One of them is trying to escape!" a soldier shouted. Several arrows whizzed by her but she didn't look back. If she did - they might catch her and bring her back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Almost there," she panted as she raced passed some smaller trees. More arrows imbedded into the trees ground and snow. Her lungs felt like they were going to explode - but she dared not stop. She ran blindly through the almost pitch black forest. Branches viciously slapped and slashed at her as she ran. It wasn't until she tripped and fell down a sloping riverbank that she stopped to reluctantly catch her breath. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Her hands shook. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the distance she could hear her pursuers. She picked herself up and forced herself to run further. She didn't know where she was going - but she had to get further away from those evil men. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| After what felt like hours of running - she stopped. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| She fell into the snow gasping. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| She couldn't hear any sounds of pursuing soldiers - but then again - she could hear precious little over the sound of her heart hammering - echoing loudly in her ears. She collapsed into the snow - her warm tears melted the snow. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this?" she whimpered. She weakly picked herself up and crawled over to a tree and propped herself up. She was tired - hurting - barely able to breathe. It was then that she heard a twig snap! "Who's there?' she asked in a mild panic. No answer - no sound. Her hand slid over and grabbed a fallen tree branch. She looked around at the darkness - her eyes could barely make out the dim outline of the surrounding trees. "I know someone's there," she added timidly. It was then that a small raccoon scurried across the snow. She felt her heart begin to slow a bit. It was then that someone jumped her! She tried to fend off the attacker with her weapon - but it did little good. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I found one!" a rough voice stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let me go!" she exclaimed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Light the torch - if one is here - others might be near," another voice in the darkness stated. Bethany looked over - sparks jumped where the flint rocks scraped. Seconds later - a torch burst into flames lighting the area up. All color drained from her face - Damien's soldiers - ones that were dressed as the ones that had attacked Nathan's place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - guys," one began - pointing at her scratched up face. "I know who she is," he added. The others looked at her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This isn't a peasant - this is Bethany. She must have run out during the confusion," another added. Bethany struggled to free herself from her captors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want to go home!" she protested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We'll take you back to the castle - be calm," one reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm not going back there! I want to go home!" she exclaimed. The soldiers shook their heads. She must have learned something more than she was supposed to. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm afraid that isn't an option," another of them stated. A tree branch snapped - they looked over and saw Nathan glaring at them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm afraid - that wasn't a request," Nathan almost hissed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't just stand there - get him!" the soldier holding Bethany down ordered. Bethany continued to struggle but the soldier's grip was not relenting. The two watched as Nathan - injured as he was fought like a man possessed and within minutes - all of the other soldiers were dead. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She's going home - now," Nathan repeated. The soldier slowly got off Bethany and drew his weapon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The only place she is going - is back to the castle," the soldier retorted. Bethany watched as the two fiercely fought. The two arched their swords at each other. Sparks flew where steel was kissed by steel. Both - were still. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "N-Nathan?" she hesitantly stuttered. He dropped to one knee - the soldier fell face first into the snow. He slowly looked over his shoulder and smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are you okay?" he asked seriously. She wanted to run to him - but felt paralyzed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm - okay," she muttered dryly. He sighed and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is this about what happened at the inn? I had nothing to do with that," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know," she replied dryly. He looked over at her and saw that the troubles - ran deeper. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Did - did they do something to you?" he asked hesitantly she shook her head. He closed his eyes and sighed. The clouds in the sky began to break - allowing some of the light from the full moon to show the worry on her face. "It wasn't them - Damien - he did something to you?" he added hesitantly. She lowered her eyes as a feeling of shame overwhelmed the whole of her being. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sort of," she muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will - rip out his heart for doing this to you," he began - but the look in her hurting watery eyes told him - there was more to it than he knew. The anger - it began to melt away as he looked at her. "He - he didn't make you do anything - you - you went to him willingly," he stated quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can explain," she began but the look in his eyes froze her voice. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is there to explain? He is a charming bastard. It's how he got to where he was today. Besides - it's clear that - you can't trust me. I mean - you jumped with him - after how many days away from me?" he asked curiously - trying to hide his own hurt and anger. She lowered her eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He tricked me," she whimpered. Nathan shook his head and squatted down so that he was looking into her eyes. "Please," she sobbed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He was able to trick you - because you couldn't trust me. Fuck! I feel like such a fool. I feared you were being held against your will - I was going to fight my way though his army to save you - what a joke," he spat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I didn't want to be there! He lied to me! That's why I ran!" she cried. He closed his eyes and slowly got up. He looked down at her with what looked to be a gaze between hate, disgust and hurt - a deep hurt. One that wasn't caused by his wounds - one that she knew - only she could have inflicted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Go home," he said flatly. He walked towards her then walked passed her - not looking back. She could feel her hands beginning to shake. She turned and watched as he walked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But - they might," she stammered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They won't be after you - they will have far more important matters to worry about," he replied seriously - not even slowly a step. She slumped over and began to cry. Unknown to her - tears fell from his eyes - down his cheeks as he vanished into the flickering shadows of the night. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||