Sorry, really really late update!
ALYSS POV
Bleary eyed, I woke up to a wet muzzle snuffling at my face; Silverwing was anxiously licking at my face, snorting and tossing her head towards the copse of trees to my right. I could hardly lift my head to see what she was so anxious about; my whole body ached with the cuts and bruises all over my figure, and my vision was only just beginning to clear.
The figure of a man stepped away from the darkness of the woods and came cautiously to kneel by my side.
'Who are you?' he whispered in a soft, yet deep voice. I groaned, my throat was parched, and I could barely speak. I looked up and saw his face, rather handsome I must admit, dark raven hair, and emerald eyes.
' A...A..Andrea' I said, changing my name at the last minute. Despite my weakened condition, I could at least try to protect myself; for I didn't know who this man was, and whether or not I could trust him with my story.
'Do not exert yourself Andrea' he said, I could tell by the way he spoke, that he was a noble man at least, with his eloquent manner. His accent told me that I had passed into Salvion; I must have lost my way in the forest and ridden too far. The chilliness of the fog and mist around me was beginning to seep into my bones, and my teeth began to chatter. He handed me his exquisite coat, and draped it around my shivering shoulders.
'I suppose you know who I am.' When he saw me frown, he backtracked.' I am Prince Valerian of Salvion.' He uncorked a flask, and allowed me to revive my parched throat, my muscles protesting as I tried to sit up.
'I suppose you want to know how I ended up here'
'That was my next question' he said smirking. How dare he! Smirking at I, Princess Alyss of Kirell... Well I suppose he didn't know that.
'Well... first of all I am from Koredan...' I wracked my mind to think of a believable story. 'I was returning to the court of Koredan after a visit to my hometown when I was ambushed by robber near the border of Koredan and Salvion. It was raining heavily and I suppose my horse was confused and lost its way. Please allow me to remain in Salvion for a day or two, and I will be out of you hair.' I couldn't have said a much different story. After all he would have noticed that despite all the rips and tears, my clothes were once fine garments, and my palms were not calloused with hard labour. I couldn't have disguised myself as anything other than simply a noblewoman of court.
For a second it seemed as though he didn't believe me, but he shrugged and leaned down, and lifted me into his arms. Had I not been this weak I would have protested. He placed me on his horse, side saddle, and I grumbled internally but it would have been a bit suspicious and a bit of a giveaway if I had chosen to sit astride. I whistled to Silverwing to follow as the prince swung himself up behind me. He wrapped one arm around my middle, and gathered up the reins in his other. I stiffened; it was rather indecent, and improper to be this intimate.
'lean back, you must be tired' he told me. Rather reluctantly, I leant into his chest. Shielded from the cold winds all the events of the previous night came flooding back to me. The death of my parents, my brother... my brother! I didn't know if he escaped or not! The last memory that I had of the palace in which I had grown up, was the damaged and destroyed palace of Kirell engulfed in flames, and the screams of those trapped with in its walls. A tear slid from the corner of my eyes; I would never see my parents again, would I ever see my brother again! Slowly adjusting to the rocking motion of the horse, I closed my eyes.
A bright light irritated my eyes, and I woke up to find myself in an unfamiliar room.
'Where am I?'
A kind looking old lady hustled over to where I lay.
'You're awake dear.' She smiled 'how are you feeling? Better? You're in the hospital of Salvion palace. Your wrist was fractured, but all your scratches and wounds should be just about healed.'
'I feel a lot better, thank you. How long have I been here?'
'You've been asleep for just over two days; we've all been rather worried about you. Prince Valerian gave us a right fright, carrying you in like that. Here, drink this up, it's a vegetable soup. You must be starving; you haven't eaten in a while. Look at the sight of you, skin and bones!'
I felt a great deal better after I had food in my stomach, and I sat up to have a better look at my surroundings. A small girl burst through the doors of the hospital and rushed over to my bed. She peered up at me with wide eyes.
'You're pretty! What's your name?' I smiled. She looked like she must be one of the royal family, her blond hair was in a simple knot and she was wearing a lovely flowy white gown, with a belt studded with diamonds; A simple outfit that one would wear during the day. Despite that fact that I hadn't always cared about what I wore, for a second, I missed the luxuries of being a royal.
'I'm A...Andrea. You're very beautiful too!' I told her. I was still unused to using the name Andrea.
'Thank you, I'm Princess Lydia, but just call me Lydia' she said, bending into a little curtsy. 'You're nice, I like you. Where did you come ...'
A man burst through the doors, for a second I thought it was Prince Valerian, but he was slightly shorter, and had blond hair similar to the little princess.
'Lydia! Valerian told us that we were not to come into the hospital wing! We are so going to be in troub-...' He stopped short as soon as he caught sight of me.
'Who are you?'
'This is my friend Andrea' replied the little princess, latching her hand onto my own.
He raised an eyebrow and turned his gaze back on me.
'We just met.' I said shrugging my shoulders. 'Your majesty' I remembered at the last minute.
'Just call me Jason, we are friends after all; any friend of Lydia's is a friend of mine.' He said, pulling chair to sit beside my bed next to Lydia. 'So tell me, how did you get here?'
I looked at Lydia's hopeful eyes and his kind face, how could I lie to them. I hoped they would understand if they ever found out.
Ta da, hope you liked this chapter!
DustyPhoenix
