Author's note: Sorry it took me so long to post again. I hope you all like this chapter. God knows it's a hell of a lot longer than the last chapter. I'm also sorry to Dafji1994. I know you've been anticipating this. Well here it is! Enjoy!
"Will, you can't do this." I say
"Knox, I can do anything I want. I'm royal." He smirks. "You can either come with me, or I'll kill your little friend." I race back for Ben's sword and toss it to him.
Will lunges and Ben avoids it, sending Will into a wall.
"Anna! Take my horse!"
"No! I'll help!"
"You can't! If I kill him, the palace guards will hang me, but if you kill him they'll take you. God only knows what his bastard of a father will do to you." He replies, purposely saying it to make Will mad.
I race for the horse. I pull my leggings, whip off my skirt, hook my bow and sheath of arrows on my back, pull on my cloak, wrap my red scarf around my face, and hop on the horse.
"Yaw!" Ben's horse shoots forward.
I weave up the roads to the castle. I have to get the guards down here, a grand plan forming in my mind. It's a plan that will take a few days at the least.
I storm through the courtyard, laughing as hard and loud as I can.
Guards come rushing out.
I recognize the young captain coming out.
"Catch her! It's the huntress!" he shouts orders. "Do not harm her! She is for the prince!"
The elder captain runs out of the barracks. "No! Leave her be! Stand you ground! She's stopped! She wishes to speak!"
His soldiers stop abruptly.
I sit up straighter on Ben's horse.
"Thank you, captain." I project my voice. "The prince has gone mad. He attacked my friend and they're fighting swords as we speak. You must round up men and bring the prince back here. Leave the other man and I will collect him."
"As you wish brave-heart. But what if the prince has already done away with him?"
Tears fill my eyes and they all see them. "He is my love and my husband. For any other man, killing a women's husband, means the widow can take legal action and have him killed. The same applies to the prince in my eyes. If my husband dies, this country will be at no loss. Prince Willem is a demon in a poor man's body. Save my husband, or the prince will die!" I wait as the captain races for his horse. I storm into the night, the soldiers following me.
We come upon the scene. Ben and Will's faces both covered in a sheen of sweat, their swords locked.
The soldiers race forward and tackle Will.
"You fools! Let me up!" he screeches. Ben comes up to me and wraps his arms protectively around my waist.
"Hide your face." I whisper gently.
"You best be leaving now." The elder captain approaches us. "God bless you huntress. You've done great good for this country."
"You've done well for me, kind sir. There for you've done well for this country, for a huntress is nothing without her hunter."
I gaze up and Ben and I lock eyes.
The elder captain nods farewell. "We'll not speak of him, we'll say that the prince simply as you put it, went mad and attacked a young lady."
"It's not entirely untrue." We nod and Ben leads us to the horse. I give him my extra scarf and he wraps it around the bottom of his face, covering his mouth and nose.
I stick my foot in the stirrup and swing my leg over. I scoot back and Ben climbs on. He digs his heels in and his mount shoots forward.
We race onward until we break through the trees. We ride further into unclaimed forest ground. There we set up out camp.
Ben lays the bedrolls out next to each other, making a large, soft, makeshift bed.
XxX
Betrayal retching in my gut. Tears sting my eyes and my arms scarred scratched, bleeding. Unbearable pain in my heart as it hammers in agonistic betrayal. My world as I know it coming to an end. Fire. Everything's burning.
I raise my gaze up to the full moon.
"Spirits of night, take away my fright.
Spirits of the dark, on me, you've set your mark.
Sprits of the moon change me and make my like you."
The graceful tremble runs through my body. My eyes phase silver. Strength courses through my body.
Burney and Vonnie join my in the chant.
"Spirits of night, remove our fright.
Spirits of the dark, on me, you've set your mark.
Spirits of the moon change me and make me like you."
The spirits of fire, light, and night come forth and spread into our bodies.
We stand before every last citizen of the forest, old enough to fight. All arm armed with strong bows, swords, javelins, and shields. Even women.
I stand in the middle of Burney and Vonnie. Ben takes his place behind me.
"Tonight, we take back what is ours!" I scream, my voice projecting on the spirits of the night. "The capitol swine have invaded our lands! They have taken children as slaves! They have forced us to the fringes of society! We'll invade their lands as they did ours! We'll take back our freedom! We'll make our independence! Let the REBELLION BEGIN!" I take my own sword and slam it together with my shield over my head.
We scream the ancient battle cry of our secret rebellion, meaning victorious night.
"NOX INVICTOUS!"
I bolt up right out of my sleep and gasp for breath.
Ben's arm is knocked from my body.
"Anna. Anna." Ben chants, while I try to even my breathing. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine; I just think I had a weird dream." I say.
"You think?"
"I mean I don't really remember." I lie.
"Well, then let's hope you don't have It again. You looked scared half to death." He gives me a questioning, but caring look. "Are sure you don't remember anything?" I look away.
"Yes. Let's just go back to sleep."
He just nods and lays back down on the bedroll, pulling me down with him.
We had to leave the city with haste. We snuck back several hours into the night and loaded the cart.
We sold most of what we brought, so there was not much left to carry.
Now he holds me to his chest. He kisses me softly on the lips and I respond with a rougher kiss. He catches on and his hands slide to my waist and lift up my sweater. He pulls it off and tosses it aside. He yanks his tunic off and I kiss his chest. I hastily pull down my skirt and leggings, leaving me in my underclothes. I shiver in the clod air. Ben proceeds to kiss my neck slow and hard. I place my palms on his face and drag his mouth back up to mine.
I wake in the early and shiver from the cool morning air. All I have on is my strapless wrap and my shorter leggings. I don't remember removing my longer leggings, skirt, and sweater.
Ben sits up slowly and runs his hand down from my neck, to my shoulder, to my wrist. I lean into him and he kisses my shoulder.
"Good morning my sweet wife." He says. I'm confused, but then I remember what I told the elder captain.
I remember everything up to the point where we went to bed. Everything else is gone. I woke up this morning scantily dressed and Ben shirtless.
"Did anything happen between us last night?" I ask nervous.
"What do you mean, love?" he asks. Ben looks at my face as a slow blush creeps into it. "No. It was close, but no. You were so upset. I would never take advantage you, when you were so vulnerable." Will would have. Ben strokes my cheek. "You know that."
"Yes. I'm sorry it's just that last night was rough. I don't remember a lot."
"Do you remember the nightmare?"
I stiffen. Words pound my head and spill out of my mouth. I can't control them. "The night shall come to glory. The good of it revealed. The day shall fall, its evils were concealed. The light destroys. The dark relieves. All shall bare the weight of death until light leaves." Light fades. Darkness clouds in. With it brings relief. With it brings peace.
"Anna! Anna!"
