Sorry for not updating sooner. I'm sorry if this chapter is short and dull. Hopefully it will pick up. Thanks for reading.
Six months later
Erika and Annaliese were sitting in the garden talking and laughing about good times and watching the children play on the newly constructed playground.
"… and when the duke proposed to my mother. She flipped!" Annaliese gushed.
"What happened next?" Erika inquired.
"He asked, for the last three years, on every major holiday."
"That's too funny." Erika looked at the clouds floating above their heads. "So…"
"She finally accepted." Annaliese said with a giggle. "And they've been married about two years now."
"I'm glad their happy." Erika picked a daisy and twirled it around. Annaliese watched her as she watched the children.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" She asked hesitantly.
"Sure." Erika shrugged.
"Why don't you…" She was interrupted as a soldier came running into the garden. Erika jumped to her feet.
"What news do you bring, Soldier?" Erika asked when he was close enough to hear her.
"This letter just came in for you." He held out a letter to her. She looked at the letter and then the man. "The war is almost over. The enemies retreated." The soldier commented.
"Wonderful!" Annaliese exclaimed. Erika nodded her head with a huge smile.
"When should the troops arrive?" Erika asked.
"I'll let you know as soon as I get an answer."
"Ok. Dismissed." The soldier walked away. A dark figure was lurking in the shadow of a weeping willow tree, watching as Erika opened the letter.
"What is in the letter?" The figure wondered. Erika quickly read the letter, her face crumpling as she sank to the ground, crying. Annaliese was by the playground when she saw her friend kneeling on the ground. She walked over to Erika and knelt down beside her.
"Erika?" She wrapped an arm around her friend and allowed her to cry against her shoulder. After a while Erika's tears subsided. She wiped her nose and looked at Annaliese.
"The letter is from Dominic." She said after taking a huge breath. She handed the letter to Annaliese. "Warning, it has very upsetting news." She warned. Annaliese took the letter and began to read.
Dear Erika,
If you get this then I will not be home anytime soon. There is a traitor among us. It's only a matter of time. Julian's been hit hard. I don't know if he will make it. Remember that no matter where I am I will always love you.
Dominic.
With tears streaming down her cheeks, Annaliese looked at Erika.
"I'm so sorry, Annaliese." Erika whispered, tears streaming down her cheek as well.
"It's ok." She replied trying her best to smile. At that moment Harmony squealed. They looked and saw a huge, burly dog gently playing with her. The stared in shock then they both laughed. They got up and walked over to the dog.
"I wonder who he belongs to." Erika said reaching down and ruffling its fur. The dog sat and wagged his tail happily. Then the gardener came around the corner.
"Buffalo!" He bellowed. The dog quickly tucked its tail and ran to his side. The gardener walked toward the girls and bowed deeply. "I'm sorry, Your Highness."
"It's ok." Erika said with a smile. "He seems to really like Harmony." The gardener looked at the child, his old features softening.
"She is beautiful." HE said in a whisper. The dark figure tried to move closer to hear what they said, in the process stepped on a stick. Buffalo immediately went on alert, barking and snarling in the direction on the sound. The gardener looked toward where the dog was barking.
"What's wrong?" Erika asked.
"We'll soon find out." The gardener replied. "Sic 'em." With that Buffalo took off at a fast run.
"Oh, Shoot!" They heard someone say. They watched as a black figure flew from the willow tree's cover at a mad sprint. They started to laugh as the dog got closer to his prey. But their mirth was short lived when they guy grabbed a horse and disappeared. They watched till he disappeared over a hill. Buffalo came trotting back to his master and sat in front of him, wagging his tail.
"Good boy." The gardener said. Then he turned to the girls. "Better get back to work." He turned and walked off, Buffalo following close behind.
"I wonder who that was." Annaliese commented.
"What I wonder is, how long has he been there?" Erika said, looking toward the distant hill.
"Well, it's time to get the kids in." Annaliese said. "Kids! Time for supper!" She called. The children quickly headed inside to wash up. Annaliese touched Erika's arm. "It will be ok." Erika nodded her head and they headed inside.
What do you think? I may from here on out try to flip between what's happening in the castle and where the guys are. If you think I should please let me know. If you think I should keep it a mystery, let me know. Thank you.