I am awakened a short time later when the carriage comes to an abrupt halt. The guards escorting us are yelling back and forth up ahead, and I tilt my head toward the window to get a better view. Ghirahim's head is protruding from his own carriage as he speaks to one of the guards.
"Why did we stop?" He protests.
"There is a tree blocking the path up ahead your majesty. We will be on our way as soon as it's moved but Lord Corbin is concerned it may have been put there deliberately to set up an ambush."
Ghirahim's eyes widen. "You, take six other guards and surround the princess' carriage. I just got her in my possession; I'll be damned if I let someone take her from me an hour into our journey."
"Yes, your majesty." The mounted guard motions to several of his colleagues, and they immediately break away from the rest of the group and approach my carriage.
The one with the blue eyes is with them, and our eyes lock onto each other for a moment. I'm calmed by his intense stare. It is as if he is trying to talk to me. To tell me everything will be alright, and his eyes are so insistent, that I believe him.
I sit back against the plush seat and let out a long breath just as I hear metal clashing against metal. The sound is jarring. It pulls me back to the window so I can see what is going on. I gasp when I see the enormous monster now battling three guards up ahead. The creature is like nothing I have ever seen before outside of a book. It has a powerful body, covered in muscles, resembling the shape of a horse, but three times as large. The creature's head and torso are that of a man, with giant horns. Something I could only imagine seeing on the devil himself before now.
My heart rate speeds up as more guards join the battle, a battle they are loosing.
The blue-eyed guard's horse rears up. It looks like he is going to charge, but his commanding officer yells before he advances. "Hold your position. Our orders are to protect the princess."
I pull back into my seat. My entire body is shaking. I have heard of the many many dangers beyond our kingdom's walls, but never having left my territory, have never experienced the horror of facing one.
I hear more metal crashing and the groans of men being wounded, possibly even killed. I have never been so terrified, never felt this paralyzing fear course through my veins.
The beast roars loudly as one of the guard's swords strikes against his chest. He is injured in multiple places, but he's still coming closer. The guards have not yet been able to stall his advance, and I wonder for a moment if today is the day I die?
The horse pulling my carriage suddenly rears as an arrow flies past her head. Without warning she bolts, running at top speed perpendicular to the battle continuing up ahead. The carriage takes off with her, and I am thrown to the floor as we pick up speed.
Between the turbulence in my carriage, and my uncontrolled fear, I can't even pull myself back into the seat. The carriage moves faster and faster as I hear the horse whinny, and a moment later the wheels feel like they are no longer making contact with the ground.
I can only grab on to the luggage bars under my seat and hold on for dear life as I expect the carriage to tip over any second. Just as I suspected, it does, rolling over onto its side and then the roof before coming to a complete stop.
The sound of hooves pounding the ground continues until the horse is no longer within earshot, having disconnected itself from the carriage.
At some point, tears began to run down my cheeks, but I never felt them until I slowly pick up my head. I'm alone, with no idea how far away from the rest of the caravan I have traveled. I can't hear the battle going on anymore with the beast, so I know I must have been dragged quite a distance.
I roll over slowly, looking at my arms for any sign of injury. I am covered in scrapes and scratches, and a long gash travels halfway up my forearm, blood gushing from it, soaking through my shredded glove. My breathing is erratic, and my heart rate doesn't want to slow down. I hear more hooves approaching from the direction in which we came. I am either being rescued or captured by the beast.
The sound of two boots hitting the ground is a welcome sound, followed by running footfalls. And then the sound of leaves rustling quickly as a body falls to its belly in a sliding stop. A suit of chain mail armor appears right outside my window. His head lifts and those intense blue eyes stare back at me as his hand reaches through the window. Without saying a word, I know he is asking if I'm alright. I reach out and fold my silken gloved hand around his fingers as I exhale, a feeling of relief washing over me.
He squeezes my hand gently before letting it go and bringing himself back to his feet. The carriage rocks slightly as he yanks the door open and then reaches his arm in once again. I take his hand in mine as he gently pulls me free of the upside down carriage.
My whole body is still shaking. I'm sure he can feel how unsteady I am on my feet because he leads me over to a fallen tree and sits me down.
"Th…thank you." I somehow manage to say.
His eyes meet mine for a moment, and he nods, acknowledging my appreciation. He stands, and with a click of his tongue, his horse comes to his side. He flips open one of the saddlebags and pulls out a roll of bandages and some salve before returning. He sits beside me on the fallen tree, takes my injured arm in his hands and inspects the damage, though little can be seen with my glove in the way.
Then he does the unthinkable. His fingers pull at the fingertips of my glove, loosening it. "Don't." I protest. Doesn't he know that a princess' hands are not to be seen or touched by any man other than her husband? He ignores my warning and slips my tattered glove completely off my hand, not caring in the least that he has broken the law.
I pull my hand away quickly, tucking it behind my back as I suddenly feel exposed. But as I try to hide my bare hand, more blood gushes out of the gash, dripping red dots on my gown. This may be wrong, but if I don't let him attend to my wound, I could very well bleed to death.
His blue eyes lock on mine again as his hand rests on my shoulder, comforting me. His fingers walk down my arm until his hand cups my elbow, and he gently pulls my hand out of it's hiding place. My hand continues to shake as he applies the salve and then wraps my wrist up in the bandage. I can't watch. I can only close my eyes and try to pretend this doesn't feel as intimate as it does.
When he's finished, he stands and returns to his horse, replacing the medical supplies into the saddle bag.
I feel like I can't move. He says nothing as he attaches the reigns of his horse to the flipped carriage and gives the horse a quick slap on the rear. She jumps and takes several lunges forward, pulling the carriage back onto its wheels again.
He groans loudly as he kneels in front of the broken axle. Even I know it is not repairable, at least not out here in the middle of the forest. We'll have to leave it behind.
The guard reaches out his hand to me again, as I'm still sitting on the log. He's come to the same conclusion as I have and he wants to head back for the caravan.
I stand, but do not take his hand. I disappear back into my carriage and fish around in my bag for a fresh pair of gloves. After all, this man has done to help, I certainly don't want to get him in trouble.
When I emerge from the carriage, his eyes lock on mine, and he nods in understanding. "This will be our secret," I promise as I walk over to him.
I swear I see a hint of a smile spread to his eyes as his hands lock around my waist and he hoists me up onto his horse sitting side saddle. I already have so much respect and admiration for this man, and yet he still hasn't said a word to me.
He clicks his tongue twice, and his horse obediently starts to follow him, nuzzling her nose into his shoulder. He chuckles, sharing the moment with only his mare, then collecting the reigns. We head back in the direction we came from, following a trail of wheel marks and broken branches. I can only hope the rest of the guards were victorious against the giant beast when we get back.
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