EVELYN
-CASTLE COUSLAND
When I leave the room, I see a small figure heading in my direction. I ready my weapon, preparing to stab. But, as it comes closer, I realize its Dixon.
"Dixon!" I squeal, falling to my knees on the hard ground and burrowing my face into his fur. It is good to see someone that I know, aside from that servant girl. Hopping to my feet I gesture for Dixon to follow. He barks, close at my heels. I have to go see if Evelina and Mother and Father are alright. Dixon and I run into a few guards, but luckily there aren't so much to catch me off guard. If there were more, I'd surely be dead.
We head up the small ramp and into the small room with the several doors to the other chambers. I dart to the left and into Evelina's room. The door is open, so I burst in. Nearly tripping over a body on the ground, I pray to the Maker that it isn't Evelina. With my eyes shut, I look down and slowly release them open. Thankfully, it isn't. He's just another one of Arl Howe's men. Actually, there are three bodies. I run to the other side of the bed, investigating the sheets. They are twisted and one spot is swirled with blood. What happened? Obviously, Evelina isn't dead. She must have escaped and made her way out...somewhere in the castle, alone. Damn sister!
But, she was smart enough to defend herself. I sigh, giving another prayer to her health, and go out into the hall. Suddenly, Mother appears from her room, dressed in her armor with a large bow over her back.
"Darling! Are you alright? You're covered in blood!" She exclaims. I run into her arms, squeezing her tight and glad that she was alive.
"I'm fine, Mother. It's not my blood." I pull back and she looks me over. Then she hugs me again.
"My sweet, brave girl. Where's your sister?" I shake my head.
"I don't know. She isn't in her room. I think she escaped." I think back to the blood on the bed. Was it Evelina's? Mother relaxes, but then stiffens again.
"Have you seen your father?" Mother asks and pulls away, wringing her hands. "He didn't come to bed."
I shake my head again and Mother sighs. "We have to find him and your sister. If we make it out alive, whoever did this is going to pay." Mother decides. I nod, telling her that it was Arl Howe who is the traitor. She gasps in surprising, grabbing at her chest. "Howe? Why would he do such a thing?
"
I give a grimace. "I don't know. But that bastard is going to die and it won't be fast." Mother agrees and she tells me we should check if Oren and Oriana are alive, and really to basically check for all survivors. We run to the room and open it. To our dismay, they lay slaughtered on the ground in pools of their blood. My nephew...dead. He was so young.
I fall to my knees and Mother gives a choked sob from behind. I crawl over to him and pull him into my arms. His body is cold and still limp. Damn him! Damn Howe and his traitorous ways! He would pay for every single death with a body part removed. Vengeance will come swift and deadly to that son of a bitch.
"Is there nothing more we can do...?" I whisper to Mother as I lay Oren down with his arms crossed over his chest and close his eyes. I go to Oriana and close her eyes as well as crossing her arms.
Mother is silent for a moment before speaking, "Well, there is the Treasury. If Howe expects to get away with this, he isn't going to get away with taking our legacy. If we have the time, we should go now." I nod to her and stand, holding myself as we leave. Instantly, two guards appear and charge at us. My sadness melts into anger as I rage on the bastards. With every slice, images of what might have happened to Oren and Oriana, and what might have happened to Evelina.
For everyone, I think as I lash out and slice the head off of a guard.
Mother and I reach the Treasury. I take the shield of Highever and the Family Sword, happily losing the Howe guard shield and sword. I pull on some splintmail that was in a chest over my gown. Mother looks at me with a wide grin on her face. I can't help but revel in what I'm pretty sure is her proudness.
"Your Father would be proud, wherever he is." Mother says with a downcast pout. I squeeze the hilt of the sword in my hand.
"No, Mother," I say and she looks up alarmed. "He wouldn't be proud. He is proud. He is alive and we will find him." Mother's pout fades into a smile again as we run out of the Treasury and into a large group of Howe's guards and our guards. A mage is at the ready, throwing lightning spells at our men. Mother stands at a distance, notching her arrows and firing them. I slide the shield over my arm and hold it out in front of me, my sword at my side as I clash against a Howe guard. He shouts at me and I lash out with the shield three times. He becomes stunned and I stab into his chest, twisting and pulling out. Blood goes everywhere as the man falls to the ground limp. The sizzling sound of lightning fills the air from behind me, and I whirl around. Putting the shield between myself and the lightning bolt. It bounces back, scorching the metal.
Holding the shield over my head, I dive to the mage and tackle him. I bash down on the mage and he screams out. A spell fires out of his staff and hits me. Everything shakes and is blurry with black swirls. The mage pushes back on me and knocks me to the ground. Preparing to stab down with his staff, I roll out of the way and kick at his knees. The mage's knees wobble and he staggers, giving me another chance to hop to my feet and attack. I slice diagonally downward and catch the mage. He whirls to the side and I give a final stab right in his heart.
The mage crumples to the ground and I brush my hair out of my face. Blood is slathered all over my face, making me cringe. I rub my face on my glove, getting most of it off. The guards follow us and provide a higher defense on our case. Mother and I find the foyer and run straight through the doors. A large battle is ensuing. There are two mages, as I can see, and a large number of Knights and regular guards. We dive in to the battle, slicing and dicing for our team.
Eventually, we defeated the opposing force. The remaining guards ran to the big, shivering doors and braced it. One guard, with his helmet on, pointed and shouted demands. Finally, he ran over to us and lifted his helmet off. I gasped, feeling the tears spring from my eyes.
"Roderick!?" I gasp. His eyes widen and he gasps as well.
"Evelyn?" Roderick gasps. Mother knits her eyebrows together. Eventually she gives up being concerned and just looks relieved to see Rory alive.
"Ser Gilmore!" Mother sighs. "It's so great to see you alive."
Rory joins us and envelopes me into a giant hug. I'm caught off guard, but knowing that our lives are on the line right now, I don't care if our relationship is illicit or not. He squeezes me tight, kissing my face all over. I knot my fingers in his hair and kiss him back, hoping to the Maker that this won't be the last time.
Mother clears her throat and we part, unwillingly. She sighs, massaging her forehead. "I'll ignore that because I'm just so glad to see you, Ser Gilmore," She then drops her hand and her face morphs from briefly annoyed to concerned again. "What happened?"
Without moving his arms, Rory turns to Mother and tightens his grip on my waist. "They came in the night. Most of the men were asleep, but the ones that weren't were able to rally together and get the sleepy ones to arms. A good portion were killed...but we managed to hold the most of them behind that door." He points with a free hand to the trembling door with four tough looking guards pressing against the bar. It creaks with the pressure and looks as if it will bust.
"Have you seen Bryce?" Mother asks. Roderick nods.
"Last I saw him he was badly wounded...I believe he said he was heading to the larder to escape. I would suggest you do the same."
My breath hitches in my throat. "A-Aren't you coming?" I croak. I pray to the Maker and whoever may be out there that Rory will nod, a bright smile on his face as he silences my fears with a peck on the lips. Rather, to my worst fear, he grimaces and looks down as if he is ashamed.
"I'm afraid I cannot, my lady. My duty is here...protecting the castle." He whispered and my ears burned with a loving fire. I clutched my mouth and began to shudder. No, no, no. He can't stay! He'll die! I can't have Roderick die! He's the only person I've loved like this before. No one has captured my heart quite like this red headed knight has.
"Rory, no! Please come with us! I won't let you stay here and kill yourself! I forbid it!" I shriek, punching him with the sides off my fist on his chest. He isn't moved by my blows, but simply drops his comforting hand from my side and uses both hands to stop me. He holds my wrists, tracing my fingers with his pinkies. I mimic him, the tears flowing hot and heavy from my cheeks as I silently cry.
"I must go. I understand...it-it's hard for me as well. However, Eve, if I'm here protecting the castle, at least I'll die knowing that I tried to save you, or did if you can get out. I love you. I love you so much that I can't help but wish that I could come with you. I would if the circumstances were different...but they aren't." He kisses me on the nose and drops my wrists. My hands fall limply to my sides, and I don't care. He brushes the tears from my cheek and I absorb his feeling. The warmth and roughness of his thick fingers. The same hands that would stroke my face when no one was looking. The same hands that would grip mine with such intimacy...
Oh, Maker.I whimper as I begin to tremble.
"Rory, please..." I give a desperate plea, but I know he won't come. I fold my arms within myself, holding my shoulders as I shake with sobs. Mother comes from beside and wraps her arms around me. The effort is comforting, but it isn't Rory.
"Bless your heart Ser Gilmore and may the Maker watch over you." Mother whispers, her own eyes brimming with tears. Why does she cry? Her boyfriend is not dying in battle to protect her castle!
Rory looks over at me, sorrow clinging to the corner of his eyes and making him look braver and more courageous than I would have ever imagined. Damn him for being so damn stubborn. Every part of me wants to stay here and fight with him, as I'm quite capable. I'd rather die, like him, fighting for my family than running like a little mouse. Yet, the tiny sliver that is taking control of my emotions knows that running is what is best. If I survive, I can avenge their deaths - everyone. Oren, Oriana, all of the faithful servants...Evelina, if she's dead. Rory, especially, I will avenge.
Roderick tears his sight from mine, as if his eyes were coated in stone, and trying to move them was like trying to move a wall. "May the Maker watch over us all."