"Nuada," yelled Nuala, running. She lifted her skirts, enabling her to move swiftly across the courtyard. "Nuada! Please, don't do this!"
The prince was placing baggage on the horse's saddle. He glanced at his sister, but then returned to his task. She was about five feet behind him, when she stopped.
"Brother, please," she begged. "Do not leave like this! Exile is not the answer!"
He spun around, his eyes darkened. "Leaving the Human race alive is not the answer either!"
"They have agreed to our terms, Nuada," she pointed out, becoming desperate. "They are willing to remain in the cities and leave us alone! Cathaldus and Ahearn's deaths were not their fault!"
He stuck his sword in his scabbard, which hung from the saddle. The horse jumped, startled from the swift movement.
"No one knows who attacked their brigade, Brother," she continued, becoming quieter. "The Humans have denied-
"And you trust their word over our closest allies," he questioned.
She paused, swallowing. "I have made it a point not to take sides, when it is clear that the ambush on Cathaldus and Ahearn has not been clearly-
He spun around again, growing angry. "We were at war, Nuala! The Humans were attempting to attack, when we were most vulnerable! It is the only explanation!"
"It could have been the Aos Sí," she shouted.
His eyes grew darker, as he remained silent. However, he spoke up, after a very long moment.
"The Aos Sí have disappeared," he said. "They have most likely been exterminated by our other allies." He turned back to his saddle. "Their downfall will be remembered."
As he mounted, she stepped forward. "Nuada, the princess-
"Is dead," he interrupted. He gripped the reins, tightly. "She is dead, along with her kind."
Nuala shook her head. "You cannot believe that."
Nuada looked towards the dimming sun, moving over the horizon. "Yes, I can."
And he was gone.
Darkness. It was almost unbearable. Kiara could barely see the hand in front of her. She curled herself into a ball, attempting to warm herself from the bitter, harsh cold that enveloped her.
Her father was dead. She knew it. The attackers had left none alive, so they said. They would pass by, jeering at her cell door and even discussed how the Elves knew nothing of the Aos Sí's extermination.
She was the last of her kind.
No one would find her. No one would save her. The Elves most likely thought that they were dead. They could have been the ones that performed the extermination.
No. She would not believe that. Nuada would never attack the Aos Sí. He was too honorable, surely. Besides, she was his betrothed. Was his betrothed….
The pain of knowing that they were to be separated forever was cruel and terrible. Kiara could feel her heart breaking. She had no one now. She had no mother. No father. No betrothed. She was utterly alone.
Just then, the large, wooden door creaked open, revealing blinding light. Shadows moved towards her, gripping her arms and dragging her to her feet. She groaned, feeling her bruises ache.
They moved her out of the cell, towards the light. She blinked, rapidly, attempting to make out a shadow in front of her. The shadows that held her threw her to the ground, causing her to yelp.
"You are not so strong now, are you, Aos Sí," asked a hissing voice.
Kiara's eyes made out dark, leather boots. Slowly, her gaze moved upward. A pair of tight, wool breeches… a dark tunic with no sleeves… dark skin… with horrible, gruesome cracks…
Then she saw his face. The cracks on his arms moved upward, crawling up his face, creating swirled patterns. His eyes were red… blood red. His clawed hand reached out to her, as he knelt.
One cold, sharp finger caressed her cheek, causing her to flinch. She could feel her breathing becoming rapid. A horrible, heart-stopping smile appeared on his face, his green-yellow teeth gleaming in the stream of light above him.
"Welcome to the realm of the Fae."
Author's Note; Comments, please! It's short, I know. Hope you enjoy it!