Quick Message: Hello readers, I hope you had a good week! Mine was a bit hectic cause we are moving to another house and packing and throwing away old stuff is proving to be very difficult and tiring. So I made sure I wrote this chapter out first before starting to clean my room. In other words, I am procrastinating, but I can't do that anymore. Anyways I hope you all have a good weekend!
Special shout out to the following lovely people :)
FairyTailBookworm: LOL! Your reaction and excitement is contagious! I love reading your reactions and reviews! Don't worry, I'll mend your heart soon with this chapter hopefully! Hang in there, the queen has a reason to be doing what she does, hopefully you won't hate her that much later! As for Jun, he is too conscious of his position, I wish I could have made him shout out and rage ;p But that kid is too nice for his own good, lol ;p Your predictions are very interesting, please continue to read and find out what happens next! Once again thank you for the review, *HUGS* Hope you like this chapter as well!
Fadsa: Thank you for reading my story! Continue to read and find out :)
Kana Nishizono: I am glad you like the story so far! I hope this was a fast enough updates :)
Guest: Please continue to read and find out :) Thank you for your review!
Inspiring Light: Hahaha, your reaction is priceless! Thank you for leaving me a long review. I know how you feel towards the queen, but I hope you don't hate her that much in the following chapters! Yep, Shirayuki and Zen are gonna fight back for sure, after all I like happy endings ;) Thank you for your support!
MaRyRy03: LOL! Your review got me laughing hard! Don't worry Zen x Shirayuki are also my OTP, I promise to have a good ending! I am glad that you liked the last chapter too :-) Thanks for the excitement and for the continuous support!
cherry121201: Thank you for the compliment :-)
xSapphirexRosesxFanx: I second that :)
Irena: Hahaha, thanks for the review! I hope this was a fast update! Please continue to read and find out what happens :D
I really appreciate all you readers for stopping by and reading my story :) Please enjoy the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for any OC. Thank you.
Chapter 11: The Trap
Queen Renalia looked outside the window as the rain poured that early afternoon. Her brown eyes caught sight of a single Aki bird and his rider flying. It was raining that day as well, the day that Ayra left and never returned again. Her eyes closed as the memories began to resurface inside her mind. She had begged Ayra to stay while she packed her belongings into a single small bag. Renalia couldn't let her beloved younger sister go. The one person she loved and cared for the most and the only person that made her smile and laugh so brightly ever since the day their mother passed away. All Ayra left behind were sweet memories.
"I am going to live my life the way I want, and so should you dear sister. Please be happy for me." Ayra had spoken her last words with her usual bright smile.
Ayra had then pulled her hand free from Renalia's grip and hoped onto the Aki bird. Her emerald eyes looked back at Renalia with affection before she took flight towards the rainy dark sky. All she could do was cry and watch her disappear.
A knock came from the door and Renalia reopened her eyes, bringing her thoughts back to the present. She had regretted not doing something in the past, but today she would amend her mistakes.
"Come in." Renalia spoke as she watched one of her trusted counselor walk in.
"Everything is ready my queen." Spoke Counselor Kay with a bow.
Renalia nodded her head in understanding, "Very well, lets begin."
…
Obi and Vivi stood together closely under a covered area as they watched the rain fall. They had gone outside to the market area to buy some materials requested by Shirayuki, but as soon as they finished their errands the rain decided to pour down strongly. The couple found shelter before they got wet and prevented the papers and envelopes they had bought from being useless. They patiently waited to see if the rain would calm down before they could continue back to the mansion.
Obi took off his jacket and covered Vivi's shoulder. She looked up and blushed at his consideration as she felt the wind blowing.
"Aren't you cold Obi?" Vivi asked feeling a bit concerned as she saw that he was now only wearing a thin casual shirt.
He shrugged, "I am fine, don't worry about me."
Vivi took the jacket and placed half of it onto Obi's shoulder while stepping closer to him. Their arms touched each other and their faces were inches away. Vivi could feel his body heat and her cheeks flushed bright red. Obi looked at her in surprise, as Vivi began to feel conscious of her bold action.
"It's unfair that I am the only one." She stammered, trying to explain.
Obi chuckled at her expression before embracing the girl into his warm strong arms. Vivi's heart jumped out.
"Wouldn't this be better then?" Obi smirked back, liking how flustered Vivi looked.
"You are so cunning!" Vivi replied feeling embarrassed as she slapped his chest hard.
Obi only chuckled back. Her hands lingered on his chest and she could feel his heart beating fast. In disbelief, Vivi then quickly laid her head on his chest to make sure that his heart was really beating quickly because his expression barely showed his embarrassment. To her surprise his heart was still racing and it kept beating faster and faster. She looked up to see his face and her breath was caught. Vivi had never seen him look so vulnerable as his eyes stared at her with nothing but adoration.
"Now who is the cunning one?" Obi grinned back softly blushing.
Vivi fervently blushed as she immediately took her hands away but Obi embraced her tighter, almost squeezing her flat against him.
"Don't move away, I am cold remember?" Obi teased and Vivi stood there speechless, enjoying the moment.
Vivi couldn't help but to lay her head once again on his chest and listen to the rhythmic beating of his heart. A smile graced her face, feeling very lucky and happy. The couple stood there watching the rain get calmer and calmer until it stopped. Reluctantly they stepped back from each other as they realized that it was time to head back.
Obi offered his hand, "Come on lets go back before Shirayuki starts to worry about us."
Vivi gladly took his hand and nodded her head in response. The couple then left their shelter and headed towards the mansion, but before they could even reach the main terrace a group of five knights appeared before them.
"Knight Obi from Clarines and Aide Viviyane, we need you both to come with us." Spoke the Knight as he addressed the confused couple.
"Knight Bay what is this about?" Vivi asked as she looked at him and then the other knights who she knew as well.
They all looked at the couple in seriousness. It was unusual for the knights to be sent out unless it was an important mission or battle. Something was definitely not right.
"We do not want to hurt you, please come with us." Knight Bay answered as he came forward to take them.
Obi quickly covered Vivi behind him, "Not unless you tell us first the reason why."
Knight Bay frowned, "We are not able to inform you as of this moment."
"Then I see no reason why we need to corporate." Obi quickly grabbed Vivi's hand and they both ran.
"After them!" Bay instructed as they chased the couple down the bridge.
Obi and Vivi made across the bridge, but to their horror more knights appeared before them. Instead of real swords they brought out wooden training swords and launched forward. Obi skillfully blocked the attack and dodged a few, all the while shielding Vivi. Knight Bay and his team made it across the bridge as well and Vivi managed to kick and knock some of the wooden swords away from a few of the knights. Two knights targeted Obi at the same time and he managed to take the wooden sword away from one knight and knock the other knight unconscious.
Obi and Vivi stood with their backs against each other as the knights were now circling them. They noticed that the knights were not there to hurt them or else they would have used real weapons. Their intentions were clear, they were there to capture them unharmed, but Obi and Vivi were unwilling to corporate without a fight.
"It doesn't make sense." Vivi spoke to Obi as she kicked a knight away before he could attack.
"Why are they after us?" Obi questioned as his eyes saw more knights crossing the bridge.
"This is your last chance to come with us peacefully." Spoke Knight Bay calmly and trying to be reasonable. "We are not here to harm you."
"But why?" Vivi asked Bay as a friend, but Bay wouldn't answer.
Obi knew it was a matter of time until they would be captured. He needed to act quickly. Whatever they were planning, Obi had a bad feeling it involved Shirayuki, and Vivi somehow had the same thought. There was no other explanation as to why the knights had come for them when they had left Shirayuki's side.
"Listen Vivi." Obi whispered, "I am going to try to hold them back as much as possible while you make a run for it."
"Obi I can't leave you alone." Vivi objected.
Obi quickly pointed out, "Don't forget that your obligation is towards little miss."
Vivi understood it very well, although feeling reluctant to leave she knew what she had to do. "Give me the signal." She replied with difficulty.
Obi briefly squeezed her hand, "Whatever you do, be careful." Obi then raised his wooden sword, "Now!" He called.
Obi launched forward and attacked the oncoming knights and made a small opening for Vivi to run. She watched as Obi swung a knight away from his path while knocking another one on his back. Vivi tore her eyes away from Obi and concentrated on heading back to the mansion by taking another path. Some of the knights followed her as she ran across another longer bridge. Vivi then stopped at the middle of the bridge as she saw a couple of the knights coming from the opposite direction. She was trapped in between.
Vivi panicked and her eyes quickly looked around to find a way out. Without any hesitation and no other choice, Vivi jumped onto the railing.
"Don't do it Vivi!" Called one of the knights who knew her.
With determination, Vivi jumped off the bridge.
The knights quickly looked down in horror. They heard the sound of the flute and to their relief Mino appeared soaring across the forest and capturing Vivi on his back.
Vivi patted Mino on his neck and felt grateful he had showed up on time, "Thank you Mino."
Vivi looked back and knew that the knights were not going to give up on capturing her. If she were correct they would be guarding the mansion tightly to prevent her from returning or even from stepping back into Akigaya. Even though Obi was a good fighter, she knew that by now he might have been successfully captured. It would be in vain if she tried to save him alone. There was only one thing she could do and this would hopefully make a difference. She had to save Obi and Shirayuki no matter the circumstances.
"Mino we need to find Prince Zen." Vivi instructed, "We don't have much time."
Mino chirped in understanding and he quickly picked up speed, flying towards the direction of the tunnel.
…
Shirayuki looked outside the window and saw that the rain had stopped falling. She hoped that Obi and Vivi were not caught in the rain and that they would be soon coming back. It felt very lonely in the mansion without the usual faces she was used to seeing. As Shirayuki went back to reading her novel she heard a knock on the door. Her eyes looked up to find a maid bowing before her.
"The queen requests you to change for a meeting in the next few hours with the royal counselors and the queen herself in the great hall." She informed.
Shirayuki looked back questioningly. She wasn't informed of anything important taking place today. "What meeting is this for if you don't mind me asking?"
"This meeting concerns you as the princess of Akigaya." The maid informed politely.
She nodded her head in understanding. After all she was hoping to have a conversation with her aunt any time soon on this subject. Shirayuki had never had the chance to sit down with Renalia and talk about her life and future plans. This seemed rather formal, but Shirayuki would take this opportunity as it was and have a nice conversation with the queen. If possible she would like to make her intentions clear.
"If you please, my princess, follow me." The maid spoke and Shirayuki closed her book and set it on the desk.
Shirayuki followed the maid back to her bedroom and allowed her to help her change into an elaborate and elegant white dress. Shirayuki was then sat on a chair as two other maids appeared to work on her makeup and hair. It was not long before she stood there staring at her reflection confused and feeling troubled.
"Excuse me, is this not a bit too much for a meeting?" Shirayuki asked uncomfortably as she then realized that one of the maids was pinning a veil on her head.
Her emerald eyes opened in realization as she recognized what kind of dress she was wearing. Although not the usual traditional wedding dress used in Clarines, Shirayuki could identify that it was a wedding dress nonetheless. Before she could protest the maids had left, leaving her to look at herself in affliction.
Immediately she walked towards the door to call the maids back, but to her alarm the door was locked. She tried turning the knob again and then knocking on the door to call attention, but no one came or answered. Panic began to settle down as Shirayuki looked around her room and hurried to the windows. She pulled and pushed but the windows wouldn't open.
"What is happening?" Shirayuki spoke feeling frightened, as she tried to calm herself down and keep her tears from erupting.
Shirayuki went for her closet and tried looking for anything useful that she could use to unlock the windows or door, but to her horror everything in her room was gone. She stood there scared of what this whole thing meant. Was she being forced to marriage? She hadn't felt this scared since the day she was kidnapped by the pirates, but this time the situation seemed more grave.
"Zen." She found herself whispering in apprehension as the tears finally came out.
Shirayuki once again went back to the door and banged on it louder for several times, not giving up, until finally there was a response.
"Princess Shirayuki, please refrain from doing that." Spoke an unknown male voice.
"Whom am I speaking to?" Shirayuki asked trying to keep her voice calm and steady.
"Pardon my manners, I am royal counselor Kay." Answered the voice from behind the door.
"Counselor Kay, please unlock this door. There has been a misunderstanding." Shirayuki began.
"I am sorry but I cannot do that." He answered back, "In a few more minutes you will be escorted by two knights to the great hall."
"What is taking place in the great hall?" Shirayuki spoke, fearing what she was about to hear.
"Your wedding." Kay simply replied.
Dread filled her entire body as Shirayuki slumped down onto the ground, feeling her legs weak to the horrible realization that she was being trapped. She couldn't comprehend why she was being forced into marriage, and to whom?
"What makes you think I will corporate? " Shirayuki asked.
"You will, because if you don't, we cannot guarantee your friend, Obi's safety." Answered Kay.
"Obi has nothing to do with this!" She protested, "Release him at once!"
"I am sorry princess. Please understand this is all for your own good." Kay spoke calmly.
"My own good?" Shirayuki asked feeling frustrated and not understanding what he meant.
"As long as you corporate, everything will be alright." Those were his final words before Shirayuki heard his footsteps leave.
"Wait!" Shirayuki called back in alarm, but there was no answer.
The silence around her seemed deafening, as she couldn't think straight. Everything seemed to be crumbling apart around her. She needed to save Obi and make sure he wasn't in trouble, but she also needed to escape this horrible situation. Shirayuki felt helpless as she sat there banging the door once again in frustration. What was she suppose to do?
Suddenly a creaking sound was heard from the window and Shirayuki immediately turned to see Linna from the outside unlocking the window. She then finally stepped in followed by Milya. Shirayuki quickly stood up, joyful to see familiar faces. As she went to embrace her cousin tightly, an immense sense of relief washed through her body.
"A wedding gown." Linna whispered to herself as it confirmed what she and Milya had seen secretly taking place in the great hall.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in the next kingdom?" Shirayuki asked as her emotions calmed down.
Milya wiped the tears stain from her cousin's face and softly smiled in relief to see Shirayuki safe. "Linna and I never left the kingdom. We had hidden ourselves at Linna's family house to wait for things to unravel. I had a very vague suspicion that something was was not right."
"Milya we need to go and save Obi first, he is being held hostage at this very moment." Shirayuli quickly remembered in panic and Milya softly smiled seeing that her cousin was more concerned with her friend's well being rather than her own.
"Don't worry princess we are aware of that and will be rescuing him in due time. Be assured he is in no real danger." Explained Linna, calming Shirayuki.
"Listen Shirayuki, there isn't much time to explain everything, but right now I need you to trust me." Milya proceeded to speak in a serious tone.
Shirayuki looked at her cousin's confident eyes. "Of course. I always do." Shirayuki answered, feeling that Milya was somewhat braver from when she first met her.
"Let me be your strength for a change." Milya spoke as she gave her an encouraging smile.
...
Zen pulled back the reign on his horse, slowing down, as he looked back towards the direction of Akigaya.
"Did you hear that?" Asked Zen as he turned his horse around to face the same direction he was looking at.
The rest of the group stopped, including Mitsuhide and Kiki who looked back at Zen. They listened, but didn't hear anything unusual.
"Are you sure it's not only the wind?" Mitsuhide answered turning around.
"Zen we are behind schedule when we decided to stay longer in the previous kingdom." Kiki spoke as she came to stand beside him.
"I know, but I got a feeling that Shirayuki is calling me." Zen replied back, somewhat feeling apprehensive.
"I know you are worried about Shirayuki, but King Izana expects your arrival." Kiki explained, "Besides, there is nothing to worry about. Obi and Vivi are there to protect Shirayuki if anything happens."
Zen nodded his head, "You are right."
"Come on. We should hurry to the next kingdom before the sun sets." Mitsuhide spoke to the group.
They began down the road, but not long Zen once again slowed down, making the group look back at him confused.
"Don't you hear that?" Zen once again asked at their questioning look.
Kiki and Mitsuhide stopped to listen once again, but this time they all looked at the same direction as Zen was looking, towards Akigaya.
"Come on." Zen spoke, as he turned his horse and began to gallop back the way they came from.
They quickly followed him. Soon they saw on the horizon an Aki bird flying towards their direction and the sound of Vivi's flute playing, calling their attention. Mino finally reached the prince and landed before them tiredly. Zen immediately looked worriedly at Vivi who, even out of breath from playing the flute continuously, quickly spoke.
"Prince Zen something wrong is happening back in Akigaya. I am afraid Shirayuki might be in some sort of trouble."
"Where is Obi?" Zen then asked seeing that she was alone.
"Unfortunately he was captured, allowing me to escape." Spoke Vivi feeling concerned for his well being as well.
Zen's heart tightened, "We are heading back to Akigaya now." He spoke firmly.
Kiki and Mitsuhide nodded their heads in understanding. Zen quickly wrote down a note to his brother and instructed the small group of knights, who had accompanied them on their trip, to head back with the carriage to Clarines and deliver the message. They took what they needed and immediately followed Vivi back to Akigaya as quickly as they could.
"Shirayuki please be safe." Zen whispered under his breath as his hands clutched the reign tighter and he instructed his horse to gallop faster.
It was lucky that Zen and the group hadn't traveled too far away, as they were approaching within a few hours time. It was incomprehensible how they all managed to travel back as fast as they did without any break, but Zen was determined to reach Akigaya before anything bad happened to Shirayuki and Obi. He would never forgive himself if they were in any sort of danger.
The group made it to the hidden tunnel within minutes and was now making their way through the passageway. Vivi was leading the way with Mino, as they flew a few feet ahead. She had told the group all that happened before she escaped Akigaya, but it just left them all feeling uneasy of the unknown. Nothing made sense.
Vivi saw the exit and was the first to make it through, but to her shock a net was cast upon Mino. Unable to move, Mino crashed to the ground and Vivi rolled off onto the grass nearby. A group of knights suddenly appeared from their hiding places and began to surround Vivi and Mino. They were guarding the entrance and had been waiting for her arrival.
"Surrender yourself Vivi. We don't want to hurt you." Spoke one of the knights.
"I am sorry, but I can't do that." Vivi replied as she analyzed her situation.
Vivi quickly then grabbed a nearby branch and positioned herself to fight. The knights came for her but she managed to knock a few of them onto the ground. Mino kept calling as he moved around, trying to escape from the net as he flapped his wings. The knights grabbed hold of the net, but Mino was struggling hard, making it difficult for them to grip him down on the ground. Suddenly the knights were knocked unconscious by Zen, as he finally made it through the tunnel and reached them. Kiki and Mitsuhide showed up to defend Zen as a surge of knights came towards his direction. Vivi seeing that Mino was tangled, quickly took out her knife to help Mino. Zen dismounted his horse before fighting off a few of the knights away from Vivi, who was now busy cutting through the ropes around Mino's wings.
Kiki and Mitsuhide got off their horses and fought the oncoming knights. The leader sounded the horn for reinforcement as Zen managed to knock him unconscious with the back of his sword. Vivi finally freed Mino as he chirped gratefully.
"Come on, we need to head back to the mansion now." Vivi spoke as she mounted Mino.
Zen fought off a few more knights that had advanced his way before he hurriedly took Vivi's hand and mounted Mino. They both looked back to find Mitsuhide and Kiki doing a pretty good job fighting the group of knights on their own. Zen grinned. They were his personal aides for a reason after all. Vivi looked at them impressed and scared at their frightening abilities.
"Hurry up Zen!" Called Mitsuhide as he looked at the prince. "We can handle things here."
Zen nodded his head in understanding. "I'm counting on you both."
"Be careful!" Kiki spoke as she pushed a knight off his balance.
They then saw more knights appearing from behind the trees and they were carrying nets. Vivi hurriedly instructed Mino to escape, and without any hesitation Mino quickly took flight before they managed to cast the nets. They made their way through the forest and towards the mansion.
"Whatever they are planning, we are not welcomed here anymore." Spoke Zen as his eyes became stern. "Let's hurry to Shirayuki."
Vivi nodded her head and Mino picked up speed.
tbc
