Hey everyone! Sorry it's taken forever! I've had a hard time trying to figure out how they all get out of Ettinsmore. I've also been writing my own Harry Potter fan-fic which I've already posted and from the reviews, it looks promising! (yahh!)
This is the second to the last chapter! I can't believe it's almost over! (I'm trying not to cry!) This chapter is really really long, but there was a lot I needed to get in. Thank you all so much for being so patient!
Previously
Brielle laid her head down on Danik's lap while he stroked her hair. She felt the fire warm on her face and Danik's arms wrapped around her.
Oh, Aslan, you have heard us when we called out to you.
Chapter Eight. Sunrise in the East
They partied long into the night. Brielle had remained in Danik's arms for most of it. The moon was so bright and the night so clear. It all seemed to perfect to be real. Gael and Eadric had even dropped their reserve that they had been brought up with.
"We better head back," said Ryland.
There were several groans around the campfire. Ryland smiled, but he was right. They all had work the next morning (actually it already was morning) and it would do them no bit of good to arrive at the estate an hour before they had to get up for work.
As they were packing up they heard the sound of feet running through the forest.
"Ryland! Danik! Anyone!"
"That sounds like Sadora," Lodette said with panic in her voice.
She was right. Within seconds a frightened pale faced Sadora came running out of the trees and ran right into Ryland's arms.
"What's the matter?" said Ryland holding her tight.
"Foreman…Foreman," she breathed heavily, "He's back. When he found out that you were all gone, he went insane and he went to go find Jadellias…I mean Vida. We heard them fighting and they were getting louder and louder. Then we heard Vida scream. It was terrible. Then Foreman came down and told his men to lock all of us in the cellar. I managed to get away to tell you, but I don't know what he's doing."
She looked like she was about to say more, but then went limp in Ryland's arms. When he lifted her up they saw some kind of stain on her back, it was blood. She looked like she had been attacked, possibly with a knife or grazed by an arrow.
"Everybody, lets go now!" Ryland shouted. He carried Sadora in his arms and ran with her through the forest.
Danik took Brielle's hand and they followed with everyone else.
Brielle's mind was spinning. What could Foreman have possibly done to Vida? Did he possibly…no. No, she couldn't think of him attacking her! And Sadora, did someone honestly try to kill her?
Aslan, what's happening?
Pretty soon they got to the clearing of Vandock Forest. Everyone was tense knowing full well of the danger that lurked inside.
"It's the shortest and quickest way in there," Danik said, "I've been through here at night, it's not that bad."
"And with the full moon we'll be able to see better," put in Eadric.
"All right," Ryland said, "Everyone stay together and try, I know it'll be hard, but try to be as quiet as possible."
Brielle held on tightly to Danik's hand as they stepped quietly into the forest. The moon glistened through the trees lighting the ground. They all looked around cautiously, wary of the small venomous snakes that could attack at anytime.
"It's all right," Danik whispered as he helped her over an old fallen tree trunk.
"What could he have done to Vida?" she whispered.
"She's fine," he said, "She's stronger than people think."
"How do you know?"
"I…I talked with her this morning," he admitted, "You're right; she's not the same person. She asked my forgiveness for all that she had done to me and my family."
"Did you?"
"Of course," Danik said, "I almost…felt guilty about the way I held felt about her before. Knowing now, it wasn't really her."
Brielle laid her head on his shoulder.
"Did we wait to long to escape?" she said quietly.
"I don't know," he answered, "Everything was going so well and maybe there was some hope of a better life there, that maybe we didn't need too. That's what a lot of people felt. They wanted to make things better, not run away."
Suddenly, they heard a gasp from Lodette. On a branch right in front of her was a large pale green Vergi snake. Its silver swirls glistened in the moonlight and its dark orange eyes seem to penetrate her.
"Lodette," said Ryland quietly, "keep moving, very slowly. Don't provoke him; don't give him a reason to attack. They can sense fear and they feed on it. Don't be afraid."
Gael reached out and gently took her arm, "Don't look at him," she said.
Slowly they kept on moving till they finally made it to the end of the forest. When they had all gotten through safely they all made a quick run the edge of the estate. They could see lights on in the house, but there was no one outside.
"Foreman or no Foreman, we have got to get in there and get the people out of the cellar," said Danik, who was thinking of his younger brothers and sisters who were there.
"All right," said Ryland, "I want you and Eadric to get into the cellar and slowly and quietly get people out."
"I'm going to see if Vida is all right," Brielle said.
"Absolutely not," Ryland said, "it is too dangerous. Foreman is probably looking for you of all people."
"I am going," Brielle said firmly, "I have to see her."
"She won't go alone," Gael said, "I'll go with her."
"So will I," Lodette.
"Me too," Nadine said.
"All right," Ryland said, still looking skeptical.
When they got closer to the front lawn, Eadric, Danik, and several others went to the back of the estate to get into the cellar.
Brielle, Gael, Nadine and Lodette all quietly ran up the front stairs and opened the doors. Inside everything was quiet. Too quiet.
"Vida?" Brielle called, her voice echoing across the house, "Vida are you here?"
Instinct told her that she was possibly upstairs. She ran up the stairs with her friends following her.
"Wait," said Nadine, "I'm going to check in the kitchen and meet up with the others in the cellar. There might be people that are hurt."
"All right," Brielle said, "Nadine-"
"I'll go too," she said before Brielle could finish.
Both of them ran down the hall leaving the other two to climb up the rest of the stairs.
"Where do you think she could be?" asked Gael when they reached the top.
"Her room?" Brielle ventured.
They ran down the hall. Brielle's heart was racing. She prayed to Aslan that Vida was all right. They reached her door and didn't bother to knock.
"Vida?" they called. The room was completely dark. There was a terrible sense of fear in it. The same fear Brielle had when she came face to face with Vida's demon."
"Brielle," came a quiet voice, "Brielle?"
It sounded like it was coming from the adjoining room. They both cautiously ran into the other room.
"Vida?" said Gael, "Where are you?"
They heard her heavy breathing, but it was so dark. Slowly they followed the sounds of her breathing.
"I'm going to open a window," said Gael, "That might help."
She found the nearest floor length window and opened up the heavy draperies. Moonlight flooded through and they scanned the room. There in front of the dark fireplace they saw Vida on the floor; her head covered with blood.
"Oh no!" Brielle cried.
They both ran over to her. Gael grabbed a blanket and tore a piece off. Gently she pressed in to Vida's head.
"What happened?" Brielle asked as she pulled Vida up in her arms, "Did Foreman do this?"
"Yes," Vida said, "He…he came back early. He asked where you all were and I wouldn't tell him."
"And so he hurt you?" Gael said in a choked voice.
"No, I told him he had no right to chase down free people."
"What?" Brielle asked.
"You, all of you, have been set free."
Both girls exchanged looks. They were free? All of them?
I was going to tell you tomorrow, I wanted you to have this night to yourselves. After I told him, he threw me against the fireplace and left."
"Vida," said Gael, "We need to get you downstairs –"
"No," she said, "I…I have to leave."
"We can't just let you die," Brielle said as she felt tears pouring down her face.
"I should have died a long time ago," Vida said.
"No, no," argued Brielle, "I'm not letting you go."
"You have to," Vida said, her voice getting softer, "I know I was going to die after I was set free. I did die when I was a little girl, and then my soul was replaced with a demon. Now that it's gone…I can…I can finally be at peace."
Gael took her hand tightly, tears raged down her face.
Vida's breathing was getting slower and slower.
"Listen she said," she said, "You must all leave tonight. Now, immediately. Before Foreman gets back. I have no idea where he is, but he has brought help."
"Where are we to go?" asked Brielle, "Narnia?"
"Yes," Vida said, "Please, please make sure my young girls get there."
"We wouldn't leave them here," Gael said.
"Thank…thank you."
Brielle couldn't think at all. Here her former mistress that for so long she had wished had died was now dying in her arms and she was powerless to do anything. In the moonlight she could see Vida's lovely face. Her green eyes were glazed with tears.
"Brielle," Vida whispered hoarsely, "I…would have…if I had been myself…when you came to me. I would have…taken you in…as my own. To have…my own daughter…to love. How I love you…like my own."
"You would have been…a wonderful mother," Brielle said holding her close, "I promise, that you will not be forgotten. I will always remember you and your bravery. One of the bravest people I have ever known."
"Narnia will know about you too," said Gael.
"Narnia," Vida said, "I remember going there…seeing you mother, Brielle. You look so much like her."
She reached up a frail hand and touched her face, "same eyes, same smile, same kindness. No wonder you were meant for great things."
Vida dropped her hand and turned toward the lighted window. Her face seemed to change. No longer a painful expression, but a peaceful one. One that had finally accepted her fate.
"How beautiful light is," she said, "I can see you now. I always hoped you would come for me."
Brielle looked over at the window and both girls almost screamed. There in the window, they saw Aslan in the reflection. He looked like he was walking toward them, but he wasn't coming through the window itself. Brielle had never seen anyone so beautiful. Even at a distance she could see his warm but fierce brown eyes. His mane was golden and bright, like the sun was shining down upon it.
Suddenly the window blew open.
The wind that blew in made a strange sound. Not a soft whistling sound, but more like the sound of someone taking a deep breath. It filled the entire room.
Gael went up and closed it and immediately the sound died and Aslan disappeared. Brielle looked down and saw that Vida had vanished from her arms.
There was complete silence. It was as if Brielle had gone deaf. Vida had completely disappeared. She was gone. It seemed such a waste now. All the things she could have been and now she was gone.
"Bri," Gael said, "We get better get downstairs and tell the other, before Foreman gets back here."
She nodded and Gael helped her up.
"Look," Gael said, "The blood is gone."
She was right. All of Vida's blood that was on the floor was gone. Brielle looked at her dress and saw it had vanished as well. Gone just like Vida as if it was never there. She took a deep breath, trying to keep clear of her emotions.
"It's all right," said Gael as they walked out of the room, "She's with him now…and we're free! I thought you would be happy."
"Not at the price of losing the bravest person I have ever known," Brielle said.
Gael wrapped her arm around her and they both walked back to the stairwell. When they got there they could hear the other servants talking. They needed to tell them that had to leave.
"What are we to do?" came Eadric's voice, "We don't know where he is or if he's going to come back!"
"Then what?" said Danik, "Do we risk leaving, in the middle of the night?"
"Yes," said Brielle, "That's exactly what we have to. Immediately, we have no time to waste."
"Where's Vida?" asked Nadine.
"She's…she died," Gael said in a choked voice, "Just a few minutes ago."
There was silence all around. Brielle knew why. If it had been Jadellias they would have rejoiced, but it was Vida. A young woman who had lived a lifetime dominated by fear and was free for only a few days.
"What?" said Danik, breaking the silence, "Did Foreman kill her?"
"He asked where you all were and she didn't tell him, because…you're free. We're all of us free. She set us free already."
Suddenly there was murmuring all around. Some sounded excited, some confused, but most were still saddened by the news of Vida's death.
We're no longer slaves," Brielle went on, "but her death was the price. We need to leave now. Foreman will be back soon and possibly with help."
"Well, where?" said one of the protégé girls, "What about us? Where are we to go?"
"Narnia," Brielle said, "She wants all of us and you girls, in Narnia."
"Then lets get ready," Lodette said, "Now."
"Wait," said Ryland, "Vida. She needs to be buried, not here. In Narnia, it's only proper."
"You can't," said Gael, "She's gone."
"What are you talking about?" asked Eadric.
"I know it sounds crazy," Brielle said, "We saw him, Aslan, we saw him; and he came and took her. She was there one moment and gone the next."
"Then that means he's with us right now," Nadine said, taking her husband's hand. Ryland held it tight in his. Everyone was looking to him, who was now their unofficial leader.
"All right then," he said, "I'll give all of you thirty minutes to get ready, take only what you can carry. We're walking to Narnia."
Soon the quiet hall was buzzing with the noise of people. Brielle, Gael, and Lodette all ran upstairs to get to their rooms.
When Brielle go into hers, she grabbed her bag and started packing her dresses in. There wasn't much for her to take, but she saw Vida's journal on the table. That she would take. It was the truth of her life, a life that couldn't be forgotten.
"Are you all right?"
She turned around and saw Danik standing in the doorway. She wanted more than anything to run into his arms, but there wasn't time.
"Yes," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
He walked over to her and ran his fingers through her dark hair. Brielle pulled her bag over her shoulder and wiped her face. Danik turned her to face him and looked into her tear filled eyes. He didn't say anything, but gently took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead.
"Let's go home," he said.
Soon everyone was ready to go. It was two hours before sunrise, but Brielle was anything but tired. Although, how were they going to get over a hundred servants into Narnia and without Foreman following them?
They all set off in the dark leaving behind memories of pain, anger, and fear. No one had any idea of what would a waiting them in Narnia, but any life was better than what they had in Ettinsmore.
"We may need to head through the mountains," said Danik, "If Foreman is looking for us. It's a longer walk, but it is safer."
"I think you're right," agreed Ryland, "Let's just hope we can get there before nightfall."
Soon the sun came out and the coldness of the night slowly started to fade. There was more talking and the children played and laughed as they walked along the miles and miles of green grasslands. Brielle tried to focus on the future in front of her, but her memories of Vida were still fresh in her mind.
"I'm so glad you were there when she died."
Brielle looked over and saw Mrs. Applewell walking beside her. Her face was calm and passive, but her eyes were saddened.
"Oh," Brielle said, "I totally forgot about you. She was your daughter and...you never got to say good bye."
"Don't worry about me," Mrs. Applewell said, taking her hand, "We had all the time in the world with one another."
They both walked together, Brielle telling her Vida's last words were and seeing Aslan take her. Mrs. Applewell seemed anything but sad. She was glad that her daughter was now free from her earthly life and was now safe.
After several hours of walking they stopped for lunch. Brielle didn't realize how hungry she was. The sun was shining brightly and she began to get sleepy. She lay down on the grass and immediately fell asleep.
"What are we going to do?"
"We're trapped! He's going to take us back!"
Brielle looked down from the mountain top and saw Foreman and thirty other men as well as twelve giants approaching the side of the mountain.
"There's no way to get across!" Sadora cried as she held tightly to Nadine.
Foreman and his men were getting closer and the giants were too far behind.
It was then she saw a tree. It had no leaves; it looked like it was dead, but somehow it moved, like swaying in the wind even when there was no wind. Suddenly she heard a small still voice.
"Courage. Trust me. I will lead you across."
"Brielle, wake up."
She opened her eyes and saw Danik standing over her.
"Come on, we have to go now if we want to get to the mountains by nightfall."
Brielle took his hand and stood up. She rubbed her eyes and tried to remember her dream, but it was vague. It was then when she realized that she was holding an apple in her hand. She didn't remember eating any apples, but she was in too much of a hurry to think about it. She stuffed in her bag and began the long walk to the mountains.
They covered quite a distance before evening. The thought of freedom and the anxiousness of getting away from ones old life was probably the reason. They reached the base before nightfall.
Ryland said they should camp at the base for a few hours and then head into the mountains. Brielle felt relieved at that thought, but then she heard a noise in the distance and whatever it was, it didn't sit too well with her.
"Ryland," she said, "I know we're tired, I am too, but…we need to head into the mountains."
"Listen," said Ryland, "I know you want to get to Narnia, but we need to rest. The children and the older people – "
"Please, just one more hour and we'll be safe in the mountains," she leaned in closer to him, "Foreman is closer than you think."
He looked at her for a second and then said, "We're not stopping here; we have to get into the mountains."
"What?"
"We've been walking all day!"
"We need to rest!"
"I know you're tired," he reasoned, "but it is too dangerous to stay on ground. We need to the mountains."
There was still some complaining and finally Brielle could take it no longer.
"Foreman is on the move!" she said, "And he does have help! We need to go now!"
The people stopped their complaining. She wasn't sure if they believed her, but they all started walking toward the mountain. She just hoped she had said the right thing.
Night time came quickly and the cold started to set in. Mountain climbing was not easy at night and for Brielle who had never climbed a mountain before in her life, she found it exceptionally hard. Thankfully the moon was still bright and it was easier to see.
"How much farther?" asked Nadine, who sounded completely worn out.
"About another fifteen minutes," said Ryland as he ou his arm aroun her, "and then we can -"
He stopped suddenly. His face alert.
"What is it?" asked Danik.
"Do you hear that?" he asked.
Brielle listened. It sounded like thunder, but it wasn't coming from the sky. It was coming from the ground.
"It sounds like," said Eadric.
"Giants!" Ryland yelled
"Giants!"
"Why are giants following us?"
"What are going to do!" said Lodette.
"Keep moving!" shouted Ryland.
Brielle remembered her dream, Foreman and the giants...That's why he was in Harfang! He was gathering support! Danik took her hand and they began to run. The thunder in the distance getting louder and louder. Suddenly they were trapped. They had come to the ledge where there was a wide deep gorge between the mountains.
"Oh no!" said Gael, "No, no, no, not this!"
"There's no other way across?" asked Eadric.
"Not that we know of," said Ryland, his face filled with panic.
"Now what?" asked one of the children.
"Why are we trapped?" asked another.
Brielle had never felt fear like she did now. She could hear the thundering of the giants coming closer. The thought of servitude under Foreman was unimaginable.
Did Vida die only to have them become slaves again?
Aslan, please help us.
People were beginning to panic, but everyone was at a loss to know what to do. It was then when Brielle saw a tree, it was similar to the tree in her dream. She went over and touched the smooth bark. She could tell it was still alive. In the moonshine she could see several other trees on the other side of the gorge all in different areas of the mountains.
She remembered Aslan's voice in her dream.
I will lead you across
"Help us, Aslan," she said, "Lead us."
Suddenly there was a rumbling in the ground, like something was trying to get through. People began to scream. The ground broke and thick long roots shot out and stretched and twisted together. On the other side of the mountain, they could see roots coming out of the ground and twisting together. They reached across the gorge and came together with the other roots. In a matter of seconds, it looked like a bridge of some sort with a railing that had been both been created by the tree roots in the mountains.
"Is is safe?" asked Sadora.
Danik looked at Brielle and took her hand. Together they stepped onto the root made bride. It felt like it was made out of solid wood. The others saw and stated walking across. Brielle looked down and saw the gorge, how deep and scary it looked. Danik kept his arm safely around her shoulders. The bridge continued to grow. It took them pass the side of the other mountain. Soon they were between the two mountains. The cold wind blew and every sound they made echoed.
"I'm so hungry." came the voice of a little boy.
Brielle remembered the apple in her bag and gave it to him.
"Do you have any more?" asked a young girl.
"I'm sorry," Brielle said, "That's all I have."
Then she felt her hand run into something on the railing. It was hard and round. She pulled at it and it came off immediately.
"Is that...an apple?" asked Danik.
"It is," said Nadine, "Here's another one."
"They're growing everywhere!" Lodette said.
She was right. All over the railing were large ripe apples. People gratefully pulled them off the railing as they would an apple tree, but then again, the bridge was made from apple tree roots.
The bridge continued on. They crossed over another gorge and in the distance they could see the flat lands stretching out across into Narnia. As Brielle walked across, trying to stay awake, she felt something wet on her hands.
Was it raining?
No, it was coming from the side of the mountain. She then saw small waterfalls pouring down the sides. Water! Fresh mountain water to drink!
"Everyone!" she called out, "There's water on the sides of the mountain!"
Everyone immediately reached into their bags and pulled out cups, flasks, and whatever could carry water. It tasted so cool and fresh.
"Aslan was right," she said, after she took a drink from Danik's flask, "He will lead us."
Danik hugged her close.
"Look," he said, "The bridge has almost ended and we're almost to Narnia."
He was right. In the distance they could see Owlwood which was on Narnian land. Soon the sun was coming up and they came to the end of the bridge. All the had to do was climb down the mountain and within an hour they would be safe on Narnian land.
"Well, this is definitely going to be a story to tell everyone at home," said Eadric as he helped Gael to the ground.
"To think," said Gael, "We'll see our parents again."
"And Caspian, and Liliandil," said Brielle, "and Meava, Torah, and Chassell."
"Ironhoof and Suncloud," Eadric said.
They walked on as the sun came out. They were almost there. Suddenly they heard the rumbling in the distance. Brielle turned around and saw no more than twenty giants behind them.
"Run!" she yelled.
Everyone turned and saw the same thing. The giants were catching up with them. Brielle could see Foreman riding on a horse, his dark face seemed to be starring straight at her.
"Hurry!" yelled Ryland, "We're almost there!"
People were yelling and screaming. Soon other men on horses were chasing after them. They were only miles from Narnia's border. Suddenly, Brielle felt something hit her back. Pain spread through her entire body and she fell to the ground. She heard Danik screaming and could feel the sound of Foreman and the giants approaching.
Danik picked her up in his arms, "You've been hit by an arrow. Keep moving we're almost there."
Every step taken was in the worst pain. She knew she wouldn't be able to make it. She felt light headed and dizzy. The excruciating pain in her back was getting worse.
Then she saw something running toward them. It looked like a horse or a man riding a horse. It looked like both a man and a horse. She realized it was Ironhoof! She could see Suncloud and Glenstorm, all of them running toward them.
"Look!" yelled Sadora, "Centaurs!"
Brielle felt herself losing consciousness. She saw...Caspian on his horse. She could hear cheers among the people.
Soon she saw and heard nothing.