The reason this chapter did not take one week is because before this chapter I wrote a 10 page long smut chapter to get rid of the UST.
Please don't judge me C:

I'm not sure if I'll update that chapter. It kind of depends on a number of things.
It's not like I'm going for the explicit smut. I would be horrible at that.
So... Now that I've told you all that, I'm going to eat a sandwich. :D See you in 2 weeks!

Enjoy!

We used to play this game at school. Where everyone sits in a circle and someone whispers a sentence in someone's ear and the next person whispers it to someone else. But in the end it comes out all wrong.
But you play even when you don't understand.
You speak even though you are embarrassed.
You keep going even when you know you are going to lose.
When you think it will cause problems and it will burn you down to the ground, if you love someone you say it out loud.
It had startled and disappointed me when I found out that love, in general, is not an easy thing. It is a natural wonder like rain falling from the skies. Like a promise of something forgiving and good.
So if I said I didn't care when it fell apart, in some way I was saying I wanted it to stay together.
And so I wondered if there would ever be a minute in my life where I would just stop to think of this. Stop reliving every moment.
Stop my mind being occupied by memories, connections, events, misunderstandings, desires, dreams and useless thoughts. Stop dreaming of what it felt like to have him. Stop longing for him to touch me.
For somebody to look up to me.
If you love someone, you tell them. No matter how it twisted the sentence comes out of your mouth.
I was listening.
And I was whispering.

'And I still took it this bad.
Of all the things that had astonished me in my adventures, this was what astonished me the most.
To my absolute horror it was already dark when I looked outside. And I smelled food. Feeling childish, I wondered if I could skip the dinner.
Perhaps I would have before.
I pressed my wet dress against my chest, letting out an unsteady breath. The most annoying song I ever heard got stuck inside my head and one part of it kept repeating itself over and over and over.
It was a rainy and ink-black night, not that stormy as last night.
The dress was still damp and so was my hair, making it twist up into weird and unappealing frizzy curls.
There weren't a lot of mirrors in the duke's house, but luckily I found one small one in one of the big trunks near the bed.
It was so small I could bend my fingers and actually hide it away in my palm. Glass and mirrors were expensive.
I never quite realized until I held that tiny round mirror in my hand.
I looked such a mess, it made me frown heavily.
You are Addy Pitsman. Have some fire! Pull yourself together woman! Be a force of nature! Grow a pair and stop giving a damn what anyone thinks.
My cold hands pressed down the unruly hair that escaped from its usual place. Stupid rain. Stupid weather. Stupid kiss.
'You are not crying…' I mumbled to myself, flattening my still damp dress '…over a boy.'

It was so dark in the halls, I almost tripped over my own two feet when I opened the doors of my bedchamber. The candles were out and the warmth of the house had fled between the floorboards.
As if all the light had been sucked out of this whole house while I was hiding away in my room.
In the end I knew I should have known it was a bit odd when I didn't see a single maid trotting around the halls.
It was so silent I could hear the wind blowing against the stone walls outside.
The pale moon contrasted harshly against the oak floor when I reached downstairs. My footsteps sounded at least ten times louder in the apparently empty house. And the halls felt so narrow in the darkness I could hardly breathe.
Through one of the windows I saw the big chestnut tree, its leaves barely moving in the wind. As if it was a guardian trying to tell me to be silent.
Even though I didn't remember where we had dinner the first time, it was easy for me to spot it nonetheless. Since only one single room was dimly lit, candle light running through the keyholes. The light making golden patterns on my dress when I stood in front one of the heavy doors that lead to the dining room.
Heavy voices and the scent of a vegetable-dish filled the air.
I stood up more straight and took a deep breath.
Be brave.
Have some fire and go in there.
But when my hand dropped to the door handle I felt a tug on my dress.
Mary stood next to me as if she had appeared from thin air. Her hair glowing like gold when the light burst through the keyhole of the door.
She lifted her index finger to her lips and tugged on my hand.
Seeing this as a good opportunity to avoid that stupid dinner, I went with her. Hoping that playing with her would take my mind off of everything.
I like children. They can be painful honest sometimes, but something in their dreams, made-up adventures makes me smile.
She took me into a small room, directly next to the dining room.
If you could actually call it a room, it was more like a closet filled with books. A place where Mary might have spent her time, listening to the noises from the dining room. Cuddling up with a blanket and a book.
Mary never let go of my hand when she got on all fours near one of the bookshelves.
First I thought she wanted me to read something to her as I sat down next to her.
But she crawled to the end of the small room and reached for a rosewood bookcase. Her small hands pushed a few books to the side, and inside the now empty bookcase she pushed a piece of wood away. A small ray of candlelight fell into our room and the voices were more clear when Mary urged me to take a look.
I had kind of mixed feelings about eavesdropping, and I couldn't see all that much without leaning in. But when Mary whispered a few words to me and I heard an unfamiliar voice, fear was the only thing my heart could express.
'There's a bad man at the table.'
'I am not the rightful king.'
'Of course you are. Soon enough I can imagine'
It took me a few seconds to adjust my eyes to the light. When I looked through the small crack in the bookshelf, I could see Tybalt sitting at the very far end of the table. His expression was grim as he tried to busy himself with a loose thread on his sleeve.
A man was on his side. Very tall, very pale, very blond and a bit skinny. It was as if his skin was too small for his tall body.
I never saw him before in my life.
There were so many candles. More than I remembered from the first time I had eaten in there. Somehow they seed to fill the room with gloomy shadows instead of light. There were so many of them I stopped counting, but I did count the massive men standing near every exit of the dinner room. There were five in total.
All I had to do 5 minutes ago was open one of the doors and run straight into their big arms.
All were a little mismatched. As if they didn't belong to the tall man standing next to Tybalt. Because they were ragged, muddy and grotesque. Not like the spotless lord inside the uninviting room . I wasn't sure I should even call him a lord, but it is the easiest way to describe the way he presented himself.
'Well, I better be off to your study then. Get the papers in order, follow me will you?'
The lord's voice didn't match his exterior, that was for certain. It was quite low, heavy and on top of that drenched with disinterest.
Jack spoke up with a strong voice, which left me flabbergasted.
'They are gone. What makes you think you still have use of the crown if there are no beans left.'
'Prior Puffin seems to think differently.'
Jack paled before he stood up, one of the big men placing him back into his seat roughly. 'The Abby houses children. Some no older than a month.'
Children?
My breathing got heavier.
The Abbey?
Christian?
The lord did not answer him, only took a step forward and put out one of the flames on a candle with his thumb and index finger.
He took his time with it though, as if he wanted the fire to burn him.
'You have no right. Not here.' Jack spoke up again.
I spotted Isabelle at the right side of the duke, she stared into the dying flame for a short time. Looking back up at the lord with uncertainty after the smoke of the candle had disappeared into the air.
'Do you honestly think I just arrived here just to reveal my plan to you?' the lord said with a yawn, inspecting the black soot on his fingers.
Well, I already figured out a part of it.
I thought dryly.
Most likely he stole the crown, is looking for some beans and is planning to be all Darth Vader like for reasons unknown.
It took a while before I noticed the two guards whom came with us were missing. And it left a very bad taste in my mouth.
'Are you a religious man Jack?' the lord spoke up again, his dark eyes glancing over Jack.
Jack stilled, his eyes darting to Elmont who was sitting next to him.
'There's a passage that I found very fitting for this event. I'll be sure to tell you when you arrive at Cloister for the last time.'
'What are you going to do?'
'Tybalt.' He spoke so loudly that I almost knocked my head against the dark wood of the bookcase. 'A word please.'
It was then the lord turned around, shot one last look over his shoulder and disappeared out of the room.
My heart pounded against my chest when I heard his footsteps in the hallway. Closer and closer to the room we were hiding in. Mary took my hand again and I squeezed it reassuringly.
But the footsteps passed the room and disappeared into the dark halls. He didn't even hesitate for a second.
I motioned for Mary to get behind me away from the door. Soon enough her hand slipped back into mine after she moved.
Being so focused on not getting discovered, I didn't notice one very familiar voice coming from the dining room.
A voice who haunted me in so many nightmares.
Couldn't that guy stay gone already?
'Away with you old man. Go speak with Lord Edward.'
Edward.
Now I could add a name to that guys face.
Edward… Why did that name ring a bell? Why did that name ring a bell!?
Tybalt seed to hesitate, his folded hands not hiding their trembling.
I almost felt sorry for Tybalt when he looked that guilty. 'I-I..'
'Yes.' Owen spoke, extending the 's' which made him somewhat sound like a snake.
But Tybalt shrunk away from Owen and sent one last look at Isabelle before standing up cautiously. He seed to have aged almost 20 years in these last 5 minutes. The lines in his face seed deeper and the way he walked more unsteady.
Jack spoke up the moment the duke had shut the door behind him. 'You were locked up.'
Owen smiled gleefully, tugging at his bright purple and green tunic. The fabrics turned his skin into a sick pale color, his fox-face standing out even more.
'How did you-'
'They warned me about Cloisters dungeons before I went through with it. So when you locked me up in the blackest and coldest bloody hole you could find,' Owen sneered at Elmont, the latter not moving in the slightest 'I knew what was coming.'.
After this time I could hear his voice so clearly. His voice was still crooked and a little higher than the usual man. Yet there was still something undefinable about his voice. Something twisted I could never put my finger on. My nightmares surely didn't do him any justice.
Owen leaned over the table, fingertips lightly resting on the table 'You have a lot of rats in Cloister… Did you know? Crawling with it. Some who would even help and old crook like me in order to climb up the ladder.'
I noticed Isabelle shifting in her seat, clutching her napkin for dear life.
'You weren't hospitable at all,' Owen pouted while his eyes roved over Isabelle. 'I hope you don't mind me repaying the favor. So I think I'll start with you my lovely.'
In that moment Jack jumped up, the knife that was supposed to have been used for dinner in his hand. But it was only a matter of seconds before his arm got twisted behind his back by a guard and he was pushed flat against the table with a loud thump.
When Elmont drove his elbow into one of the guards stomach at the same time, I was sure he was going to kick their asses. He managed to wrap his hands around the sword of the guard behind him and it was then when it turned ugly.
But when of the guards pointed the edge of his blade against the back of Jack's neck, it made me choke back a gasp as Isabelle let out a scream.
'Now hold up!' Owen started, waving his left hand around dismissively 'We cannot start the party when we are not complete. How rude of you.'
Elmont took a look a Jack and the blade that was pressed against the poor boy's neck. At the same time Owen took a step closer to Isabelle lightly pressing his fingers against her neck, which made her cringe. Elmont's sword dropped to the floor noisily when he let it slip out of his hands in surrender.
Owen clasped his hands together in excitement as the guard placed Jack roughly back into his chair.
'So! Where is she?'
Total silence.
I could actually hear their breathing.
'No?' He said, faking disappointment.
My breathing became heavy behind my clasped hands. And all I could think of was if I should count myself lucky that I hadn't opened the door or if it was a bad thing.
'I know she's here. No need to stay silent and frown at me.'
Don't move. Whatever you do, don't make a sound.
'She has no royal blood.' Isabelle spoke up, her voice so clear he snapped his head towards her immediately 'You know that. What do you want her for?'
He smiled a peculiar smile 'Spoils of war.'
Owen started moving now, taking long and slow steps around the table.
'She is rather lovely don't you think? In a way…' He shrugged as he pulled a face 'Surely, not particularly beautiful. Not a countess or a high-born lady. Rather dull. But still, her screams are rather addictive.'
My heart rate doubled and I couldn't steady my now wobbly knees. I squeezed my eyes shut and replaced my hands from my mouth to my ears. However, Owen's voice pierced right through them.
'I am particular fond of the way she screamed when Jon took her away. Did you hear it?'
Total silence.
He stood at the opposite side of Elmont now, which made Owen more visible to me at the same time. My bloodstream thundered and rushed through my veins at the thought of Jon. And I prayed he wasn't wandering around in this mansion at this moment.
'Yes,' again with the hissing 'I am sure you did Captain. Tell me, have you never imagined her screaming your name?'
Elmont did not se be shaken, keeping absolutely silent but his eyes scorching.
Not getting the reaction Owen wanted, he frowned as he inspected the silverware next to Isabelle, the place where I would be sitting if I hadn't been so late.
'Jon is so violent with the little birds.' He sighed, twirling the fork between his index finger thumb 'He usually cuts out their tongues, quite a gruesome sight. The sounds they make are absolutely dreadful. '
Before I knew it, I let out a quivering breath. My eyes snapped shut when I thought Owen might have heard it. Luckily for me, he didn't.
'How many times my men begged me to let them have a taste of the princess and her. I'll make sure they do when we find her. Imagine how she'll scream your name when they start and she realizes that she is on her own this time.' He sighed as if he was remembering a good dream.
My eyes started to water. Partly because I was scared. The biggest reason was this blinding, uncalculating and untamable rage that started coiling inside my chest.
'Would you like to watch?' He smiled gleefully.
At first I thought nobody was going to speak up. I wouldn't have done so either. Owen was unmistakably trying to coax anger out of someone.
Not just someone. Elmont.
And in the long period of time that I have known Elmont, I learned that he can sense those things immediately. So I wasn't entirely sure if Owen should even bother trying.
Elmont was good at these things. Excellent even. I wasn't afraid to admit that even though Elmont made it clear that 'he-liked-me-just-not-in-that-way'.
'The only reason I spared you was because of her.' Elmont's voice was composed. Not sounding angry, only certain 'And I do not doubt her mercy will save you a second time. And even though she does not break any promises,' his eyes flashed dangerously, making me immediately pity anyone exposed to it 'I am known to do exactly that.'
Owen picked at his nails 'Ah. Is this a threat?'
'It is a promise when I tell you should not try me. Since nothing is bound to stop me from making you suffer as no earthly creature ever has.'
I stared at And I felt rest-assured in a way.
Because Elmont had managed to chase away the fears that started crawling under my skin. And even though I was crying over him a few seconds ago, I knew we wouldn't go back to before.
Because I felt understood. As if we were on the same page.
Since I would shove every brick of Cloister I could find down the throat of anyone who hurt him.
Owen made a face after a flash of uncertainty crossed his eyes 'You care for the girl? Might it be love?'
But it seed Elmont had said everything he wanted to say. I actually believed he had already made up his mind when I saw the look in his eyes had not wavered.
Not that I wanted Owen to roam around, but I didn't think I could make Elmont reconsider if I asked him.
Owen raised his eyebrows when there was no response 'Surely you told her?' he asked in mock astonishment.
He was again met with silence 'Or maybe you didn't. Maaaaybe you wanted to save her from something? I wonder what.'
He started whispering 'Are there ghosts haunting you, Captain my Captain? Making you stare into the night when you should be asleep? Dreams or blood-drenched memories?'
It seed Owen was trying his hardest to make an impression on Elmont but it didn't seem to work. Actually, it did a greater number on me. I was so utterly enraged my nails left shapes of half crescent moons into my palms.
So Owen settled for intimidating everyone in the room.
'Subtle threats are often lost on me, I admit. So I will make you all a promise as well.' He pointed the fork in everyone's general direction 'Being the lovely girl she is, I will mark her lovely skin! I will carve my name into her onto this very table if you don't tell me where she is!' His screams pierced right through my heart and made me even angrier. Urging me to live, just to spite him.
He took a few deep breaths 'Because to be honest,' He giggled at his own thoughts 'I would rather see that foolish and lovely girl utterly and completely destroyed than gone.'
A few strands of hair had come loose and now clung to his forehead. He leaned further over the table as he brushed it back into place 'But that is just a suggestion. And you are free to disregard it. So I'll ask it one more time where is she? Is she in her room?'
It didn't surprise me anymore when everyone rained silent. Although I was getting a bit nervous and I knew I wanted to get the hell out of here.
Warn the Abbey and warn William.

Grabbing Mary by the arm, I had slipped out as fast and soundless as I could. We didn't run into anyone, which probably meant they didn't start searching for us yet. One particular big and ugly shadow made its way to us when we passed the hall, but I pulled Mary into a nearby room with me just in time.
With my heart pounding inside my chest and my breathing becoming heavy, I opened the window and stepped outside with Mary letting out a soft whine when the cold hit her.
But now tears were in my eyes since now that we stood outside, I had no idea how to reach William or the Abbey. Time had seed to pass very quickly and now I was almost sure they already burned down the city.
Perhaps I should surrender already, because everyone was already dead.
Everyone I actually cared about.
'What do we do now?' Mary said, her voice soft and tears rimming her eyes.
I had no idea.
No idea.
Fear had eliminated my reasoning and chilled my heart.
I bit my lip so they would stop trembling, but I knew my eyes betrayed my fears.
I wished I had a heart of ice and a brave look on my face. Like when I was captured with Isabelle, when I was so certain my life was going to end.
But this time I was not the one in danger.
Everyone else was.
'Take off your shoes.' I ordered, pulling off my own with a quick yank 'We'll be able to move more quietly.'
Mary wasn't too keen on the idea, but she did as she was told. I never let go of her hand as I snuck around the big walls, the cold mud and grass staining our feet.
I was walking fast and Mary had a hard time keeping up, but still I hurried as if I was running from my shadow.
It seed that the entire estate was asleep. Nothing moved. And no particular sounds were heard besides the noises of the black night.
Mary whined when she stubbed her toe on a rock and I only dared to breathe after I was sure no one had heard her.
'Addy!'
I blinked a few times, looking behind me and expecting the worse.
With a tug on Mary's shoulders I put her behind me, at least giving her a head start if she had to run away.
He stared at me and I didn't look away. It was a challenge, but I wanted to see my murderer before it ended. Not that I wouldn't fight him every step of the way though.
Except it was not one of the burly and malicious men I saw earlier.
My stomach dropped like a rock when I recognized the familiar bristly face of Charlie.
After I recognized him I felt an intense relief and at the same time a knowing fear inside my chest.
'What happened?' I asked as Charlie took a hold of both my hands.
Charlie looked around wildly, and only now I saw a bruise on the right side of his face. Blood trickled down his forehead, which had a small but deep cut.
'You have got to get out of here lady Pitsman. Take the girl and ride with me back to Cloister-'
Mary tugged on my dress and pointed to the floor.
Thinking she just wanted to point out a bug or something I tried to ignore it until I heard another voice.
'Addy? Down here.' That was Jack's voice, I knew it.
Stupidly, I looked down at the grass.
Reincarnation?
Luckily I saw a small window at the bottom of the wall. At least I think it used to be a window, the glass had been smashed in a long time ago. But it was open and I kneeled on all fours in order to get closer to it.
'What are you doing down there?' I hissed as I crouch down as far as I could. The dirt was staining my dress and my knees.
Charlie bent down as well, almost pushing me out of the way 'Princess, are you alright?'
'By reacting in the spur of the moment, These two have apparently forgotten that violence creates even more conflict' I heard Isabelle's voice out of the darkness.
'He threatened you and Addy.' Jack piped up 'And let's not forget the rest of Cloister.'
I huffed 'I know, I was there.'
This time Elmont spoke up 'How much did you hear?'
My hands started to sweat when I realized there was probably no way to get out of there.
I clenched my hands and inched a little closer 'Enough to understand Owen wants to turn me into his new notebook.'
Someone sighed and I heard some rummaging.
'So they locked you up after you two guys lost your-'
I almost wanted to finish that sentence with 'shit'
Instead I recovered and saved myself with '-patience? Not that I am unhappy you are still alive but why-'
Someone let out a loud and indignant huff, probably Isabelle. 'This is not how you play this game!'
'What game?' Jack's voice rung out.
'When threatened, you do not go barging into trouble right away like a couple of buffoons!'
A snort 'Says the princess of Cloister who came knocking on my door one stormy night.'
'Dudes.' I sighed but I was interrupted.
'If I have to stay here much longer, I will just have to punch someone.' Isabelle's voice rang out.
Total and utter silence for a good 3 seconds. I could just imagine the two males raising their eyebrows in the darkness.
'You heard me.' She warned.
I crawled closer to the small window, trying to get a glimpse of the inside. But I was met with total darkness.
'There are no bars separating you?' Charlie asked.
'Not really, no.' Elmont answered. He seed to be standing the closest to the window.
I sighed 'Are you cuffed?'
'Yes.'
Charlie cussed silently. 'I have brought my sword with me, is there any way I could hand it ov-'
'No use, they are made of metal.'
I turned my head as fast as I could the moment I heard a sound behind me. However I didn't see anyone.
'They're looking for us,' I noticed I was shaking, my nerves obviously showing when I spoke 'what do you want me to do?'
'Get out.' Elmont ordered.
For a second I almost started to believe I had missed his commands.
I almost swallowed my own tongue 'Wh- On our own?'
'Take the fastest route to the stables and take one of the horses.'
Again, more of the tongue swallowing 'On our own?!'
'Yes.'
'Your horse is the fastest Elmont.' Isabelle added in a hushed voice.
'Damnit!' I hissed 'Is that thing even tame?'
Charlie turned to me now, his face as serious as could be 'We will ride to Cloister and warn the citizens and get them to safety. Cloister is lost otherwise.'
'Addy, if you find my father… tell him… Tell him that-' Isabelle sounded near crying and I felt my own eyes starting to water.
'Wait wait wait wait!' I interrupted, waving my hands in some sort of windshield wiper movement.
'Are we not doing anything to save the children? The monks? Prior Muffin?'
'Prior Puffin.' Charlie corrected me.
'Like that's any better.'
Elmont spoke up again, his voice so composed it almost frightened me. 'Go to the castle. You will need to trust me when I tell you, you are capable to do more things than you believe, milady.'
It was such a lovely compliment. It truly was. But that nickname shook me out of my thoughts.
'I am not your lady.' My voice betraying the intense sadness coiling inside. My face was instantly getting hot.
That caught Jack's attention 'Did I miss something?'
'Will you keep your voices down!' Charlie hissed.
'I-' Why was I so out of breath? 'am not your lady!'
'Of course you are. And I have no qualms on discussing the past event right here ' His eyes were staring into mine, I could feel it 'But your time is running out.'
Jack made an unintelligent sound 'Wait… What happened between you two?'
Isabelle sounded nearly hysterical now 'Jack, this is not the time nor the place!'
'Is this a lovers spat?' Jack slowly said, taking his time.
'Shut up!' I hissed, not in the mood for any kind of bullshittery 'What color is your stupid horse?'
'Dear Lord, I am right aren't I?' Jack sighed.
'Jack, be quiet!'
'You know what my horse looks like.' Elmont's voice stated coolly.
'I do not!' I almost started yelling right then and there 'All horses look the same to me. They are way too big, unreliable in the middle and they have a devious brain.'
Elmont's face became more clear in the dark. I could just see his outline. 'It is a black horse, it is likely to be separated from the other ones.'
My face felt hot and my eyes burned with unshed tears. My eyes darted around me when I thought I heard voices. This time Charlie stood up, picking Mary up who had been silent all this time. Her eyes filled with unshed tears.
They trusted me. They trusted me to go to Cloister with Charlie, but I wish they knew me well enough for me to go to the Abbey instead. I wanted them to know I was scared beyond everything.
This was the moment Isabelle got interested all of a sudden. 'Elmont. What happened?'
It is a strange feeling when you just know all eyes are on you.
Be strong.
Breathe and be nonchalant as hell.
My hair obstructed my view when a large gust of wind rushed through the land 'Yeah, I gotta go. Cloister filled with mysteries and wonder! I shall yonder there, amidst the rain and wind… and all that crap.'
'What?'
'Addy?'
'Cheerio.' I huffed as I stood back up, angrily rubbing the tears away from my eyes 'Don't get killed or kill each other when I'm gone.'
I almost fell headfirst into the grass when a hand shot out and grabbed the fabric of my dress. Luckily I didn't hear a ripping sound, or I might have been forced to try and climb inside that tiny window and kick some ass.
'If you should ever consider to not return safely,'
His voice rang through my ears all the way to my sore heart. It stung and it burned all the same. And it made me want to reach out and kiss him, to in some way beg him not to let it hurt so much.
He paused before continuing 'I swear to all the gods-'
'Yes, Captain.' I said before continuing with a probably watery smile 'Since nothing is bound to stop you from making me suffer as no earthly creature ever has.'
I touched his hand to pry his fingers off of the edge of my dress.
After this is it would be such a long time since I was able to touch him again. The thought still lingers in my mind sometimes. It makes me wake up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night when I sleep alone.
'Exactly.' He breathed.
His hand went back into the dark and I felt myself getting dragged away.
'Lady Pitsman, we should leave. Now.'

The way led to the stall which was, luckily, completely deserted. Almost immediately 7 horses stared at me with blank stares. Some of them were new. It wasn't rocket-science. They probably belonged to Eddie and Owen and his gang.
'Black horse black horse black horse' I muttered looking around me desperately. Couldn't the man have been a bit more specific?!
Charlie was standing next to me, eyes searching into the darkness.
Finally I approached the horse that stood in the far back, detached from the rest of the group. And for a long time we both just stared at one another.
'Okay, fine. Here's the deal Seabiscuit…' I breathed, holding my ground.
The horse snorted when I took a step closer. I tried to project my helplessness into its mammal mind as I looked him in the eye.
'Your rider is in a serious bad situation. As is the princess, otherwise known as the future queen. And so is Jack, also known as the future king.' I sighed as I reached out and carefully stroked his nose with my fingertips. 'But a whole lot of children and monks will die as well. And the future of Cloister is ruined the moment those assholes kick their door in. The horse huffed and blinked at me a few times.
'So please,' I put my hand flat on his nose 'Help us save at least one of them.'
A messy huff left the horse as he seed to look at me skeptically. As if saying: 'You are my master's friend, so I will help you. However, know that I'd rather trample you to death. Because to be honest: the first moment I met you I just knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life avoiding you.'
Now that we had reached a silent deal, I continued staring at the tall hulk of a horse. How did Elmont even manage to get onto this one? How did anyone manage you get onto this horse?
All the while the horse was still standing peacefully in its stall.
My head started spinning before I got my shit together.
What is missing?
Luckily Charlie caught up to me and looked the horse up and down.
'A bridle with the reins and the saddle.' He mumbled.
'Perhaps it is better that you ride this horse alone with Mary. Three people is too heavy for one horse.'
'That's not a good idea Charlie.' I sighed my eyes darting from the shed to the horse 'I'll drop Mary. I don't want that.'
Charlie didn't really seem to mind me nicknaming him. At least it didn't seem like it.
'We should hurry.' Mary's small voice added. She looked even tinier next to Charlie.
Charlie tugged on the reins of another horse, all the while still holding Mary's small hand. 'Then you should ride alone. Follow after me as we ride for Cloister.'
I begrudgingly looked for all the parts and tried to attach it to the horse as fast as I could with the help of Charlie. And that included my hand almost getting bitten and the saddle falling off once.
I belly-flopped on to the horse before grabbing the reins.
Alright. So now what?
What did Elmont always do? Well he didn't really seem to do anything, the horse and him were practically one and the same person. Some weird Avatar shit going on.
Despair filled my veins as I buried my face in the horses soft mane. The more and more I thought about the things that were going wrong the more my heart started to collapse.
'Damnit!' I sat up straight and thought of all the cowboy and lord of the rings movies I had ever seen.
'Squeeze your legs!' Charlie spoke up, already on the back of another horse with Mary sitting in front of him.
Gently I squeezed my legs together trying not to hurt the animal in the process.
With a slow grumble the horse started to move.
That moment brought a spark back into my life and I almost started cheering real loud.
When Charlie, Mary and me escaped from the stable on two horses we were most likely seen. If the adrenaline wasn't rushing through my veins I would probably have heard them yell.
When Charlie's horse and Seabiscuit (I really should stop calling him that) escaped past the gates I didn't feel relief.
But I wouldn't care.

I couldn't care.
There was no Elmont to protect me. No friends.
I was on my own.
I had to be on my own.
Angry tears bubbled up, but my mind soothed as we rode off towards Cloister.

Review time! C:
Monopolyguy: Waaaahrgrbl! Oh you! Don't make me get all embarrassed! C: Thank you for the lovely message, I will update in 2 weeks :) Hold on dear!
Addie: Hi there! :3 I don't really know to which name I will respond now Hahaha! I'm so sorry for that twist (not really muhaha). I finally got a new phone myself so now I can finally read fanfiction before sleeping! Yay! Go on and find a man like Elmont! Bring me one too :3
Kailee: Thank you so much! I really like that you think the story has grown, that's my goal! C: I promise the next kiss will be better :) …. Maybe. :)
Teddy bear 007: yes.. I know… yes.. I'm so sorry… :C it's going to get better! After it gets worse :) muhahaha
Klara: I had to look 3 times before I figured out your name was Klara and not Kiara. My eyes are going downhill real fast haha! English isn't my first language either. It's okay! I feel your pain!
Miss Guest: Thank you so much, it really helps to know that I'm not alone in this. I'm sorry you experienced such a thing as well. Panic attacks suck so bad! Good luck on your university work, let's kick ass together! C: Thank you for the compliment on the writing too! Be rest assured, last time I checked I was still a girl haha! Isabelle is going to crack his ass. No question about that. Especially since they are all locked up in one small room in the cellar now. Muhahaha! :)
Guest: Poor Addy indeed. I just wanted to give her a bit more natural calluses on her 'being' :) And everything will be explained soon enough. I promise. C:
Addy89: You are so very welcome! Thank you for the most lovely compliment :)
MoonCastersFlyingCircus: Hahaha! I'm so sorry but your review made me laugh! Thank you so much for your lovely comment, and I'm sorry for the rejection scene! Both of them will be happy soon :)
Cantate: I am back! Let's dance! My study still isn't going all that well, but I'm getting help :) I get by with a little help from my friends~ I'm glad you like the hide and seek bit. I wanted to make it up to you guys by adding that little part :) The kiss-rejection will be explained soon, you just have to wait a few more chapters C: He needs a good excuse that's for sure.
Thedragonhorse: Don't be depressed! I'm so sorry hahaha! It's not going to be an angsty ending, I hope you will like it. I already made a rough sketch :) But I think it will take over more than 10 chapters. That gives the story some time to end happily C:
SerendipityAEY: I would really like to give something away about that situation right now… but I can't.. It's so hard! I want to spoil everything :) All I can say is it will take some more bad stuff to make it turn into something really good.
pensandbooks: You are allowed to do so my dear :) Things will be okay in the end! I hope you will enjoy this chapter and the following ones. Elmont will be missing! Oh nooooo!