Chapter Thirty-Four
When the white flash faded from my sight, I saw the ground about ten feet away from me.
"No! No! No!" I curled into a ball, preparing for impact. Did I mention that I hadn't mastered the landing part of Traveling? Popping in midair was kind of my signature.
I crashed to the ground, landing on my non-stabbed shoulder, but my bones felt like they shattered on impact. My mouth opened in a silent scream as I blinked back the tears. The thought of getting off the ground forced my dinner to my throat. I swallowed the threat of vomit and closed my eyes. If I allowed myself to bleed out on this dirt patch, would that be such a bad idea? Genevieve almost killed me without much effort on her part. My odds at surviving the battle with James were at zero, leaving no hope in sight.
Stop—no more slipping into the darkness. I inhaled a rush of air through my nose before I pushed myself into a sitting position, whimpering the whole time. My eyes stayed closed to control the raging fight between my nausea and unbearable pain. Thank goodness I grabbed this damn bag. Blindly digging through the satchel with my uninjured arm, my fingers curled around a metal container. After struggling to open it with shaking hands, I scooped up a generous amount of healing paste. I smashed it into my shoulder's wound. Hissing, I slumped forward, waiting for the magic to work.
"Don't waste it," Logan spoke.
"I know!" I growled. "It just hurts, okay!"
He doesn't respond. Once the pain dulled to a lazy stinging, I lifted my head to scan the area. Trees, healthy, stuffed with leaves, loomed over us, stretching towards the stars. I sat in the middle of a worn dirt path that extended to a mountain ahead. Behind me, the trail curved downhill beyond my sight. No, I didn't know the exact place, but the scent of spruce trees stirred a fondness in my heart. This had to be the right dimension. It could have been the place where Kristoff had found me. Not like I would recognize this spot when it was blanketed in layers of snow. Or when the snowflakes blinded me as they flurried to the ground.
On wobbly legs, I used the last bit of strength inside me to stand. I staggered towards the top of the hill.
Logan floated beside me. He reached out like he wanted to support me, but his hands fell to his side. "You should rest."
"We're too exposed here. I can't climb to higher ground."
From the top, I saw acres of the forest but no sign of houses or people. The hill didn't look too steep, so I balanced on the heels of my boots as I stepped down. I limped across the path, depending on the moonlight to check for any potential danger until I discovered some thick shrubbery. It should conceal us in case anyone passed through the woods. While another person could provide some medical help or directions, I didn't want to risk the chance of getting mugged—or worse. I pulled out a flashlight to inspect if an animal had claimed the spot first. Logan raised an eyebrow.
I shrugged. "What? I toughed it out last time. I took the chance to prepare."
It looked clear for the most part. Crawling into the bushes, I curled up, clutching the dagger close to my chest. I did my best to ignore the dewy grass dampening my clothes as my body sunk into the soft dirt. Listening to the chittering of the nightlife, I drifted in and out of an unsettled rest. Any little noise tightened my muscles. My eyes darted to find the intruder, only to see the soft glow of Logan's spirit. He sat outside of my cocoon, keeping watch for the night. I forced my eyes to close again, but the fear that Chase and Genevieve had followed me kept my body in fight mode. Not even the security of the barrier could wash that apprehension away.
Dawn came sooner than I liked, but I had to keep moving. Checking my wound, I saw my shoulder had healed into a jagged burgundy scar overnight. My movement was still limited, but it felt sore rather than painful. On my left shoulder, a nasty black bruise stained my skin. It hurt to even look at it, let alone touch it. I adjusted my shirt to cover my injuries again and got out of my bush bed.
"Let's go," I announced. Logan looked over me; his eyes lingered on my stabbed shoulder, but he nodded.
We stayed next to the path, walking in between the trees. Hopefully, they provided enough coverage, so I could see traveling parties before they saw me. I did appreciate the shade as the heat increased throughout the day. By what felt like the late afternoon, my body wanted to collapse once more. I hadn't spotted anyone during my hike through the woods or a clear direction to Arendelle. I feared that I went in the wrong direction. Maybe heading toward the mountains would have been a better decision.
"Crap." I stumbled to a nearby tree, holding the trunk for balance. My hands scraped the rough bark as I kept sliding down to the ground. Then, my stomach growled, cramping harshly to emphasize its hunger.
Logan hurried to my side. "Do you have anything to eat or drink?"
I sighed. "I was going to grab that before Chase showed up." Lazily, I waved my hand through my satchel, only to find a granola bar. "I'll just save that for later."
I saw the frustration in his eyes. The way he gritted his teeth and kept his balled-up fists near his head like he wanted to pound it. I couldn't imagine what it felt like to watch another person suffer when they could offer no physical help.
Mustering the biggest smile to assure him, I gave him a thumbs up. "Hey, I'm not dying. I just need to sit. Rest is good, right?"
Logan nodded frantically. "Yes. Very important. Take as much time as needed."
I lowered myself to the ground, putting my back against the tree trunk. My eyelids weighed down to a close. Instead of darkness, Arendelle appeared. While I was excited to see everyone, I couldn't help but think of the castle's luxuries that awaited me. It had been hard to accept the dependency of servants at first. Secretly, Kristoff and I shared our discomforts when we asked the staff to do things for us. I mean, the only difference between them and us was that we happened to fall in love with the monarchs. Why should they listen to us? However, I wouldn't mind a little pampering after this trip. Hadn't I earned a hot bath, comfortable beds, or actual food?
I started to drift off, imagining my comfy bed with Elsa in my arms. The fantasy popped once I heard a plopping in the distance. My eyes snapped open as the sound kept getting closer, louder. Soon, squeaking and an animal huffing joined the chorus of hooves. I scrambled on my feet to get back to the dirt path. A few yards away, a small wagon pulled by an aging horse rolled towards me. The man in the driver's seat looked gruff, a frown engraved on his sun-weathered face. I debated whether it'd be smart to join him alone until a woman appeared behind him. In her arms, a young boy wiggled. She showed the boy off to the man, making the child wave, and his expression somewhat softened at the sight of the bubbling toddler.
This could be my last chance. I threw my body on the road, waving for them to stop. The man yanked on the reins, startling the horse and the passengers when the wagon lurched to a stop. I lifted my hands but kept my distance.
"Can you help me?" I asked.
"I don't have anything to give you!" the man warned.
"I'm just looking for directions. Please, I'm lost."
He jumped off the wagon, puffing up dirt on impact. When he marched over to me, his stocky build became more apparent. Limbs as thick as the surrounding tree trunks. I shrunk my posture, hoping to convince him of my innocence by seeming helpless. Maybe he wouldn't expect me to pull out a knife if he tried anything. Once we were about five feet apart, his gaze landed on my shoulder. How I wished I had the black bodysuit from the Traveler Center instead of this gray t-shirt covered in dried blood splotches.
"That your blood?" His eyes narrowed. His chest puffed out, ready to defend.
I nodded, showing my scar through the tear in the fabric. "I was attacked. The rogues took most of my supplies."
"Like I said, I don't have anything for you."
"I understand." I saw the woman and the boy staring at us. "I don't want to take anything from your family."
He tilted his head like he's trying to decide something. "You shouldn't be traveling alone."
"I don't have anyone. That's why I'm going to Arendelle. Am I heading in the right direction?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. That's all I needed. Travel safely." I headed off the dirt path, giving him a polite wave. I would have asked for a ride, but I knew he wouldn't put his family in potential danger. I respected that. If he told the truth about the directions, I'd be fine. Ignoring my cramping stomach, I forced my feet to move back into the shadows of the woods. Once the wagon passed me, I'll find another spot to eat and sleep in a few miles. Any patch of grass sounded heavenly right now. I guess my body thought the same thing because my knees hit the ground. The forest swayed in my vision, wiggling side to side. Crawling to the nearest tree, I rested my aching body against the stump. Slumping over, I closed my eyes. The squeaky wheels came closer.
"Miss?" A feminine voice called.
I ignored her. Sleep. Just sleep…
A rigorous shake brought me back to consciousness. I shot upright, which turned out to be a stupid decision. My stomach and head danced in circles, making me curl up to stop anything from spilling out. Another jolt forced me to swallow an unpleasant flavor. The dull pain in my shoulders awakened, stinging when anything touched them.
"Could you not hit every rock?" a woman scolded.
"It's an uneven dirt road. What do you want from me?" a man argued with her.
I tilted my spinning head toward the voices. Across from me, the woman sat, gently rocking a young boy in her arms. Wait. This was the family that I had seen on the road. Oh god, where the hell were they taking me? I gripped the edge of their wagon, pulling myself closer to it. Peeking at the moving road, I wondered if I should take the chance to roll off the side. My body had already taken a considerable beating that maybe this wouldn't even hurt. From the color of the sky, the sun had set recently. An orange hue lingered underneath the encroaching navy color. There should be enough darkness to help me disappear.
"See, you even woke the girl!" the woman hissed.
When I looked back at the family, I made eye contact with the man and gulped. Without a word, he turned to the road again, shrugging off his wife's complaint.
"' Bout time she got up," he muttered.
Now a little more oriented, I began my questioning. "Why did you take me?"
"Oh, dear," the woman started gently. Her voice sounded soft and comforting. "We couldn't just leave you like that. Unprotected and alone. Isn't that how you got that nasty scar in the first place?"
I instinctively touched my shoulder, knowing that I had only shown the man my injury. The fact that this stranger had checked my wounds made me a little uneasy. Did she look through my other things? However, it did convince her to spare some kindness. She must've forced her husband to follow her plan and take me.
"Thank you," I said. "I wish I had something to repay your generosity."
She waved me off. "Our home is close to the kingdom."
"I don't know why she wants to head there with the danger lurkin' about," her husband grumbled.
"Danger?" I sat up, more alert. "What's happened in Arendelle?"
"Oh! Nothing!" she insisted.
"Don't lie to her, Iryna."
"Otis! You're scaring her!"
"She should be. You know it's not safe with that witch queen running rampant."
Excuse me! I dug my nails into the wood, biting back my tongue and ducking my narrowed eyes to my lap. Arendelle was utterly safe in Elsa's hands, not in turmoil. This idiot had no idea what he was saying.
Iryna must have taken my reaction as something else. She scooted closer to me, careful not to wake her son. "Do you have family or anyone you're worried about?"
"Friends. They're like family. I'm just hoping they're okay," I answered.
"I have faith that they are."
"You a magic supporter?" Otis questioned. Even with his back turned to me, I felt the pressure of his test. I imagined his disapproving glare, judging whether I was worth the trouble. Iryna frowned at him. She opened her mouth, ready to argue with him once again, but I spoke first.
"I've been trained to fight magic. It's why I left Arendelle in the first place. To learn to defend the innocent people."
Technically, not a lie. The answer seemed to please Otis. He finally looked over his shoulder. "You some kind of warrior?"
I shrugged. "I don't claim a title. I just want to protect the ones who need my help."
With a grunt, he faced the road. "Well, the kingdom needs saving."
"Yes," I glared at his back, "apparently it does."
No one said much for the final stretch of the journey. The night brought warm winds and blinding darkness. Our lantern poked through the shadows, barely leading us through the forest as it became denser. The horse had to know its way home by memory. It seemed the weak light provided more comfort for the passengers rather than be a guide. Much to my relief, the wagon rolled up to the outline of a cottage. When we stopped, Iryna handed the sleeping boy to her husband before hopping out. One more exchange of their son and Iryna rushed inside the house. I climbed out of the wagon, but I faced the wilderness instead of the cottage.
"You'll end up like you did before if you head out now," Otis warned.
"I don't have anything to give for your hospitality. Or for the ride you just gave me. I think we should part ways now."
"You don't trust our kindness."
"I don't like being a burden."
He sighed. "I understand but be reasonable. Rest here for the night, and I'll lead you to Arendelle tomorrow. I know a quick path."
"And the price?" I crossed my arms.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "I have an idea of repayment, but that's tomorrow's problem."
Relenting, I offered my hand for a shake, and he accepted. Otis led me to the stables, giving me a blanket. Déjà vu. I ended up sleeping in the hay after a stranger saved me. Once he left, I went through my satchel to check my stuff. With everything accounted for, I ignored the poking bristles and fell asleep.
The sound of creaking wooden doors forced me upright, raising my fist to defend myself—a metal bucket clunk at my feet. Otis hovered over me, shaking his head. He jabbed a thumb towards the door before he stomped out of the stable. No time to pick the hay out of my hair, I shook off what I could like a wet dog. Thank goodness the sun wasn't up to blind me as I headed after Otis.
No, I didn't want to do morning farmer chores, but the family saved me from suffering in the wild. If I could get out of here without being killed or sacrificed, I'd even listen to all the anti-magic lectures while we worked. Lucky for me, he didn't say much during our time together. I couldn't tell whether that was a good sign or not. Either way, I received a warm meal when the work finished. Taking the small plate of eggs, I sat outside, watching the forest. How far could my home be?
"Aren't you hungry?"
Otis's voice disturbed my peace. Forcing my lips into a tight smile, I laughed. Or I hoped the noise I made sounded like it. I scooped a forkful of food into my mouth.
"You excited to head to the kingdom?" He asked.
I nodded. "Do you know when we can leave?"
"Aye. I need help with one more thing tonight. We leave once the sun sets." Otis turned and headed back into the house.
His words left an unsettling feeling in my chest. Without his guidance, I wondered if I could continue my journey on my own. My muscles, achy from this morning's labor, argued otherwise. That didn't ease my worries. What if overworking my already weary body was part of the plan? I had no other choice but to depend on his offer of transportation again. Sighing, I placed my finished plate by the door before I returned to my hay pile. There's no help in overthinking. The best plan was to get some rest, so I had enough strength to get out of another bad situation.
Just as he promised, Otis woke me as the sky barely lost its red. His wife gave me a hooded cloak, immediately covering my face once she put it over my shoulders. I don't question how she squeezed my arms for a moment like she didn't want to let go. It could be a gesture of good-bye. Maybe it's a last-ditch effort to give me a bit of luck because she can't stop what's next.
I climbed onto the wagon, taking the seat by Otis's side. He paid no attention to his family lingering in the doorframe. He flicked the reins, signaling the old horse to pull us into the dense forest. The warmth of Iryna's touch faded from my skin, allowing the humid summer night to settle on it. Otis offered no conversation. I listened to the rustling trees, the creaking wooden wheels roll, and for anything that sounded out of place. My hand, inside my satchel, clutched the dagger. I wouldn't go down without a fight.
"There's a lot of a danger in this world," Otis finally broke the silence. "It's best to be informed. Prepared."
"Is this about that queen?"
"Perceptive. That's good. They'll like that."
"They?"
"I'm not the only one upset that a witch runs the kingdom."
"So, it's a resistance." I gritted my teeth, squeezing my fists tighter.
He snorted. "Nothing gets past you, missy."
"What if I don't fit in?"
"Like you said. We fight magic, protect the innocent. It's that easy." He took a moment before he added, "Unless you're on the wrong side."
I rolled my shoulders back, keeping my breathing steady. As I leaned back, propping my elbows on the edges of the wagon, I stared at Otis. "I haven't promised to help anyone. This is about you convincing me that this a fight worth fighting. If not, I continue my journey."
"To Arendelle and its queen," he growled.
"You think I'm a snitch. What the hell do I owe that queen? If she has enemies, why is that my problem?"
Otis grunted, seeming convinced of my act. It was hard to tell when he had a face like stone. The darkness and my hood hid the emotions on my burning face. I swallowed to ease the itch in my throat, fighting the instinct to scream or cry. What had happened since I'd left?
In the distance, an orange haze flickered at the end of the path. The torches that surrounded the space illuminated a small log building. It reminded me of the old schoolhouses I'd seen in history books. Around a dozen men lingered outside while I could see the shadows of more bodies inside the house through one of the open windows. Hard to tell the actual size of the group, and that scared me. Otis parked his wagon by the other horses and carriages. It didn't look like many. Maybe "carpool" was a thing in the 1800s.
"Are you sure it's safe?" I asked quietly. Goosebumps ran across my skin. "Lots of men here."
"The Ulfhedinn needs some women. They're unnoticed by anyone who ain't their husbands. In case she can't slip away, she needs to know how to fight her way outta trouble. Another thing those bastards won't suspect."
"Of course." I tugged my cloak tighter, but the fabric couldn't hide me from salivating mouths or unwanted hands. Otis had a point. These men wouldn't suspect a fight.
A few members of the crowd called out to Otis. He jumped off to greet them with slaps on the shoulder. I lingered behind as they walked to the house, searching for ways to escape. Otis turned, noticing my distance, and grabbed at my arm, moving me ahead of the little pack.
"Got yourself a little girlfriend?" One of the men hooted.
"Shut up, ya devil." Otis pushed me forward. "At least, I got a recruit."
I shoved his hand off of me before I entered their little safe house. The men's' howling laughter made me miss the quiet forest. I pushed my way through the crowd, cringing at their harsh scolding voices. Another two dozen leering eyes stared at me as I made my way across the room. Pulling my hood low as I could, I resided in the corner of the building with a pocket of free space. Like Otis mentioned, no women in sight unless they disguised themselves too. Otis and his gang settled in the middle of the crowd. Good. The less he hovered over me, the easier it would be to slip away.
After a few more agonizing minutes of nonsensical yapping, the conversations evaporated when a man stepped on the raised platform at the back of the building. Years of sun exposure stained his once white skin a reddish hue. He looked to be older from the distinct wrinkles on his face. Had he not been clean-shaven, I expected to see gray hair. His eyes, dark, almost black, commanded silence. When his gaze swept over the remaining chatterboxes, it sucked the noise out of the victims' mouths. Something about his clothing reminded me of an outfit I've seen in the past. I slid against the wall to get closer to the stage.
"Gentlemen, thank you for joining me tonight," he boomed. The bass of his voice made the air tremble. When he shifted to look at the right side of the crowd, I saw the crocus over his heart. Or what was left of it. The symbol had a giant gash across it. Still, there was no mistaking that this was an outdated uniform of an Arendellian soldier.
The mystery man began to pace on the stage. "It is unfortunate to report that we have made little progress since the massacre. Any attempts to infiltrate their private military have been futile. The royal family has shut us out from a kingdom that owes everything to us! From the farmers!"
A chorus of men shouted, announcing their presence for the roll call.
"The merchants! The sailors! The disgraced soldiers not good enough for Her Majesty." He scowled like he was disgusted to say the title. Each group cried out as their leader named them, mourned with them.
With one finger held up, the crowd quieted. Their leader continued, "The gates closed, leaving us to suffer near isolation from the world. I know some of you were forced out of your homes to survive this. Then, a curse wasted our land, displacing the harmony of our ecosystem. We hoped—No! We deserved retribution once the royal family finally bothered to pay attention to us. Instead, this witch displaced us to get what she wants—to change what we know is right. Begging and borrowing from other rulers to make our kingdom appear weak. She and that family forget that we give them power! Everyone has a place. We must not forget that! It is our duty to put the monster where it truly belongs! Magic is a disease that does not have a place in our home!"
"Baldr! Baldr! Baldr!"
The roaring cheers sounded muffled compared to the pounding of my heart. Their energy frazzled my nerves with its raw wild anger. Fists raised. Spit flying from their mouths. I wanted to dissolve into this wall even though I knew it wouldn't protect me from the chaos. This man, Baldr, knew the power of his words. Without knowing the members of Arendelle's royalty, his speech would've convinced me there was tyranny.
"I repeat this history of our cause with you tonight," Baldr spoke over the crowd, "because I need your dedication. We've lost many brave souls, which is why I asked you to bring me more warriors. Your delivery will prove to me that our cause will survive."
Just when I had enough of this horror show, hands grabbed at me, sucking me into the crowd. I struggled, twisting and turning from their touch. Someone had pulled down my hood, taking some hair with it, before they tossed me in front of the platform. Around me were the other recruits, most of them young like me. I was kind of relieved to see more people with overwhelmed faces. I noticed one woman to the side of me with a giant grin on her face. She stood tall, ready to fight for this crazy guy.
Baldr stepped off the stage, quieting the crowd into hushed breathing. He walked up to us, staring each one of us in the eyes. My body lost all feeling when our gaze finally met. I had no idea who this man was, but I prayed he didn't know anything about me. Who knew how much Intel they had on Elsa's life? My heartbeat resumed once he moved on to the next shaking person.
A smile spread over Baldr's face. "Yes! You have delivered them! Now, don't be frightened by the power, children. The gods have chosen you to save this kingdom from corruption and magic. If this queen wants to parade herself like a god, we use another's blessings to defeat her. Your dedication will be rewarded with the spirit of the wolf."
He jumped back on the platform, pumping his fist to the skies. "Look before you! This is only the beginning of the Ulfhedinn's rebirth and the end of the witch!"
In the midst of their celebration, one of the recruits jumped on the stage in front of Baldr. "You are under arrest in the name of the Queen!"
He whipped out a dagger, pointing the tip at Baldr's throat. The closest resistance members attempted to stop the guy. In the next second, a crashing sound demanded everyone's attention. A storm of armed men invaded the cabin, tackling anyone in their sight. Gasping, I ran from the center of the battle into a dark corner of the room. I slid my body along the wall, trying to remain undetected as the men fought each other. Too many bodies blocked the exit. My eyes darted around the chaos until I spotted ragged curtains wafting in a nearby window. I dodged my way through the fight and tore them off the window frame. As I began to heave myself through, something yanked my hair back. I screamed, clawing at the thing that caught me.
"Not so fast, traitor!" the attacker yelled.
"Let go!"
Fighting against the pain, I twisted my body halfway toward my assailant and kicked him in the knees. He groaned. I punched his inner arm, right below the elbow. Finally, his fingers released their grip. With one final kick to his stomach, I climb out the window. The shadows of the trees promise to protect me. I sprinted to freedom, but a white blur blocked my way. Too fast for me to avoid, my body collided with a hard surface. I hit the ground. Looking up, I found a man riding a white horse. Not the prince or savior I needed.
His sword pointed right at my face. "Don't make this hard for yourself."
"I don't know what's going on!" I crawled backward, away from his weapon. "Please, I'm not with this cult."
"I'm not a fool." He hopped down from the horse. "You've been planning this meeting for weeks."
"I just met these people! Didn't you see I was a recruit—?" Then, I see the crocus on his uniform. "You're from Arendelle."
"Not all of us are traitors to the Queen."
I reached out to him. "Listen to me! I know the Queen!"
He hopped back, shoving the tip of his blade in my face. "Back off!"
"I swear!" I lifted my hands in the air. "Take me to Queen Elsa. She'll explain everything."
"I'm not making your job that easy, assassin!"
Oh god, I did not have time for this crap. I pushed myself underneath the sword, slamming my feet into the guard's shins. The blade stuck into the ground. He flew forward, chest landing on the hilt before falling to the side. I winced, knowing that was going to sting for a few days. Getting back on my feet, I pulled the sword out of the ground and ran. More Arendellian guards chased after me. One jumped in my way, swinging his weapon toward me. Our swords clanged together as I defended myself. We matched strike for strike.
Behind you! Logan warned me.
I ducked, rolling away. The man, attempting to tackle me, missed and hit the swordsman. During my next escape attempt, someone kicked me over. Groaning, I held my thigh, glaring at the next assailant. I sprung up, tackling him right in his abdomen. As we fell, his head smacked into the ground with a crack. Before his disoriented state faded, I punched his face. Barely on my feet again, I found myself surrounded by more guards. Damn it! How many people did they bring? Breathing in ragged pants, I held out my weapon in shaky hands. Did I have enough energy to take out five trained soldiers?
I swung the sword at the closest soldier, cutting his wrist. His sword dropped. I raised for another blow when something struck the back of my leg. Buckling to my knees, I caught myself with one hand, but a foot sprung out to kick my stomach. Now hunched over, I felt someone shove me into the ground. Another boot stepped on the hand that held my weapon. I yelled, feeling my bones crack, forcing my fingers to release the sword. Someone yanked my arms up. Cold metal clamped on my wrists, clicking my defeat into place.
Once they finished chaining me, the guards left me faced down in the dirt to arrest more people. Time dragged as I watched boots march past me, yet no one bothered to pick me off the ground. Tears welled up in my eyes, falling into the grass. The fight left in me fizzled away. I focused on the throbbing pain mixed with the embarrassment of being defeated. I wanted the ground to show mercy and swallow me.
When guards lifted me on my feet, they lead me to the line of prisoners waiting to enter a caged wagon. From what I could tell, they captured most of the Ulfhedinn. I didn't see their leader, Baldr, anywhere. Either he escaped, or the guards killed him. I hadn't bothered to check any of the unmoving bodies scattered on the ground. The thought of dead people would push me over the edge. Once I got into the prison on wheels, I looked at everyone's faces. They shared an expression of defeat, but no one gave away any hint about Baldr's fate. The door slammed behind me, hitting my back, shoving me into another person. The group pushed me back into the iron bars, and I did my best to stay in place.
Our bodies lurched forward as the horses pulled us away. The trip, long and silent, took most of the night. Because we were forced to stand, the group slumped on each other, fighting their exhaustion. I leaned against the bars, watching the scenery pass. For a moment, something glittered in the night sky as it soared above the cage. I squinted my eyes to identify the object, but it disappeared when the wagon passed a few trees. It must be exhaustion. Shaking my head, I turned back to nature again, hoping to see a glimpse of the kingdom. The path didn't take us in that direction. At the end of our journey, this giant stone fort loomed in the distance. A flicker of hope filled my heart at the sight of the destination. Elsa had brought me here once, which meant the castle was a few miles away. There was a chance someone could recognize me, even if it had been a year or so.
All the cages halted at the gate in the front. Our welcoming party stood, carrying swords and shields, filled with the energy we lost along the way. Guards opened the wagons one by one, escorting each prisoner inside before proceeding to the next one. As I waited for our turn, something whooshed past my face, making me flinch. Following its movement, I saw it land in a tree. There, a dove perched on a branch, sparkling under the light of dusk. Was it watching me?
I fell forward as the support of the door disappeared. The two guards caught me before I fell face first. Without any words, they ushered me into the fort.
"Hey! Wait!" I struggled against their hold.
"Silence!" One guard barked. He dug his nails into the back of my neck, quieting any further protests.
Rushing through a zigzag of shadowy hallways, the guards then heaved me into a cell. I groaned as I hit the stone floor with a thud. My skin and bones absorbed the crash, adding to the pain I had already suffered these past few days. I laid there, trying to catch my breath, face pressed into the cold, dirty floor. I tried to move my hands, but they hadn't removed my chains.
Lifting my head, I called out in a weak voice, "Please. You don't understand."
Again, my captors ignored my calls. Gritting my teeth, I lifted my bruised body back on its feet with the last bit of strength in my legs. I staggered to the small opening in the door. Despite the flickering torches lined down the hall, I struggled to see in the shadows. The outline of a guard stood nearby my cell.
"I know the Queen. Just tell her my name! It's Alexis!" Something struck the metal bars in the opening. I yelped, jumping back. The metal on metal contact stabbed my eardrums with its ringing.
"Quiet!"
I sank to my knees. This close to the castle, yet I couldn't see any of them. What was Elsa doing right now? Waking up for breakfast with Anna and Kristoff? Or did she sit in the windowsill down the hall, wondering if I was ever coming back? If only any of them knew the truth. I was home.
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