Disclaimer: All LoK characters and related material belong to Crystal Dynamics and Eidos.

To Find My Way Home

Chapter Two

Lord Richard had assisted me onto the front of his horse before climbing up on it behind me. It felt a little awkward at first, having this strange man right behind me with his arms around each side of me to hold the reigns, but I suppose by his nonchalant attitude, it was common to escort a lady in this manner.

We traveled along at a steady pace, not too slow, but not too fast either. We headed towards the east, the direction the knights had come from when I first spotted them. The scenery around us seemed to differ very little. We were in a wide-open field with a few trees here and there. The path we traveled on was discernable from the rest of the field by the worn down grasses from frequent use of travelers.

We eventually entered a mountain range, and continued our eastward path. After about an hour's total travel time, we emerged from the mountains. A sort of cliff-valley opened up to reveal a large stone structure built into the opposite side of the cliff walls. A moat surrounded the front of the structure and a drawbridge was being lowered so that we could enter the strange edifice.

Several guards welcomed our arrival, greeting Lord Richard and his men at the gates. I was too busy taking in my new surroundings to notice everyone around me greeting me with amazement and excitement. I didn't know what all the fuss was about, nor did I really care.

"Please, everyone. Lady Danielle has endured much during the last three days. I'm certain she would much rather be united with her father right now and get some rest. After such, I'm sure she would be more than willing to share with us the tale of her ordeals," Lord Richard attempted to disperse the growing crowd.

Lord Richard cut a path through the crowd, leading me further into this 'citadel'. As we passed by everyone, I noticed that most of the men and older boys were clad in some form of armor or another. The women all seemed to be wearing long flowing dresses. I was quickly feeling out of place in my blue jeans and black tank top.

The knight led me into what I assumed to be the business district of this town. We weaved down the street until coming to a tall building in the middle of what appeared to be the town square. He opened one of the front double doors and motioned me inside.

The inside of the building contradicted the environment outside. The atmosphere outside was very humid and dry with dust blowing around everywhere. In here, it was plush and cool. This building was elaborately decorated. A fancy desk and cushioned seats centered the room while the walls were covered in fully stocked bookshelves. Obviously someone of high class worked here.

"Danielle! My daughter! Thank the heavens you are all right!" a voice, familiar, yet not so familiar at the same time, called out. I turned my head to the left, where a man strikingly identical to my father emerged from a doorway.

"Dad?" I whispered to myself as this man gathered me into a huge embrace. He looked exactly like my father; only this man had grown out a mustache. "Dad? You can cut out the act now. You don't have to play along with these guys any longer. Why are you acting like this anyway? I was only gone with my friends for a few days."

My 'father' suddenly pulled back, shock in his eyes. "My poor Danielle! They have you brainwashed as well! The vampires are not your friends! They kidnapped you to try to force us to surrender!"

"Wait... First, vampires are not real. Second, why would anyone kidnap me?"

My 'father' ignored my first statement and immediately answered my question. "Danielle. Do not go thinking yourself so ordinary. You are my daughter. You are of noble blood. As the governor of the largest human citadel, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of all the citizens of the citadel and that includes you."

Wow. Now that was just something that made my head spin. My father, the one I knew from back home, was indeed into politics. In fact, he was the governor of our small country town. The similarities were just weird.

"Governor Wesley, your daughter has seemed confused and distraught since we found her. Perhaps she should be taken home and have a warm bath drawn up for her," Lord Richard suggested.

"Yes, I believe that is a good idea, Richard. I shall take her home straight away. You have a smart head on your shoulders as well as the strength to match. Perhaps you are the proper suitor for my daughter."

"Thank you, Governor."

My father began to lead me to the exit of what I now assume to be the governor's office. The change in conversation had suddenly sparked my interest. I paused momentarily and turned back to Richard, getting a good look at him for the first time since coming here. I don't know why I didn't see the similarities before.

"Lord Richard..."

"Please, milady. Just call me Richard."

"Okay. Um, Richard. Does your last name happen to be Jefferson?"

"If by last name you mean surname, then yes it is," he answered before turning to my father. "You see, governor? Her memory is already returning!"

"That it is," my father replied before we continued on our way. As we headed towards the upper class residence area, my mind was preoccupied with Lord Richard. I couldn't believe that I didn't realize it before. Richard Jefferson. That is my ex-fiancée's name. Rick...

We soon arrived at our 'home'. My father ordered the maids to start a bath and to lie out some fresh clothes for me. I still didn't understand what was going on around me, and I was afraid that I would lose my mind trying to figure everything out. So instead, I allowed the comforts of the warm bath water to ease my mind. I would just forget everything for now and pretend that none of this was happening.

The bath water was extremely relaxing. So much so that I soon dozed off. While I slept, I remember bits and pieces of a dream I was having. It was confusing to say the least. Glimpses of battle. Two armies battling to the death. Neither side was giving in.

Then everything changed pace. I saw myself being taken far away. I was a prisoner of war and helpless to do anything about it. I had been taken to the fortress of the enemy. It was a church of some sort. A cathedral maybe. But it was surrounded by water. It seemed unnatural, for some reason, for my captors to reside here. But I couldn't figure out why.

The scenes changed again. I was no longer watching myself, but was now experiencing everything firsthand. I was gagged and bound and lying on a hard stone floor. I could see strangely shaped feet around me. Large feet with only two toes. I could barely make out what appeared to be a throne made of stone, before the most revolting face obscured my view.

"Such a foolish child. You should know that if you play with fire, you are bound to get burned," the hideous face said to me before everything faded into darkness.

"Milady! Please, if you do not come out of there, you will catch your death of cold!" one of the maids woke me with a start. I guess I had been asleep for quite some time since I had been shivering from the cold water.

"May I have some privacy please?"

"Of course, milady. My apologies," the maid quickly left the room for me to change. After drying off, I went over to the clothing that had been left for me. To my dismay, it was one of those long flowing dresses I had come to see the noblewomen of this town wear.

I had been an extreme tomboy growing up, and still have the influences of one running in my veins. So wearing dresses all the time was not going to be a big thrill. Nonetheless, it was a dark blue color, which I deemed tolerable, so I slipped the garment on.

Afterward, I wandered through the large mansion of my new home, until I came across the aroma of freshly cooked food, and stumbled towards the dining hall. It was there that I found my father, who had been in counsel with a few officials, including Richard.

"Ah, Danielle! You have come to join us! Are you feeling a bit better?" my father inquired.

"Yes, I do feel somewhat better," I impishly replied as I approached the table. Richard held a seat out for me, which was something I'm not entirely used to. Sure, my Rick back home was sweet and kind to me, but modern society has had a way of taking away certain courting rituals such as holding a lady's chair for her.

"Please, Danielle. Tell us how you managed to get away from those vampires," my father insisted. His audience seemed rather intrigued as well, making me feel very uncomfortable as the center of attention.

I cleared my throat, knowing that this would be probably the biggest bunch of bull I would ever speak. "Well, it went kind of like this..."