Well, here's chapter six! I really hope you guys enjoy it! I guess you could say this chapter has a bit of drama or angst in it! But the next chapter or the chapter after that will defiantly have some action! Promise!
Review thanks goes to:
Lavinia1, snow blossoms('goodness gracious Charlie brown'…that just cracked me up!! ), Inda, daisy31, dreamingofflyingaway(I absolutely love your reviews! You just get so into it! Thanks! ), f-zelda(Don't worry, I'm gonna update my other stories as soon as possible! I promise! But first I'm gonna finish this one, then work on All For Love and Coming Home!), RiverDolphin, Bisexual Pygmy, laloner.
Thanks!! You guys are the BEST!!
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Blessed
Author: Tevrah
Email: kmw852yahoo.com
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Chapter SixThey had been moving for hours. Hitomi had long since stopped trying to figure out where they were going. It was dark and Aidan had finally fallen asleep in her lap. Hitomi's arms tightened around him to help keep him warm.
The night was cold and she shivered. Suddenly a heavy cloak dropped around her shoulders and she looked up quickly to see the masked man beside her. Even though she couldn't see his eyes, she felt him staring at her and turned away.
Her face was forced back as the man gripped her chin tightly and turned her to him. Then, just as abruptly, he turned her loose. Her chin was stinging from his harsh grip, but she turned her attention to Aidan and didn't look back.
An hour later Hitomi was jerked awake as the horse she was riding came to a sudden stop. Aidan was wide awake and staring around with huge eyes. Hitomi hugged him reassuringly and he pressed his face into her chest.
There were at least a hundred different tents with campfires in front of them. Men were coming out of the tents with swords strapped to their sides and evil in their eyes. Hitomi heard the masked man dismount, but she paid him no mind. No wonder Van was having such a hard time finding the campground. It was completely obscured from view on all sides, surrounded by the forest.
The masked man turned her attention by grabbing her waist and gently setting her on the ground. Why was he being so nice to her? Hitomi held Aidan as tightly as she could as two men grabbed her and led her to a tent in the middle of the campground.
The tent was smaller than the rest, but it was warm. Hitomi was thankful for that.
"Now don't go tryin' to escape, Your Grace," one of the men said mockingly, then slowly looked her over from top to bottom, his gaze lingering where it shouldn't. "You'd never make it out in one piece."
Hitomi ignored him and with a slight huff, he turned and the two men left. Hitomi tenderly put Aidan on his feet, but he grabbed her legs in fear. She knelt down to his level and kissed his forehead. "It'll be all right," she whispered. "I promise."
"I wanna go home, Mama," Aidan whispered back. "I wanna see Papa."
Hitomi hugged him and blinked the tears back from her eyes. "I know, baby, I know. We'll see your papa soon. All right?"
She felt him nod against her chest and she swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. She sat down and pulled him into her lap, softly humming a lullaby to him for comfort. Feeling him relax, she silently willed him to sleep and a minute later he was fast asleep.
She held him close and allowed her own eyes to close. Only Van could save them now.
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The sun was just beginning to rise, stretching its numerous fingers across the land. But in the Fanelia Castle, the occupants had already been up for a long time. The king and his council had been running all over the kingdom searching for the queen and prince. The servants were rushing about, fear in every step.
That is what Jon, Captain of the Guard, walked upon as he entered the castle in the early morning light. Men and women hurried to get out of his way as he made his way to the throne room. The doors opened and he found the king and his council all pacing the room.
Van turned toward him and there was a combination of pain, fear, and rage in his eyes. "Where have you been?" Van roared.
Jon raised an eyebrow, bowed low, and answered. "I was watching the countryside in case the rebels tried to start another fire. What, if I may ask, is going on, Milord?"
Van sighed and sunk into a chair wearily. "Their gone," he croaked.
Jon turned his bewildered gaze to Dylen. "Who's gone?"
Dylen sighed and handed him a note. Jon silently read it and his breathing quickened. "Oh, no," he whispered. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I knew she shouldn't have gone out there."
"Gone where?"
Jon opened his eyes to find Van's narrowed gaze on him. He licked his lips nervously. "The day before yesterday," he started out slowly, "Her Majesty asked me to accompany her to the village. She said that she had heard about the people's rising unease and mistrust. She told me that she wanted to ease their fears. It was amazing, Milord. She just talked to them, and they listened to her every word. When we returned to the palace, she was in good spirits, but I was worried. I told her that the rebels might be angry with her for ruining their plans of placing mistrust in their king and come after her. She just smiled and walked away. I swear, Milord, if I had known something like his would have happened, I would have made sure she didn't go. She just wanted to help so badly, that I couldn't refuse her request."
Van clenched his fists and took a deep breath to steady his rage. He would deal with Jon when he was more in control, right now he had to talk to the villagers to see if anyone had seen or heard anything helpful.
"Go to the village," Van ordered, "see if anyone saw or heard anything, anything at all. Now."
The council did as they were told and filed out quickly. "I'm truly sorry," Jon said before he too slipped out.
Van wearily sank back down and buried his face in his hands. Dear gods, where was his family?
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Hitomi shivered and opened her eyes as the wind blew through the tent flaps and surrounded her. Aidan moaned in her arms and she gently rubbed his arms. They were both so cold. She knew it would heat up later on in the day, but the nights and mornings in Fanelia were extremely cold.
The flaps of the tent opened and a man stepped inside. Hitomi's arms tightened around Aidan as she looked at the man's face and found that it was the same masked man from the night before. He was holding a blanket and jacket in his arms.
They stared at one another for a long minute, then the man reached down and pulled Hitomi to her feet. Aidan woke up at the sudden movement.
"Mama?" he whispered sleepily. "I'm so cold."
Hitomi held him as close as she could, but the both of them were shivering. "I know, baby," she whispered back.
"Where's Papa?" he asked.
Hitomi looked at the masked man who was watching them with interest. "We'll see him soon," she promised.
The masked man stared at her a moment longer, then slowly held out the blanket and jacket. Hitomi gently put Aidan on the ground and he immediately attached himself to her legs. She took the jacket and put it on, then she grabbed the blanket and knelt down and wrapped it around Aidan's small body. He wrapped his arms around her neck and she picked him back up.
During it all, Hitomi felt the stare of the man and fought the urge to shiver. Finally, she turned to look at him and straightened to her most regal bearing. "Where are we?" she demanded.
The man cocked his head.
"What are we doing here?" she asked.
The man stayed silent.
"Why were we taken?"
Silence. Then the man walked forward and stopped just as their toes were touching. He was taller than her and Hitomi had to lean her head back to look at him.
"Why won't you show yourself?" she whispered.
"As you wish," the man whispered back and slowly took his mask off.
Hitomi gasped in horror as she stared into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. "No!"
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Van walked into the throne room and went straight to the window overlooking the village. He clasped his hands behind his back and stood silently. The council waited patiently, knowing he needed a moment in silence.
Van turned and stared at his council but just as he was about to speak, he noticed something. "Where's Jon?" he asked quietly.
Bartoy shrugged. "We don't know, Your Majesty. We have guards out looking for him, but no one has seen a trace of him for several hours."
Van sighed and rubbed a hand down his face wearily. "He'll turn up," he said. "He always does." He faced his council, still as stone. "At the present moment, it has been almost an entire day since my wife and son were kidnapped. There have been no leads, no clues of any kind." He took a deep breath. "I know that by this time most are beginning to believe that they are dead, but I do not. I will not believe that until I am able to touch their lifeless bodies. Am I clear?"
The council nodded.
"Good," Van said. "In that case I have an announcement to make. If my family are not found before the third moon, I will abdicate my throne."
The council immediately objected. "But, Sire…!"
Van held his hand up for silence. "No buts, Dylen. Ruling my country has been my duty. I have been doing it since I was five years of age. But my family is my life, my heart. If I must, I will spend the rest of my life hunting for them.
"You have all been my guides for ruling this kingdom. All of the priceless advice that you have given me over the years has helped me in so many ways. It has been an honor to be your king. But it has been a privilege to be your friend, and I thank you."
Then, slowly, he turned and walked out the doors.
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Hitomi shook her head to deny it. "No," she repeated.
Jon's blue eyes sparkled in amusement at her reaction. He stepped back a step and bowed low. "Afraid so, Your Grace," he said mockingly.
Fury made her shake. "How could you?" she shouted. "How could you! Aidan trusted you! I trusted you! Van trusted you!"
His handsome face contorted in rage. He grabbed her arm in a painful grip and jerked her to him so hard that Aidan was squished between them. "Do not speak to me of that infidel king! He is nothing!"
Fury glittered in her eyes as she answered him. "Van is a great king. He is kind and listens to his people, puts his people first. He does not murder, lie, or cheat. He responds with honor to whatever is thrown his way." She wretched her arm from his grasp and stood up as tall as she could. "So do not speak to me of infidels. The only infidel I see is the one standing before me."
Jon grabbed her hair so hard that she have a small cry of pain. Aidan whimpered against her neck. That small sound seemed to pull Jon back to reality and he released Hitomi. She backed away until she felt the back of the tent rubbing against her.
"You have a lot of spirit," Jon said quietly. "I respected that you risked your own safety to calm the people. You are a true queen. Once this is all over, perhaps you will continue being queen."
Hitomi tightened her jaw to withhold a shutter of repulsion at his unspoken suggestion. "I am and shall remain the queen. My husband will find us. The true king will destroy you."
Jon cocked his head at her and smiled. "You have much to learn, Your Grace." And with that he was gone.
Hitomi fell to the ground and moaned.
"Mama?" Aidan said. "When's Papa coming?"
She rocked him back and forth, for both of their comfort. "Soon," she promised. "Very soon."
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At midday, Jon returned to the tent with two men. Hitomi looked up at him from her place on the floor. He motioned to the two men and they went to her and put her on her feet. Then without warning, one of the men jerked Aidan from her arms. Aidan began to scream.
"NO!" Hitomi screamed. She tried to run to her son, but the other man grabbed her. "NO!"
The man forced her outside and Hitomi watched in sheer terror as the man holding her son put him on the ground in the middle of the campsite. Tears began to run down her cheek as Aidan screamed her name over and over. She struggled as had as she could, but the man only tightened his grip on her.
Jon went to stand in front of Aidan's small trembling form. He withdrew a glowing pink pendant and held it up for all to see. Hitomi continued struggling. "No, please! I beg you! Leave him alone! Please!"
"I must see," Jon said. He began to swing the pendant back and forth. "Reveal. Reveal his true form."
The pendant swung back and forth, back and forth, picking up speed as an invisible wind began to blow. Hitomi's screams were drowned out by the hard-blowing wind and she watched in horror as the wind surrounded Aidan and picked him up into the air.
Suddenly a bright light burst forth and everyone shaded their eyes. Aidan's arms were forced to spread wide and a pain grew in his back. He screamed for his mother and father as small white wings burst from his back. The pain was so great for his small body that he immediately passed out.
The wind died down and Aidan was dropped to the ground. Jon looked at his bloody wings and roared in rage. He withdrew his sword and stalked forward.
During the incident the man had loosened his hold and Hitomi and she slipped from his grasp, running to her child. She got there right before Jon and fell atop Aidan's small bloody form.
Jon slowly lowered his sword to point at the ground. "Do not protect him," he said in controlled fury. "He is one of them. Just like his bastard father!"
Hitomi said nothing. She couldn't. Fear made her throat close up and tears streamed down her face as she lay atop her unconscious son. She was trembling so hard that her teeth were chattering.
In anger, Jon threw down the pendant and stomped away. The pendant landed beside Hitomi and without out thought she grasped in her fist. She held tightly to her son and the pendant and two men jerked her up and pushed her back inside the tent. She landed on her side and shielded Aidan from more harm.
She slowly sat up and cradled her son close. She felt the blood on his back and moaned. She took a deep trembling breath and closed her eyes. She had never healed anyone before, but her grandmother had. Hitomi knew she was nowhere near as powerful as her grandmother and mother, but she had to try.
At first nothing happened, then a strange energy began to flow through her and in her mind Hitomi could see the damage done to Aidan. She slowly healed every inch of his back and his wings withdrew from sight. Then the energy disappeared and she slumped to the ground, spent of power and strength.
When she opened her eyes, Aidan was staring at her, but his face was blurry. She blinked her eyes quickly and her focus improved a bit. Aidan was crying silently and her heart broke all over again. She held him close and rocked him comfortably. They had to get out of there, but she didn't know how. All she knew was that they had to leave. Tonight.
She felt Aidan's tears on her skin and made a silent vow. Nothing would ever harm her child again. Never again would he have to suffer. She was getting them out of there. Or she was going to die trying.
To be continued…
Well, what did you guys think? There should be about one or two more chapters left and then this story will be finished! I hope you guys were surprised when I revealed the rebel leader!
Be sure to check out my bio. I have some new story ideas posted and some story updates and I would love to know what you think! Oh, and be sure to leave a review! Luv ya!
Tevrah