~9 YEARS LATER~
"Lana, are you okay?" Jennifer, Lana's best friend, asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Lana said snapping from her daydream.
"I just wondered if you were going to the party at my house, the day after next?" Jennifer asked.
"I don't know..." Lana said.
"Lana, come on! You are 16. You & me are the only single ladies of all our friends! You need to come with me, maybe you will meet the man of your dreams." Jennifer coaxed Lana.
"Jen, you know how my father is. He has been pushing me to get married for a while now. I just don't want to go and end up in some horribly embarrassing situation. I know all the men that are going to be there... the usually boring ones." Lana sighed.
"Aw, come on, you don't know that! There might be some handsome knight there who you have never met before!" Jennifer said looking at Lana who gave her a 'you know I'm right' look. "Okay, fine, you are probably right. The same people go to all these parties. But still, maybe you would meet someone you really like. Besides, it could be really fun."
"Alright, I'll go, for you." Lana smiled.
"Thanks." Jennifer said as she got up and walked off.
Lana sat there reading book. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining, and Lana hadn't felt this is good in a while. She had some hope that what Jen, was saying was true. She wanted to find a man to get married to. But all the nobles and knights that were introduced to her, made her give up hope. She didn't want to marry a man like any of them, even if they were rich. She wanted someone who would actually love her, for her, not for how pretty she was or how rich her family was or who her ancestors were.
She was beginning to think it wasn't possible. Pretty soon her father was going to grow tired of waiting and she would be a victim of yet another arranged marriage.
~Night of the party ~
"Wow! You look so beautiful!" Lana said, as she looked at Jen in her baby blue dress, hair pulled back. "I don't think I've ever seen you look more beautiful!" Lana said truthfully.
"Thanks. I just really want tonight to go well!" Jen said excitedly.
"I'm sure you will find some guy who you will fall madly in love with." Lana laughed.
"Why aren't u dressed? The part starts in ½ an hour." Jen asked worried.
"I just... Jen, don't get mad... but if I maybe wanted to not-" Lana was cut off.
"NO! You are not getting out of this! Lana, it will be fun! Dancing, and men! Lana, please!" Jen pleaded with her best friend.
"But I don't even have a dress here, I just wanted to tell you that I wasn't going."
"I have a dress you can use! Please stay... for me." Jen pleaded.
"Alright... but I'm only doing this for YOU." Lana said sighing.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Jen said giving Lana a hug, and showing her the dresses she had.
"Oh Lana, I think I found the one for you!" Jennifer said pulling out a small, pink, off the shoulders dress. "It doesn't even fit me. You're so petite though, I'm sure you will fit into it."
"Wow... I have to admit, it's a very beautiful dress." Lana smiled feeling more and more excited about the night ahead of her.
"Put it on! Let's see how you look in it!" Jen said shutting the door to her room
"I love it!" Lana said looking at herself in the mirror wearing the dress.
"Tonight is going to be so much fun!" Jen said working on Lana's hair. "So do you want your hair up or down?"
"Um... I don't know." Lana said.
"Well I think your hair looks better down." Jen said brushing the back of Lana's hair.
"So what do you think of all the fighting?" Lana asked.
"Well, I don't' really know. I mean I guess it is good that we are fighting to win, to become more powerful, but I just can't see how that outweighs all the men who die." Jen said with a touch of sorrow in her voice.
"I know what you mean. The fighting has been going on so long and it seems like nothing changes except for the people who die. My dad has been fighting in the for so long, since I was born." Lana said sharing the same sorrowful tone as Jen had.
"I thought you and your dad were close?" Jen said surprised.
"We are... especially over the last 4 or 5 years. I just want the fighting to stop. One day he could be killed and...I've never seen a war... well I guess u can't cal it a war, more like just sporadic attacks, that make battle... and then there is peace for about 5 seconds... sorry anyway, I have just never seen fighting for so long with such little change." Lana sighed.
"I know, all the knights are always off fighting! The nobles are always so preoccupied! But we can't change it... okay Lana! You are done!" Jen said as Lana stood up and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Wow! Thanks Jen." Lana smiled, turning around to see the back of her dress. "Looks great."
"Come, on lets go down! Most of the guests have already arrived." Jen said taking Lana's hand, leading her down the staircase into a very large room filled with at least 50 beautiful people, dressed in the finest of clothes.
"Jen, this is so... you really went all out!" Lana said shocked at how many people were there and the party hadn't even started yet.
"I told you, it could be fun." Jen said laughing as she & Lana walked into the room as people started at them.
"Lana, so many men are looking at us! This is so exciting..." Jen said as they walked over to the head table.
"I know, I am kind of embarrassed." Lana said shyly.
"Why? You should be proud!" Jen said as they sat down.
"Jen, who are all these people?" Lana asked.
"Well, over there... is the PRINCE!" Jen practically shouted.
"Are you serious?" Lana felt so nervous.
"Yes! He was passing threw, on his way back home, and my father insisted he stay for the feast tonight. He said he would love to, that he had to stop tonight anyway. How perfect is that! Maybe the prince will fall in love you! Oh my god, just like a fairy tale. That would be so romantic!" Jen said getting Lana excited.
"Jen, Shhhh! What if someone hears you? Besides, I'm just some girl to the prince, he could have any girls he wants." Lana said in a low tone.
"Lana, you are so beautiful, why wouldn't he want you?" Jen giggled.
"Jen, be real. Even if he were to fall in love like you are hoping, I heard he is a real jerk." Lana said quietly.
"LANA! How can you say that!" Jen said.
"SHH! You know as well as I know. He is spoiled and he gets anything he wants and when he doesn't-" Lana was cut off.
"Lana, look around! Everyone here is spoiled." Jen Chuckled.
Lana just rolled her eyes, as the food was set in front of them. All the guests had arrived, and there looked like there must have been 200 people to Lana.
*****
The night went very well. The food was great. The music was beautiful. The people were all very polite, no arguments, Lana knew it was because of the Prince.
"Lady Jennifer, would you care to dance?" A handsome mad who looked not older than his mid twenties, who Lana recognized as Lord Robert Brown asked Jen.
"I would love to." Jen said as she turned back to Lana and mouthed the words "he is so gorgeous!" Lana laughed.
They did make a cute couple. As she was watching them dance, she felt a hand on her shoulder and immediately turned around.
"Lana Lang?" Charles Smith asked in an already knowing the answer tone.
"Hello, Charles." Lana said a little annoyed he was playing games with her; she knew he knew whom she was.
"I know we have been to hundreds of these types of parties and we have never really connected." He said nervously, which gave Lana more confidence.
"You could say that." Lana said thinking of their last awkward encounter.
"Well, I was wondering if you would dance with me." Charles asked taking Lana's hand and leading her onto the dance floor before she could even answer.
"Okay, then I guess we are dancing." Lana said a little frustrated.
Charles put his hand on Lana's hip, and took Lana's hand in his. As they danced, Lana was trying to find Jen; she wanted to see if she was having a good time with Robert.
At last she spotted them, doing the Waltz. Quickly, Lana found herself doing the waltz along with the crowd. Lana had to admit that Charles was a very good dancer. Lana had mastered most of the dances herself; she had to, to survive all the parties with the rich and famous. It gnawed at her; she too was classified in that group, just because he parents were related to the royal family. She had done nothing to earn the honor, yet it was given to her.
"Are you alright? You seem a little distracted." Charles said as the dance came to its end.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess it's like you said, I must have been a little distracted," Lana said embarrassed by how rude she had been. Even if Charles was not one of her favorite people, he had been nothing less than a perfect gentleman to her... this time at least.
"Oh, it is quite all right." Charles said as Lana & he headed off the dance floor. "Thank you Lana Lang for that dance." He said with what looked like to Lana the most sincere smile. Lana didn't understand it, but she felt herself blushing.
After Lana danced with about 14 other men their, who she had no romantic interest in (they were all very nice people, for the most part) she sat down, in hopes that they would get the hint to let her be. Mercifully, she did not run into the prince. After about 10 minutes of sitting down watching all the other people, Charles came back up to her. Lana strangely found herself not dreading dancing with him AGAIN. But He didn't' ask her to dance. "So, what is a pretty girl like you doing sitting down here?" He asked. "Surely, you must have been dragged all across the dance floor by the men here."
"I have! Trust me. I guess I'm kind of hiding." Lana said surprising herself by how she revealed this to Charles.
"I see, good thing I got my dance in early." Charles laughed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you." Lana said embarrassed, as she looked down.
Charles took Lana's hand. "Don't worry, you didn't. But you know, I have a better place we could hide."
Lana didn't know what to say, so she didn't answer, but to her relief he didn't seem to want an answer, it was so like Charles, he just leader her threw the halls, which Lana herself knew very well, having been here almost every week since she was 8. When they stopped, it was at one of the rooms closest to the main entrance.
Charles looked back and smiled at Lana as he entered the room. It was a beautiful room, with sofas and chairs with the best of silk used to line them. Jen & herself loved this room because this was the room they were 'never to go into' when they were younger, and now that they were adults this was there 'hangout' as Jen called it. Lana always thought that when Jen talked like that it seemed so... uncivilized like one of the peasants off the streets would talk.
"I bet no one will be coming in here, I don't think you could have picked a further room from the party." Lana laughed.
"I guess not." Charles laughed with Lana, as he still held her hand and moved in closer to her. Lana had her back to the wall. "Have I told you how beautiful u look tonight Lana?" Charles asked looking into her eyes.
"No, I don't think you did." Lana said feeling herself blush again.
"Well, I'm saying it, I mean the last time I saw you, you were just becoming a woman, but now..." Charles said leaning in to kiss Lana.
Lana found the last comment offensive, she guessed she shouldn't, but she couldn't help her instincts and backed up from the kiss, and hit the wall.
Charles just moved with Lana and kissed her, even though she wasn't kissing him back.
"Charles... listen... I don't think this is a good-" Lana said as she felt very uncomfortable.
"Don't think." Charles said as he slid his hands down her waist.
"Charles, I really don't-" Lana said as she found her arms being pinned against the wall above her head. "Charles, stop!" Lana said trying to put as much authority in her voice as possible.
Charles just laughed a little before kissing her neck. Lana didn't know what to do. She tried t simply back out of it, but he didn't release her hands. "Let go of me." She said trying to stay calm.
Charles just returned back to her mouth for another kiss. Lana turned her head.
"Lana! Stop resisting, I know you ant this too." Charles said with a smirk on his face.
"No, no I don't." Lana said trying her best not to look into the face only inches from her own.
As Charles released one of her wrists, he put his hand around her waist. Lana tried to get out of his grasp but couldn't. She used her free hand to slap him across the face. He just grabbed her hand again, and said, "I wouldn't do that again."
For the first time Lana really started to panic. Then the door opened ands he saw a man about 6'3", with dark brown hair, and green eyes walk in. He looked no more than 18 years old.
Charles saw him too, still holding onto Lana. He could tell instantly from the way he dressed that he wasn't a guest at the party; his clothes were far too plain for a ball like this one. He didn't recognize him, and by that he assumed he was a peasant, because he knew every noble and knight for hundreds of miles around.
"What do you want?" He yelled at the man. Lana felt relief sweep through her body.
The man looked at his grip on Lana suspiciously. "What is your business here!" he yelled angrily.
"I'm here to warn you. We know of an attack here tonight. They plan to imprison the noble men and kidnap the women. Hurry, tell me were the rest of the guests are!" The young man demanded in such a voice of panic, Charles didn't hesitate to answer him truthfully.
"They are in the main room, down the hall. There is over 200 people and the prince is there too!" Charles said as another man, with blonde hair and blue eyes slighting shorter than the first man, about 6 feet, obviously friends, said to the first man, "Where are they? They sent 5 men ahead! They were not but 50 yards behind me, we have to warn them." The blonde said in a panicked voice.
"Down, the hall in the main room. You! Take him, show him were they are all at!" The taller man told Charles, and he didn't hesitate to show the blonde the way, Charles was a knight and knew that his solemn job was to protect his people.
"Thank you." Lana said just thankful that this man interrupted them, and not worrying about the danger he had just spoke of.
The man didn't answer Lana how ever; he just stared at her in shock. After about 30 seconds, he turned around to a loud crash at the door.
He turned to her and said, "Run!" and he ran out of the room. Lana heard running, and voice. They were in a whisper but escalated, and then they seemed to stop. She didn't know were to run, if she hadn't been to scared she would have remembered to go out the side door, but she drew a blank and just backed up into a corner.
When she saw a huge man with black hair walk in she only felt herself become more incapable of functioning properly. He didn't like he came to just talk with her.
As she came towards her, Lana screamed. The man put his hand over her mouth. Lana a started to tremble, and only them realized that there was a door.
It was too late, the large man just held her, and started dragging her off. She tried to punch and push him away, but nothing helped her.
Then the man who had saved her from Charles less than 5 minutes before entered the room with a panicked look on his face. He rushed over to her side. His arm was already bleeding. He took one swing at the man who was holding Lana, and hit his square in the face. The man immediately let go of Lana and went after Clark. He pulled out a knife.
Lana knew she should have ran, but couldn't at the sight of the knife. The man thrust the 7" blade and her rescuer jumped back dodging the blade. He thrust it again hitting him in the side as blood came pouring out. He tried to plunge it in again, but the injured man had tripped the attacker, sending him to the floor, but he quickly recovered and raised his knife in the air, as soon as he was over the man who had helped Lana before. But before he could job the knife straight into his heart, the man on the floor grabbed his hand and used all his failing strength to resist the man's pressure on the knife held a mire 3 inches above his chest.
At last he could not hold him back any longer and the knife sliced straight into his chest. Lana winced as she saw the man go limp. She was immediately terrified, there was now no one to help her, she rushed towards the door as the man followed after her.
Lana copy heard a gasp as she felt 2 hands entangle around her. The man held a longer knife to her throat, "If you scream, I will kill you." He whispered into her ear. Lana felt the knife already putting pressure on her throat and she felt a sharp pain and saw blood drip down her neck. Then she felt the man go limp and fall to the floor. She didn't understand, until she looked over to see the man had the sword he had thrust into the man with greens eyes, in his back, right over his heart. Lana saw the man who had pulled the knife out of his chest, close to his shoulder, collapse on the floor again. Lana knew the man who had grabbed her was dead and raced over to the man on the floor who had just saved her life.
She supported his neck, "Can you hear me? Are you alright?" The man opened his eyes and then went unconscious. Lana opened his shirt to see were he was bleeding from when. She was frightened by the massive amount of blood. But she was even more shocked by what she saw hanging around his neck. With blood on her hands, she picked up the small golden necklace around his neck, with the word "Lana" and a rose next to it.
Lana let herself cry and tears slide down her cheeks for the first time in 9 years.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Lana screamed as loud as she could.
"Lana, are you okay?" Jennifer, Lana's best friend, asked.
"Yes, I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Lana said snapping from her daydream.
"I just wondered if you were going to the party at my house, the day after next?" Jennifer asked.
"I don't know..." Lana said.
"Lana, come on! You are 16. You & me are the only single ladies of all our friends! You need to come with me, maybe you will meet the man of your dreams." Jennifer coaxed Lana.
"Jen, you know how my father is. He has been pushing me to get married for a while now. I just don't want to go and end up in some horribly embarrassing situation. I know all the men that are going to be there... the usually boring ones." Lana sighed.
"Aw, come on, you don't know that! There might be some handsome knight there who you have never met before!" Jennifer said looking at Lana who gave her a 'you know I'm right' look. "Okay, fine, you are probably right. The same people go to all these parties. But still, maybe you would meet someone you really like. Besides, it could be really fun."
"Alright, I'll go, for you." Lana smiled.
"Thanks." Jennifer said as she got up and walked off.
Lana sat there reading book. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining, and Lana hadn't felt this is good in a while. She had some hope that what Jen, was saying was true. She wanted to find a man to get married to. But all the nobles and knights that were introduced to her, made her give up hope. She didn't want to marry a man like any of them, even if they were rich. She wanted someone who would actually love her, for her, not for how pretty she was or how rich her family was or who her ancestors were.
She was beginning to think it wasn't possible. Pretty soon her father was going to grow tired of waiting and she would be a victim of yet another arranged marriage.
~Night of the party ~
"Wow! You look so beautiful!" Lana said, as she looked at Jen in her baby blue dress, hair pulled back. "I don't think I've ever seen you look more beautiful!" Lana said truthfully.
"Thanks. I just really want tonight to go well!" Jen said excitedly.
"I'm sure you will find some guy who you will fall madly in love with." Lana laughed.
"Why aren't u dressed? The part starts in ½ an hour." Jen asked worried.
"I just... Jen, don't get mad... but if I maybe wanted to not-" Lana was cut off.
"NO! You are not getting out of this! Lana, it will be fun! Dancing, and men! Lana, please!" Jen pleaded with her best friend.
"But I don't even have a dress here, I just wanted to tell you that I wasn't going."
"I have a dress you can use! Please stay... for me." Jen pleaded.
"Alright... but I'm only doing this for YOU." Lana said sighing.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Jen said giving Lana a hug, and showing her the dresses she had.
"Oh Lana, I think I found the one for you!" Jennifer said pulling out a small, pink, off the shoulders dress. "It doesn't even fit me. You're so petite though, I'm sure you will fit into it."
"Wow... I have to admit, it's a very beautiful dress." Lana smiled feeling more and more excited about the night ahead of her.
"Put it on! Let's see how you look in it!" Jen said shutting the door to her room
"I love it!" Lana said looking at herself in the mirror wearing the dress.
"Tonight is going to be so much fun!" Jen said working on Lana's hair. "So do you want your hair up or down?"
"Um... I don't know." Lana said.
"Well I think your hair looks better down." Jen said brushing the back of Lana's hair.
"So what do you think of all the fighting?" Lana asked.
"Well, I don't' really know. I mean I guess it is good that we are fighting to win, to become more powerful, but I just can't see how that outweighs all the men who die." Jen said with a touch of sorrow in her voice.
"I know what you mean. The fighting has been going on so long and it seems like nothing changes except for the people who die. My dad has been fighting in the for so long, since I was born." Lana said sharing the same sorrowful tone as Jen had.
"I thought you and your dad were close?" Jen said surprised.
"We are... especially over the last 4 or 5 years. I just want the fighting to stop. One day he could be killed and...I've never seen a war... well I guess u can't cal it a war, more like just sporadic attacks, that make battle... and then there is peace for about 5 seconds... sorry anyway, I have just never seen fighting for so long with such little change." Lana sighed.
"I know, all the knights are always off fighting! The nobles are always so preoccupied! But we can't change it... okay Lana! You are done!" Jen said as Lana stood up and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Wow! Thanks Jen." Lana smiled, turning around to see the back of her dress. "Looks great."
"Come, on lets go down! Most of the guests have already arrived." Jen said taking Lana's hand, leading her down the staircase into a very large room filled with at least 50 beautiful people, dressed in the finest of clothes.
"Jen, this is so... you really went all out!" Lana said shocked at how many people were there and the party hadn't even started yet.
"I told you, it could be fun." Jen said laughing as she & Lana walked into the room as people started at them.
"Lana, so many men are looking at us! This is so exciting..." Jen said as they walked over to the head table.
"I know, I am kind of embarrassed." Lana said shyly.
"Why? You should be proud!" Jen said as they sat down.
"Jen, who are all these people?" Lana asked.
"Well, over there... is the PRINCE!" Jen practically shouted.
"Are you serious?" Lana felt so nervous.
"Yes! He was passing threw, on his way back home, and my father insisted he stay for the feast tonight. He said he would love to, that he had to stop tonight anyway. How perfect is that! Maybe the prince will fall in love you! Oh my god, just like a fairy tale. That would be so romantic!" Jen said getting Lana excited.
"Jen, Shhhh! What if someone hears you? Besides, I'm just some girl to the prince, he could have any girls he wants." Lana said in a low tone.
"Lana, you are so beautiful, why wouldn't he want you?" Jen giggled.
"Jen, be real. Even if he were to fall in love like you are hoping, I heard he is a real jerk." Lana said quietly.
"LANA! How can you say that!" Jen said.
"SHH! You know as well as I know. He is spoiled and he gets anything he wants and when he doesn't-" Lana was cut off.
"Lana, look around! Everyone here is spoiled." Jen Chuckled.
Lana just rolled her eyes, as the food was set in front of them. All the guests had arrived, and there looked like there must have been 200 people to Lana.
*****
The night went very well. The food was great. The music was beautiful. The people were all very polite, no arguments, Lana knew it was because of the Prince.
"Lady Jennifer, would you care to dance?" A handsome mad who looked not older than his mid twenties, who Lana recognized as Lord Robert Brown asked Jen.
"I would love to." Jen said as she turned back to Lana and mouthed the words "he is so gorgeous!" Lana laughed.
They did make a cute couple. As she was watching them dance, she felt a hand on her shoulder and immediately turned around.
"Lana Lang?" Charles Smith asked in an already knowing the answer tone.
"Hello, Charles." Lana said a little annoyed he was playing games with her; she knew he knew whom she was.
"I know we have been to hundreds of these types of parties and we have never really connected." He said nervously, which gave Lana more confidence.
"You could say that." Lana said thinking of their last awkward encounter.
"Well, I was wondering if you would dance with me." Charles asked taking Lana's hand and leading her onto the dance floor before she could even answer.
"Okay, then I guess we are dancing." Lana said a little frustrated.
Charles put his hand on Lana's hip, and took Lana's hand in his. As they danced, Lana was trying to find Jen; she wanted to see if she was having a good time with Robert.
At last she spotted them, doing the Waltz. Quickly, Lana found herself doing the waltz along with the crowd. Lana had to admit that Charles was a very good dancer. Lana had mastered most of the dances herself; she had to, to survive all the parties with the rich and famous. It gnawed at her; she too was classified in that group, just because he parents were related to the royal family. She had done nothing to earn the honor, yet it was given to her.
"Are you alright? You seem a little distracted." Charles said as the dance came to its end.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess it's like you said, I must have been a little distracted," Lana said embarrassed by how rude she had been. Even if Charles was not one of her favorite people, he had been nothing less than a perfect gentleman to her... this time at least.
"Oh, it is quite all right." Charles said as Lana & he headed off the dance floor. "Thank you Lana Lang for that dance." He said with what looked like to Lana the most sincere smile. Lana didn't understand it, but she felt herself blushing.
After Lana danced with about 14 other men their, who she had no romantic interest in (they were all very nice people, for the most part) she sat down, in hopes that they would get the hint to let her be. Mercifully, she did not run into the prince. After about 10 minutes of sitting down watching all the other people, Charles came back up to her. Lana strangely found herself not dreading dancing with him AGAIN. But He didn't' ask her to dance. "So, what is a pretty girl like you doing sitting down here?" He asked. "Surely, you must have been dragged all across the dance floor by the men here."
"I have! Trust me. I guess I'm kind of hiding." Lana said surprising herself by how she revealed this to Charles.
"I see, good thing I got my dance in early." Charles laughed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult you." Lana said embarrassed, as she looked down.
Charles took Lana's hand. "Don't worry, you didn't. But you know, I have a better place we could hide."
Lana didn't know what to say, so she didn't answer, but to her relief he didn't seem to want an answer, it was so like Charles, he just leader her threw the halls, which Lana herself knew very well, having been here almost every week since she was 8. When they stopped, it was at one of the rooms closest to the main entrance.
Charles looked back and smiled at Lana as he entered the room. It was a beautiful room, with sofas and chairs with the best of silk used to line them. Jen & herself loved this room because this was the room they were 'never to go into' when they were younger, and now that they were adults this was there 'hangout' as Jen called it. Lana always thought that when Jen talked like that it seemed so... uncivilized like one of the peasants off the streets would talk.
"I bet no one will be coming in here, I don't think you could have picked a further room from the party." Lana laughed.
"I guess not." Charles laughed with Lana, as he still held her hand and moved in closer to her. Lana had her back to the wall. "Have I told you how beautiful u look tonight Lana?" Charles asked looking into her eyes.
"No, I don't think you did." Lana said feeling herself blush again.
"Well, I'm saying it, I mean the last time I saw you, you were just becoming a woman, but now..." Charles said leaning in to kiss Lana.
Lana found the last comment offensive, she guessed she shouldn't, but she couldn't help her instincts and backed up from the kiss, and hit the wall.
Charles just moved with Lana and kissed her, even though she wasn't kissing him back.
"Charles... listen... I don't think this is a good-" Lana said as she felt very uncomfortable.
"Don't think." Charles said as he slid his hands down her waist.
"Charles, I really don't-" Lana said as she found her arms being pinned against the wall above her head. "Charles, stop!" Lana said trying to put as much authority in her voice as possible.
Charles just laughed a little before kissing her neck. Lana didn't know what to do. She tried t simply back out of it, but he didn't release her hands. "Let go of me." She said trying to stay calm.
Charles just returned back to her mouth for another kiss. Lana turned her head.
"Lana! Stop resisting, I know you ant this too." Charles said with a smirk on his face.
"No, no I don't." Lana said trying her best not to look into the face only inches from her own.
As Charles released one of her wrists, he put his hand around her waist. Lana tried to get out of his grasp but couldn't. She used her free hand to slap him across the face. He just grabbed her hand again, and said, "I wouldn't do that again."
For the first time Lana really started to panic. Then the door opened ands he saw a man about 6'3", with dark brown hair, and green eyes walk in. He looked no more than 18 years old.
Charles saw him too, still holding onto Lana. He could tell instantly from the way he dressed that he wasn't a guest at the party; his clothes were far too plain for a ball like this one. He didn't recognize him, and by that he assumed he was a peasant, because he knew every noble and knight for hundreds of miles around.
"What do you want?" He yelled at the man. Lana felt relief sweep through her body.
The man looked at his grip on Lana suspiciously. "What is your business here!" he yelled angrily.
"I'm here to warn you. We know of an attack here tonight. They plan to imprison the noble men and kidnap the women. Hurry, tell me were the rest of the guests are!" The young man demanded in such a voice of panic, Charles didn't hesitate to answer him truthfully.
"They are in the main room, down the hall. There is over 200 people and the prince is there too!" Charles said as another man, with blonde hair and blue eyes slighting shorter than the first man, about 6 feet, obviously friends, said to the first man, "Where are they? They sent 5 men ahead! They were not but 50 yards behind me, we have to warn them." The blonde said in a panicked voice.
"Down, the hall in the main room. You! Take him, show him were they are all at!" The taller man told Charles, and he didn't hesitate to show the blonde the way, Charles was a knight and knew that his solemn job was to protect his people.
"Thank you." Lana said just thankful that this man interrupted them, and not worrying about the danger he had just spoke of.
The man didn't answer Lana how ever; he just stared at her in shock. After about 30 seconds, he turned around to a loud crash at the door.
He turned to her and said, "Run!" and he ran out of the room. Lana heard running, and voice. They were in a whisper but escalated, and then they seemed to stop. She didn't know were to run, if she hadn't been to scared she would have remembered to go out the side door, but she drew a blank and just backed up into a corner.
When she saw a huge man with black hair walk in she only felt herself become more incapable of functioning properly. He didn't like he came to just talk with her.
As she came towards her, Lana screamed. The man put his hand over her mouth. Lana a started to tremble, and only them realized that there was a door.
It was too late, the large man just held her, and started dragging her off. She tried to punch and push him away, but nothing helped her.
Then the man who had saved her from Charles less than 5 minutes before entered the room with a panicked look on his face. He rushed over to her side. His arm was already bleeding. He took one swing at the man who was holding Lana, and hit his square in the face. The man immediately let go of Lana and went after Clark. He pulled out a knife.
Lana knew she should have ran, but couldn't at the sight of the knife. The man thrust the 7" blade and her rescuer jumped back dodging the blade. He thrust it again hitting him in the side as blood came pouring out. He tried to plunge it in again, but the injured man had tripped the attacker, sending him to the floor, but he quickly recovered and raised his knife in the air, as soon as he was over the man who had helped Lana before. But before he could job the knife straight into his heart, the man on the floor grabbed his hand and used all his failing strength to resist the man's pressure on the knife held a mire 3 inches above his chest.
At last he could not hold him back any longer and the knife sliced straight into his chest. Lana winced as she saw the man go limp. She was immediately terrified, there was now no one to help her, she rushed towards the door as the man followed after her.
Lana copy heard a gasp as she felt 2 hands entangle around her. The man held a longer knife to her throat, "If you scream, I will kill you." He whispered into her ear. Lana felt the knife already putting pressure on her throat and she felt a sharp pain and saw blood drip down her neck. Then she felt the man go limp and fall to the floor. She didn't understand, until she looked over to see the man had the sword he had thrust into the man with greens eyes, in his back, right over his heart. Lana saw the man who had pulled the knife out of his chest, close to his shoulder, collapse on the floor again. Lana knew the man who had grabbed her was dead and raced over to the man on the floor who had just saved her life.
She supported his neck, "Can you hear me? Are you alright?" The man opened his eyes and then went unconscious. Lana opened his shirt to see were he was bleeding from when. She was frightened by the massive amount of blood. But she was even more shocked by what she saw hanging around his neck. With blood on her hands, she picked up the small golden necklace around his neck, with the word "Lana" and a rose next to it.
Lana let herself cry and tears slide down her cheeks for the first time in 9 years.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Lana screamed as loud as she could.