20 years earlier...
Evora watched the only place she had ever known fading into the distance. She wasn't sure if it had yet been twenty four hours since she had lost everything but already things were moving to fast for her young self.
Now she found herself holding onto a guard of Stormhold as they galloped on horseback. Evora was hoping the ride wasn't long, she just wanted to be alone with her grief.
She spotted the King at the front of the crowd, close to where she was riding. Behind her were the seven Prince's of Stormhold, each riding along together, talking amongst themselves.
"Did you see how some of them mortally wounded?" She heard one of them say.
"It was something like I had never seen before" another one replied.
"Imagine seeing that sight" one of added, almost stuttering as he spoke.
"Be quiet, you insensitive fools" a voice Evora recognised dropped into the conversation as the boy who had untied her. She turned to glance at the group of brothers and found them all staring at her. Evora felt her cheeks burn up as she quickly looked away from them, wanting to hide from the questions they all in their eyes. Why her? What did she see? What did the witches say to her? Had she seen what they did to her family?
Evora felt herself unable to breath as the world started to spin around her and went to darkness.
"Don't move" a voice commanded and a hand gently pushed her back down as she tried to sit up "You've hit your head pretty hard"
Evora looked up and saw the boy with the green eyes looking down at her with his hand pressing a cloth against her head as she felt the thumping pulse in head as though it might burst.
"What happened?" She whispered
"You fell from the horse and hit your head" he answered, looking at her with concern.
"And who are you?" She asked
The boy laughed "My name is Prince Septimus. Can you remember your name?"
"Evora" she mumbled, feeling all of a sudden embarrassed being helped by a Prince.
"Evora, an unusual name" he tried to make her feel at ease.
"Septimus, how is she doing? Father wants to get going" a young man now approached them both.
"Primus, look at her. She can't be moved" replied Septimus. His eldest brother looked at her condition and he nodded "Agreed but Father won't be happy"
"Perhaps, you should all go ahead and I will escort Evora at her own pace?" Suggested Septimus.
"She has been through an ordeal" agreed Primus "How many guards do you think you will need?"
"Two at most" answered Septimus
"Please, I don't need help. I'll be fine if you leave me here" Evora tried to interrupt.
"Out of the question" they both almost said in unison, then the older one carried on "I'll go speak to Father"
Primus walked away to tell the King the plan. Evora felt awkward for causing them to pause their journey and that the youngest Prince was now tending to her wounds. He was still gently holding the cloth against her head as she bit her lip and looked away from his gaze, unsure on what to say, if anything at all.
"How are you feeling?" Septimus broke the silence.
"Awful" she mumbled, getting teary eyed by the question. Most of all she felt numb from so many emotions washing through her body, both physically and mentally.
They heard footsteps approach as Primus told them "Father has approved the plan, though he can only offer one guard"
"We would be fine without but one will be a help" nodded Septimus
"See you back at the Palace" offered Primus and then looked towards Evora "Many blessings for your future"