Disclaimer: The characters and situations are the property of Terry Brooks. This is simply my take on them, attempting to see them through Amberle's eyes.
3. Flight from Havenstead
A rough hand shakes me from my slumber. "Amberle!" whispers Allanon. "They have found you. Quickly! Dress and meet me in the garden!"
"Wha…?" It takes a moment for this to sink in. Doubt grows in my mind. He certainly wants me to go to Arborlon, and the Druids of old were, if the stories are true, not unwilling to stoop to such tricks when it suited them. I step out onto my porch, ready for another confrontation.
I lose. Almost against my will, I dress and I wake the eldest child, a girl called Aida. I tell her not to worry, that I have been summoned home on account of a family emergency. She is to bring the others to her aunt's house next door once the day was come.
She is not fooled. She sees the fear in my eyes. "Amberle!" she cries. "Will we ever see you again?"
I do not know. In the end, I hug her and say, "I hope so, Aida. Now take care of the others, my dear. I'm trusting you with their care. I know you won't let me down."
The child nods solemnly. I leave before she can see the tears that threaten to overcome me.
Outside, there is as much chaos as two men can manage on their own. I resist the urge to roll my eyes as I fasten my riding cloak. Here goes nothing, I think as Allanon lifts me up onto that black demon-horse of my grandfather's.
As we ride away from Havenstead, I know that I will never see it again.
***
A/N: Sorry for the long lack of updates. I'll try to be a good girl and make the next update sooner. =)
P. S. Nightwanderer: I agree that the ending was rather a let-down, but I think I see why it had to happen. Still, I've got a plan for my version of the ending, and I hope you'll like it once I manage to get to it. =)