Chapter 28
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The Chase
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Dawn was breaking and Sarah could see the outline of the forest ahead of her. Sarah clutched Seafoams reigns tighly although she could not feel them, and she silently cursed herself again for not thinking of grabbing warm gloves and a warm cloak before she left. "Alright Seafoam, I know you're tired. Just to the forest now and we can rest." Sarah said sleepily. As if Seafoam understood Sarah, she took off full speed ahead towards the forest. The wind wiped at Sarah's face making her eyes water and she lowered her head as Seafoam ran along.
"Woah girl." Sarah called as they entered the forest. "Let's find a place to rest." Sarah dismounted and almost fell, her knees wobbling beneath her. Regaining her balance, she stretched her legs, sore from the long ride. Sarah lead Seafoam off the main road and into the forest, going just far enough that she would not be seen by anyone traveling the road but not far enough to lose her way.
Finding a suitable patch of dry earth, she unsaddled and bridled her horse. Seafoam winnied gratefully and began foraging for grassy tidbits.Sitting down, leaning against a tree Sarah watched Seafoam enviously as she grazed. "Stupid Sarah you never think things all the way through." she scolded herself, feeling very hungry with nothing to eat or drink. Despite her discomfort and the cold, it did not take Sarah long to fall into a deep sleep.
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The Duke's
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"What's taking her so?" The Duke said impatiently as he waited for Sarah to join him for breakfast. Just then, Sarah's personal maid burst into the dinning hall and curtseyed nerviously to the Duke.
"my Lord..." Sade mumbled nervously.
"What is it? Is Sarah alright?" Lasair asked concerned.
"Well, um, I went to check on the Lady Sarah as I do every morning, and, well I..." Sade fidgeted with her dress.
"Stop babbling and get to the point!" he snapped angrily.
"The Lady Sarah is gone, my Lord." Sade said, absolutly terrified.
"What do you mean she's gone!" he stood upsetting the table.
"I-I found this my Lord!" Sade quickly pulled Sarah's note from a pocket and handed it to the Duke.
Lasair snatched the note from Sade. "Fetch my guards!" he snapped at her. Sade ran from the room quickly.
"I should have known she'd do this." he growled angrily to himself after reading her note. He was furious that she left but at the same time he was very pleased, for he held a written promise of their engagement. Several of his guards walked in at that moment.
"The Lady Sarah has left." The Duke addressed his guards. "I am very worried for her well-being and I want her brought back." he said sternly. "She may be mortal but she's a spirited young lady, don't underestimate her. You may have to bring her forcefully, but you shall treat her as gently and civily as possible! Do I make myself clear?" he warned.
"Yes my Lord." the guards rang in unison.
"Then go!" the Duke sat again and motioned for his breakfast to be served.
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The Forest
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Something nudged at Sarah's shoulder and she tried to ignore whatever it was. Then she was nudged again, harder and this time followed by a loud snort. Sarah opened her eyes and found Seafoam looking down at her. "What?" she asked the horse irritably. Then she heard it, the distant sound of many galloping hooves. "Damn!" Sarah cursed, scrambling to her feet. Quickly she briddled Seafoam but as the sound began to grow louder she grew panicked.
"Arg! I don't have time for that." she said to the saddle and with a jump mounted Seafoam bareback. Sarah quickly guided Seafoam back to the road, peering out she could see a dozen or so horsemen galloping their way. "Crap! How long did I sleep?" she quickly turned back onto the road, urging Seafoam to go as fast as she could. Sarah heard calls from the men far behind her when she came out onto the open road. "Come on Seafoam, we far enough ahead of them." she said, trying to reassure herself of that fact.
"How dare he." Sarah fumed as they raced through the forest. "I'm not his property, he can't drag me back there against my will." she thought angrily. "You know you expected this Sarah." she argued with herself. "Face it, you'd be disapointed if he hadn't sent anyone after you, you'd be furious with him if he had simply let you go and face the Goblin King alone." Sarah slowed Seafoam a bit as she saw an approaching fork in the road. One would take her south towards the Palace of the elven King, the other would take her northeast, out of the forest to the central kingdom. Sarah looked back, she could no longer see the horsemen behind her. Without further hesitation Sarah went full speed onto the suthern road.
After she had gone a good clip down the south road, Sarah lead Seafoam straight into the forest. Heading east for a good pace she turned them north, hoping to connect with the north eastern road. "Now I hope they follow our trail south to the elven King." she mumbled hopefully, urging Seafoam through the forest as fast as they could safely travel. For a while Sarah thought she had lost her way in the forest, but then she spied the road ahead. She stoped Seafoam and they sat silent, listening. "Sounds like we lost them." Sarah smiled and patted Seafoams neck. "Well no time to rest." Sarah frowned again, her belly grumbling loudly. Once again, Sarah took to the road.
They road hard throughout the remainder of the day, never again hearing the sounds of horsemen following behind them. Dusk approached but Sarah refused to stop, fearing they would catch up with her should they rest. Sarah's head was light from hunger, her body was sore and cold seeped to her bones, reminding her of her chilly encounter with Illiana. Seafoam seemed to abound with an endless energy that Sarah envied.
As they continued on through the evening Seafoams pace slowed and Sarah slumped forward, almost laying on Seafoam, cluching her mane as well as the bridle finding some warmth against the tireless beast.Eventually Sarah lost consciousness and sliped from the horse with a thud on the hard cold dirt road. Seafoam nudged Sarah carefully but she did not stir, so the faithful horse stood by and watched.
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Hoggle and Didymus had been lucky enough to hitch several wagon rides on their travel towards the land of the Nymshir. It had only taken them four days to reach the northern borders of the southern elven kingdom, which northern land seperated the Nymshir from the central kingdom. They were in high spirits and decided to continue their journey through the night, hoping to continue their good time.
Hoggle halted as he swore he saw a large shadow looming on the road ahead of them. "What's that!" he whispered to Didymus, pointing towards the shadow.
Didymus, who held a lantern attached to his staff swung it out it front of him. "Who go's there!" he called.
"Shhhh!" Hoggle tried to hush Didymus quickly. "We may not want to attracts its attentions!"
The shadow shifted and a loud whinny replied. Hoggle silently chuckled to himself relieved. "I do believe that's a horse." Didymus declared and road Ambrosias ahead. "There's something else here." Didymus claimed as they drew closer the light revealed another form lumped on the ground.
The horse nickered and nudged the form. Didymus dismounted his shaking steed and he and Hoggle approached cautiously. The lantern spilled light over the form, revealing a face. "Sarah!" Hoggle proclaimed.
"Our fair maiden! Does she live?" Didymus inquired pained to see his Lady Sarah in such a condition.
Hoggle saw the rise and fall of her chest and touched her hand. "She's alive, she's as frozen as the Kings black heart." he grunted. "We gotta get her warm." After much nudging and prodding they were unable to wake Sarah and had to drag her off the road. "She doesn't look so heavy." Hoggle grunted as they dragged her into the forest, the horse following them.
Sarah awoke with a warm blanket around her, she could feel the heat of a nearby fire. For a moment she began to panic, fearing that the Duke had caught her and taken her back to his palace. Then she saw the trees above her, it was still night. "Sarah?" came a gentle and familiar voice.
"Hoggle?" she asked still in a daze.
"Fair maiden! Thank the gods you are well!" she heard Sir Didymus cry.
Sarah sat up and held her head in pain, she had a terrible headache from hunger and from a lump that had appeared at the back side of her head. "What are you doing here? I think I fell off Seafoam." She added dryly touching the tender lump.
"We found yous on the road. Cold as death." Hoggle started. "Whadda that rat do to you?" he asked defensivly.
Sarah couldn't help but laugh at Hoggle's protectiveness. "The Goblin King didn't do anything...do you guys have any food I'm starving."
"Of course!" Didymus started rummaging through one of their bags and offered Sarah bread, cheese and a skin full of water.
"Thanks, once again you guys are lifesavers!" Sarah drank deeply and tore into the bread.
"I didn't mean the King, I mean that nasty cousin of his!" Hoggle snapped.
Sarah blinked at Hoggle. "The Duke is a good man, Hoggle." she said in a shrill tone.
Hoggle snorted. "Ain't no one good in that family."
"That's not true! Lasair has been very kind to me and a good friend." she defended. "Where's Ludo?" she asked changing the subject. Hoggle glowered, wondering what the Duke had done to brainwash his friend.
"Ludo hath stayed behind to watch over Lady Midge and Lily." Didymus explained.
Sarah was about the respond when she suddenly heard the roar of fast approaching hooves. "Oh no! They've caught up with me." Sarah stood quickly but almost feel back over as she became very dizzy. "Sit my Lady you are not well!" Didymus insisted.
"Who's after ya!" Hoggle stood alert, hearing the horsemen.
"The Duke's guards...he didn't want me to leave..." Sarah tried to explain. "We must go! Quickly!" they stomped out the fire.
"Captain! I saw a fire go out! Over there!" the tree of them froze when they heard the voice of a guard call, not too far away.
Sarah grabbed ahold of Seafoam's reigns frantically. "Come on Hoggle, get on!" she called.
"Didymus wont ever be able to keep up!" Hoggle told her.
"Damn!" Sarah found herself cursing a lot since she had left the Duke's. "I wish we were home already!" she cried out in frustration.
Before they could blink, Sarah found herself on the doorstep of Midge's cottage. All energy seemed to drain from her at that moment and she fell, once again unconscious. Hoggle and Didymus looked just as shocked, and called to Midge for help.
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Author's note: So I was beginning to write about her trip back home and to the Goblin Castle when it started getting lengthy, so I decided to divide it into two chapters, instead of making one very long chapter. Next chapter has the confrontation.