Chapter Two- Escaping the Past

Hi, I know I have not updated this in ages, and there are probably only a few who care, but I'm updating it now

Ariel stood on the balcony in the evening air, her shawl flapping slightly in the cool breeze. Septimus had stormed straight into his study upon his return, having thrown his reins into the hands of a stable boy, who led the exhausted animal away to water. The king had spoken to no-one, but had left them to their own devices, his face darker than Ariel had ever seen it before. She looked up at the stars now. This was her only chance. If she did not get away tonight, then she never would. He already had half of Stormhold's army out looking for the last Galahan, and getting out of the kingdom was going to be difficult- without the right help it would be impossible. And so it was a good job she had the right help. She sighed, looked out over Stormhold, and said a private goodbye.

"What are you doing out here at this hour?" His voice sent a chill down her spine. How could he be here now? Did he know? Had he found out that soon?

"I am…. Looking at the stars." It was all she could think of to say.

King Septimus chuckled. Surely that was a good thing.

"Some things never change." He stood beside her on the balcony. He was too close for Ariel to be comfortable. It was difficult to behave normally.

"Have you… have you heard anything yet?" she managed.

He shook his head, looking out over the forest. Ariel's mind wandered, all the way back to the same night that the King was remembering. A night in the forest fifteen years ago.

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Ariel's father half dragged her through the forest. It was the middle of the night, and she had been woken violently by her mother.

"Come on my darling, we have to go away for a bit, for a little holiday." Ariel's mother grabbed her hand and forced her shoes onto her small feet. The three of them, mother, father and child ran through the house to the back door. Ariel could hear men shouting at the front of the house, and suddenly there were flames engulfing it. Her mother gave a little yelp, as one of the men came into view.

"Sir, I've found them!" He shouted. Ariel was frightened. Her father turned to her.

"I love you sweetheart, and I always will. You remember that. Now you and mummy run fast, as fast as you can, and I will be with you again one day." Her mother, crying and shaking grabbed her and began to run. Ariel looked back at her father and their burning house. He had drawn his sword and was about to fight with the man who had found them. He looked back for a final time.

"Look for me in the stars Ariel, and I shall be there!"

And that was that. She didn't remember anything after that. Only waking up in a strange place, her mother and father nowhere to be seen. A few years later the story of the Galahans, her family, had ben explained to her. Her father had been the head of the Stormhold guard, the King's friend and loyal servant. His jealous brother had betrayed Stormhold, and had blamed it on Ariel's father. A neighboring Queen had led her armies against Stormhold, knowing exactly where to strike and cause enough damage to the kingdom to render it fallen. The king had learned quickly of the betrayal, but only enough that he was convinced by the evil uncle's lie. He had sent his personal guard in the middle of the night to kill the Galahans, whom he believed to be responsible for the fall of his kingdom, and Ariel's father had died trying to save her and his wife, her mother. Ariel remembered running for what seemed like an age through the forest, and then her mother was gone and she was alone. And then…. Nothing.

Ariel jumped as Septimus spoke.

"You know, I remember the night the Galahan family betrayed us. It was a night just like this one. There were a lot of stars. "

She did not dare look at him.

"The commander of my father's army, Sir Andrew Galahan, told a foreign queen where every single troop we had was stationed. She attacked and brought ruin upon us."

Hearing him say that was painful. Her father would never have done it. She knew it had been her uncle, but she was the only one, and she knew he would not believe her. She would not have enough time to tell him- he would kill her first.

"Of course, they were all killed for their trouble, their house burned to the ground that night. Only…. One of them escaped."

Why had she come here? Knowing full well that this would happen. Her mother, she had wanted to find her mother. And no-one knew what the child of the Galahans would grow up to look like. The risk had seemed so small.

"A child. She would be twenty three now. Is twenty three now. And she has returned, to ruin us once more." He looked at her steadily. She held his gaze, realizing not for the first time that he was handsome, and dark, and that she felt a strange kind or love for him. It was strange, his father had murdered her own. But that was his father, and from what she had heard, he was very different to the former king, not recognizable as his son.

"You are alright, Ariel? You look troubled."

She shook her head.

"I am fine. Why do you ask?"

He narrowed his dark eyes.

"The visit to see Queen Aiken, did it upset you?"

"No, not at all my lord. She is quite lovely. "

There was a short silence.

"Hmm. Well take care not to go out alone after dark. There is no telling what the Galahan girl will do to hurt me. If she were to hurt you as an attempt….. I would not be able to forgive myself."

He touched her arm gently, then turned slowly and left.

She looked up at the stars once more.

The situation had become even more complicated.

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