Hello all! I have come back. I needed a few days to write more future chapters and I've done that. Here is what I have done. Enjoy. . .
Nadia had been sleeping when the smell woke her up. It was harsh on her nose and she woke up in confusion. She propped herself up and looked out the window; the sky was dark and the sun a dark orange color. She flung the comforter off and dashed to the balcony. When she looked outside she saw that the darkness was smoke, it was also the smell that was burning her nose. She gasped and used her night gown sleeve to cover her mouth. She ran back inside and slammed the double doors to the outside shut. She even locked them and backed away slowly.
It was then that she heard the screams and heavy thuds on the door downstairs. She threw on her robe and then ran out of her room only to be greeted by the sights of panic. Servants, men and women, ran back and forth through the corridors and hall ways. More important people ran about collecting papers, personal affects and items of value. She looked over the railing of the stairs that led to the downstairs saw the men beginning to barricade the door. Suddenly someone grabbed her!
She screamed and spun around, it was her mother. The Marchioness grabbed her and hugged her before pulling her back into her room. Once the door was shut, blocking out the chaos of the outside, her mother went to her wardrobe and yanked a white velvet under dress that had a brown overdress. She threw the dress at her daughter and then pulled her night gown over her head and then threw a corset around her body and began tying it closed.
Nadia tried to ask, "Mother what's happening? Why is the castle burning?" The tears shone in her eyes as she looked to her mother for an explanation.
Her mother shushed her without a word and hurried to throw the rest of her dress over her head and secure it on her body. Once that was done she went back to the wardrobe and yanked out a riding cloak, as she secured it around her daughter's shoulders Nadia stopped her and put her hands on either side of her mother's face to make her look at her.
"Mother, I need to know." In the back of her head Nadia knew who was attacking them.
Her mother's eyes were watery, "He has come for you. He said he would."
Nadia was shocked, "But you said he. . .personally invited father on a hunting trip."
Her mother shook her head and held the girl's hands in her own tightly. "We lied to protect you! We didn't want you to worry-"
The girl yanked away from her, "Didn't want me to worry? The Black Knight is at our front doors to fetch me and you didn't want me to worry?" She looked at her mother, appalled. "What did you plan on telling me when he did come? Mother! He is burning our castle to the ground to get me!
"We didn't expect him to come only three days later!" Her mother shouted back. She began untying her dress and then pulled it down to reveal tight trousers underneath. She threw her outer dress to the bed and then turned back to face her daughter. "We didn't know when he would return but we prepared to fight and fight we shall." She went to her child, who had sunk down to the bed, and took her face in her hands like her daughter had just minutes before. "People are going to die for to protect you and all we can do now is make sure they don't die in vain."
Nadia looked up at her, "Why didn't we run? Why stay here mother?" Her voice was down to a whisper.
"Because no matter where we would go he would find us. He always find who he wants. All we can do now is smuggle you out like your father and I intended to." She helped Nadia to her feet and was about to leave the room when a blood covered sentry burst into the room.
He was gasping for breath but gave her his message anyway, "My lady Georgina! You are needed on the walls!" He had a sword in his hands which he threw to her, she caught it expertly and buckled in on her waist as she left the room.
Once at the door she put her hand on the frame and turned her bright blue eyes to the matching pair of her daughter's. "Don't leave this room until I return."
Without waiting for a reply she left.
Outside on the walls the marchioness found her husband there as well. His sword dripped blood and he turned to face her when she came back. "I always liked looking at you ready for battle." He said when he looked her up and down. "Reminds me what a fierce woman I claimed."
She grinned skeptically, "Claimed? Ha! If we didn't meet on the battle field I would never have looked at you."
He smiled broadly and walked with his wife to the front of the castle, it overlooked the trail that wound up the hill leading to their gates. His smiled faded as he looked down and spotted their oppressor hacking his way from atop his horse to their doorstep.
"I'm glad you followed Joan. She taught you well," he said as he watched the scene below.
She nodded, "She inspired me to fight. Father didn't approve until you came asking for my hand after I went home."
"The way you accepted would have fooled anyone into thinking you were a refined young woman." He looked at her, "I knew better though."
His wife laughed despite the carnage below. "Oh you knew me, every part of me. If I didn't know you loved me I would have thought you were only doing it because I was pregnant." She looked over to meet his gaze.
Suddenly he grabbed her and kissed her with all his worth. She returned the passion and amongst the war and carnage they shared one last their last moment of intimacy. When they pulled away from each other they locked eyes.
"I'll be at the doors," he whispered.
She nodded and he left. She didn't look back but drew her sword and began ordering more archers to the walls. When she looked back down she saw that the Knight was staring at her with an ugly grin on his face.
In her room Nadia was pacing furiously. The Black Knight had come for her and she knew it. Her parents knew it too and as her father held down the foyer of the place, he was failing. The man was at his doors and the Marquis knew the odds weren't in his favor. It had been near an hour since he left his wife on the rooftop. He had stopped by his daughter's room but only to hug her tight and then leave without a word. She was left to cry alone in the solitude of her room.
Next chapter up in five!