Will awoke late the next morning to the sound of Corin calling out to his daughter.
"Come on, Erin, we're leaving today."
"Coming, father!" he heard her call back. Her tone was happy, and yet it caught in her voice, as if she was remembering something less pleasant than what was at hand. He smiled into his down pillow. She was leaving him, but judging by the way she sounded, she was going to miss him. He would make an effort to see her every chance he would get, that much, he promised himself. He immediately got up and dressed himself. He surely did not want to miss her on the day she was to leave.
As soon as he was decent, he exited his room and met up with Erin, who was carrying a small bag with a servant behind her carrying the rest of her luggage. As he walked beside her, he slid the bag from her hand, smiling as he did so. She grinned back, and once again, he fell in love with the way it lit up her face and eyes. His heart ached with the knowledge of how he would miss her. But more than that, he wanted her to go home and be in peace for a while. He just wanted her to be happy, and being separated for a short time was certainly a small price to pay.
As they stepped outside, Will had to shield his eyes with his free hand from the bright sun. He was impressed with himself. He had slept until midmorning, something he had never done before, simply because he would get so bored with the balls and parties that he would turn in early. He seemed to inherit his mother's disdain for the snippy conversations and other foolishness associated with royal galas.
He and Erin had talked long into the night, walking among the hedges in the garden, kissing each other lightly as they strode leisurely, returning only when someone finally sent a servant out to retrieve them. Derek and Odette seemed to understand what was going on when they returned to the party. Corin didn't seem to notice, however, as it was he who had sent for them. Both Erin and Will had decided to keep their relationship quiet, unless, of course, it was in jeopardy.
Will was glad he had woken up and that Erin was not leaving for another hour or so. Corin supposedly had 'business' to attend to with Derek, meaning, of course, they would sit around and talk about hunting of something along those lines for the next hour. Will and Erin both found it quite humorous, the way they pretended to be so serious all the time when everyone knew the truth. Odette found it as amusing as her son and Erin, as she rolled her eyes when they started walking down the hall, suspiciously closer to Derek's trophy room.
Of course, Will and Erin were much wiser about their time together. They spent it walking together around their favorite spot along the lake. Will was happy not to hear the voices. Apparently, whoever was threatening him and Erin was with Alaric, and now that the war was over, the threats were over as well. So they walked and talked in peace, neither one having felt so wonderful before. Both vowed to visit often, though they hoped to arrange something that wouldn't require so much travel between them…
Soon, before anyone was ready, it was time for Erin and Corin to leave. It was both a happy and sad moment for all concerned, as they were all happy that things were going back to normal, but everyone would be missed. Suddenly, Will's face lit up with a Cheshire cat grin as excused himself and ran into his room as quickly as he could. When he returned, he beamed at Erin, who had no idea why he was looking at her in such a way.
"What?" she asked, a little taken aback by the sneaky look on his face.
"I was sworn to protect you as long as you're in danger. Do you know how many people lose their lives to highwaymen and thieves when they travel? I would be absolutely remiss in my duties if I did not accompany you to Lincolnshire."
Derek and Odette rolled their eyes, seeing through their son's cheeky attempts at prolonging the time he had left with Erin. Corin smiled widely, realizing what was going on. He was happy his daughter had found such a fine young man, but he was not concerned with planning a marriage for his daughter at the moment, so he didn't say anything. Erin knew she would be playfully taunted the moment she was alone with her father, for he loved to make jokes about her getting married. Still, it would be worth it if she could spend just a few more hours with him. She looked questioningly at her father, who nodded his approval. Will did the same with his parents, but he received a limit.
"To the border and no further," Odette said. "I want you back before dark for the same reason you gave Erin. Although I don't have any other meaning behind it," she added, causing him to blush a bright red color, making everyone around him chuckle.
Now that Will would be joining them, Erin elected to ride on horse back alongside him. Corin did the same, however, he rode ahead to give them some privacy. The only other people with them were two guards, who were at the head of the party. Erin and Will found a lot to talk about as they rode along.
"I can't believe you pulled that stunt with my father," she said, smiling at him as though she were both surprised and happy he had done so.
"I can't believe I got away with it," he replied, still wearing the same silly grin. She looked at him and looked him in her gaze. He was so captured by those big light brown eyes. He felt his heart thud in his chest again. He wondered if he would ever get over the shock of her eyes locked into his.
The two were so trapped in each other that they did not notice the man ahead in the road.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of men calling out in surprise and pain. They looked ahead in horror. A figure, a man by appearances, had somehow managed to knock both soldiers off their horses, and now he was after the king himself. Before Will could catch up with them, Corin was tackled from his stallion and thrown to the ground.
Will finally reached the strange man and was just about to raise his sword when the man wheeled around and knocked Will off his horse, sending him flying into a nearby tree with just one arm. Without even looking to see if his attack was successful, the assailant dragged Corin off into the woods.
Ignoring the feeling of being a deflated balloon, Will stood up. To his horror, when he looked around, Erin was nowhere to be found. He realized she had followed her father into the woods and started running after her. When he saw them at last, they were in a tight clearing, not moving.
A stand off.
Without a second thought, Will bounded through the trees and tried to attack the stranger. Just as Will was about to strike him, the attacker stepped back and struck Will in the back as he passed, sending him crashing into the underbrush. In the same motion, he blasted Corin with a fireball from his hand.
Erin and Will watched in horror as Corin's body was disintegrated by the heat of the flames that consumed him.
The next sound in the woods was a scream.
"NO!" Erin's lungs rattled with the volume she had forced from within her. She sank to her knees as the attacker laughed.
Will ran over to stand in front of Erin from the attacker, who was still cackling menacingly.
"Did you really think that either of you weaklings could stop me?" he asked, arrogance ringing in his voice. At that, Will knew who he was dealing with.
"Alaric!" he called, finally giving a name to the murderer.
"And the slowest horse crosses the finish line. Tell me, boy, what was the tip off?"
Will brandished his sword, ready to defend Erin and avenge Corin. Alaric laughed darkly. "Put your toy away. You won't do the girl or the old man any good, son of Derek."
"How do you know my father?" Will demanded.
"My God, you people are a band of fools. Didn't you think maybe, just maybe, more than three people knew about the use of magic? Didn't you ever wonder how far the Forbidden Arts spread? Fool! You should have stayed out of this either way. It was not your business then and it still isn't now."
"A man was just murdered before my very eyes in my kingdom. I'd say it's my business," Will countered, getting ready to strike.
"Attack me, and I kill the girl," Alaric threatened, sending a intimidating glare at Erin, who had frozen in disbelief and terror. "Stay your hand, and I'll explain something to the both of you."
He waited a moment for Will to obey, which he did begrudgingly, not wanting to put Erin in any more danger. "Good boy. Now then, you, little princess. I'll tell you something about your father's demise. It was inevitable. The fool actually believed he won. Bah! I never lose, even if it takes my almost two decades to win. I rotted away in that dungeon, planning my counterstrike. When I escaped, much had changed. There was a new little princess. I wasn't concerned, but a thought struck me. Maybe I could have a little fun with my revenge.
"So, I decided to destroy Corin's dear little family, starting with you. I snuck into your nursery one night, but to my unfortunate surprise, your mother caught me red handed. She was brave, but the moment I moved to attack you, she dissolved into tears and begged for your life. In your place, I took her. Come now," he said when he saw the disgusted and miserable look on Erin's face, "did you really think she 'took sick?' If that was the case, I'm sure your father would have talked of her a little more. Either way, I got rid of her. I even burned the nursery, but that was just for fun. A servant smelled the smoke and saved you. So I left that night, satisfied that I had reeked enough havoc until this, my ultimate revenge. But I've decided to have mercy on you, for now, at least until you become a bother. So sorry about your father's body. I do hope you were planning on a cremation."
With that, Alaric walked away laughing. He disappeared in the trees, leaving Will and Erin stunned and miserable. The first movement came a moment later when burst into tears. Will ran over to her and held her against him. She cried hard, burying her head into his chest, staining his shirt with hot tears of agony and grief, clutching his sleeves for something solid to hold on to.
So they stayed, Will holding Erin against him, trying to fight the few tears that ran down his cheeks, feeling pain for Erin, pitying Corin, and vowing revenge for both.