Alexis rides through the night, her fear pushing her forward, only stopping so the guard can have some water and she can change his bandages. After today, she will no longer complain about her lessons. It had been her mother's idea that she would learn how to treat a wound from the healers and now she is beyond grateful that she did, even if at the time she didn't believe she would ever need to use that knowledge.
Day begins to break when Alexis finally sees the gates to Henry's Castle and she urges both her horse and the guard forward, knowing they are seconds away from safety. They ride their horses through the Courtyard and Alexis calls out for a healer and Henry, remembering what both her mother and Jared had taught her ahead of this trip.
She sees guards rushing to her side, some helping her down from her horse, while others go for her guard, recognizing the sigil on his uniform. Alexis runs to help her guard, needing to do something before she breaks down.
Which happens just moments later when she hears Henry's voice calling her name, confused. She looks at him and tears immediately fill her eyes, as she runs to him, hugging him, and finally feeling safe for the first time since this all began.
-"Alexis, what happened?" - Henry hugs her tight, before she pulls away.
-"We were attacked. Men attacked us, not far from here, maybe a day away, by a creek. My guard is injured. They took my mother. Please, you have to help her. Please." - Her voice is cut by sobs, breaking Henry's heart.
-"Take Lady Alexis' guard to the healers and get a hunting party together. Search the woods near the creek, a day away from here, to the South. Alexis, the men that attacked you, were they Rogues?" - Henry begins leading her inside.
-"No, Your Majesty." - Her guard answers for her, his voice coming from behind them.
-"Do you know who they were?" - There's anger in the guard's face when he nods at Henry. -"Well? Who were they?"
-"They were King Williams' men."