Once we were in more covered grounds, Septimus slowed his horse for a moment – the poor animal needed a break. I felt his heart racing against me as was my own, that was quite the rescue.
"Bella, we are nearly there" he informed me, but I didn't know 'where' was as he didn't give me time to ask as he shoved a bag into my arms, he continued "You have everything you should need in here".
"Septimus, what is your plan?" I questioned but he shook his head, answering "All will become clear, my wife".
"You are scaring me" I whispered, why wouldn't he tell me what the plan was?
"I need you to be safe" he told me as he held me tight once more as we sped off again.
We came to a clearing in the forest, and I noticed we were riding against a stoned wall, it looked as though it went on for miles. I looked up and watched as Septimus kept looking over his shoulder and it made me anxious. I wish he would tell me what was going on. I felt him grip onto me as he leant over and kissed me softly on my cheek as he whispered, "You will always be the love of my life".
I panicked at his words and then felt him push me off his horse unexpectedly as I tumbled onto the ground roughly, my already frail body ached from such a fall. I laid there for a moment, a little stunned and making sure I hadn't broken anything. I then pulled myself up from the grass which helped cushion my fall and turn to Septimus to ask what that was all about. As I turned, my face turned to confusion as I realised, I was across the other side of the wall we had been following for a while. I saw Septimus on his horse the other side, staring at me.
"After all that effort rescuing me and you try to kill me from pushing me off a horse?" I tried to make light at the situation even though I was confused by the look on his face but most of all his silence.
The wall wasn't very tall, so I started to pull myself up to reach the other side again. As I reached the top of the wall, the stones below be seemed to wobble a little, maybe it was my weight on such an old wall? But I wasn't concerned as I was at the top now, so I'd simply jump back over.
I tried to jump and suddenly I felt a force blow me back as the stone tumbled below me. It felt as though something had kicked me in the chest as I laid on my back, coughing from the impact.
"Bella!" Shouted Septimus from the other side.
I picked myself back up and looked over at the wall, it now appeared to have a hole in it which was a relief, now it would be easier to get through. I approached the wall once more and saw Septimus still waiting the other side. As I got to the gap in the wall, I tried to cross it once more, but it threw me back another time. Fear started to grow in me, what was happening? I looked across to Septimus whose face was grave.
'Septimus, why can't I get through?" I asked with panicking leaking out of my voice.
"I had to keep you safe Bella" he replied yet it told me nothing.
"What have you done?" I felt the tears rise in my eyes, desperate for an explanation.
"That potion you drank" he reminded me. I must admit, I had completely forgotten about it as I panicked "Tell me now".
"It...it keeps you over there" he explained as I felt my throat feel tight as I croaked "Where am I?"
"You aren't in Stormhold anymore" he looked away from me and I felt the colour drain from my face. In the rescue attempt, I didn't piece together that this wall we were riding against was that wall. The wall to the other realm, the wall that meant we were now worlds apart yet so close.
"Septimus...why are you speaking as though we will never see each other again?" I cried.
"They won't ever find you over there, I know you will be safe and that's enough for me" he tried to justify it "Once I am King, the spell will break. It was the only way, Bella".
I shook my head, once he was King? That could be a decade or two yet, possibly more with how strong his father was. But what if something happened to him? I didn't want to ask but it flooded my mind, what then?
"Listen to me Bella, I must go before we are tracked" he told me in desperation, and I felt the panic rise in me, he was going, he was leaving me in this forsaken place.
"You will be in my heart every day that it beats until we can be together again" his voice wobbled as I couldn't help but sob. He didn't give me time to argue, to protest, to tell him how much I loved him as turned on his horse and galloped away.
"Septimus!" I screamed as though my soul was leaving my body, the other half of my heart now missing to me.
I sat there for hours, staring at the hole in the wall waiting for him to come back. I tried a few more times to break this curse over me but as with all the other times, it knocked me backwards stopping me from returning to the world that I was from. I'm not sure how I would come back from this, if I could.
As this world started to grow darker, I noticed someone walking along the side of the wall as fear rose in me. I knew little of this world except a few things I had read in books but perhaps this person could help me? I stood up as they got nearer, it was an older looking gentleman who stopped in his step when he noticed me standing there and then peered at the hole in the wall.
"What an Earth as happened here?" He looked concerned as he inspected the wall.
"Please Sir, can help you me? I'm looking for perhaps a witch that might be able to help me" I asked him politely, I was exhausted and didn't know where to begin but I thought a witch might be able to help me break this spell. Whether it was part of Septimus's plan or not, I didn't want to stay here.
"A witch?" He asked alarmed "Are you from the other side of the Wall?"
I felt nervous by his reaction as I whispered "Yes...but I can't get back through because of a spell cast over me". I decided it would be best to be honest the man, he seemed to have knowledge that there was another land the other side of the wall.
"Did you make this hole?" He questioned me, I hope he wasn't angry.
"It was an accident" I answered as I looked down.
The man sighed and looked displeased "In all my years guarding this Wall and now there is a hole in it!"
Oh no, he was angry with me. Perhaps I should run away? Find help elsewhere? But then he looked at me and his eyes softened "And you. We can't have you running around telling stories of another world".
I got ready to defend myself, what was did he mean by that? It didn't sound good; I didn't want to be imprisoned again. He must have noticed my tension as he then smiled "No, no, no do not fear. You may reside in my premises. I'm not there much as I mainly guard the wall in shift with another".
"Why would you be so kind to open your home to me?" I asked curiously, or was trust something they gave easily in this world?
"Because it's the right thing to" he answered as though it was simple and then continued "Let me show you to it now, it's not far. You look very pale".
"I can't leave, I'm waiting for someone" I panicked, I didn't want to leave the Wall on the off chance that Septimus might come back for me.
"Are you expecting someone else to come through the Wall?" He questioned, as if he was waiting for some type of invasion. I looked down, maybe I needed to accept that Septimus wasn't coming back? He did put this curse on me after all.
"No, I guess I'm on my own now" I shivered as the night started to draw closer.
"Come, let me make you some tea and you can tell me the whole story" he kindly reassured me as he picked up my bag and escorted me to his home.