Chapter 4 | Familiar Stranger

I had the strangest kind of dream, with that same man, the one with eyes like polished emeralds. It was a different time and place, but I got the same sort of goosebumps when I saw him.

“No, please! Don’t leave me. I feel terrified! I need you here. Our baby needs you here.” I implored some other guy with blue eyes to change his mind. This man was my husband. His face exuded sadness and helplessness.

Sweat slicked my skin, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. Trapped in bed, my arms held by two women, each contraction brought a fresh wave of agony. My water broke six hours ago. But the searing pain in my heart, the fear of being separated from my husband, eclipsed the physical torment.

"No," I rasped, tears mingling with the sweat on my brow. "If we are to die, let it be together."

“I am so sorry, baby!” His voice cracked. “We don’t have much time left. He will be here anytime now.” He was talking about that stranger and I was terrified, shaking with sobs.

“If he is going to kill us anyway, can we not die together? Please stay with me.”

He rushed to my side, his finger brushing against my lips. "Don't speak of such things, Nyla. You will live. I have men guarding the escape route. I’ll hold him off as long as I can."

I tried to stop him, but he talked in rapid succession, giving me instructions.

“The baby is almost here. Ralph is waiting on the other side of the trapdoor. He will take you to safety. Please listen to me for once.”

He looked at one of the women who was the midwife, and she nodded assuringly. He leaned down to kiss my forehead.

“Goodbye, Nyla.”

And just like that, he rushed out of the room without looking back. The midwife got up from her seat the next moment, preparing to leave.

“Where are you going?” The other woman, who was sitting close to the bed, asked the midwife in a surprised voice. Her name was Maya. I knew somehow.

The midwife stammered, “I-I am sorry, but I have to g-go. I don’t want to d-die today.”

She looked at me with a guilty face and continued, “Your baby is the heir to this kingdom and a potential threat. He will kill the baby the minute he gets here. Trust me when I say that today would have been the proudest day of my life, helping birth the future king, if things were different. But the kingdom has fallen and most people are either dead or taken prisoners. I hope you can forgive me.”

Maya pulled out a dagger and stopped the midwife from leaving.

"Leave," I whispered, urging them both to escape. "Save yourselves."

“Never, Nyla," she vowed, her voice unwavering. "I will protect you until my last breath, even if death is inevitable for us both.”

Another agonizing contraction stole my breath, but a new sound pierced the tense silence—my baby's cry, clear and strong, echoing through the desolate halls of the fallen kingdom.

Relief washed over me as I cradled my precious daughter, her cries a soothing melody in the face of impending doom. The heavy footsteps and clash of steel downstairs confirmed my worst fears. 

My husband must have been killed if the other man was already here. My heart rate sped up.

Maya hurried to open the trapdoor. With every bit of strength left in me, I got up to escape with my baby in my arms.

The door to my chamber flung open, and my gaze collided with the emerald eyes of the man who stole my husband's life.

Face and breastplate blotched with blood.

Gashes cut in his arms.

He held a long sword in one hand that dripped his enemy’s blood. His eyes—those same mesmerizing eyes.

He stood in a frozen state at the doorway, and his gaze was fixed on me, a silent exchange of emotions passing between us. Maya shook me back to my senses, the urgency in her voice cutting through the haze.

More men followed him and looked menacingly toward us. Maya won’t stop shaking me for some reason.

“Allena, wake up!”

“ALLENA!”

“What?!” I shot upright, gasping for air, the dream's vividness lingering. The fear, the pain. This Nyla and Allena seemed to be me and I was them, somehow.

"Are you all right? You were whimpering in your sleep." Selma asked with a concerned face. The little girl from Yesterday was also standing next to her.

"Y-yeah, yes! I am fine. It was just some crazy dream," I muttered, the events still playing on repeat in my mind.

"Is your headache gone?" Selma touched my forehead, her brow furrowing. "You're burning up."

"I'm fine," I insisted, though my voice lacked conviction. Brea reached out, her tiny fingers tracing patterns on mine.

"Hi," she chirped, a shy smile gracing her lips. "I'm your niece, Brea."

"Hi, Brea." I returned the smile, warmth blossoming in my chest despite the circumstances. She clambered onto the bed, settling comfortably in my lap.

"You have about two hours to eat breakfast and get ready," Selma announced, her voice strained. "They'll be here soon."

Oh right, the engagement to the stranger!

She looked stressed, and her stress was contagious because I felt it immediately.

"Your sister will help you get dressed. She picked some clothes and jewelry for you to choose from."

My steps were slow and heavy as I made my way to the bath, the dream swirling in my mind. The outside world buzzed with activity. The roundhouse bustled with preparations, the fire pit crackling with life as more food was cooked. My brothers returned from their hunt, followed by a pack of hulking dogs that resembled wolves more than any husky I knew. They carried a deer, the bloody mess sending a shiver down my spine.

"Allena, grab a bite, and go find your sister right after." My mom was hustling around.

"Come on, Allena!" Iona's voice, laced with excitement, pulled me from my thoughts. "Let's make you look stunning!"

Her tiny room, overflowing with clothes and unconventional makeup tools, was a whirlwind of activity. We settled on a beautiful teal skirt, adorned with tiny bells at the hem. The black silk blouse clung to my form, both elegant and sexy. Iona finished the ensemble with a gold torc around my neck, the metal cool against my skin.

"You have these leather sandals with small straps that will look great with this dress. Let me go get them from your room." Iona walked out chirpily.

I studied my reflection, the dream's flush still lingering on my cheeks. Nervousness gnawed at my insides. Iona's room, though chaotic, felt like a refuge. I explored the space, finding a makeshift seat among the scattered clothes. Her makeup tools were an assortment of berries, rocks, and strange implements. She showed me a concoction of sandalwood and herbs for the bath, a dark pigment for my eyelashes, and a mix of berries she claimed perfectly complemented my new outfit.

A smile tugged at my lips as I admitted to myself that I found a wonderful sister. Growing up alone, I had never experienced such a delightful sort of sibling love.

"Here you go," Iona announced, brandishing the sandals. "You saved these for a special occasion." The sandals were pretty indeed.

She skillfully braided my hair, securing it with an ornate pin. I loved the finished look with my newly acquired honey blonde hair. The baby hairs formed beautiful, delicate curls around my face.

Stepping back, Iona studied her handiwork and clapped her hands. She was very pleased with herself.

"You are ready for the dude!" she declared with a wink.