Chapter Six

The wind gushed with great pressure as it whisked them away to the past, the ancient kingdom, where their journey begins, dropping them in a desert surrounded by thickets and hedges, not their usual woods, the whole place was different, the wind there blew with so much pressure as if wanting to blow them far away. 

Aubrey opened her eyes to this new surroundings as fear gripped her and she shivered from the cold, now laid on a bed that creaked with her every movement, she was covered in animal skin that looked like it had survived many winters, her skin was so white now and dry as though it would crack under any pressure, she shut her eyes again trying to make sense of her surroundings, but couldn't as she opened her eyes again, this time so won't her eyes could pop out.

The walls were decorated in carved drawings of men and arrows, bows all dressed in knight attire, she gasped now remembering everything, how she left, she and…..

"Darey!" She exclaimed, 

Where is he? How did the hollow get her here and Gretchen the knight, where is everyone? She asked herself, 

She removed the covering from her body and put her feet on the ground, the floor felt harder than what she was used to, she sighed, resigning to the fate she chooses for herself. 

Strolled out and saw a long passage with the end leading to a T junction, she started walking, got to the end and heard rapt laughter from the right-wing, she hastened before she walked through the right-wing, it was lit with lamps hanging from the walls, she could make out the carvings now they were painted in beautiful colours, the passage opened up to the brightly lit hall that could pass for a sitting room.

She stood at the entrance to take in the view, the place was well lit, there was a long wooden table at the centre of the hall, with trays of mouth-watering dishes on it, and round it sat seven men in their white gowns, all laughing and eating as they passed what looked like wine in a cup around, just then one of them turned around and saw her, 

"The princess," he said to everyone's hearing, 

As they all turned to look at her, she felt shy, just then she noticed Darey now Alstin sitting close to Gretchen, he smiled at her and waved her over, she walked towards the table without breaking eye contact with Alstin, they created a space for her to sit.

Gretchen placed a plate in front of her and dished some food to her plate, she looked at the strange thing, looked appetizing but she had never tasted anything like it before, a dry bread was placed on her other plate and a jug of wine was passed to her front, no one talked as they watched her, she looked at them from the corner of her eyes, before Alstin nudged her, she picked up the bread and dipped it into the plate of sauce in front of her, hesitated before she put it into her mouth.

The taste hit her, 

"Mmmmmmmh," she groaned aloud, 

"Ahhhhhh", they cheered aloud, as they laughed at each other, she smiled and gulped down the food, she was so hungry, she didn't even realise till she took the first bite, downing it down with the wine, 

"How do you feel now?" Asked Alstin, 

"Much better," she replied, 

"What happened?" She asked, 

"We were dropped in a desert and you fainted or slept during the journey, so Gretchen carried yin on his arms till we got here," Alstin replied, 

"For how long did I sleep?" Asked Aubery, 

"Two days," replied Gretchen, 

"Two what!" Exclaimed Aubrey, 

"Yes, you didn't do well during the journey, when we got here you were running temperature and felt really Ill," said Alstin, 

"So you meant we've been here for two days?" Asked Aubrey, 

"Time is slow here, just like your heartbeat," replied one of the men at the table, as all of them had been silent listening to their conversation, 

"What does he mean?" She asked looking at Gretchen, 

"Aubrey, time here is slower than the outside world where you come from," replied Gretchen, 

"So how long has it been, in the outside world?" She asked, worries creasing her rough brows, 

"Five days now," replied Gretchen, 

She swallowed an invisible lump, without another word or question, she held onto Alstin's hands in search of hope. 

She thought she made the right decision, she thought to herself, 

Yes, you did, we both did, Alstin replied to her from his heart, 

She stared at him, as he smiled at her, holding onto her hand tighter, while the conversation on the table continued, with everyone oblivious of her presence at the table.

*               *                       *                  *                   *

They were sitting in the sitting room of Mrs Langson in silence, it has been five days now since Nora and Darey left. 

That day, they both left, their parents had waited for them to come back but didn't see them; it was at nightfall that Mrs Langson had gone to Darey's house to see his parents.

"They are not her if that is what you are here for," said Jones as he sat on their dining seat looking helpless, while Serena paced around the room restless and looking dishevelled, 

"I told you, he was not ready, but you insisted," yelled Serena, 

"Don't put this on me, this is also your fault, always worried about the girl and him never knowing," hissed Jones, 

"I think, I will go now, will come back later," said Mrs Langson, 

"No," they yelled together, 

She shuddered, and took a step back, 

"Sorry, Mrs Langson," said Jones, sighing, 

"They ran away together, said Serena," as she stopped pacing around and retired to a seat.

Saliva dried from Mrs Langson's mouth, she opened her mouth to speak but no words came forth, she took the nearest seat near her and sat down, for the first time she left the other world, she felt unsafe, confused, as they all sat there in silence.

"What are you not telling me?" Mrs Langson asked, 

They looked up and stared at her in amazement and awe, 

"What do you mean?" Asked Jones, 

"You know very well, where they are, don't play smart with me," replied Mrs Langson, 

Jones and Serena looked at each other, then burst out in laughter, Mrs Langson looked at them surprised, 

"You are so funny Mrs Langson," replied Serena, 

"We should be asking you the same question," said Jones, 

"What is funny here," replied Mrs Langson, 

"Cut the crap Gweneviere," retorted Serena, 

Shocks and surprises flashed through her face and disappeared just as they came, 

"I do not understand you," She said

"Let's stop pretending, we can help each other out here, we are on the same path, the elves are gone," continued Serena, 

Gwen opened her mouth to talk but no words were forthcoming, confused and scared at the same time, she swallowed hard and blinked many times to concentrate, she didn't see this coming.

"Who are you?" She managed to ask, 

"Serena and Jones there was no need to change our names, unlike you," replied Serena, 

Still, in awe, Serena pulled her hair and the wig drooped revealing her chestnut hair, pulling at her ears the fake ears fell off, Gwen gasped, 

"Elf," she whispered, turning her attention towards Jones as his ears popped out, they smiled at her, 

"We fled Rivendell during the war, the killings of the elves passed by humankind, Prince Alstin's parents were killed in the process, we took Alstin and fled here to hide," said Jones, 

"You are Royal elves?" Asked Gwen, 

"Yes, likewise Aubery," replied Serena, 

"We came here to protect Alstin, when we met Aubrey, we knew immediately she wasn't normal, her heartbeat exactly like ours," said Jones, 

Why didn't I notice all this? I have been really careless these days. Now, look where it got me. What do I do? Thought Gwen.

"How were you able to identify me?" Asked Gwen, 

"Not difficult, we might have left the other world but we still kept in touch, when we heard of Queen Celia's death, and the search of her granddaughter all thought dead, which is now run rumoured be alive but not found anywhere, we contacted the necromancer on our side, who told us of the war that claimed the life of Queen Celia, and the missing Gwen," said Serena, 

"And?" Asked Gwen, urging her to continue, 

"Well it was said that ten great Necromancer in the kingdom of petra Sautor's wife's body was not found among the casualties or ame captives, I made my dots and asked questions around here, your lifestyle here in your luxurious duplex, without a husband or job, you not associating with anyone, then Aubrey's heartbeat confirmed it all," said Serena, 

"That was when we knew, we tried to keep our distance, I guess the universe knows better, we mean no harm, only want to keep Alstin safe," said Jones. 

They didn't speak for a while, just sat in silence each to their own thoughts.