She was taken with other hostages, they all had their hands and legs tied to one another and formed a straight chain as they walked in the cold night to the shelter where they pitched their tents far at the end of the town. The Princes and the Beta were on horses leading the troops to the camp but no one said anything till they got to their destination, only the sounds of horse hoofs, legs and dangling of chains were heard.
“it will be better if you all sleep early because we will be setting out in the morning, I don’t want a situation where anyone will delay our journey by being tired, anyone who is tired will be helped by being sent to eternal peace with the sword so you all should rest as much as you can within the given hours” the Beta announced but no one was strong enough to answer him, they were all silent and looking at him before he motioned to the soldiers to take them to their own tents where they were chained to the ground and the soldiers were assigned to guard them in case they try anything funny
“If anyone tries to run away, don’t bother to waste your energy, just kill the person without hesitation, it’s an order” the Beta informed the soldiers guarding the tent before turning back to sleep in his own tent.
He met Jaqen and Falkor talking in front of their tents and went to them instead of retiring in his own tent
“I can see you brothers are catching up, how about we talk more while drinking? The night is a bit cold and some alcohol will definitely set our insides on fire” he suggested with a smile
“That’s a good idea, I have been fighting all day so I think I need some alcohol to replenish my strength” Falkor replied and they both burst into laughter
“You can go have your drinks by yourself, I will like to rest now since I am tired” Jaqen replied and turned to enter his own tent without waiting for their response and that made the Beta’s face turn blue due to the anger he was feeling within
“That weird brat, how can he skip the fun of having some drinks over victory” Falkor snapped but the Beta just smiled
“Leave him, let him rest like he wish to. We can go have our fun by ourselves” Beta Loras remarked and Falkor chuckled
“That’s true, the alcohol will even be enough since it’s just the two of us” he replied heading to the tent
“I know right?” Beta Loras supported and followed him into the tent
****
All night, Elora could not sleep. The scene where her mother dived to take the sword instead of her was playing in her head numerous times. She could not forget the last meal she had with her mother just some few hours back but it felt like it has been some years back, everything happened in a flash.
Loud thunders were playing the role of firecrackers in the night and a strong wind took over, it shook the tents and everywhere but the soldiers did a great job because the tents didn’t remove no matter how strong the wind was.
A huge downpour of rain came down that very night, the rain was so heavy that the soldiers outside had to come into the tent for safety. The lights that were put on were thoroughly beaten by the rain and went off making everywhere pitch dark.
All through these turmoil, Elora’s eyes were wide opened. She couldn’t sleep a wink, she was just scanning the room through the darkness but could see nothing, she could only hear the sound of the women snoring in the tent and that alone made her madder
“How can they sleep soundly in this situation?” she said to herself as she placed her folded elbows under her head to support it when she finally lied down
As she was thinking about random things, she remembered where the lightning flashed to reveal the face of Jaqen when he asked if she wanted her head to roll beside her mom’s dead body
“That son of a bitch, I pray dogs will feed on your carcass” she muttered and closed her eyes for the hundredth time that night but this time, she lost the battle with sleep
She slept off.
****
It felt as if she had only slept for thirty minutes when she heard the soldiers hitting the gong signaling for them to wake up and get ready for the journey. Her eyes flew open and she saw that it was dawn, the darkness had lightened up and they could see what was in their fronts bit by bit.
“Are we going already?” she heard someone asked beside her and turned to look at her before answering, she was a little girl who was about ten years of age
“You poor thing” she heard herself whisper before nodding
“I think they are waking us up to get us ready, we will get going soon it seems” she replied and watch the small kid burst into another round of fresh tears
“I don’t want to go, I want to go back to my mother, she will probably be waiting for me when she comes back from the market” the little girl cried
“Your mother is not around?” she asked facing the kid who nodded immediately with all her face filled with tears
“She went to the market to sell her goods and didn’t return since morning, she wanted me to tag along but I refused blatantly because I wanted to pick fruits with my friends, now I have been taken against my will. I think I am being punished for being disobedient” the little kid cry harder making Elora speechless for a while
“You are not being punished, I am sure something will work out in our favor” she said trying to comfort the little kid even though she knew she was lying, nothing will work in their favor, they don’t even know their fates.
“Are you sure something will work in our favor? I doubt that” the kid countered and she bit her lips, she was about to reply her when they heard a loud voice sound from outside
“Bring the hostages out, we have to set out early if we are going to reach the capital today” Beta Loras instructed
He and Falkor ended up sleeping in the same tent the last night after consuming several bottles of alcohol but that didn’t make him sleep in, he has trained himself to always wake up at any time he sets his mind so it was a piece of cake for him.
He washed with face alongside the Princes and the hostages were brought out to wash their faces too before they all set out on the journey.
After travelling for up to two hours, the sun was already getting prepared to rise, the day was already clear and one could see what was in front of them clearly without trouble. They marched towards the forest leading to the capital and after travelling between the thick trees for more than five hours they got to see towns and houses.
By that time, they were already tired and famished, they could not move at a good pace anymore so the Beta signaled to the soldiers to stop and provide food for everyone so they can rest and eat before continuing the journey.
The soldiers made fire and went into the town to bring baskets of potatoes which they roasted in the already made fire. They took the Beta’s and Princes’ portion to them under the big tree where they sat before giving out one potato each to the hostages. They were merciful enough to lead them to the river where they had the chance to have their fill but they drew water back for the masters who were waiting at the place they were resting.
They resumed their travel after resting for thirty minutes and they got to a little town where Prince Jaqen halted his horse
“I think I will be stopping the journey with you here” he announced facing Falkor
“You don’t want to come to the palace? Why are you always running from the pack?” Falkor asked facing him
“You should know that the pack is not meant for me, I love to live freely and the pack wouldn’t allow that” he replied with a shrug
“A Prince should live in the palace, don’t you think you have lived as a wanderer enough” Beta Loras remarked
“I don’t think someone will be happy if I decide to stay in the palace, I should just enjoy myself out here” he replied with a sly smile
“No matter what you think, you are a Prince after all, who would dare touch a Prince?” Beta Loras said with a small smile
“There is someone who will, someone who is fearless” he replied and turned his horse to face where he was going to
“Take care of yourself brother, let’s meet again soon” Falkor stated ignoring the bickering
“Sure, the hunting is around the corner so take care of your body, My Prince” Beta Loras supported before bowing a little and Jaqen turned his horse to his destination before riding away.
“You had better hide very well because I will make sure to kill you as long as I see you” Elora thought as she watched him hop away
“Let’s go” Falkor roared and the journey began once again.
After walking for more than four hours, they finally got to the capital and they were taken to the palace where the other maids and the head servants for each quarters were already waiting to receive them since the news of them coming already arrived before them thanks to the messenger.The servants hurried and lined up to welcome them with their heads bowed in respect while Falkor and Beta Loras led the group of hostages in.“My King, the Prince and the Beta are around with the hostages” Obi informed the Alpha who was studying in his room“Really? I should go welcome them then” he replied standing up and walked to the court where they were standing with the hostages“My Alpha, we are back and victorious, we even brought hostages” Beta Loras announced with a smile“Father, I am back” Prince Falkor said bowing to the Alpha“I can see that, you are welcome. You should rest and take care of yourselves so you can replenish every energy” the Alpha addressed them and turned to go before tur
He rode back from his pursuit game with strange woman who disappeared into the thin air within seconds after talking with him and his guard, Derib was already looking for him because he had come out to inform him that the bed was ready but he couldn’t find him. He could only breathe a sigh of relief when he saw him come back on his horse from the dark corner“You went running this night?” Derib asked reaching for the horse’s rein to tie it up the horse as he came down from it“I went after something but I lost it” he replied dusting his robe“should I chase after it instead? It must be pretty important seeing how you went yourself even though you are tired” Derib asked and he shook his head“don’t bother yourself, its insignificant” he replied heading inside“But you seems to be curious about something” Derib insisted and he turned to him in anger“Are you done making the bed?” he asked“Yes, my Lord” Derib nodded“What of my bath water?” he questioned further“It’s ready” Derib answe
The previous day, Elora and others were assigned to the spices section in the kitchen where they were to pick, ground and dry necessary herbs for the spices. She went with the crew of new faces since Ore and Alexa were not assigned with her, they were assigned to the clothes making section for the Prince since it will be the hunting season soon and the Prince has to wear new clothes for the hunting.She silently picked the herbs and other plants that were given to her after the procedures has been explained to her and finished her own part, grounded it and dried them on the tray she was given.She was busy helping the chef in the kitchen when one of them walked up to her to ask for a favour“Will you be staying here for long? Or are you leaving soon?” the girl asked and she firstly looked around to be sure she was talking to her before she proceeded to respond to her“Me? are you talking to me?” she asked and the maid nodded to confirm“I will be here as long as they are cooking becau
She was pulled along by the maids at each sides to follow the lady so there was no even time for her to protest or run away. She only managed to give her basket of clothes a safe landing so the clothes there wouldn't be thrown to the floor.The lady got out of their quarters and entered into the concubines' quarters before heading for her own personal room"bring her in" she instructed and sat on the chair in her room with her legs wide openedThe over obedient maids threw her to the floor at her feet and she motioned to them to leave the room so she could talk to her alone"You, what is your name?" she asked looking into Elora's eyes"Elora is my name" Elora replied trying to catch her breathe since she was dragged and that had drained her stamina within a short period, she couldn't blame herself for that since she has a weak system to begin with"So I am asking you, what did you see yesterday?" the lady asked finally crossing her legs"My lady, I don't know what you are talking abou
“The second Prince?” she asked once again and Ore nodded“There is a second Prince? How come no one ever made mention of him all these while?” she asked with her eyes as wide as a big panda’s eyes“We don’t mention him because we dare not, he doesn’t live in the palace but he comes once in a year which is during the royal hunting, his presence is always overwhelming” Ore narrated“His presence is overwhelming as how and why does he not stay in the palace?” she questioned further getting interested in what her roommate was telling her“You sure are a curious cat. He doesn’t stay in the palace because he hates the palace so much which I don’t know why and also his presence is overwhelming because he is much more brutal than the first Prince, he doesn’t have mercy at all, so merciless” Ore explained to her and she gasped“No mercy at all?” “I’m telling you, he doesn’t forgive any act of mistake no matter how little. A maid once cooked and the wool of her cloth got into it, he had the m
“Don’t try anything, don’t even move close to him! He’s the definition of evil and brutal” was the word that kept ringing in her head as she paced up and down the room thinking how he could be the second Prince because he looked nothing like one ever since he has been seeing him“Well it’s understandable because he fits the position of being brutal” she muttered to herself“but why are you so concerned about him being the Prince? Do you have any history with him beforehand?” Ore asked noticing her restlessness“Have any history with him? How can I have one with someone like him? What are you talking about?” she quickly snapped defending herself“you don’t have to snap that hard, its only making it more suspicious” Alexa remarked with a chuckle and Ore snorted“You both enjoy joking with me right? I said we don’t have any history” she said rolling her eyes“and we didn’t say anything too” they both replied trying to hold back their laughterShe went to her bed to lie down for a while b
Prince Jaqen saw all that Lady Gaia did to Elora but he was not bothered since they had no connection and he had always minded his business in the palace since he was not on good terms with any of them, even his own father.He stopped with them to rest and Derib was so glad that they declared rest because he was extremely tired from all the walking and Jaqen who noticed that he was tired instructed him to rest by sleeping against a big tree around the area.He brought a small book from the pouch of his garment and began to flip through the pages as he rested on the blanket Derib already laid for him earlier“I need some fruits” he muttered to himself and glanced at Derib who was already snoring with his back on the tree“He sleeps like a log of wood” he added as he stood up and went to the guards staying at the other side“Are there any fruits here? I feel like having one” he asked and they all scurried to answer him because they know what he was capable of doing“If you tell us the f
The maid Prince Falkor sent to prepare tea for them got into an accident in the kitchen as she poured hot water on herself as she tried making the requested tea. Elora was in the kitchen at that moment helping out the chefs because she was less busy so the maid called out to her to please help her out while she get treated.“You want me to deliver this to Prince Falkor?” she asked again and the maid nodded as she grabbed her hand the hot water poured on in pain“But will he not yell or question why I am the one bringing it instead of you?” she asked again to be sure so she can stay out of possible trouble“Don’t worry, he will not and if he asks you can tell him that I got hot water on myself and I went to get treatment” the maid replied her and took off to the infirmary before Elora got to ask any other question“I really don’t want to be involved with him, why am I available just at this time? It’s also not like it’s her fault or will to get hurt” she sighed as she picked up the tra