Last star shinning

8. Hey..

I planned to run when I had to go hunt. It's usually day time and less danger around. I stole some bread, water and ran. I ran for what it felt like hours. The man didin't lie, when he said, he lived in the middle of the woods. I got tired, I slowed down. It was getting dark, I thought I heard some wolves howling. But I have no idea where I am. I continued to walk. It was pitch black at this point, I saw yellow eyes starting to surround me. Wolves...

I tried to run, the wolves were really quick thought. I only had a pocket knife on me so I didn't have a great chance to kill the beast. I got trapped by a tree and the animal started to aproach me growling. I closed my eyes, accepting the fate, that I will die here, without seeing my mother one last time, without seeing Lucien...

The growling stopped, I opened my eyes and saw, that the wolf was dead in front of me. He was shot with an arrow. I started to look around. A tall, quite fat man aproached me.

- Miss, what are you doing here alone in the woods?

- Please! Help me! - I started sobbing.

- Explain me, what happened.

- I was kidnapped for 2 years, I tried to escape and now I'm alone, lost.

- Where are you from?

- I'm from Lyria.

- You are actually not that far away from it. Let me help you get there.

- Thank you, I will repay you, once I get back.

- Child, Lyria is not the same it was few years ago. The king went crazy after one night and he became cold and ruthless.

Lucien.. Was it because of me?

I reached my home. It didin't change much. I asked the man to stay outside so I could repay him. I went inside. A maid greeted my with terror in her eyes.

- Y-y-your g-grace? - she said while trembeling.

My mother shouted from another room at that moment:
-Sanya, who visited us?

She came out, as the maid didin't say a word for a while. My mother was holding a plate, it shatered on the floor.

She always took care of herself, but she aged a lot during 2 years. Probably from the stress. 
She colapsed and looked at me while on the floor.

- Levina? My child!

- Yes mother, I'm back..

She stood up and hugged me tight.
- You have no idea how much pain we all went through. We thought you died! What happened to you?! You are all dirty and grey..

- Mother, if you don't mind, I would like to have a bath and rest for a while. I will tell you later, these two years have been exhausting, and I feel, like I'm going to faint. There is a man waiting outside, please pay him, he took me home.

- Of course dear. I'm thanking gods, for bringing you back home.

I slept for what it felt like days and still could not feel well rested. I got really skinny, my bones were showing, so my mother and maids tried to feed me as much as possible. But there was no use. I would trow everything up. My body got used to bread and water and was taking a while to rejust.

After 3 days, I finally had strenght to go down. My mother was sitting in the living room, reading a book.

- Hey dear, how are you feeling?

- I'm feeling better. I wanted to ask you, how things have been, while I was gone?

- Sit down. It's gonna be a long story.

I sat down comfortably and curled up beside my mother.

- The night you dissapeared was the worst night of everyones lives. We all went to look for you, but you were nowhere to be found. Aiden blamed himself for beeing rude to you, which cause you to leave. He was so stressed, that he accidentaly told the reason of your arguement and the young prince overheard it. He then started to attack his brother - the king, for taking away his bride from him. The brothers haven't talk ever since, and the king.. he was the most worried out of all. He sent out men to look for you, but a year ago they stopped the search. We all saw him hurting. He was not the man he used to be. He became a monster, a villain. Lyria has became a living hell for all of us. He took his pain, anger on us, for losing you. We saw, how much you meant to him. Sadly, dear, I wrote him a letter, as soon as you came back, saying that you have returned, but I guess he ignored it. He didin't respond a word.

I was left with no words. Lucien... He was suffering while I was gone. There wasn't a day, where I haven't thought of him, what is he doing at the moment, is he okay.. but I didn't realize, me missing would effect him soo much. But I guess that doesn't matter anymore, he forgot me.

- Mother, what about my fiance?

- Dear, he got married half a year ago. Yes he griefed you, but it didn't take him long to find a new wife.

- As expected..

- Why don't we go to the village square today? If, of course, you are feeling alright.

- Yes, I'd like that.

You could still see dark circles, bruises on my arms. My face has lost it's glow. Maybe it was still the exhaustion. It felt both great, and weird to get back into a gown. This time it was yellow. Maids probably thought, that it will make me look a bit more alive. My hair was curled after 2 years, and I finally felt like a lady again.

My mother and I went out to the village square. She held my hand tight, afraid, that I will dissapear again. I saw a lot of people staring at me, wispering. Some were looking, like they saw a ghost and some even smiled.

For some reason, a lot of people were in the square today. It almost seemed, that they were waiting for someone. I was checking out some new dresses behind windows, until a lot of guards with their horses showed up. Some where not watching were they were going and made me colapse on the hard ground. I was still weak, but my true nature said other.

- Watch where you are going you arrogant snobs!

The horses slowed down. Everyone was looking at me.

- What?! Even thought all of you are guards, that does not mean, you can hurt people.

Everyone started wispering. Did I do something wrong? I wipped my dress with my hand, raised my head up and walked past the guards while looking at one of them.

- All of you are nasty pigs!

Suddenly, someone gripped my hand very thightly.

- Nasty pigs you say? Not the kind of words, that should come out of duchess mouth.

I froze, I was afraid to turn around. I-I remember that voice. The man saw me standing still, and turned me around to face me by himself.

- Lucien..

He had a playful smile on his face.

- Hello, your grace.