Moonchild

1

Scarlett is running.

Bare feet hitting solid ground as she moves through the forest. There is a stillness to the air. She is panicked, lungs burning as she sucks in mouthfuls desperately. Her arms are outstretched, fingers grazing the branches Infront of her, pushing them quickly from her path as she darts forwards. Blood is thundering in her ears, if she was not so hot with the violent beating of her heart, she would think it was a storm above her.

They are coming.

It is dark. Scarlett is not brave, and the darkness is intimidating. She pivots on her heels, shooting off to the left in an attempt to evade her pursuers. The ground beneath her feet is wet. Her toes sink into the dampness, had she had a moment to pause and process the feeling she likely would have cringed.

Faster.

Her mind is whispering as if her subconscious is afraid that someone may hear her. The dress that she had put on that morning now more closely resembled a rag. The fabric flapped limply in the breeze as she continued her sprint. Scarlett's mouth is dry. She tries not to focus on it, but it is calling her, the pain as her throat constricts and her mouth fails to produce saliva. She is scanning her surroundings as she reaches a clearing.

All appears still.

The once dense trees thin out, opening up to a small but well-lit patch of moss and grass. The moon must be overhead, it is unnervingly bright. Scarlett sticks to the edge of the clearing as she slows to a noiseless walk. Her feet pad against the mossy forest floor, she attempts to pass the clearing without being seen. It does not help that her dress turned rag is still a pale cream shade that all but glows in the moonlight.

A low snap sounds out into the darkness.

Scarlett forgets how to breath. The blood that had roared in her ears goes cold and dead; she is painfully aware of her surroundings now. It cannot be the guardsmen? They would make more noise; they should make more noise. They would be in armour and on horseback, they would taunt her, they would not be so lowly as to stalk her in the dark like a mere deer, would they? No. she answers her own question. They are too proud for any dishonourable behaviour. Besides, she would have no chance of escape anyway if it were the king's guard. What could she, a female of less than average stature hope to do against men of such well-established nobility?

Scarlett pauses. If not the guardsmen, then who? Or what? It was the guardsmen that she had feared. But in this moment as she found herself reduced to a simple deer, to a lowly stupid prey creature, she began to consider the horrifying alternatives. A wolf? A bear? Would predators of that size not make more noise? Scarlett had been a servant of the crown, a kitchen maid, she did not know of many beasts that may lurk now in the shadows of the darkness.

Maybe it was stupidity or fear that caused her next action.

"Who is out there!" she spoke clearly, not a yell but an octave above her usually humble whisper. A beat of silence passed. Another rustle of noise floated out towards her. It was closer now and Scarlett could almost feel it as it crawled up her spine. She shuddered. "I said-." She stops abruptly, words caught in her throat.

"I heard you the first time."

It is a male.

Scarlett whirls around and throws herself backwards simultaneously. Her feet slip on the damp moss and she tumbles with none of the grace of a lady to the floor in a startled "Humph!". She looks up from her newfound position on the floor to the male above her. He is tall. Taller than many of the male kitchenhands. The backlighting of the moon was so intense that she could not make out the features of his face, nor could she decipher his expression.

"Why are you in this forest without a guardian female?"

Scarlett looks at the stranger but makes no attempt to respond. Her mind is desperately searching for an escape. She looks to the right in a rapid glance that should have been unnoticeable. His accent is unfamiliar.

"It is pointless to run female, I will find you again. Why, miss, are you in this forest alone?" His tone is not aggressive, but it is determined.

"I could ask you the same sir" is the reply she settles on. Scarlett is desperate not to admit that she has run away from the castle. She is desperate not to be taken back. The tall male moves a single stride forwards leaning down closer to her frame, still crumpled awkwardly on the ground. Scarlett begins to make a noise of panic as his large hand moves towards her. She can see that it is calloused, the tips of his fingers are cracked and coated in a fine layer of dirt. His nails are short but filthy. "I am helping you up female, unless you would rather remain on the ground"

She takes his hand and he pulls her to her feet in a single, effortless motion. As she moves to put a more proper distance between them Scarlett is hyperaware of his stature, he is not just tall he is without doubt the tallest male she has ever met.

"Are you lost?" he appears genuinely curious. Scarlett observes him momentarily before deciding that she is indeed lost.

"Yes sir, would you happen to know where the northern road is?" her voice is clearly shaken and scratchy due to the fire of her very dry mouth. He tilts his head to the left; the motion is questioning, and Scarlett continues "I- I am looking to seek refuge and find work in the northern city"

It becomes obvious as the words leave her mouth that this explanation has not answered the unspoken question. "Where do you come from miss?" the male's use of miss reminds her that in her panicked state she had not introduced herself to him. She clears her throat. "I am Scarlett, I am- was a kitchen maid at the castle of the King of Aylensbourne but I-"

"Aylensbourne?" he cuts her off. His brows are knitted together as if the name of her home is unfamiliar to him.

"Yes sir, Aylensbourne. It is not far from here, a little south I think" she trails off at the reminder that she is lost and has very little idea of where she actually is. He turns from her and looks into the darkness behind the clearing in the direction she had come from.

"Are you being followed?" if he had seemed confused before he was absolutely baffled now. "Ah, maybe? I am erm-" Scarlett searches for the right words, running away? hiding? escaping the rule of a mad king? "seeking refuge" the very tall very broad man finishes for her.

With his reply he seems satisfied that she has answered his questions.

"I, little Scarlett, am Ivan and I think it is best that you follow me now." It is in that moment that she hears the unmistakable sound of horses in the distance. With the threat of the guardsmen in earshot she does not question this new acquaintance as he leads her into the forest, instead she follows pliantly behind him.   

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A short chapter to start. Until next time, kat x