THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 5

" Let me come with you Aretha." Astrid said as Aretha packed her arrows in her quiver.
"No, it's fine Astrid. It's just a small hunt. I'll be back by evening and I'll bring you a hare if I spot one," she replied as she mounted her black Friesian horse and rubbed it's mane.
"You'd better. Now go. You don't want to get back late."
With a nod, Aretha squeezed her horse's sides with her calves gently and it began to move. She liked hunting a lot and had learned to since she was a young girl. She had an entourage of three soldiers to accompany her and keep her safe during the hunt. They rode into the woods north of the castle. That was one of the main hunting grounds frequented by the nobility of the land. After an hour and not spotting any game, she urged her guards to go further into the woods with her.
"Why do I feel as if we're being watched," she whispered to the men as she looked around their surroundings.
"I think so too my lady. It is too quiet. We should leave,"one replied and the others agreed.
"Let's leave then."
As they began to ride away, a group of bandits appeared and flushed out their swords ready to fight them. They surrounded them and the guards took out their weapons too ready to defend their princess. They began to fight the bandits and once there was an opening, one guard shouted to Aretha, " Run away my lady. Go! Go! Go!"
Aretha rode her horse away but she was headed deeper into the forest and one bandit rode after her. She galloped the horse with an aim of losing the bandit and was looking back at him when she hit her head against a tree branch and fell off her horse which trotted away leaving her lying on the ground in pain. The bandit caught up with her and dismounted his horse and drew his sword out. She was bleeding as she tried to move her body away from him using her elbows. Things were becoming blurry as the man approached her as if to stab her.
"Finally I can lay my hands on a rich woman like you and take your wealth. I know that you are a princess," he said.
" No. Please don't,"she struggled to say but he did not listen to her. He pulled off her necklace and took a closer look at her and said," I think that we could have some fun before I finish you off." The man tore open her blouse and began to pull down her black pants.
"Let...go...of me," she struggled to say. He did not listen to her and began to take off his shirt." No no no,"she cried.
He bent down to touch her but his eyes fluttered wide open and he fell down next to her. He had been stabbed from behind. Aretha tried to look at who had stabbed him and she could only see the blurry image of a woman dressed in a white blouse and brown pants before she passed out.

"Why do I feel as if something bad is happening ?" Therese said to Astrid while rubbing her chest with one hand and supporting herself with the other on the table. She was as tall as Astrid and had brown hair. Her eyes were also brown and she bore a similar resemblance to her daughter.
"Come on sit down mother," Astrid said as she helped her sit. She passed her mother a cup of water." Why do you feel that ?" Astrid asked.
"I don't know why Astrid but I just felt some pain in my heart. Maybe it's nothing."
"Let's hope so," Astrid replied as she looked at her mother with worry in her eyes."It's getting cold mother. Let Luciana fetch you a cloak from your room."
Therese nodded and Luciana who was standing beside them waiting on Astrid left. She got the cloak and on her way back as she was about to turn the corner, she bumped into something hard.
"You need to watch where you're going Luciana," Fabian smiled.
"I'm sorry but I need to take this cloak to your mother."
"But I need to talk to you."
"We can't. Someone might find us."
"Please, it's only for a minute and besides Aretha went hunting and she's not back yet. Please."
" Alright but hurry."
" Well I asked Aretha to be silent about seeing us and she said that she won't reveal it to anyone."
" Just like that ? I cannot believe that she agreed not to without a condition. She has hated me since we were small."
" She said that we should never meet again but I don't want that. We will only need to be super careful."
" No Fabian. You're a prince and I'm just a maid. Let's not make this harder for either of us and forget what we had. I don't want you to be in trouble please. Let's end everything already."
" Luciana no. I don't want to,"he said as he held her hand.
" No Fabian. I'm not right for you. It's over," she cried." Excuse me my lord," she said and curtsied before leaving him standing alone. She brought the cloak to Therese and helped her wear it. Astrid noticed the tears on Luciana's eyes. Charles walked in and Astrid excused herself followed by Luciana. Once outside she couldn't help but ask," Are you alright ?"
"Yes of course Astrid. I am fine."
"Don't lie to me Luciana. You've been acting quite strangely since yesterday. You are nervous and absent minded. You know that you can tell me anything," she said as she held Luciana's hand.
" It's nothing Astrid. Really."
" Are you sure ?"
" Yes I am. Come on it's time for your bath."
The two walked away to Astrid's room but Astrid felt that something was up.