THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 6

Hi readers. Hope you are well. I'd like to give a shout-out to Ulemse 1 for being one of my first readers. Don't forget to vote and comment and keep yourselves safe during these tough times.
*************

"Has Aretha returned from her hunting trip ?" a curious Fabian asked Astrid when the family had gathered for their dinner.
" I don't know. I was about to ask the same thing," Astrid replied.
"She went hunting today ?" Anthony asked as he took a sip of his wine.
"Yes,she did. She had promised to be back early but she's not here yet. Could something be wrong ?" Therese asked.
"Don't worry. She was late last time too," Charles said."Let's give her some more time and maybe she'll be back."
No sooner had he finished saying those words than a guard barged into the dining room startling everyone. He looked injured and tired.
"What in God's name are you doing ?" Anthony asked.
"I'm sorry your majesty but I have news to report," he said after catching his breath.
"Aren't you one of the men who accompanied Aretha ?" Astrid asked.
"Yes I am my lady. We were hunting up north and rode deep into the woods when we were ambushed by bandits. They surrounded us and we fought them to defend the princess and when there was an opening I told her to escape as we held the bandits off. We managed to kill them but we can't find the princess despite looking for her in the woods the whole afternoon."
" What!" Therese screamed." Find her immediately!"
"We are my lady. We have sent more men to find her and we're doing our best to find her."
"If anything happens to her, I will kill you," Anthony hissed."Arrange for a search party now go find her and bring her back."
The guard rushed outside. Astrid rose up and said,"I'll join the search party. I'll lead them."
"Me too," Fabian said.
" But something could happen to the both of you," Therese said.
"No mother. We can handle this," Fabian said and pulled Astrid out of the room.
"They will be fine Therese. They will have soldiers with them," Charles said."We need to stay here and wait for them."
"Alright," she replied weakly.
The three sat down in silence awaiting some news.
The search party headed out into the dark woods headed by Astrid and Fabian. They carried weapons and well lit torches. This wasn't going to be an easy search. It was very dangerous to travel in the woods especially deep into them since many wild animals and bandits frequented that area.
A group of guards approached Fabian and Astrid.
"We have no sign of her your highnesses,"one said.
"Go back and search again," Astrid said." No one will return home unless we have found her."
"Let's head back," he told his fellow men.
" I'm really getting worried. We've been searching the whole night but nothing Astrid. I'm hoping that nothing has happened to her. I should have come with her yesterday," Fabian said.
" We will find her Fabian. This is not the time to have regrets over what should have happened. I'm sure that she's fine and finding her is our priority."
Astrid clicked at her horse and rode forward trying to pick up some hoof imprints on the mud headed for the direction Aretha's guard had said she'd run off to. After a while they got tired and decided to take a short rest. They ate and fed their horses. Astrid took a nap beside Fabian together with some soldiers who took turns to rest as well.
"Come on we need to go on with the search," Astrid nudged Fabian and he opened his eyes. He sat and looked around.
" You're right. Come on everyone it's time to move,"he called out to the others. They all mounted their horses and got back to searching.
It was noon but there was no sign of Aretha at all.By this time they were walking and trying to find any sign of hooves on the mud. There was some noise and the sound of a horse trotting and leaves rustling.
" We've got company. It's coming from behind those trees.Keep silent," this from Fabian. Everyone took out their weapons ready for an attack anytime soon. The trotting and rustling continued and the noises got closer and closer. Astrid moved cautiously behind the large trees so as to attack the one who would approach them. The others hid in the nearby bushes. She lifted her sword ready to attack.
In the bushes, the horse neighed and the trotting became much louder.
The horse came out of the bushes and there was someone leading it. Astrid came out of hiding and was about to strike the man but he saw her and stopped her attack by holding her hand back.
"What are you doing here ?" she asked before lowering the sword.
" You were about to kill me Astrid," he said. It was Julian. Astrid jumped on him and he caught her." I'm here to help you find Aretha."
The rest came out of hiding and Fabian walked up to them.
" You really had gotten ready to attack," he laughed as he put Astrid down.
" Well in this part of the woods you should expect anything." Fabian sighed.
" I will help you find her."
"How did you find out that she was missing ?"
" I heard some servants talk about it and I trailed you. Do you have anything yet ?"
" Not yet Julian. We've been looking for close to a day but we've found nothing,"Astrid said as she lay her head on his shoulder.
" We will find her my love. We will,"he said as he gave her a simple peck earning him a smile from her.
" We should move," Fabian said.
They walked around trying to find something until Julian shouted," I've found something."
Everyone rushed to him and he held a tiny golden necklace.
" Oh my goodness. This belongs to Aretha,"Astrid said." It bears her symbol. Look Fabian."
" Yes Astrid. I don't think she could be far. Let's fetch the horses and follow this route."
" I will lead you," Julian said.
" But how ? We're not even sure if she rode further and moved to another place," Astrid said.
" Trust me. I will lead you to her. I promise."
" Uhm alright."
They rode following Julian. That was strange. Astrid wondered how Julian had found the necklace in a spot just before where they were searching. Could it be that he had a hand in what had happened to Aretha ? She pushed those thoughts away from her mind. There was no way Julian could do such a thing. He had to be smart at tracking. He had to. The most important thing was to find Aretha.