THE GREAT LADY OF ALKION

CHAPTER 8

Aretha walked slowly following the direction she had been told to follow. By now she wasn't in much pain as she was in before. The bump on her head from the hit she got from the branch was going down too.
She saw some smoke in a distance and tried to move cautiously so she could see who had settled there. They could be bandits. There were some voices there and she hid behind a tree to take a good look at those speaking. She saw two soldiers in their uniform and crest that was illuminated by the bright torches they carried and she smiled. She staggered towards them and fell. This caught their attention and they walked towards her.
"Who are you ?" one of them asked. She looked up to them and they gasped.
"My lady," one soldier said. He bent down and carried her towards the main tent where Astrid, Fabian and Julian slept.
"She's here your highnesses," he shouted and woke up everyone in the process. The three rushed out of the tent to see what was happening.
"Oh my goodness. Aretha," Astrid said with joy.
Aretha managed to smile before she passed out.
"Let's bring her into the tent," Fabian said.
"I'll check on her wounds," Julian said. He looked after her the entire night after assuring everyone that she would be fine.
It was morning when she woke up. When she opened her eyes, she saw Julian. He was dozing off. He looked handsome with his unruly neck length hair. She could not help but fall more and more in love with him even though she knew that his heart did not belong to her. She didn't want to wake him up so she could take in his spectacular appearance. Before she knew it, she cupped his face with her hand this waking him.
"I'm sorry," she said looking away.
" You're awake. How are you feeling ?"
"I am doing fine. Just a minor headache."
Astrid joined them in the tent. She kneeled beside Aretha who smiled at her cousin.
" How are you feeling ?"
" I'm fine Astrid. There's no need to worry. Julian is here and seems like he watched over me at night."
" Of course he did. He's such a gentleman," Astrid said and lay back on him. They smiled at each other and Aretha's smile quickly disappeared.
" When will we go back ? I want to go home. I have had the worst experience possible."
" You're finally awake Aretha," Fabian said as he joined the three in the tent. "Are you feeling fine ?"
" I am."
"How did you get here ?" he asked.
" When the soldiers began to fight off the bandits, I took my chance and rode away. One bandit however followed me and I hit my head against a branch and fell off the horse. It just galloped away and he caught up with me," she said and was on the verge of crying." He was about to take advantage of me," she cried more." I thought it would be then end of me. He tore my blouse and he was just about to molest me when he fell to the ground. A woman had attacked him. She saved my life because I passed out. She dressed my wounds and gave me water and brought me close to this place and that is when I saw some smoke and walked here and saw the soldiers. I was so scared," she said and embraced Fabian.
" Everything will be alright. We're here now and we'll get you home safely. A physician will check on you just to make sure that you are doing fine,"Fabian said.
In the afternoon, they all rode back to the palace after all search parties met at the entrance of the woods.

"It's been two days since the children left," Therese said as she looked down through the window.
"I believe that they will find Aretha and they'll be back sooner than you know it," Charles said and placed his arms on her.
" Seems like you've finally decided to be a husband once more," Anthony remarked sarcastically as he watched Charles.
" Please don't start with me father. I am worried about the children," Charles defended.
" Of course you are,"Anthony replied.
" Stop picking on Charles, father. We have things to worry about."
"And you think that I am not worried ? This is all Aretha's fault. She just had to go for her hunting trips. And for what ?Huh ? For her to get into trouble." Anthony said.
" Don't say that. Nobody knew what would happen. Now stop it with the blame game," Charles shouted." If she wants to go hunting then let her. She loves hunting and we can't take it from her. After this we'll just make sure that she hunts in safe grounds and that she's guarded heavily."
" She is a member of my family and who knows, someone might hurt her with an aim to hurt us. We are a political family and we have many enemies that's why we need to keep her safe. We don't even know whom she might bump into out there. I don't want her going out for hunting ever."
" You really do care for her after all. Why not show it to her and let her feel fully accepted into the family. She needs your love."
" She has a roof over her head and she has access to the best of the best. What more does she need ? I am keeping her safe as well. That's more than enough."
" Why don't you just admit that you are insecure. It would do many of us a favour because she'll finally stop feeling bad about herself and that she can't win your love. Or maybe you are afraid that she could find out the truth about her past. Maybe find out about Audelia."
" Don't you dare mention that name to me Charles or you will regret it."
" Enough. Stop it both of you. Do you always have to keep arguing ? We are a family and we should act like one," Therese said.
"I'm leaving," Anthony said and left the two alone.
" No Therese. I have been quiet for long. How much longer should I be silent ? He obviously is afraid of Audelia. She has sent him letters over the past few years threatening to disclose everything to Aretha and to the people and even shown herself to him. Not to mention, he doesn't show his affection for Aretha because she looks exactly like Aine."
" Please don't tell that to anyone. Revealing it will divide our family. It's better if we leave everything in the past Charles."
" I will only remain quiet because you asked me to. I am tired of your father treating Aretha poorly."
"I understand Charles. I will speak to him."