Cursed

Part 3

They had been running since they left Camelot. The moon was shining high in the sky and the cold wind burned their naked flesh. Her knight had come back to save her from the flames. It was almost easy getting out of the dungeon; the king thought his cells so perfect they didn’t need any guards. At best, it would take until morning for anybody to notice her absence. Tristan pulled her along as they headed for the woods. As soon as they stopped, deep enough among the trees, Ella collapsed; the long run had been too much for her. Although also tired, her knight looked magnificent. He had taken his armor off and replaced it with clothes that, while loose, still managed to show off his muscular frame.

“We need to find somewhere warm to stay. Can you make a fire while I look?” he asked, worry in his eyes. She nodded and he helped her gather firewood. As he was leaving, she grabbed for stones to spark a fire with, but as soon as he was out of sight, she fixated her eyes on the pile of wood. Her eyes glowed golden and the flames erupted out of thin air.

Tristan was back before long. He found a camp not too far off. It was a small nomadic tribe that had set up for the night. The people were generous, kind, and didn’t ask any unwanted questions. The runaways were glad to be at peace at last.

In the middle of the night, she woke up to Tristan shaking her urgently. People were running and shouting at each other. She didn’t recognize some of them from earlier.

“Ella you need to go; find somewhere to hide,” he said as he urged her away from the camp. The strangers had swords.

“I will not leave you!” she uttered through gritted teeth, escaping his grasp.

“O my love but you must. These people helped us in our time of need and I must repay them the favor, but I cannot have in harm’s way.”

Just as he finished his sentence, Ella eyes widened and she shrieked, “LOOK OUT!” With those words she threw herself between Tristan’s unarmored body and a blade that struck her in the stomach.