Goldie and Red

Chapter 12 - The Piper

I opened my eyes but my hair was hanging over my face.

I was laying against something soft and warm. I blinked a couple of times.

I sat up and realised what where I was.

The dark horse carrying me was tied against a large tree. I was back in the Forrest. It was still daytime but as I looked around, I didn't recognise my surroundings.

The horse huffed slightly and I petted it instinctively. I had no idea what happened. But I felt a strange sense of calm. I didn't know where I was, or how I got here, but I wasn't scared. I was alone, but I couldn't remember ever being with anyone else. My mind was still, empty even.

I shifted in the saddle slightly but it took a while before I thought to climb down.

As I landed I felt the absence of my scabbard and shuffled around until I looked back to the horse and sure enough, there it was, hooked to the side of the saddle. I tilted my head, but before I could reach for it, I felt someone grip my arm.

I gasped as the pain from the wound triggered my memories and I was pulled in close to a tall figure. I looked up to meet his gaze and it all came flooding back.

I had left Rowan and Alec with Jack in his living room. Angus hurt me but hurt the Guardsmen more. My mother was dead, and exploited in her death by a Fire Breather....And him. The man with dark hair and glowing eyes. He did something to me. Something I had no control over.

He smirked, watching as I became oriented and I shoved him away, falling down to one knee as the pain in my arm struck like lightening down the whole side of my body.

"What did you do?" I asked through breathless gasps of agony. "Who are you?"

He looked down to me and raised an eyebrow.

I tried to stand but fell back. I couldn't feel any pain just a couple of moments ago, like I was existing in a fog. Now it was intense and unforgiving. I fought back tears as I grasped onto the wound.

He calmly stepped over me and lifted my chin.

His eyes were dark and deceptive, squinting slightly as they moved their way from my face down to my arm. After a moment, he smiled earnestly, like he was genuinely satisfied with my pain.

"Does it hurt princess?" He asked, ignoring my demands for answers.

I whipped my face away from his grip and straightened up. Even when I properly stood, he towered over me like I was the smallest creature in the Forest.

"Don't talk to me like that. What do you want, where are we?" I squared up to him as much as I could, not that it made much difference.

"I'm taking you to the King." He replied.

"Where are the others? I swear if you harmed them in any way-"

"Your friends are miles away. I didn't touch them, but I can't speak for Gretel." His lips curled as he walked past me and began untying his horse.

"You're stupid if you think I'm going with you!" I spat. He ignored me and continued. He moved around his horse coolly, ruffling his hair and straightening his jacket. He was so smooth. I hated it.

"Stay here and die from your wounds then." he plainly responded after an annoying amount of time.

I scrunched my nose in anger but another sharp pain shot through me. I looked up and noticed my sword again.

"Ho-How did you do that?" I nodded to the scabbard on the horse's saddle.

"I didn't. You put it there." He finished untying the horse and strode back over to me. I shuffled back, wincing.