Two Loves of a Gypsy

14. Truth Part 1

We slept by the fire and then left early the next morning. The campsite wasn't properly cleared as we left the fireplace where it was and didn't bother cleaning up the rabbit bones. I think we were both eager to get back. It was a long ride for the most part at full speed. We both kept our mouths shut to stop ourselves from biting our tongues off. Chopper seemed to enjoy the run though.

We got back to Ellvise late that evening. The town looked dark and mysterious at night. We passed a few soldiers who were patrolling. They all looked tried and were all wearing commissioned steel armour. Most were carrying heavy torches but some stuck to the shadows. I assumed they would stop us because of the curfew but they let Gabriel ride through town with a single glance at his sword and saddle. I looked myself a few times but found nothing special about them other than a weird symbol. Every one of the soldiers looked at Gabriel and me with stern or angry looks on their faces. Once again I assumed it was because of the curfew. They probably all thought we were a couple and had forgotten to come back before the curfew.

Gabriel stopped Chopper outside the inn. I shivered, not because of the cold but because I was afraid of going back into that Inn. Gabriel got off and helped me down. He fiddled with my bandages for a moment. I looked at them. They were grotty and turning a greyish colour. The bandages were loose and he pulled them back enough to see the cuts were closing over and were almost healed.

"It was you're kiss" I jested, "made it heal faster after all"

"I'm glad I could help" he said with a smile. He turned around and readied himself to hop back up onto the horse.

"Wait!" I called a little too loudly, the lowered my voice to say "come in with me?" He gave me a tried smile and tied up his horse in the sables. I opened the inn door to find it dead silent; it was eerie, even more than the forest. We crept through the inn and upstairs to the rooms. I went to open the door to find it locked. I pressed my ear against the door to see if they were even inside. I heard my mother weeping. I knocked.

The lock clicked open and the door swang open. My mother stood there tears in both eyes. When she saw me her eyes widened.

"Valerie!" her arms wrapped around me with lighting speed, "I thought we had lost you! Where have you been" I managed to push her away inch by inch to see her face. Tears were now streaming down her tried and worn face. Her embrace was warm and I had missed it dearly.

We stepped into the room and my mother still holding me took me over to my father who was sitting on his bed. The bandages over his wound had some blood on them but otherwise he looked well and much healthier. It had been three weeks since he was shot, no doubt his wound had mostly healed and we could be leaving next week. His left arm hung limp at his side. My mother released me into my father's right arm.

"Oh Valerie, I thought you had run away. I thought it was my fault for not being a better father."

"Oh Father, don't think such things. I didn't run away, I was kidnapped" I explained.

My father's grip tightened, "Who? Do we know them?" I gulped.

"Yes, it was Alistair" I said.

My mother jumped on the defensive, "but he was helping find you, Val"

"No, he knocked me out and then put me in chains. He was planning to take me to the Capital of Rarepella to make me marry him" I shivered at the thought.

"That bastard" My father growled. My mother wasn't completely convinced but didn't object anymore.

"How did you escape then?" My mother asked.

"Oh, that's simple. Gabriel came on Chopper and fought with Alistair. Gabriel won and he brought me back here." I explained rather briefly.

My father looked at me wearily, "who?" it sounded like a grunt that a wild animal might let out.