The Queen

chapter 4

The journey to Vreur would be arduous, Victoria had known it but it was above her expectation. They had been riding through the woods during the first three days and stopping for the night at roadside inns near the trail but after the third day there were no more inns. They would ride all day and stop wherever at nighttime. She had been sleeping inside a carriage for days and she was in terrible condition both physically and mentally. She felt alone even though there were people around her. The riding party consisted of two lady-maids(both Vreurian ) and a battalion of warriors who were also vreurian. The only familiar face among the party was lord Venson Carveiq's envoy. Timothy Severin Lord of venson or Tim as she had fondly called him when they were younger, had been her childhood playmate until they reached the age where boys learned to be men and girls learned to be women and it was no longer suitable to play together. Although, they had been close as children now they only ever exchanged stiff pleasantries when they met at thus the lack of familiarity between them. Victoria remembered having a crush on Tim when they were children and she had even hoped to marry him but things like crushes die as one grows older.

Victoria took the time she was entrapped in a carriage to befriend the two lady-maid's in her company . If she was going to live in an unfamiliar space then she had to have at least two people she could trust. They were both nice girls- Maria and Rosa- and very friendly too, they told her all about Vreur, places to visit, the varieties of foods and people. The way the spoke about the nation made it seem like it would have been a nice place to visit while on vacation but this wasn't a vacation was it. when she asked them about the king but they both went silent. Maria later explained to her that they had been forbidden to speak of him. The rest of the journey went by with them chatting away during the day.

On the morning of the third day of the second week, Timothy informed Victoria that they were about a two days ride from Vreur .Victoria had forgotten the anxiety she felt for a while but now it all came rushing back. Pre-wedding jitters or at least that's what Maria said it was. It was almost dusk and Victoria was asleep when it happened. the horses carrying the carriage suddenly halted flipping Victoria and the lady maid's out of their sits. The footmen were trying to get the horses to move but to no avail and while this distraction was going on a rain of arrows descended upon them. The party was thrown into confusion because they were caught by surprise and the arrows seemed to be coming from no definite direction.
Timothy was a witty person and so when this facade began he deduced that the assassins were probably after Victoria and so without wasting time he proceeded towards the carriage to resume her.The truth being that even if the entire party died here it wouldn't matter, Victoria was the only person who was not allowed to die because her life didn't belong to her solely but to the entire nation of carveiq.
Victoria sat in a daze, every other person was running mad but she just sat.The accompanying soldiers had surrounded her carriage in order to protect her .The rain of arrows paused and the path was quiet for a while then suddenly war cries were heard in all directions and came running in their direction Neanders.
Victoria wondered if this was the end for her.She just sat there expressionless and unmoved.
" My lady, " Maria said the first time as Rosa leapt out of the carriage.
" My lady " she said again before pulling Victoria's arm.
" Yes Maria, what is it" her question really shocked Maria because the situation spoke for itself.
" Victoria get out of the carriage now we have to leave" Tim said pulling her out .He continued to hold her hand pulling her as they ran into the woods.Victoria turned back one last time to see their warriors being massacred by the Neanders. No one would be left alive that was certain.
They kept running but it didn't take long for the Neanders took catch up after all they new the forests better than most. Timothy lead the three ladies into a cave to take cover and make an alternative plan.
"We're In dire straits, all our warriors have been killed and it will be dusk soon" Victoria said like it only just dawned on her how terrible their situation was.
" Vreur isn't expecting us for another two days and if anyone survived it would take them a while to get to carveiq so we're on our own.Rest here lady. I will speak to the girls." Victoria should have been mortified,it wasn't every day she came across situations like this .She was tired and hungry but all she could think about was how Tim had called her name earlier and the feeling she got when he held her hand. She kept fantasizing about impossible scenario's till she drifted into a deep slumber.
"Victoria..."she heard someone call for her.she recognised the voice as Tim's.
"Victoria, open your eyes " she got up and the first thing she noticed was that it was dark only a small bonfire lit up the cave and it was wet and cold as well.
"We don't have time go into the cave with Maria and change your clothes" he said hurriedly.
" What do you mean change, what's going on"
" There's no time for questions just do what I ask " with that he shoved her towards the innards of the cave where Maria was.
" Maria what's going on" she said as she was stripping.
Maria explained that she would pretend to be Victoria and distract the Neanders so they could escape.
"And you're ok with this, If you get caught you could lose your life and you're still doing this" Victoria asked with eye full of worry and pity.
"Yes my lady it is an honour to serve the future Queen of Vreur"
The lights suddenly went out. Tim and Rosa rushed towards them .
" They're around the area, we need to leave now" Tim said pulling her into the cave further .
"Tim where are we going, we can't just leave Maria .They'll kill..." Just then an arrow struck Rosa .
Without wasting anymore time ,Tim pulled Victoria along with him running deeper and deeper into the cave before stopping at an open area leading into various tunnels while Maria ran in the opposite direction.