Journey of the Half-Elf - Book 1

Chapter VI - The Escape

"We're almost there, Mother. Just a bit longer and we'll feel the night air. We'll get a horse, and ride to Father's house. We'll be safe." Guinevere assured Aeledwyn, who was gaining some of her strength back, but still not enough to walk freely on her own.

Though it was built by Elves, built to last hundreds of years with minimal wear, the tunnel they were nearly out of was cold and smelt terrible. The floor they walked over, still as intricately patterned as the day it was carved, was dotted with tiny flowers and weeds; they could have grown bigger had the stone not been so strong.

At last, the women had reached the exit. Setting the torch back in its sconce, Guinevere readjusted her mother's arm as she felt the cool nighttime breeze on her face.

"Can you walk fine now, Mother?" She asked, willing to keep holding her if necessary.

"Hm... yes, I should be fine now, Gwinna. Thank you for holding me." Aeledwyn gently pulled her arm off of her daughter's neck, removing her black high heels and casting them aside.
"Now, we need a horse. We should find Gastan, then flee somewhere else. Hanging around this place isn't safe for the three of us. Come on, dear."

"Where will we find a horse, Mother? It's too dangerous to go to the stables." Guinevere pointed out.

"I don't know, Gwinna. I just know we need to find one. We can't go on foot because Gastan's house is too far and they'll catch up to-" Aeledwyn was abruptly interrupted by an ear-splitting explosion within the Manor; both she and her daughter spun around to see what had happened.

"You don't think... that was Gaiagan, do you?" The young Princess was now afraid he had been badly hurt, or killed.

"It might be him. Perhaps he set it off and got to safety. Either way, we can't worry about him right now.
We need to find a horse and get out of here, or we're all going to die. Gaiagan would want us to save ourselves, you know how selfless he is."

Abandoning Gaiagan filled Guinevere's heart with guilt and sadness, but she understood what needed to be done.
Indeed, without hesitation, the wizened Elf would put her life before his own, for he loved her more than himself.

"This was supposed to be my day, Mother. It was meant to be good, not bloody. Urghh!!" Guinevere angrily threw her fist into a tree, only to regret it soon after.

"Don't give in to anger, it'll only make things worse." Aeledwyn calmly told her off, before sighing and bringing her in to hug her. "I know this is hard, dear. But we need to-" Just then, a Flamebolt had struck a tree just next to their heads, almost killing the Queen right then and there. Just as that soldier beside the Manor entrance was about to sound his horn to alert the others to his position, he was suddenly assassinated from behind. Standing on his back, was Aegwyna, tightly grasping a bloody knife.
The Elite warrior stared deeply into Aeledwyn's emerald eyes, proceeding to walk past the tall stone fence of the entrance and start sprinting towards her.

"Aegwyna..." The Queen spoke, before running forward to firmly embrace her battle sister.

"You've no idea how glad I am to see you." Aeledwyn told her as she held her hands.

"Likewise. Is Guinevere alright?"  Aegwyna wanted to know.

"She's fine, just shaken up, that's all. Where's Guingraedd?"

"He's been on a Basilisk hunt for a week now. I don't know if he's still alive or not, but I'd rather him be out there than in this place. Here, it's either fight for that lunatic Guingeras or be slaughtered like cattle..." The woman began to cry, and was comforted by Aeledwyn.

"We'll find him, Aegwyna. You have my word. You, me, Gwinna and Gastan. We'll all go together, away from this Manor, start again."

"Thank you, Aeledwyn. And thank you, Guinevere. You've had an awful night, but you're still standing. Well done, child."