Somebody To Love

Run!

For the next three days, Harmony and Elise ride Moonlight as fast and as far as the horse can go. They have to make extra stops, now that there's two of them, but still manage to make good time on their way back to the Castle.

On one of their stops, to allow Moonlight to rest and eat, Harmony asked what had happened, the bruises on Elise's face and body now on full display under the sunlight. Her answer made Harmony want to kill her father.

According to Elise, after Harmony's wedding, Fergus decided to take his anger out on Elise, saying that it was Harmony's fault that she was getting beaten. He told her that if Harmony simply had done what he had told her, then Elise would be perfectly fine.

Elise knew that he was trying to turn her against Harmony, but no matter how many times or how hard their father would hit her, she never once blamed Harmony for it and that, deep down, she knew that Harmony would come for her.

Fergus would make a point of hitting her everyday, but never at the same time, always keeping her guessing when he would come to beat her up again. He took all her clothes away, and left her with just the one she was wearing, telling her that when Harmony decided to be a good daughter again, he would give her her clothes back.

He also had the servants only give her bread and water to eat, but they would always sneak something else for her. There were days where she thought that Harmony had forgotten about her, but then the servants would tell her that they had received another letter from her, and Elise's hope would be renewed.

Harmony had tears in her eyes listening to what Fergus had put Elise through, anger brewing inside of her, but refrained from saying anything. She asked Elise if she had read any of her letters, and Elise told her that Fergus always intercepted them.

The only piece of news she had received was when Harmony had written to let her know she was going to be an aunt, saying that she couldn't wait to meet her nephew or niece. The pain that crossed Harmony's face didn't went unnoticed by Elise and when she asked what happened, Harmony knew she couldn't lie to her.

Harmony quickly told her what happened, as well as what she had heard Fergus say before she went to Elise's room, making Harmony believe that Fergus was behind the attack. Elise hugged her and said how sorry she was. Harmony stood in her sister's arms for a moment before both women got back on the horse's saddle.

This was two days ago, and now as they are getting closer to the Castle and their freedom, Harmony is starting to wonder what kind of reception she will be getting from Jensen. Harmony knows that the Castle is close by, and if they continue at the speed they are going, they should reach it before the sunset, giving Jensen plenty of time to argue with her before dinner is even served.

All of a sudden, Harmony hears horses up ahead on the dirt road they are currently on. Turning Moonlight towards the woods, Harmony tells Elise to climb down and not make a sound. Elise asks what's happening and Harmony tells her there's someone coming up the road.

Elise asks why don't they just ask for help. Harmony tells her that it is better if they don't, reminding her of the rebels and adding that, right now, they can't trust anyone that doesn't wear a royal armor or uniform. Elise agrees, and they make their way through the woods, always keeping the road in sight, and walking as silently as possible.

Unfortunately, Harmony had been right and the people she had heard were indeed rebels. And they had caught sight of them before they could hide in the woods. Harmony urges Elise to walk faster, thinking that maybe they can outrun them, but when she hears them getting closer, she knows she is out of options.

Harmony helps Elise back onto Moonlight's saddle and knows that what she's about to do, is the only way to ensure that Elise will be okay.

-"Listen to me. You need to ride back to the Castle, as fast as you can. Don't let anyone nor anything stop you until you get there, do you hear me?"

-"No. I'm not leaving you. Please, Harmony, no."

-"Elise, I saved you. Now, I need you to save me. Can you do that?" - Harmony looks over her shoulder and sees movement.

Pulling Moonlight towards the road, she whispers in the horse's ear to take Elise to safety, before stepping back and slapping the horse's rear. She watches Moonlight take off running as if the Devil himself was after her, Elise crying atop of her, and hopes that Elise can make it back to the Castle in time.

Now, she needs to make the rebels follow her. "That shouldn't be hard.", she thinks, as she starts running in the opposite direction, making as much noise as she can. The footsteps that quickly follow her let her know that they are following the noise she's making and all she needs to do is stay one step ahead of them.

However, it doesn't take long for her to see herself surrounded by rebels. "Elise, hurry, please."