''Landing''

GO!!!!!

After riding through the woods for the last two days, Bella has to admit that she is surprised with how well Alexis has been handling the ride. They still have another day of riding before they reach their destination and Bella is already counting this mission as a success.

Kneeling beside a creek, filling up their water skins, Bella thinks that it was well worth bringing just the horses.

-"Are we too far away from the Castle?" - Alexis' voice cuts through her thoughts.

-"According to one of the guards, with the pace we are keeping, we should arrive at Henry's Castle tomorrow around lunch."

-"Does he know we're coming?"

-"I don't know, your Uncle didn't say." - Bella stands and closes her water skin.

-"Do you think King Henry will be happy to see us?" - Alexis mimics her mother.

-"I'm sure he will be happy to see you." - Bella starts her way back to the horses, Alexis following.

-"And you?"

-"I don't know. But despite that, he will be happy to see you."

They continue walking in silence, Alexis wondering what she can do to help, now that she has the chance at being in the same room as Henry. But her thoughts are cut short when, as they approach where the first guards are, one of them urges them to get on their horses.

Alexis and Bella rush to their horses but before they can reach them, men appear from the woods, attacking the guards. Alexis sees her mother pulling her dagger out, and she does the same, before Bella tells her to get on her horse and ride for Henry's Castle.

Alexis refuses, not wanting to leave her mother, but when her mother yells at her to go, something she has never done, and tells her she will be right behind, ordering a guard with her at the same time, Alexis obeys.

She gets on her horse and rides away, the guard right behind her, before looking back and seeing her mother stabbing one man with her dagger, before getting grabbed by two others.

The guard with her urges her forward, making her look back at him. It is only then that she realizes that the guard himself is injured. Alexis doesn't think, she just rushes her horse forward, determined to get to Henry's Castle as fast as she can, for the sake of her mother and the guard alike.