Rising from the Ashes

Chapter 28

It had taken forever to find the princess or at least it had felt like forever. Elenora had counted the seconds, each feeling like it might be her last. All it would take is one warrior spotting her. All it would take is one servant. Elenora can only hope nobody finds the warriors before she grabs Princess Lydia.

The plan is admittedly not her best. It is crafted of pure desperation. There is a clock ticking away seconds in her head. Every second that goes by lessens her chances of locating Charlotte. It only takes a moment to kill a person. Is she looking for a dead body right now? Elenora won't even get to see Charlotte. Not with a plan like this. She is a dead girl walking and she has been from the moment she attacked that warrior at the wall. Again. Not her best decision. She could have went back home. She could have figured something else out. Except she probably would have never found her then.

The plan is ridiculous but it might just work. Elenora could grab her now except common sense has left her behind. Elenora chooses to watch Princess Lydia instead. She reminds her of Charlotte. It is the way the vines reach out to her. It is the way the flowers open at her touch. She smiles at the garden around her. Formed from her fingertips. She is a beautiful girl with her long blonde curly hair, pale skin and freckled cheeks. This is the girl Mia had dreamed of meeting. This girl. What would Mia say to her if she knew what she was about to do. "Princess Lydia!" A man calls and suddenly he appears behind her. Have they found the warriors? Is he going to take her away. "King Stavros wants you in his study. He wants to talk to you about attending court tomorrow I think."

"Do I have to?" The girl whispers, her voice sounding like a soft song.

"It is the duty of the royals."

"It is boring." She grumbles and for a moment Elenora is angered. Unlike her the man is patient.

"Not to them princess. To them it means everything." The princess sighs before nodding her head. He smiles once more before leaving. Elenora eyes the surrounding area. She saw some of the maids run into a door not too far from here. It leads to some tunnel. All will be fine if she can just get the princess there. She has to be quick. They will find the warriors any- a loud horn sounds and then shouts. Chaos. Elenora jumps on the wide eyed princess and covers her mouth. Her scream comes muffled as Elenora drags her to the hidden door she saw. Ten feet. Seven. "Princess Lydia!" The mans voice calls in a rush but they are there. He does not hear her muffled screams over the horns and then they are behind the stone door. They found the warriors. It will be hell to get away from the castle. They will kill her for this. She will never get to see Nakoa again. She will never get to hold Charlotte and tell her how sorry she is for failing her. She will never get to see Mia as she falls in love with Beta Burton.

"Quiet." Elenora hisses to the still screaming girl who bites her hand in attempt to get her off. Elenora ignores her pathetic attempt and rips her sleeve off before gagging the princess with it "Apologies for the sweat princess. This is not my shirt." With that she tugs the girl down the tunnel. Elenora follows the sound of a rushing ocean. Waves crashing down. Perhaps that will be far enough. Elenora pauses as she hears footsteps rushing towards them. "If they find us. They will be killed princess." Elenora whispers to the girl before pulling them both to a dark corner. Princess Lydia holds her breath as they near. Elenora presses the knife to her neck just in case it is needed. Of course she will not actually kill anybody. Severely injure most likely. They pause next to them and her grip on the knife only tightens. "Do you really think the rogue has the princess? Nobody has ever gotten to her before. Every time we thought it to be the case we found her in the forest doing whatever it is she does. She is probably just in the forest." The guilt eats away at her as Elenora feels the girls tears drip on her wrist. She is shaking in her arms and Elenora wants to tell her. She wants to swear to Princess Lydia that she will not hurt her.