Love Amidst Wars

thirty-nine

"Juliette! Please! Slow down," Lady Jane panted as she fell to the ground. They were deep in the forest, not knowing where to go. Juliette looked around and squinted her eyes, trying to see clearly in the dark forest.

"Mom, we can't stop now. They'll find us!"

"Please, Juliette. I'm old. I can't do this any longer..." Lady Jane ran her fingers through her hair and burst into tears, sobbing silently as she sat still on the ground.

"You have to try, Mom. You are all I have now. I don't think Dad made it."

Lady Jane wiped her tears and took a deep breath as she nodded, pulling herself together and standing back up. Juliette linked arms with her mother and led her even deeper into the forest, in hopes of running away from the evil men.

As hours went by, Lady Jane suddenly fainted to the ground, panting heavily. "Mom!" Juliette kneeled next to her and cupped her cheeks, "Okay, mom. Wait."

She took out a bottle of water for her mother before feeding it to her. "Please, mom. You have to be strong. Just a little bit more..."

"Juliette, my heart. It hurts."

"I know, mom. But you have to be strong. At least until we manage to escape. Please, I can't afford to lose you too!" Juliette began rummaging through her satchel, searching for her mother's heart medicine.

They both halted whatever they were doing as soon as they heard twigs and dried leaves being stepped on. "Mother..." Juliette muttered under her breath and kept an eye carefully on her surroundings. She figured it was their last time before being killed.

"Please spare us!" She hugged her mother's weak figure before closing her eyes, expecting the bullets to shoot her.

"Wait! No! It's me, my lady!"

Her heart felt the hugest sensation of relief upon seeing Johnny in front of her, all ragged and sweaty.

"I was searching for you this whole time! Orders from His Grace. I went to your manor and–"

He stopped his sentence and lowered his gaze, taking off his military beret.

"What about my father?"

"I'm sorry, Ms Anderson."

"And here I was hoping for a miracle," Juliette chuckled to hold back her tears as she let her head hang low. Johnny approached her before helping her mother stand up.

"We should continue our journey, my lady. It's dangerous here."

She obeyed and continued sprinting for safety with the young soldier.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"Clarissa? How's the tea?" Queen Victoria asked as she eyed the young lady, sipping her tea as well. The maiden forced out a smile before sighing, "It is delightful as always, Your Majesty."

"We are honoured that you offered us safety here, Your Majesty," Lady Clara chuckled awkwardly before telling the palace maid to refill her teacup.

"Well, with what's going on currently, it is rational to have my favourite guests seek shelter here."

Clarissa slammed her teacup on the coffee table, earning everyone's attention in the room. "Clarissa!" Lady Clara glared at her daughter with gritted teeth.

"You do know there's a massacre going on, right? Your Majesty?"

"That is why I sent Jay to the expedition. He's safer there. And don't worry. I suggested that he should bring Jake with him and he agreed," Queen Victoria smiled before placing down her teacup gently.