Shadows Of Destiny

Chapter- VI

The Guardian

My fingers drummed anxiously on the hilt of my sword, the only sound in the otherwise silent chamber. The princess had been missing for hours, and the weight of that reality pressed down on me, suffocating and sharp.

You're too late.

The woman's words rang in my ears, taunting me. She had been taken away from me. I was *stupid* for leaving. I should have never left her alone. It was all my fault.

The war room felt colder, emptier without her. Every moment she was gone felt like another failure—a stain on the promise I had made to protect her. My grip tightened around the hilt, my knuckles white. I could almost hear her voice, see her smile. It twisted something deep inside me, an anger mixed with helplessness that threatened to tear me apart.

Where is she now? What are they doing to her?

The thoughts churned in my mind, each more horrifying than the last. I had fought countless battles, but this—this waiting, this uncertainty—was unbearable. My muscles itched to move, to act, to do something, but there was nothing. No leads, no trail.

I stared down at the map spread across the table, but the lines and symbols blurred in front of me, meaningless without her. I slammed my fist down, rattling the table, my breath shallow. If I'd just been there—

Suddenly, the doors to the war room flew open with a bang, and Queen Seraphine stormed in, her face a mask of cold fury. Her presence filled the room, her eyes locking onto mine with a fiery intensity.

"Elana," she said, her voice sharp and commanding, cutting through the fog of my thoughts. "Where is she?"

I knelt down, swallowing hard. "Your Majesty," I began, trying to keep my voice steady, but it cracked under the weight of my guilt. "The princess... she's been taken."

Seraphine's eyes flashed with anger. "And you let this happen?"

The words struck me like a physical blow, and I could feel my stomach drop. She was right—this was my failure. I had left her alone, vulnerable. "I'm sorry," I whispered, hating the weakness in my voice, but there was nothing I could say to justify it.

The queen stepped closer, her hand clenched at her side, barely controlling her rage. "Sorry won't bring her back, Elana. Sorry won't stop what they're doing to her right now." Her voice wavered, just for a moment, with the fear I knew she was hiding beneath her anger.

I stood there, frozen, the weight of her words crushing me further. My heart raced, guilt and rage battling inside me. "I'll find her," I said, my voice harder now, more resolute. "I'll bring her back."

"You better," Seraphine spat, her eyes narrowing. "Or I'll make sure you pay for this failure with your life."

I nodded, accepting her threat. I deserved worse. But nothing she could do to me would compare to the hell I was already living in, knowing that I had failed her—failed the princess.

"Elana," Seraphine called, her voice softer now, almost fragile.I was surprised to see the emotion flicker across her face. "Bring my daughter back, she's all I have left," she said quietly, her words laced with desperation.

As Queen Seraphine left the war room, the door closing with a sharp click behind her, I remained still, kneeling on the cold stone floor. My heart raced, the queen's words echoing in my head. Her daughter was her entire world—her only remaining family. And I had failed them both. I clenched my jaw, pushing down the rising wave of guilt, trying to focus. I couldn't afford to spiral into self-blame right now. Not when the princess was still out there.

I rose to my feet just as Richard, the general of the Queen's army, entered the room. His heavy boots echoed against the stone floor, the weight of his presence commanding attention. He approached me with a grim expression, his eyes sweeping over the scattered maps and strategies left on the table. His dark beard, peppered with grey, gave him an air of authority, and he always carried himself with confidence—a man who had seen and led countless battles. Yet, today, something felt different. There was a tension in the room that seemed to follow him.