Light the Way

CHAPTER 18. veins of gold

ALINA

The night had always been her sanctuary. It had always been Alina's favourite time of day. The villa's walls were thick, built to shield against more than just the sweltering Lysene heat. The warmth of the air settled over her like a blanket as Alina drifted deeper into sleep, the gentle rustling of palm leaves in the distance lulling her into a sense of peace she hadn't felt in so long. The silver moonlight filtered through the latticed windows, casting a soft pattern across the floor and bed.

For the first time since leaving Westeros, Alina allowed herself to rest without the gnawing fear clinging to her chest. She had escaped so much already - the threats, the grief, the pain - and though the future remained uncertain, the softness of her pillow and the distant hum of the city outside were enough to momentarily pull her from the heavy thoughts that plagued her every night.

Yet, as her dreams became more vivid, a chill seemed to creep through the air, slowly unravelling the fragile calm she had found. The warmth was fading. Alina stirred in her sleep, her body tensing as if sensing something was wrong. But her mind remained far from reality, drifting in and out of the dreamworld.

The room was quiet. Too quiet.

A soft sound reached her ears, a whisper of movement that didn't belong. Her eyes fluttered open, the edges of sleep still clinging to her. She blinked, adjusting to the darkness, her mind sluggishly processing what was happening. A shadow moved above her, but it wasn't the shadow of the palm trees or the drapes billowing in the window's breeze. No, this was something else - something wrong.

Her heart stuttered, confusion clouding her thoughts as her vision focused on the figure looming over her bed. She opened her mouth to scream, but before she could release even a breath, a hand clamped over her mouth with brutal force.

Her entire body jerked in response, a primal, instinctive reaction to the danger. Wide-eyed and struggling for breath, she tried to thrash free, but the weight of the figure pressed down on her, pinning her against the bed. Panic gripped her chest like a vice, squeezing her lungs until it felt as though they might burst.

The figure above her was dressed in black, a hood obscuring their face. But it was the cold glint of steel - the knife - that drew her gaze. The blade hovered just inches from her, gleaming menacingly in the faint light filtering through the window. The intruder shifted slightly, the knife moving closer, its cruel edge catching the moonlight as it approached her abdomen.

Her child.

The thought hit her like a blow, the fear that had been coiling inside her chest exploding into something far more terrifying. This wasn't just her life at stake - this was her child's. She had promised herself, and Robb's memory, that she would protect this child, no matter what. And now, it seemed, she was going to fail.

Her limbs felt heavy, her muscles unresponsive as she fought against the crushing weight of the figure on top of her. She tried to scream again, but the hand over her mouth silenced her, her cries coming out as nothing more than muffled whimpers. Tears pricked her eyes, her mind racing as she realised how hopeless her situation had become.

This is it, she thought, her heart pounding so loudly it filled her ears. This is where I die. This is where it all ends.

She could feel the edge of the blade brush against her skin, cold and unfeeling, and her thoughts went to Duncan, stationed just outside her room. Duncan, her mind screamed, though no sound came from her lips. He was out there. He would hear her. He had to hear her.

But her mouth was sealed shut, her body pinned down, and the moments stretched endlessly, each second bringing her closer to death. Her mind raced through memories - her time in Winterfell, her love for Robb, the way he had looked at her the day they had wed, his warm smile and the feel of his hand in hers. She thought of her child, her unborn daughter, and how she had already dreamed of holding her, whispering promises of safety and love. She thought of her family, of Lanna, and how she had promised to stay by her side. But now, all of it was slipping through her fingers like sand.