Selection : Jason and Amelia

Part 13 - A Test of Courage

The peaceful air of the Kingdom of Illea was shattered one fateful evening. It started as a normal day, with laughter and chatter echoing through the palace halls as Amelia and the other contestants prepared for their next challenge. They were excited, having just received word that they would be attending a gala celebrating the Kingdom's prosperity.

As evening approached, Amelia was in her room, choosing a dress for the gala, when she suddenly heard an uproar outside. The sound of shouting, clashing metal, and the chaos of running footsteps sent chills down her spine. She hurried to the balcony, her heart racing as she witnessed a group of rebels storming the palace grounds.

The once-vibrant garden was now a battleground, and the festive atmosphere had transformed into a scene of chaos. Guards rushed to defend the palace, but it was clear that the rebels were overwhelming them.

Panic surged through Amelia as she spotted Princess Elara among the chaos, trying to rally the guards and lead a defense. Just then, a loud crash echoed through the air, and Amelia's heart sank as she saw Elara fall to the ground, clutching her side.

"No!" Amelia gasped, her instincts kicking in. She didn't think twice; she had to help. She rushed downstairs, weaving through frightened servants and chaotic guards, her heart pounding with fear.

When she reached the courtyard, the scene was even more terrifying. The rebels were aggressive, but Amelia's focus was solely on Elara, who lay motionless on the ground. Amelia knelt beside her, pushing aside her fear and focusing on the task at hand.

"Princess Elara!" she called out, her voice shaking. "Can you hear me?"

Elara's eyes fluttered open, pain etched across her face. "Amelia," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. "Help me..."

Amelia quickly assessed the situation, noticing the blood pooling around Elara's side. Panic threatened to overwhelm her, but she took a deep breath, recalling the medical knowledge her mother had imparted to her during her childhood. "I need to stop the bleeding," she murmured to herself.

"Stay with me, Elara. I'm going to help you," she said, her tone steadying as she tore a strip from her dress to use as a bandage. "You're going to be okay."

"Amelia, I—" Elara gasped, her eyes closing momentarily as pain shot through her. "You shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous..."

"I won't leave you," Amelia insisted, focusing on wrapping the makeshift bandage around the wound. She applied pressure, trying to stem the flow of blood while glancing around at the chaos surrounding them.

As the battle raged on, Amelia could hear the sounds of guards struggling to fend off the rebels. Her heart raced, but she refused to let fear control her. "Just breathe, Princess. I'm here."

Moments felt like hours as Amelia worked to stabilize Elara. "Can you tell me what happened?" she asked, trying to keep Elara's focus on her.

"I tried to protect the guards... but they ambushed us," Elara explained, her voice growing weaker. "They were waiting for an opening."

"Keep talking," Amelia urged, her hands steady despite the chaos around them. "You're strong, Elara. You can do this."

Just then, a group of guards fought their way to them, and one of them, a tall man with a commanding presence, knelt beside Amelia. "What's going on?" he asked, urgency lacing his tone.

"She's hurt! I need help!" Amelia cried, not looking up from her task.

The guard quickly assessed the situation, pulling out a small medical kit from his belt. "We need to get her out of here. We can't treat her safely with all this going on."

Amelia nodded, her heart racing. "I can help carry her," she offered, determination igniting within her.

"No," the guard replied firmly. "You need to stay safe. I'll handle this."

But Amelia had no intention of leaving Elara's side. She looked at the princess, who was losing consciousness. "Elara, stay with me!" she urged, her voice breaking. "You can't give up!"

With the help of the guards, they carefully lifted Elara onto a makeshift stretcher. Amelia positioned herself next to the princess, holding her hand tightly. "We're going to get you to safety, I promise."

As they fought their way through the chaos, Amelia's heart raced with fear for Elara's life. Each moment felt stretched thin, with danger lurking at every corner. Just as they reached the palace doors, a rebel lunged at them, and chaos erupted once more.

The guards quickly reacted, drawing their swords and protecting Amelia and Elara as they made their way inside. Once through the doors, they rushed to the infirmary, where the royal physician was already on standby, waiting for injured members of the royal family.

"Lay her down here!" the physician commanded as they entered, quickly taking over Amelia's place.

Amelia stepped back, watching with bated breath as the physician assessed Elara's wound. "You did well to apply pressure," he said, nodding in Amelia's direction. "But she needs immediate care."

As the physician worked, Amelia felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. She couldn't bear to see someone she had grown close to suffering.

The minutes dragged on, and the atmosphere was thick with tension. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the physician stepped back, his expression serious but relieved. "She's stable, but we need to keep her under observation for the next few days."

Amelia felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Can I stay with her?" she asked, her voice shaky but determined.

"Of course," the physician replied, gesturing to a chair beside Elara's bed. "She'll need your support."

As Amelia settled into the chair, she took Elara's hand in hers, grateful that she had been there to help. The princess looked pale but peaceful, and Amelia silently vowed to do everything she could to help her recover.

The battle outside had subsided, but Amelia knew that the threat of the rebels loomed large over the kingdom. As she sat by Elara's side, she couldn't help but feel a shift in her purpose. She was no longer just a contestant in the Selection; she had become an integral part of the kingdom's future, and she would fight to protect it.

In that moment, she realized that this experience had forged a deeper bond between her and the royal family. They had shared a struggle together, and she would prove that she had the heart and courage to stand beside them, no matter the challenge that lay ahead