The King's Captive

Betrayed in Darkness

The next day, as the guards changed shifts, Liora signalled to Avalyn. With great effort, Avalyn managed to slip her chains and crawl to the window. Liora had indeed loosened the bars, and with a final push, they were free.

They climbed out into the night, the cool air a stark contrast to the stifling dungeon. Liora led the way, her movements swift and sure. Avalyn followed, her heart pounding with each step.

As they reached the edge of the castle grounds, Liora suddenly stopped. She turned to Avalyn, her eyes cold and calculating. "I'm sorry, Avalyn," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "But I can't let you leave."

Before Avalyn could react, Liora called out to the guards. "Here! She's trying to escape!"

Avalyn's blood ran cold as the guards rushed towards her. She looked at Liora in shock and betrayal. "Why?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Liora's expression was unreadable. "I had to save myself. The king promised me freedom if I helped capture you."

Avalyn's eyes widened in shock, their usual brightness dimmed by disbelief, as a wave of despair washed over her chest. The trust she had placed in Liora now felt like a heavy anchor pulling her down. She glanced at the imposing guards, their stern faces devoid of sympathy, and her heart raced with desperation. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, pleaded for understanding, for mercy—anything that might break the cold grip of her betrayal.

"Please, you have to believe me. I was framed. I was just trying to protect myself. I didn't do anything wrong," She made a heartfelt appeal to the guards.

The guards swiftly overpowered Princess Avalyn, their rough hands gripping her arms as they hauled her back toward the dimly lit dungeon. The piercing wail of the warning siren reverberated through the air, drowning out Avalyn's desperate cries for help.

As the chilling news spread like wildfire through the castle corridors, it reached King Henry, who was immediately incensed. His voice thundered through the throne room as he demanded that Princess Avalyn be brought before him at once, his anxiety palpable in the heavy atmosphere.

King Henry was waiting, his face twisted in a cruel smile. "Did you really think you could escape?" he sneered. "You will pay dearly for this. Return her to the dungeon at once! I must prepare for her punishment immediately."

Avalyn was hurled back into her damp, shadowy cell, the heavy door crashing shut with a resounding bang that reverberated through her very soul. The sting of betrayal sliced through her heart like a sharpened dagger, leaving a raw ache in its wake. As despair wrapped around her like a suffocating shroud, she felt an overwhelming weight settle upon her chest, the darkness of her surroundings mirroring the turmoil within.

King Henry's voice echoed through the dungeon. "You will remain here, alone and forgotten. No one will come for you, Avalyn. You are mine to punish as I see fit."

As the days turned into weeks, Avalyn's hope dwindled. The darkness of the dungeon seemed to seep into her soul, and she wondered if she would ever see the light of day again. The memory of Liora's betrayal haunted her, a constant reminder of the cruelty and treachery that surrounded her.

But even in the depths of despair, a small spark of defiance remained. Avalyn vowed that she would survive, no matter the cost. She would endure the king's punishments and find a way to escape, even if it took her a lifetime.

Before Avalyn could react, Liora called out to the guards. "Here! She's trying to escape!"

Avalyn's blood ran cold as the guards rushed towards her. She looked at Liora in shock and betrayal. "Why?" she whispered, her voice breaking.

Liora's expression was unreadable. "I had to save myself. The king promised me freedom if I helped capture you."

Avalyn's eyes widened in shock, their usual brightness dimmed by disbelief, as a wave of despair washed over her chest. The trust she had placed in Liora now felt like a heavy anchor pulling her down. She glanced at the imposing guards, their stern faces devoid of sympathy, and her heart raced with desperation. Her eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, pleaded for understanding, for mercy—anything that might break the cold grip of her betrayal.

"Please, you have to believe me. I was framed. I was just trying to protect myself. I didn't do anything wrong," She made a heartfelt appeal to the guards.

The guards swiftly overpowered Princess Avalyn, their rough hands gripping her arms as they hauled her back toward the dimly lit dungeon. The piercing wail of the warning siren reverberated through the air, drowning out Avalyn's desperate cries for help.

As the chilling news spread like wildfire through the castle corridors, it reached King Henry, who was immediately incensed. His voice thundered through the throne room as he demanded that Princess Avalyn be brought before him at once, his anxiety palpable in the heavy atmosphere.

King Henry was waiting, his face twisted in a cruel smile. "Did you really think you could escape?" he sneered. "You will pay dearly for this. Return her to the dungeon at once! I must prepare for her punishment immediately."

Avalyn was hurled back into her damp, shadowy cell, the heavy door crashing shut with a resounding bang that reverberated through her very soul. The sting of betrayal sliced through her heart like a sharpened dagger, leaving a raw ache in its wake. As despair wrapped around her like a suffocating shroud, she felt an overwhelming weight settle upon her chest, the darkness of her surroundings mirroring the turmoil within.

King Henry's voice echoed through the dungeon. "You will remain here, alone and forgotten. No one will come for you, Avalyn. You are mine to punish as I see fit."

As the days turned into weeks, Avalyn's hope dwindled. The darkness of the dungeon seemed to seep into her soul, and she wondered if she would ever see the light of day again. The memory of Liora's betrayal haunted her, a constant reminder of the cruelty and treachery that surrounded her.

But even in the depths of despair, a small spark of defiance remained. Avalyn vowed that she would survive, no matter the cost. She would endure the king's punishments and find a way to escape, even if it took her a lifetime.