BLAZING SHADOW

The Darkest Night

Elvira could not believe her ears. Her heart felt crushed, burdened by the shouting crowd and the hatred around her, but even more so by the betrayal of the one she had believed loved her. Once again, she was betrayed by a man in whom she had placed her trust, and this blow was heavier than she could bear. Guards dragged her along by her armpits, her entire being aching inside and out. She screamed in anguish.

"Rohan! Rohan, how could you do this to me? You may be heartless, but where is your honor to convict an innocent...?"

Her voice rasped as she looked at his back, hoping he would turn and look at her just once, even as she was dragged down, deeper and deeper, toward the cold bowels of the dark castle. The dark elf courtesans and nobles spat in her path, their harsh words raining down on her.

"You filthy peasant, trying to climb on our king's mercy! He is my man," whispered Lady Isabella, chuckling. "You will never have him."

"Take this garbage away. You may have some fun with her, boys," commanded Damien to the guards, who stopped before Lady Isabella, fearful of displeasing the noblewoman.

The guards looked at each other, one horrified, the other grinning. Elvira sighed, feeling exhausted and terrified. Perhaps death was not the worst fate that awaited her.

She no longer cared about their words. What was a mere needle jab to a heart and soul already crushed? Rohan's betrayal hurt her so deeply that these petty people could no longer wound her. The dungeon was damp and cold, the night dark and starless. The stench of urine and mold burned her lungs. The moon peeked between clouds, and she gazed at it with a strange contentment through the metal bars that covered the small window near the ceiling. So beautiful and cold.

Slowly, sleep began to claim her, and despite her cold, tired, and hungry state, her body numbed, and her eyes closed.

In her slumber, she wondered what Darian was doing. Was he grieving? Was he sobbing over a plate of plain potatoes? What would she not give for a plate of plain, tasteless potatoes now? Suddenly, a large hand covered her mouth, and another wrapped tightly around her waist.

Elvira panicked, bucking under the stranger's grip. She tried to bite the hand over her mouth and dug her nails into the arm that held her. Warm blood filled her palms, but the stranger did not let go. He dragged her out of the dungeon, up and up.

She struggled with all her might, but there was little she could do besides clawing at the big arm gripping her. In her panic, she couldn't make sense of her surroundings; everything was both familiar and foreign. They traveled a long way through secret, dark corridors until they reached a stone door that opened, and the stranger gently placed her on a patch of grass in the forest.

Elvira was terrified to find herself deep in the forest outside the city gates.