A Heart Divided

Chapter 5

The Escape

Eliza's heart raced as she and Alden dashed through the narrow alleys of the market district, the clatter of boots behind them growing louder by the second. Every sound—every rustle of leaves in the wind, every whisper of a distant voice—felt like a drumbeat in her chest. They had just a few moments of head start, and she knew that if they didn't act fast, the soldiers would catch up to them.

"Alden," she breathed, pulling him close as they ducked behind a stack of crates, hoping to remain unseen.

His face was pale, his brow drenched in sweat, but his eyes were full of determination, something she had always admired about him. He was not just the son of a humble cloth maker—he was a man who had the courage to defy the world for love, even if it meant risking everything.

"Where are we going?" Alden whispered urgently, his gaze flicking down the alley, watching for any sign of pursuit.

"There's a cottage in the woods," Eliza replied, her voice tight but steady. "It's isolated, hidden from the road. We can disappear there for a while, at least until it's safe to move again."

The words tasted like freedom on her tongue, but there was also a bitter edge. She had never been outside the palace for more than a few hours in the past decade, and now she was running—running from everything she had ever known.

Alden's eyes narrowed as he considered the plan. "We'll have to be careful. They'll search every corner of the kingdom for us."

"We'll be careful," Eliza said, her voice firm. "We'll stay hidden until it's safe. I know the way."

For a moment, they stood there in the dark, silent except for their shallow breathing. Eliza felt her heart thudding in her chest, each beat filled with fear and excitement. Could they really do this? Could they escape everything—her family, the kingdom, the weight of duty—and live the life they dreamed of?

She shook the doubts away. There was no turning back now.

"Come on," she whispered, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the end of the alley.

They had to move quickly. The soldiers were closing in, and she could hear the muffled sounds of voices shouting orders.

As they stepped into the shadows of the street, Eliza's mind raced. What if they couldn't make it? What if they were caught before they could reach the cottage? Or worse—what if they were captured and dragged back to the palace? The thought of her father's wrath, of the consequences for defying him, made her stomach turn.

But then she looked at Alden—his strong, determined face—and she knew. They had to try.

They moved through the city in silence, their steps quick and light. The night was their only ally now. They took side streets, alleyways, and narrow pathways, keeping as far away from the main roads as possible. It felt as though they were slipping through a different world entirely—a world that didn't know them, a world where their love wasn't forbidden, where they weren't running for their lives.

Eliza's thoughts kept drifting back to her father. Would he ever forgive her for this? The thought of disappointing him hurt more than she had anticipated. She had spent her entire life trying to live up to his expectations, doing everything he asked of her. But all of that had been for the kingdom. For Aramore. Not for herself.

Now, for the first time in her life, she was making a choice that was solely hers.

After what felt like hours of running through the dark streets, they finally reached the edge of the city. The trees of the forest loomed before them, dark and foreboding, but also a place of refuge. The cottage was hidden deep within, far enough that no one would find it unless they knew exactly where to look.

Alden glanced at Eliza, his brow furrowing as he scanned the tree line. "We're almost there, aren't we?"

Eliza nodded, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Just a little further."

But just as they stepped onto the narrow path that led into the woods, a shout broke through the night air, sending a jolt of panic through Eliza's veins.

"There they are!"

She whipped around, her heart sinking as she saw the glint of torches and the figures of soldiers emerging from the shadows. They had been discovered.

Alden's grip tightened on her hand. "We have to run."

They sprinted forward, pushing through the thick underbrush, the sound of pursuit growing louder behind them. Eliza's lungs burned with each step, but she couldn't stop. She wouldn't stop. Not now.

"Faster!" Alden urged, pulling her along.

The path was becoming narrower, the trees crowding in on them. They were close to the cottage now, but Eliza couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't going to make it. The soldiers were too close.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her ankle as she stumbled over a tree root, her foot twisting awkwardly beneath her. She gasped, falling to the ground with a cry of pain.

"Alden!" she cried, her breath hitching as she struggled to push herself up.

He was at her side in an instant, his hands gripping her shoulders as he helped her to her feet. "You're hurt."

"It's nothing," she said, her teeth clenched against the pain. "We have to keep going. Please, Alden."

But before he could reply, the soldiers' voices rang out behind them. They were almost there.

Alden hesitated for a moment, then made a snap decision. "Stay here," he said quickly. "I'll lead them away. You head for the cottage."

"No!" Eliza shouted, grabbing his arm. "I won't leave you."

"We don't have a choice," Alden said, his voice firm but full of urgency. "If they catch us both, it's over. You have to go."

She shook her head, tears threatening to spill over. "I won't leave you."

He kissed her forehead gently, his lips soft against her skin. "I love you, Eliza. Now go."

With a final, desperate look, Eliza nodded. She turned and limped toward the cottage, the path now a blur of motion as her adrenaline kicked in. She could hear Alden's voice calling out, luring the soldiers away, and she prayed with all her heart that he would make it out alive.