A Heart Divided

Chapter 8

A Moment's Peace

The knock on the door was soft, tentative, yet it pierced the heavy silence that hung in the cottage like a shroud. Eliza's heart leapt in her chest. Could it be him? Could Alden have found his way here?

Lila, ever the pragmatic woman, was already standing before the door, her hand hovering over the latch, a wary look in her eyes. Eliza could hardly breathe, her anxiety thick in the air between them.

"Stay here," Lila said quietly, as she turned to glance over her shoulder at Eliza. "I'll see who it is."

Eliza nodded, her pulse quickening. She was still recovering from the pain of her injury and the shock of the night's events. She had barely had time to think, let alone process what had happened. The days of quiet luxury in the palace felt like a distant memory, as though they belonged to another life, another person entirely.

Lila opened the door just enough to peer through the crack. For a long moment, Eliza could only hear the murmur of conversation, then the door swung open fully.

And there he was.

Alden.

He stood in the doorway, his face drawn with exhaustion, his clothes dirty and torn from their flight through the forest. His once-pristine white shirt was stained with dirt and sweat, his dark hair falling in wild tangles around his face. But it was his eyes—deep, haunted, and filled with unspoken emotion—that drew Eliza's attention.

For a split second, neither of them moved. Eliza felt as though time had frozen, the world outside the cottage fading into nothing. All that mattered in that moment was Alden standing there before her, safe, if not entirely unharmed.

"Alden," Eliza whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Her feet moved before she could stop them, and she rushed to him, throwing her arms around his neck, as though by touching him she could make sure he was real.

Alden hesitated only for a moment before enveloping her in his arms, his embrace fierce, as though he too needed to reassure himself that they were both still alive. That they had both survived.

"You made it," Eliza breathed, pulling back to look at him, searching his face for any signs of injury. "I thought..."

"I'm here," Alden interrupted, his voice hoarse. He ran a hand through his hair, his expression softening with relief. "I had to make sure you were safe."

Lila watched the exchange with a knowing look, giving the couple a moment of quiet intimacy before she cleared her throat softly.

"I'll leave you two alone," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Eliza needs to rest, and you need to clean up. We'll need a plan."

Eliza nodded absentmindedly, her eyes never leaving Alden's face as Lila silently withdrew into the other room, closing the door behind her.

For a long while, neither of them spoke. The storm of emotions swirling between them was too overwhelming to express in words. All Eliza could do was soak in the moment—the comfort of his presence, the warmth of his body against hers.

Finally, Alden broke the silence. "You shouldn't have come for me."

"I couldn't leave you," Eliza whispered, her voice full of quiet resolve. She touched his cheek gently, the roughness of his skin a reminder of the hardships he had faced to be with her. "I wouldn't leave you."

Alden's eyes softened, but there was an undercurrent of something darker beneath his calm exterior. "You've risked everything. Your father—"

"Isn't here." Eliza's voice was firm, her decision made. "And I don't care about the kingdom anymore. I don't care about what they want from me. I only care about you."

Alden's gaze flickered with both relief and sorrow. He took her hand, pulling it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her fingers. "I love you, Eliza. And I'll protect you. I'll never let them take you back."

Eliza leaned into him, her forehead resting against his chest. "I won't go back," she whispered. "I won't marry him. Not Edmund, not anyone."

Alden's arms tightened around her, as though the very thought of losing her was unbearable. "We'll find a way to make this work. I'll build a life for us, Eliza. A life where we're free."

Eliza smiled against his chest, feeling the strength in his words. He spoke as though it was possible, and for the first time since their flight, a small spark of hope ignited in her chest. Perhaps they could do it. Perhaps they could escape everything—her royal duties, her family's expectations—and make a life for themselves. A simple life, far away from the politics of the court.

But even as she allowed herself to dream of such a life, the reality of their situation lingered like a shadow at the edges of her thoughts.

The kingdom was vast, its reach far and wide. They were not just fugitives—they were traitors.

"We need to get word to the outside world," Alden continued, pulling back slightly to meet her eyes. "The longer we stay hidden, the harder it will be to stay safe. We need allies, Eliza. There are people who will help us, but we need to get to them before it's too late."

Eliza hesitated, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. She had known this wasn't going to be easy. But now that the time had come, the full gravity of their situation was starting to set in. If they didn't act quickly, they would be hunted down and dragged back to the palace, where her fate would be sealed—marriage to Prince Edmund, her heart forever chained to a man she could never love.

"I know," she said softly, but her voice trembled slightly with the enormity of their task. "But we'll do it together. We have to."

Alden nodded, his expression serious. "Together."

The promise in his words was like a lifeline, one that Eliza clung to with all the strength she could muster.

But as the night wore on, and the hours passed in quiet discussion, Eliza's thoughts began to darken again. What about her family? What about her father? The thought of abandoning them—the only life she had ever known—tore at her heart. Her love for Alden was undeniable, but her sense of duty to her family, her kingdom, would never fully fade.

The door opened again, and Lila entered the room once more, this time with a concerned look on her face.

"Any news?" Eliza asked quickly, her heart in her throat.

Lila hesitated before speaking, and in that pause, Eliza knew the news wasn't good.

"The search parties are growing larger," Lila said quietly, her eyes dark with concern. "The king has offered a reward for your return, and word is already spreading that you've run off with a commoner. The entire kingdom is searching for you."

Eliza's heart sank. They couldn't keep running forever.

"We can't stay here much longer," Alden said, his voice steady but edged with urgency. "We need to move."

Eliza nodded, her mind spinning with plans and possibilities. She knew the time for safety, for hiding, was running out. They had to act now.

=The next chapter will see Eliza and Alden take bold steps to secure their freedom, though they will face mounting challenges. Eliza must decide whether to continue her escape into the unknown or return to face the wrath of her father and fulfill her royal duties. Secrets from Alden's past will surface, and a hidden enemy will emerge, threatening their fragile escape. Their love will be tested in ways neither of them could anticipate.

As the kingdom closes in on them, the ultimate question remains: Will love be enough to break the chains of duty, or will they be torn apart by the forces they sought to escape?

Stay tuned...