The Road Ahead
The air was crisp as they made their way through the forest, the dense trees shielding them from the prying eyes of the kingdom's soldiers. Lila led the way, her movements practiced and silent, a woman who had lived a life full of secrets and escapes. Eliza followed close behind, her injured ankle still causing her some discomfort, but the adrenaline of the moment kept her going. Alden, ever watchful, stayed by her side, his hand occasionally brushing hers as if to reassure her that he was still there, still with her.
They traveled in silence for hours, the only sounds the rustling of leaves underfoot and the distant calls of birds. The path they took wound through the thick woods, far from any main roads or villages. Eliza had never been this far from the palace before, and the unfamiliarity of the landscape made her heart race with both excitement and fear.
As they neared the edge of the forest, the sun began to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the land. The cottage seemed a distant memory now, a place of refuge that had already begun to fade behind them.
"We'll make camp here for the night," Lila said, her voice breaking the silence. She gestured to a small clearing ahead where a cluster of trees provided shelter from the wind. "We can rest for a few hours, and then we'll head out at first light. The smuggler will meet us at the docks in the morning."
Eliza nodded, grateful for the small reprieve. She could feel the exhaustion settling in her bones, but she knew they couldn't afford to waste time. They had to keep moving. Every moment spent in the open was a moment closer to being caught.
As they set up camp, Eliza couldn't help but feel the weight of the decision they had made. This was it. There was no going back now.
She caught Alden's eye across the small fire, and for a moment, everything else seemed to blur. The world around them was a dangerous place, full of threats and unknowns, but in that moment, all she could see was him. His presence was a balm to her anxious soul, and as their eyes met, she knew—deep down—that whatever the future held, they would face it together.
And that thought, in its simplicity, gave her a fleeting sense of peace.
YOU ARE READING
A Heart Divided
RomanceIn a kingdom bound by tradition and duty, Princess Eliza is forced into an arranged marriage to Prince Edmund to secure a political alliance. But Eliza's heart belongs to Alden, a humble cloth maker she meets in secret. Their love, though genuine, i...
