The Gift of Dreams

chapter XII

"They're here. They're here!" A Fae servant rushed into the gallery in a panic, eyes wide and arms flailing about. He ran at Eloise and grabbed onto her arm, tugging her towards the door.

"I beg your pardon, who is here?" Eloise looked into the Fae's face and froze with fear, The Unseelie are attacking. Her body tugged limply along as the servant continued to pull her closer to the door and away from Rowan. No, no, not already.

"The Unseelie?" Rowan asked the servant, keeping stride with his erratic movements. The Fae whipped his purple eyes to meet the tall figure that trailed behind him.

"Who else would it be?" His sharp remark made Rowan flinch in surprise. Eloise watched as his head turned slowly towards the servant, back straightened.

"We need to go, Rowan." Eloise stared into his eyes, hoping that the look she gave him would stop him from doing something stupid. He stared at the servant's hand on Eloise's arm and ripped it away, replacing it with his own hand as he led her away with quick strides. "You can let go of me now." Said Eloise once they were out of earshot from the servant, looking down at his hand wrapped around below her elbow.

Rowan's eyes followed her gaze down to where their skin touched and suddenly it felt as if the whole world was collapsing. Eloise was sure that she would sooner die from the fire in her chest than any attack from the Unseelie.

"Right." Rowan nodded. Yet his hand lingered a few seconds longer than necessary, trailing down her arm slowly as he pulled away from her. She had not yet memorised the heat of his presence when he tore down the hallway, calling from behind his shoulder "You must stay here. Go where it all began and don't move until I come. I will find you again."

Eloise did not understand what he talked about, and watched in confusion as he jogged down the stairs. Go where it all began? She echoed. Where did it all begin?

Servants rushed from either side of her, pushing and pulling her body around. He could have meant the house, that's where her training started. But that would be unwise, Unseelie scouts would be crawling over the lands and Rowan would not risk her safety like that.

What do you mean? Eloise projected her thoughts to Rowan, but no answer came.

And what of the others? Of Nora, Lilian, and Annalise? Rowan talked of a meeting place but he did not specify to her exactly where it was. Greer and Ben had surely left, so she was left completely alone in the castle. She mindlessly wandered the familiar halls, every so often bumping into others that were fleeing for safety, all the while thinking about Rowan's cryptic message.

How could he leave me here? I should be out there, not trying to unscramble his riddle-

Eloise stopped short as she realised where her wandering had taken her. Before her stood the large faded green door, not a single thing had changed since she had first stood in front of it. Of course. Discomfort and unease fluttered in her stomach like the previous time she had stood before the door. And although she was now aware of what lied behind the wooden panels it did not stop her sensing that something was very wrong. Maybe it's just the door. Maybe.

The hinges creaked as she slipped inside, careful to make her way around in the dim lighting to the tapestry entrance. Everything had stayed the same as it was the first time she was in the room; empty and dusty. Her fingers moved across the walls in search of the tree tapestry, finding it successfully and pulling it back to reveal the tunnel.

She held her breath and made her way slowly down the darkness to where it all began. Although she couldn't help but question why Rowan wanted her here. Was it because it is far away from the battle, from the Unseelie? Because it would be safe for her to be hidden away? A feeling of guilt settled over at her. My life is not so precious that I need to be hidden away while those in the kingdom lay down their lives. She thought as she reached for the lantern, quickly lighting it to take in everything around her.