The Princess is a Spitfire

Ch. 5: Sanctuary

Adaira woke up stiff, bleary-eyed, and mildly bruised. Evina was still asleep and it was likely less than an hour till dawn. Ada dropped down out of the tree, and ran to the stables to pick up Ethne. She rode Ethne back to her tree, where Evina was still sleeping. Tying Ethne to tree, she climbed back to the branch that supported Evina curled up in a little ball and shivering lightly.

"Evina", she whispered "Evina, wake up. Evina, if you want to get as far away from here as possible we need to leave now. Evina......Evina" Adaira huffed, this girl slept like the dead. "EVINA!!" she finally yelled, frustrated smacking her shoulder.

Her eyes shot open as she was wild with fear, on edge at being waken. She bolted upright trying to run from whatever loud thing had awoken her. Finally her wild eyes landed on Adaira as her heart  slowly returned to normal taking in shaky, deep breaths. "G-Genevieve?", she asked warily "What's happening?"

" Nothing", she said smoothly " We just need to get going, If you want to be safe we have to get going." Evina drew in several shaky breaths, " Alright, um....... yes, we should get going."  Ada helped Evina down onto Ethne's back. With Evina seated behind her they continued the journey to Princess Rhona's kingdom. Evina and Adaira rode in uncomfortable silence through the forest roads until nightfall stopping only for a brief luncheon period. Ethne endured carrying the pair the long journey brilliantly. Stopping at a farm nearby a riverside village, they were given a place to rest for the evening along with some milk and bread in exchange for assistance with the chores.

That night Ada tried to gently bring Evina out of her shell, having her barely say more than two words when spoken to.  " Well that work wasn't too bad..." Evina said nothing, " Evina" she prodded, still nothing. Sighing, they continued sitting in silence until Ada grew frustrated and tried again, " So what do you enjoy in your spare time?" Evina held herself tighter. " Evina, I can't imagine what those men may have done to you, but in my experience when dealing with traumatic circumstances, friends to help you through it are always preferred . " Evina looked up her with misty eyes, taking a deep breath "Music, I like to sing, people say I can sing well." she said softly. Ada face had a little smile on it. "Would you sing for me?" Evina looks intently regarding her, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath,

I know a man and he loves a lass

She be good an' fair an' true

Yet their love be fragile as glass

For they know it cannot last

The Man wants a lady as his bride

But she be just a lass

So the poor lass sits and hides

Buries her heart deep in the grass

So, the lovers build their walls

And they're guarded with steel

Until their hearts can't, walls fall

The lovers reunite, their love is all that is real

Evina's voice trails off on a low note, and Ada grins. "They're right you have a beautiful voice, clear as the mountain air, and just as strong as the mountain itself." Evina blushes, "My mother was more accomplished, she had the voice of an angel. Her voice moved everyone to tears." "I'd happily take lessons from her my parents always said my voice is lovely in every way but in practice, when I can find all the right notes it sounds fair, but that is not a common occurrence." Ada said laughing. Evina duked her head, "She died when I was five in childbirth, along with my brother. Father passed away last year, so .... now I'm an orphan." "I am truly sorry Evina, I do understand though, I lost my mother as a child too. So, what was your father like?" Evina smiled with a bittersweet expression " He was a good man, very clever, taught himself to read, then me. He was a blacksmith, did fairly well, then he got sick one day started having difficulty breathing, and wheezing. I tried to make him rest but he refused, a little while later, he started coughing up blood and lost his appetite, a week later....... he was gone." Ada gave Evina a hug "Thank you for telling me, Evina, sorry if I may have upset you." "It's alright, Genevieve, ......um...... good night then." They fell asleep under the thin blankets and on the hay, the farmer gave them for the night.

Adaira woke to a poking at her backside, the farmer prodded her, stirring her from her stupor. The sun was just rising in the distance a bright myriad of colors. "Time to be off girl, sleep well?" The farmer greeted gruffly "Exceptionally..." she mumbled, He walked over and began to poke Evina until she too began to wake. Once they were up they were given some milk and cheese for breakfast and sent on their way. Three more days passed in this fashion, until the fifth day around midday. A castle started to appear in the distance,  it grew as they approached the castle. The grandeur of the building was awe-inspiring and an unfathomable.

"Well Evina, Welcome to the Kingdom of Moray!" Ada exclaimed happily, Evina stared ahead speechless.  Once they had reached the perimeter of the castle they saw a figure standing adjacent to the castle façade. The stranger turned and removed the hood of their cloak, revealing a young woman with long dark hair and darker eyes. "Well, you certainly took your damned time, didn't you?", she said wryly.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry I haven't posted in a while..... I promise I have been really, really, busy. What's important is that it is here now. Hope the story is interesting so far!

COMMENT

VOTE

FAN

Gracias!