I Followed

I Missed

~~Tara's POV~~

I swung around the door frame to see Zoey on her bed, reading.

"Have you seen my Mum anywhere?" I asked, holding onto the frame for dear life

"Nah, last time I saw her, she was with you. When did you see her last?" She replied, slipping the bookmark in her book and laying it next to her

"Last night. I saw a knight come up to her, and he said something about someone being at the door for her. I'm a bit worried." I admitted

"Don't worry, Tara," Zoey stretched and got up off her bed, "I'm sure she's fine. Do you need any help with your painting?" She smiled, obviously trying to change the subject.

"I'm good. I've finished it now. Up all night working on it." I laughed. I walked out of the room, to find the guard who told my Mum. He must've been in charge of the door last night, so I check the timetable. I search through it with my finger until I get to 'TUESDAY 19TH APRIL 2013'. I check for the name. No one was on duty. I got quite worried at this. Did they snatch my Mum away? Who was it? Maybe it was... No, my Mum's too clever to be tricked by Sjin.

I can't risk it. I pack a bag and get some food, before stealing a horse from the stables. I madly gallop to the large castle in the west, which, although not in view, I remember seeing as a kid. My Mum took me there, and said that a mighty King not too different from Rythian lived there. After about an hour, I arrived at my destination. I remember the call to get in, and shout at the top off my lungs "Hey Ho!". The doors creak open slowly. Everyone looks at me. I'm an outsider, but I know how to get in. I'm brilliant to these people. I gallop past rows upon rows of shabby houses and markets stalls offering gadgets and gizmos, only ten cows, until I get to the big castle. I got a tour of the castle once. I knew where everything was.

After planning my entrance, my search and multiple escape routes, I got my rope out, tied a hook to it, and catapulted it to the window. Got it. Nice. I climbed up, telling the horse to stay, and soon reached the window. Then I decided to look down. Wow, I was a brilliant climber, because that's a long way down. I got my saphirre sword out, ready to fight. But no one was here. Suspicious, to say the least. An alarm could be heard in the distance, screaming 'Intruder on the third floor'. Haha, wrong floor. I was on the fourth. Suddenly, a man came up to me.

"Hey, you're Rata's daughter aren't you?" He laughed. This was a peculiarly friendly guard.

"Are you not going to try and kill me?" I insisted, a little too eargerly

"No, I'm working with you. Man, you did well to come all the way up here with that rope. Still, please come with me" He smiled one last time before running off. I don't know why, but I ran after him.

"Who are you?" I shouted whilst running a little further behind him. I could catch up to him, but that's a waste of energy.

"Me? I'm Sips." He replied, slowing down to turn a corner

"And where's my Mum?" I caught up and held onto his arm, stopping him completely.

"Listen, little princess. Your Mom is being held captive and gonna be executed in a week's time. I don't think we should mess around." What did he just call me? Little princess? I don't know if that's good or bad. He ran off again, and this time I sprinted after him, quickly catching up, and passed him a second later. I knew where the dungeon was. But shouldn't we be stealthy? I think I asked the question aloud.

"No, I don't think we should be stealthy. Stealthy nearly got me killed. I've been found now, so just run with me and not in front of me. We'll be fine." He answered both my questions. No, we shouldn't be stealthy. Yes, I did ask the question aloud. After more running, more boring walls, more slippery floors, and six flights of stairs, we got to a horrible place that reeked of death.

"Princess? Rata?" Sips edged closer to the railings

"Sips? Who's with you? I see someone else!" My Mum held to the bars holding her captive. She looked so weak. I think I just stepped on a bone. This place is horrible.

"It's me, Mum." I said, running up to her.

"Oh, darling, you need to leave. You can't trust this man." She took my hand.

"No, please, I came with good intentions." Sips took a key out of his pocket and unlocked Mum's cell. "I know how it feels to not have a Mom. And you, Rata, know how it feels to have a friend die. And you know how it feels to not have a Dad" Sips pointed at me. That was a big hint. A big hint that said- "I love you, Rata" Sips interrupted my thoughts, but I didn't mind. This was more adorable then the time that my baby ocelot sneezed. And that was incredibly adorable.

"You.. you love me?" My Mum hugged him. "I love you too" Okay, it was no longer adorable, now it was all mushy and stuff. I let out a 'bluergh' sound, and saw Sips smile, although it was a really dark room.

We all fled the scene of... escape and I got on my horse with my Mum behind me. I was always better at riding that her, so we agreed to let me steer the horse. Sips got on his own horse, a brown one called 'Poopfeast420'. Stupid name. The mission was very successful altogether, as my Mum was safe at home, Sips had come and stopped her becoming a crazy cat lady, and nobody was killed. Apart from the five guys that Sips killed on his way in, but at least I killed no one.

"We're back!" I shout, so that Zoey and maybe Rythian could here

"Where were you?" Zoey asks in confusion, coming out of the living room

"Oh, just went to Sjin's kingdom. Mum was captured, but me and Sips got her." I reply casually, as if it happens every day.

"Sjin's Kingdom? Tara, you could've been killed! Why didn't you get anyone else to come with you?" Rythian comes out of the living room too, with a shocked facial expression

"Hey, listen Rythian. Tara just wanted to save her Mom, and I helped. I know she wouldn't of been noticed if I weren't there." Sips defends me

"Noticed? You guys got noticed?" Rythian seems furious "Sjin now knows that a Mother and her daughter live here! Sjin wants the destruction of families! He wants to watch people suffer! You just put everyone in so much more danger!" He shouted. This was aimed at Sips, I'm sure of it, and Mum came up behind me and put her arms around me. No matter how old I was, I always loved it when she did this. "You know, Sips is probably on their side! Against us. Against you, Rata." He calmed on the last bit, or at least, his voice faded, and he sighed before walking away

"Rythian!" Zoey called after him, and rushed to take his hand, "Rythian, listen. Sjin only wants us. If you want to, we can go to the safe house. Live a new life for a few years. Yeah?"

"No. I'm here to fight for and defend my father's kingdom. I'm not running from battle." He said apologetically. "No one is going to the safe house. We can all stay here. We haven't had any missiles the past week, and it seems to be going okay. Just promise me something" He turned to Sips "Don't let anyone die."

"I won't, sire." He promised.

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A/N: I hate to give away BIG spoilers (So don't read this if you don't want spoilers), but someone will die in the next chapter. I'd like you to guess who will lose their heads (Not literally... Or will it be?) next time, so please make your suggestions in the comments.

Emelia :)