I awaken in my tent alone. Was it a dream? Please tell me I was dreaming...
I get up and walk outside and am surprised by my surroundings. Where are the woods? We are camped in front of large grey cliffs so tall I can't see where they end.
As soon as I spot Phillip talking to Sir Henry, I march over to him.
"PHILLIP, WHERE ARE WE! WHERE IS ALEX!" I shout.
He walks away from Sir Henry and moves me away from the group...or what's left of the group.
"Katia, he's gone. I'm sorry I couldn't do more, but please understand. You are not the only one hurting. I made a promise to him. I promised I would protect him and I..." Phillp sadly trails off.
"You failed! You let him die!" I scream as anger drips from each hateful word I spit.
"I know, Katia...and I have to live with that."
"You...you could have done more! You should have done more!" I know I am making him feel worse, but right now, I do not care. I want Alex back. I need him back.
"Please forgive me, Katia..." Phillip begs.
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT. You will address me as Princess," I hastily yell.
"I apologize, Ka- Princess..."
I glare at him and walk back to my tent. I wish the walls of my tent were thick enough to block the sounds of my cries. I didn't know how much Alex meant to me until it was too late.
The following days are quiet. Sir Henry, Curtis, Peter and Phillip are staring at the cliffs above pacing. They are trying to find a way over them. The Illystrian Mountains are on the other side of this massive wall of rock. Our last obstacle before we reach the stone.
"We only have two options, Henry. Scale it or go through it. I recommend climbing since we have no idea if these caves will even bring us to the other side," Phillip states.
"It's too dangerous! Have either of you even climbed a rock that tall?" Curtis asks.
"Whatever we decide, we need to choose quickly. We have five days left," Sir Henry speaks.
"Katia, I mean, Princess, I think you should decide," Phillip requests.
I pick my head up and boldly state, "I agree we should climb. It's quicker than trying to navigate through the caves." I hope I made the right decision.
"Phillip, we should pair up. I trust you with Miss Katia. Curtis, you'll partner with me. Peter, you'll climb alone," Sir Henry orders as he begins packing up the equipment.
Lovely. Being tied to Phillip for hours. I can't even stand to be around him.
As soon as everything is packed, we each tie ourselves to our partners and begin scaling the cliffs above. It's far more physically strenuous than I could have imagined, but I do like that the pain and exhaustion from climbing is distracting me from thinking of Alex.
Three hours up and we are halfway. We are moving at a quicker pace than Curtis, Sir Henry and Peter but we all decide to take a break as we are suspended hundreds of feet in the air. Phillip and I haven't spoken a single word to each other. Those few hours did give me a chance to think about how cruel I have been to him. I pretty much blamed him for losing Alex. And as that sinks in, I feel sick. I know Phillip would not just willingly abandon Alex to his death. He would have done everything he could to save him. I was just angry, hurt, upset...I was growing close to Alex. I found something that was there that I never thought had existed. But what's the point now. He's gone. I opened myself up to him. I've never done that with anyone...and now he's...
I gather up all of my courage and finally manage to get a few words out. Words that should have been spoken days ago.
I clear my throat, "I-I'm sorry, Phillip...I didn't mean what I said earlier. It wasn't your fault."
"It was, Princess...you were right. I should have tried harder to save him. I'm the reason he's dead," Phillip sadly replies.
"No, you tried your best. You always do..."
We're interrupted by Sir Henry yelling from below, "Let's start moving, you two! The wind is picking up!"
Phillip nods and we all begin moving again. Two more hours and the wind has begun blowing harder. I'm trying my best to cling to the rocky wall, but it's getting harder and harder to hold myself against it.
I cannot hear anything but the howling wind in my ears. When I look above, I can see we are almost there. It's so close.
"Hold on, Katia! Just a few more feet!" Phillip shouts.
A smile of relief grows across my face, but as soon as I look down, it quickly vanishes. I don't see Sir Henry, Peter or Curtis.
"PHILLIP! WHERE ARE THEY?!" I yell. He looks to me and I see him scan frantically across the rock wall.
"KEEP MOVING!" he shouts. Once he reaches the top, I hear it. SNAP! The rope holding us together has ripped from the fierce winds. I grab the rocky cliff with every ounce of strength I have left. I'm about four feet from the top.
Suddenly, my pack falls and my left hand slips. I'm barely holding on.
Five of my fingers clutched to the rocky ledge above...
I see my 6 year old self playing with father and mother in the white garden...with young Nymeria leaping playfully to my side.
Four fingers hanging on...
"Why do you have to go...?" I sadly cry to my parents who are standing in front of the large iron doors with bags by their side.
Three fingers desperately clinging for life...
I am lying in front of one grand rune stone with the words "Loving Mother and Devoted Father" gracefully carved into the grey.
Two fingers slowly slipping...
Two cloudy images...Alex...Phillip...
One...
"I've got you!" Phillip grabs my arm before I fall. He pulls me up and I'm shaking and mute.
"Hen-ry..." I stutter as tears spill out of my eyes. This cannot be happening. I have lost everyone all for a stone for that despicable Witch?! I knew we'd lose people...but I never thought it'd be this much.
"Shhhh, Katia...I'm here. I'm here." Phillips holds me tightly to his chest.
