Color of Roses

Wounded

Chapter 15 (Third person view of Alyn)

Alyn had heard enough of Giles' remarks concerning Aria's decision to decline marriage to Lord Weston's son. He excused himself in order to find the princess and continue their way home. His eyes surveyed the land but couldn't find her anywhere.

He approaches one of his men, "Have you seen the princess?"

The man looks to his comrades but they all seem to have no clue of her whereabouts. "Dammit," Alyn says under his breath. Where the hell is she?

"I saw a servant follow her around the lake," one of his knights says.

"Where?" Alyn listens to the man eagerly and quickly follows the guard's information. He searches the area with no luck until a feint smell of smoke fills the air. He follows the scent and finds a small burnt out campfire with tracks left behind by horse hooves scratching up the grass.

"Bring me my horse. Alert Giles that the princess was taken. I'm going after her," Alyn orders sternly. A knight brings his horse and Alyn quickly mounts his companion and takes off in the direction of the hoof marks.

(Aria's POV)

My head is spinning as I slowly open my eyes. As I regain focus, I find myself in a small beige colored tent. I try to move but my arms and legs are tied up. "Where am I?" I say dazed. A body soon enters the tent and I notice it's a man. His hair is short and a pair of glasses rests on his nose.

"I see you're awake, Princess. Sorry things had to be this way," he kneels down and brushes a strand of hair behind my ear.

"What do you want with me?" I ask firmly. I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified right now.

"We heard you were visiting the country of Laurelia and decided to pay you a visit on your way back. King Byron would be glad to see you."

King Byron of Stein wants to see me? "Why?"

"He wants your hand in marriage."

(Third Person Alyn)

Alyn's body ached as he rode for miles as he followed the tracks left behind by the men who kidnapped Aria. I hope I'm not too late.

The sounds of voices neared and Alyn quietly slowed his horse and leaped off, his legs a bit unstable from the long ride. He ties his horse to a low tree branch and sneaks through the forest shrubbery. A few men are gathered around a large campsite and a lone tent stands in the middle. Suspicious, Alyn gets a bit closer until he runs out of camouflage. He recognizes the uniforms to belong to Stein and his jaw tightens. What would Stein want with Aria?

Alyn waits patiently as a few men pass by. He steps out of the brush and quickly makes his way to the tent.

"Halt! Who are you?" A man says at the front of the tent. He places a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to swing at Alyn.

"Where is she?" Alyn demands. A muffled voice comes from within the tent and Alyn recognizes it to be Aria's. "Let her go!" Alyn removes his sword from the sheath. "Now," he growls.

The men remove their swords and begin to swing them about. Alyn's hard training in the art of swordplay takes effect and the two men are disarmed and collapsed on the ground.

"Not so fast, mister knight," a voice says from behind. Alyn turns to face a man with shaggy hair and glasses. "We have business with the princess. I'd rather you not intervene."

"Like hell I won't," Alyn growls and points his sword at the man. He readies himself to take a swing when Aria's voice distracts him. He turns to find her leaving the tent. A sudden stinging sensation spreads through his leg and Alyn drops to his knees. A large gash resides across his right thigh and blood begins to gush out of the open wound.

"Alyn!" Aria cries and rushes to the injured knight. Alyn grabs the princess and hoists himself up with the help of his sword. "We need to go," he urges her and she nods her head as he wraps an arm around her shoulders.

"You're not going anywhere," a Stein guard stands in front of them, his sword ready to strike.

"Leave them," the man in glasses commands. He replaces his sword at his side and adjusts his glasses that seemed to have slid down his nose. "He'll soon die and she'll be ours."

Aria glares at the guard as he hesitates to let them pass. Alyn's breathing had become heavy from the injury and Aria tries her best to hurry despite Alyn's weight. They reach the small forest opening where Alyn's horse waited for them.

Aria unties the reins and hoists herself upon the steed to find Alyn having trouble putting pressure on his leg. She leaps off and helps the wounded knight get his leg over the back of his horse. She positions herself in front of him and demands he holds on her tightly as she steers the horse away from the area.