The Damsel in Armour (On hold)

Chapter 2

Nora felt her blood run cold. She clearly didn’t understand what was happening in the moment, she was clueless about what would she have to go through. Her fate was already destined.

 Panic rushed over her “Who’s here? What do you mean?”

 “Nora, listen to me. You must get out of here. Never come back. It’s for your own sake and everyone’s” Her father took her by the wrist and dragged her out of the small room. She abruptly stopped and slipped her wrist out of his iron like grip.

 “I’m not moving from this spot until you tell me what is happening” She said stubbornly. He hesitated for a moment before answering her “What do you mean by ‘they’re here?’ Who’s here?” She asked one more time.

Her all-life parents were concerned that one day somebody would claim the child who was found in the forest, but nobody knew the queen would send her army to search for her, who were now destroying a whole village. Who knows how many more have suffered such tragedy. Innocent people who had nothing to do with the mater and this were just small fragment of the Queen’s rage but most of all, the power she had over everything and everyone. Through the years the Queen had imposed a reign of terror were there’s no respect for life or justice among the people.

Since the day she conquered the kingdom of Lucratis, after hearing the old lady’s words, every year her armies attacked villages and cities in search of the princess without having any luck.

 Her father simply answered “I don’t know the reasons for your persecution but one thing is certain, the queen wants your head and she would pay a big price to anyone who  gives her what she wants” His eyes we’re sincere. Although, he wasn’t Nora’s real father, she loved him dearly as if he we’re.

 The soldiers pounded furiously against the wooden door and they both clearly knew it would not stand any longer “Please just go. Let your faith lead you to your destiny and may God protect you now and forever” He kissed her forehead one last time and enveloped his strong arms around her body before pushing her into the direction which leaded to the back door.

 

She looked one more time behind her, looking at her father. Without thinking it twice she opened the door and ran off to the stables but the sight upon her eyes made her fear grow stronger. Entire houses burning with the raging fire. Soldiers killing and murdering people, even an entire family. Children. She thought “Do these men even have soul? How can they stand this madness?”

 Suddenly, Nora heard screams coming from the insides of her house snapping her out of her trance.

 

“Mother, Father No!” She was about to go after them and protect them from whoever was the cause of their screams but a pair of strong arms took hold of her waist “No! Let me go! You filthy bastard! Get your hands off me!” She tried to free herself from the hard grasp. Using his force, Damian turned her over making her face him. Relieve filled her insides at the only sight of him. He hasn’t been killed. He’s alive.

 

Damian took her face between his hands to have her full attention “We must leave at once, we have no time to lose” he took her hand and leaded the rest of the way to the stables in a fast phase. Nora was in a state of shock she didn’t know how to react but she just followed Damian’s orders. He helped her mount one of the horses as quickly as he could. Damian was starting to worry, for Nora’s expression was blank. No sight of any emotion showed on her features. He clearly knew she was devastated.

 Shaking off the thought out of his mind, he mounted the same horse sitting behind Nora. And without wasting any more time he rode off to the forest.

 

The yelling of men accompanied with the sound of the fast hooves of horses were following them. Damian was concerned about his safety, but most of all, Nora’s safety. He knew the reasons of the soldiers best that anyone and God knows what they would do to her if they caught them. These were the kinds of thoughts that encouraged him to go faster.

His fear and desperation grew bigger as the sound of hooves grew near.

 “They are almost upon us!” Nora yelled “Faster!” He encouraged him but he answered “I can’t! The horse can’t run any faster!”

“Watch Out!!”

Without noticing, he ran into a branch. Damian fell off the horse not favouring at all for he landed on his right shoulder. Gladly Nora crouched in time but did not the horse stopped once. Gaining hold of the horse’s reins she pulled them to stop the horse completely. She couldn’t leave her friend behind. 

“Go! Leave!” Damian screamed to her. Hot tears prickled down her cheeks. “Go!”

“I promise I will find you if it’s the last thing I do!” She said under her breath. The last thing of his friend that she saw was a faint smile before he was captured by the queen’s soldiers. Without thinking it twice she hit the horse on the rear and speeded off deeper into the forest without knowing where to go. She wasn’t even thinking about that but she was mourning her loved ones and her heart ached with so much pain she thought it was nearly inhuman to feel it.