What Lurks in the Cellar

Chapter 15

will

Will knew that Adolf and Fiora had to leave, to go back to their real houses. but i was overjoyed when Fiora said that she was staying, i knew that if it had come to it and she would leave i would have followed. i smiled to myself, she had finally noticed me there. 

"We have to tell Will and his brothers." Adolf said.

she nodded and walked out of the room Adolf on her heels. i followed them both out and went to find my brothers with them. Adolf finally noticed i was following and he explained to me all that i already knew. i nodded and we found my father and Jonathan in the library. 

"Dad Jonathan, we have something to tell you." i replied.

they looked up, curious as to what i was about to say. i looked to Fiora and she nodded giving me permission to tell them.

"Everything?" i whispered to her.

"everything." she said standing firm. 

so i told them all about the dreams she had and how we could find Susan. my brother was so excited he shouted for joy and laughed, hugging me and Fiora. she laughed and hugged him back.

"Thank you, thank you!" he exclaimed.

"Get Gavin, tell him to ready three score of men, we are going after Susan." my father instructed.

i nodded and ran off pulling Fiora along, behind me. she laughed and we ran to the training yard where Gavin was showing the men a few sword techniques. 

"Gavin!" i yelled.

he looked up annoyed but went to us.

"We have found Susan, father said to get sixty men and prepare to leave." i instructed.

he looked shocked but nodded. Fiora and i ran back and began to prepare for our trip. i told her all about the old mansion at the very edge of town, where the old woman was. she described her perfectly and i knew that was where we were meant to go. 

by the time we were ready to go, i was riding my white stallion, Arrow. i rode up to see Gavin and Jonathan riding their horses proudly. i heard the gallop of hooves and i watched to see Fiora gallop by being chased by a severely out matched Sophie.

"My lady! i cannot run faster than a horse!" the poor girl cried out as Fiora laughed slowing the mare she rode. 

"Why won't you come with us?" Fiora begged.

"Because i have work to do, you don't think i get paid for doing nothing?!" she exclaimed.

"But still, i do wish you could come." Fiora replied.

Sophie laughed and nodded. she looked to Gavin and her smile fell, my brother's smile turned into a worried glance. Sophie soon excused herself and left into the house. Fiora rode up to us, holding her head high. she looked exquisite on the golden mare that matched her hair. she wore a riding gown and smiled to us as she trotted around, circling us. 

"What is wrong with Sophie?" Gavin asked.

"It is a secret." she replied her smile dying. 

Gavin sent her a scowl and rode off to the men who waited.

"I believe we are ready, father is staying behind to watch over the castle. come, we must go." Jonathan replied leading us out of the castle. 

i rode next to Fiora, and we all galloped as fast as we could. as we passed the villagers they starred at us with puzzled looks. we stopped at a hill that looked down upon the giant mansion. there, on the same hill, we made camp. the ride was longer than i had expected so by the time the men created the tents it was nightfall. 

i escorted Fiora to the dinning tent, she smiled and walked side by side with me. once we entered we were met by Jonathan's smile and he made us sit next to him and Gavin. we began to talk, Jonathan most of all telling us how happy he was. Gavin was strangely quiet and picked at his food.

"Would you please tell me about Sophie?" Gavin muttered to Fiora, the tent went quiet.

she sighed.

"you must promise not to tell her i told you, she would have my head if she found out. but, her father has just betrothed her to some baker in the town. she said she found out just last night, and she is devastated. she wanted to ask for her dismissal while we were gone." Fiora said sadly. 

"What! this will not happen!" Gavin snapped standing up.

"Come, Gabby, it is her father. she can't defile his wishes." Jonathan said with a sad sigh.

Gavin sat back down, truly upset. it didn't take long before he left the tent. after dinner i escorted Fiora to her room.

"Will, if i start screaming again please do Not wake me up. i have to see everything." she said with a shudder.

'"i will try, but some how i can't" i said with out even thinking about it.

i looked up to her and i saw her face coloring red, my own started to burn. we walked in awkward in silence before i dropped her off. when i went back to the tent i shared with my father Gavin was swinging his blade angrily.

"Calm down Gavin. i am sure you can talk her father out of it." i said.

"And say what! 'Sir don't marry your daughter off, i plan to wait before i marry her. till then you can be as poor as they come." Gavin said with distress before he sat down.

"We will figure it out. perhaps she won't even marry him." i said. 

he sighed and jumped on his bed facing the wall. i sighed and changed quickly and slipped into bed. 

again at the middle of the night i heard Fiora screaming for help. i jumped up and ran out of the Tent Gavin and Jonathan at my heels. many of the men gathered around her tent trying to decide what to do.

"Move!" i commanded pushing my way through.

i ran in to see her crying out and screaming, i remembered what she had said but i couldn't help my self. i ran over before i could shake her awake, she sat up right, panting and gasping for air as if someone was drowning her. she started at me wide eyed, still gasping. i held her hand close to my heart and sat on her bed giving her worried glances. 

she looked to Jonathan and gave him a pained expression. his face went blank and he ran outside to look at the house down below in the valley. she stood and i helped her. she led me out and for once i saw what the problem was. the small river at the edge of the house had overflown and i could see people making it encircle the house with water. 

"Hurry men, get up and ready!" i yelled.

the men had a jump start and ran around. Fiora had changed in the time and was running to me. i turned and ran back to see Gavin fastening his sword belt. i changed and got my armor on, picking up my sword. everyone was ready in minutes, Fiora stood next to me. 

"Get on my horse." i said giving her my hand.

she took it and i swung her on back of Arrow. we stood ready to charge. in moments my brother Jonathan yelled and we charged down the hill. i raced faster than them all.

"Go around the house!" Fiora commanded.

i turned leaving from the group and raced to the back of the old worn home. Fiora dismounted and ran in through the door. i could hear the commotion upstairs but it didn't seem to matter, Jonathan and Gavin broke in through the front. 

"This way." Fiora whispered leading us to cellar door.  

she opened it and it lead to a long pipe going straight down. the smell that wafted up reminded me of the swears.  Gavin scrunched his nose, Fiora sighed and crawled in. i found out that there was a small ladder and we all climbed down. 

Fiora led us down the corridors, each reminding me of a prison cell.