Savior (A Yogscast Fairytale)

Chapter 3

This part of the story takes place 3 years later. Zoey is 13, almost 14, and Rythian has already turned 14. He is Zoey's personal guard, but they are more friendly than a normal guard and royalty relationship would be, and Zoey's parents are worried about that. I had to do the time skip, otherwise the story would not be as exciting. There will be one more multiple-year time skip later in the book, but hopefully not for a while. On with the story!

Zoey and I are walking through the garden when a guard approaches us, holding a letter. "Hello, Tee'!" Zoey says happily. Teep nods. He is mute from an accident a couple of years ago, so he just communicates by letters. Zoey looks at the letter, then hands it to me. I look at it, my name is written on the letter. Teep smiles and walks away, back into the castle. I open the letter, reading through it. My face pales and my eyes widen, and I drop the letter. Before Zoey can react, I'm running away, out of the castle, and into the nearby forest.

~Zoey's POV (I will only do switches when they are separated and something important happens to Zoey. Otherwise, just Rythian)~

Rythian pales and drops the letter. He turns and runs out of the castle gates, into the forest. I stand, shocked, not even noticing a presence beside me until a hand is placed on my shoulder. I look up to see Teep standing there, frowning. I pick up the letter that Rythian dropped, and Teep leads me inside, and to the throne room, where both of my parents are sitting, worried. "Zoeya, what happened? Where is Rythian?" My mother asks. I sigh and look at the letter. "Rythian ran away. He got this letter from Teep and opened it. While he was reading it, he was getting paler and paler. When he finished, he dropped the letter and ran into the forest." I say. My mother gasps, and my father shifts uncomfortably in his seat.

"What does the letter say?" He asks, breaking the silence. I open the letter and start to read. "It is addressed to Rythian Enderborn. It says, 'Dear Rythian, I haven't heard from you in a while. I hear you are now the personal guard of Princess Zoeya. How nice! I'm sorry to say, though, that you cannot be her guard an longer. You must return to Springfeld at once if you want to keep your life. Be at my castle by tomorrow or be executed. Good day to you, and I will see you soon. Prince Lalna.'" I read. I look at my parents. My mother looks shocked, but my father is looking away. "Father, why does Rythian have to go to Springfeld?" I ask. He sighs and turns to me. "Rythian committed a crime when he was younger, and his price was either slavery or execution. He ran away and came here, where he was caught anyway to be a slave, ending up in the castle. Lalna found him, and now he has to return to Springfeld as Lalna's slave or he is killed." My father says. The doors behind me slam open, and Rythian walks in, hands tied in front of him, followed by Lalna.

~Rythian's POV~

I run through the forest. Execution! I've been avoiding Springfeld for 6 years, why are they here now? I run into a clearing, and right into a spear. The spear is pointed at my heart, touching my chest. I put my hands up silently, taking in the person who is now deciding if I should live. He is wearing a green T-shirt with a darker green swirl on it, a pair of denim shorts, and a white backpack. He also has a black headband. What is really interesting about the boy, for he is only my age, is his elongated ears, ending at a point. Elven ears, this boy is a forest elf. "Come with me. Fight or try to escape, my spear goes through your chest." He says. I nod, and he starts walking across the clearing, which I now realize is full of tents and other elven folk. We arrive at a large tent at the opposite end of the clearing, and the elf pushes me inside, following shortly after. I scan the tent.

There are two beds, and one of them is occupied by a boy, about a year younger than me, who is staring at me intently. "Rythian?" The boy asks, his eyes widening. The elf stares at me as well, then the spear is gone from my side, and he is smiling and bowing slightly. I look at the two in utter confusion. "Why are you bowing to me? I'm just the princess's bodyguard. Well, was." I say, looking down. The elf stops smiling. "I'm Martyn, and this is Toby. We were bowing because I saw you save the princess when you were 3. That was very brave of you. And what do you mean, were her bodyguard. What happened?" I ignore Martyn's questions completely, instead focusing on Toby. Suddenly I smile, pulling the boy into a hug. "Toby! I'm so glad you're okay!" I say happily. Toby hugs me back, and we both laugh at Martyn's confused expression. "Rythian! Wait, was the execution why you aren't her guard anymore?" Toby asks.

I nod. "Lalna caught up to me, I have to be his slave or be killed." I explain the story to Martyn, who nods. "What are you going to do?" He asks. I shake my head. "I don't know. I come into the forest to think, I never knew anyone was here." I say. Martyn smiles. "I best be going. I don't want you to get in trouble." Before they can respond, I have left the tent and I'm running through the forest. I hit someone, and we both crash to the ground. Before I can react. My hands are being tied together in front of me, and Lalna is standing behind me. I feel the point of a sword against my back. "Go to the castle." He says. I walk forward, my head down. The throne room doors slam open, and I am pushed inside by Lalna.

"Your majesties, I am here to collect this traitor for his punishment." Lalna says. I hear no response, and Lalna grabs my arm tightly, exposing the star mark on my skin. He laughs evilly and yanks me backward, toward the door. "You are my slave, Rythian. You work for me now." He says. I nod, and I catch a glimpse of Zoey's sad face before I am pulled out the door.