Dalliance

Chapter Forty Six

Holly awoke wrapped in her dress, finding nothing but a simple flower to her side. Looking to her side and seeing the once raging fire, now extinguished, she smirked as she remembered the night before. Suddenly, this had changed upon hearing a grunt outside. Placing her corset back upon her body, she moved to the window to see both Nicholas and Dawson on their knees, knights having their blades to their necks. Dawson saw her through the window and eyed for her to run. Against his wishes, she dressed quickly and looked around for any sort of weapon that she could then use. By the time she returned to the window with one, they had been riding off with the knights, their hands tied by rope, and Dawson's gaze staying forward-not wanting to tip the hunters off of her location.

Dropping her weapon, she realized they were being taken back to the castle and realized she had to go back. Closing her eyes to reliving her ordeal there; the pain, the poison, the abortion-everything ached deep in her body as she repressed heavy tears. Instead, she focused on Dawson and Nicholas.

Going to the closest village, Holly was desperate for a form of transportation. Going to the local tavern, she scanned for anyone who would be willing to take her and found a kind elderly gentleman sitting in the back. Somewhat intoxicated, he spoke on how his son was killed by the King and how he loathed the royals. She then spoke of her own story, leaving out the part of her being the new Queen. He then offered her a horse as she graciously gave him whatever gold she had and wished him well before he passed out on the table. Finding a horse near the back of the tavern, she jumped up without care of feminine behavior and rode towards the castle.

By some miracle, having arrived earlier, she was bowed by the knights who then called the King. Standing in the grand hall, she waited for his arrival and was anxious for what was to happen. Close to this moment, Nicholas and Dawson were then brought in, they both gave her looks of horror as they knew what she had been doing there.

"You cannot be here-"

"It is too late now, Nicholas was right...we will never stop running, and that is no life to lead."

"If you do not leave now, you will have no life to decide on."

Seeing the determination in her eyes, he let out a deep sigh. "Fine...but you must tell him we kidnapped you."

"No...he would kill you-"

"He will kill you first...he must believe you left without your own will...you can act as though you still do not remember...for us...do not tell him you came willingly. Do it for me."

Before she could answer, the King entered, a wide smile on his face as he took his throne.

"I will admit...seeing you at my feet, bowing-not something I would have imagined."

"We found em in the woods." One of the soldiers spoke before spitting towards them. "No better than your parents."

"That's enough." The King said. "Leave us."

Removing himself from the throne as it only consisted of them four, he moved directly to them, asking of what happened. Having them all stay silent, Nicholas then spoke-seeing the sinister look behind the King's eyes.

"We kidnapped her. Took her from her room...in the dead of night."

"Without being seen by a guard? And having taken only two horses?"

"To throw of suspicion." Dawson added. "You would only be looking for two riders then."

"And why is she not the one to tell me this?"

"We threatened to kill her if she spoke."

"Is this true?" He asked Holly as she had tears in her eyes.