Desires of the Crown

43 - A Princess' decision

          Allair

"Ow ow ow ow." I let out a chorus of curses between each moan of pain. "You're hurting me."

"Good." He threw me into the floor of the tent.

The thin material of the tent did very little to keep the twigs and rocks from cutting open my knees. Every muscle of my body hurt. Blood ran freely from multiple fresh wounds. The cuts on my knees and arms from the rocks and twigs stung ever so slightly but the new gash at the side of my throat from where the knife ripped open my flesh hurt like a... well, something that only a long string of un-ladylike curses could explain.

I hissed and moved to my side to take the pressure off my newly cut knees.

"How in the hell did you even get here?" Jonathan screamed at me. "Where did you get the clothes? Where have you been hiding this whole time?" He frowned. His face was practically turning red with rage. "Wait, why are you even here?"

"My knee hurts." I cradled my knees and tried to look to see if there was any rocks and dirt trapped in the cuts.

"I don't give a damn about your knee!" He screamed, not even facing me. "I nearly slit your throat."

It was true. My little fall had attracted his attention just as he was walking away and he was prepared to kill me right then and then just for the possibility of seeing his little meeting. He had stopped as soon as I let out a little yelp of pain from the blade - recognising the sounds of my cry. Then he had dragged me so furiously through the woods and into the heart of the camp. The shadow knights knew exactly who I was without even getting a good look at me. Horrick was by the Kings side to caution him about his temper. Jonathan had shrugged him off but I had a feeling the warning was why I hadn't received a back handed slap across my cheek.

"Can you pass me the cloth and some water?" I pointed my hand towards the pitcher of water on the small table and the damp cloth beside it.

Jonathan paused. He stared at me with confusion. "You want what?"

"The water?" I pointed again to the water and cloth. "To clean my wounds."

He blinked a few more times before he started moving. Grabbing the pitcher of water and the cloth, he walked towards me. "Here you go." He dropped the cloth, letting it land on my knee. I hissed at the rough contact but was quickly silenced as water hit my head making me duck. Water gushed over my clothes and I gasped at the cold temperature.

"What are you doing?!" I screamed at him.

"It was either that or I drown you in the water. Be grateful." He dropped the pitcher on the ground and turned back to the table. He placed his hands on the table and sighed deeply.

I rolled my eyes and picked myself up off the floor. Shaking off the water droplets, I took off the heavy black cloak that was now drenched with water and threw it to the floor. I quickly pulled off my top and slid into one of Jonathan's spare shirts hanging off the edge of the stretcher. The air was far too cold to risk staying in wet clothes. Worse thing I can do is catch a cold on a bloody battle field. Did they even bring a physician?

"Why were out there?" His tone was softer now. More cautious and lethal. I paused my movements and thought very carefully about my next words. My fate was hanging in the balance.

"I saw a light." I answered with equal softness in my voice. Turning around I could see Jonathan wasn't facing me, instead he had his back to me, his arms tense and his fists clenched. He was listening to the tone in my voice. "It woke me up."

"You saw a light?" He seemed somewhat surprised. "What colour was it?"

Why was he asking for details? "Blue."