The Captured Princess

Chapter Twenty-Two: Theo

I awoke to a splitting pain in my skull that caused the room to spin around me. I reached up and touched my forehead, only to have it come away covered in sticky blood. How hard had that man hit me?

Groaning, I stumbled to my feet and looked around. There were still several men unconscious besides me and I bent over to shake them awake. But as I got closer, I realized they were all dead. That man and his mechanical sidekick had done this!

I bowed my head in respect for my fallen brothers before heading to find the king. I had to inform him of the princess and quickly.

As I headed to the throne room, I almost ran into another soldier. I managed to stop before I hit him and I asked, "What's going on?" Beyond him, there were many other soldiers and in the middle, my captain and the king.

"Where've you been? The princess has been taken prisoner by the invaders."

So they already knew. And that means that we failed.

"I knew already. And I tried to stop them. Me and two other men, but we weren't able to. Then somehow I got knocked out. I just came to and was trying to find the king to inform of his daughter," I explained.

"Well too late for that now. We all saw the invaders, and they had a knife to our princess's neck, so we had no choice but to let them pass."

Adira, I am so sorry. This was all my fault. If only I had been able to fight them off...

The man continued when I didn't respond, "I better inform the king of what happened with you." Then he walked through the crowd of soldiers to the king. I saw them speaking while they occasionally glanced at me. Then, the man returned.

"The king wants to speak with you, Theo," the soldier informed me. I nodded and stepped forward until I stood before the king. I bowed respectfully, and waited for him to speak.

"The soldier tells me that you witnessed my daughter's capture," the king started.

"Yes, your majesty. That is correct."

"Then I think it is fitting for you to be one of the men that retrieves her."

Wait, what? I couldn't wrap my mind around what he was saying. The king was angry at me for liking his daughter, so why would he send me to save her? None of that made sense.

"My Lord?" I said slowly.

"You will take several other men with you to retrieve her. And you will not fail, or I shall not be pleased. Is that understood?" He finished speaking in a tone that said it would be best if I didn't fail.

"Yes, your majesty. Of course," I submitted. I didn't understand why he was asking me to do it, but I was willing either way. I did want to help Adira.

Don't worry, Adira. I'm coming for you.

Aaaahhh, will Theo succeed in his mission? I certainly hope so. ;)

Theo - Ithildae