Royal Love

Chapter 31

 (Henry's POV)

   I was almost to the docks, when I heard her scream. I took off in to a run. I would know her scream, voice, or laugh any where. I turned the corner and found myself face to face with Emanuel and Sarah. He stood near the edge of the dock, with a knife pressed to her neck. My blood froze and I came to a stop.

   I thought back to the past couple of days when we had been looking for her. I haven't been back to the castle nor have I had any sleep. I left with the King to search for her. We searched every house but didn't get to most, even with the guards.

   When the time came for me to come to the docks the King suggested he come, but I knew Emanuel wouldn't be very pleased. We agreed that guards would be kept near and if called they would come.

   I looked at Sarah, she was being held in Emanuel's arms. She looked frightened and tears threatened to fall from her eyes. She looked battered. Her dress was torn with dirt covering it. She had a couple of bruises. She stared at me and tried to struggle against his grasp. "Henry!"

   "Don't worry. I will get you away from him. You will leave here uninjured. I promise," I looked into her eyes and knew she got the silent message, I promise the baby will be fine.

    "Yes. Everyone will be fine. Just give me the money," Emanuel said bored.

    "How much do you want. I'll give you anything," I told him taking a step forward.

   "Everything. I want all of it."

   I pulled out the jewels and money that I had grabbed before leaving the castle the other night, and thrust it all out to him. "Here take it, just give her back to me please."

   Emanuel took everything from my hand and grinned. He threw it all in a satchel. "Very good, but I need more."

   "That is all I have."

   "That's to bad." He moved so that he was standing in front of Sarah and shoved her back. I didn't notice that rock that had been tied to her foot. I watched as she screamed and tried to regain her balance. Before I heard the splash I pulled my sword out and ran toward Emanuel.

   He turned around smiling. That smile stayed as my sword pierced his skin. I watched as he fell after pulling my trusty weapon out. I didn't stay to see him take his last breath but dropped my sword and dove into the water.

   How long had she been underwater? A minute? A few minutes? I knew she wouldn't be able to hold her breath long. She wouldn't be able to swim to the surface,not with her skirts and then the rock weighing her down.

   The water was deepest at this spot of the docks. I had to swim a couple of feet before I saw her. she was floating. She wasn't struggling and looked almost peaceful. I reached out and grabbed her arm and tried to pull her, but all the weight keeping her down was to much. I swam down to where the rock held her. I had to cut the rope and some of her skirts. I reached for my sword only to remember that I dropped it to dive in.

   I started to panic and searched my pockets for a knife only to find none. I had swam when I was younger and could hold my breath for a while, but I was almost out of air and Sarah had stopped breathing before I had reached her I wasn't going to leave her I would stay here and die with her. I stopped looking for something to cut the rope with and wrapped her in my arms. Looking down at the sand I saw a flash of silver.

   Letting go of Sarah I swam the couple of feet to the bottom and grabbed ahold of a knife. I don't know where it had come from but I swam back to Sarah and cut the rope, and some of her skirts. With out the extra weight I could easily pull her to the surface. I set her on the dock and jumped out.