Separated

Part XVI: Fredrick

The man kept pounding on the door, threatening to break it down. All we did was stay silent, hoping he would give up and walk away.

"Fredrick," Delilah whispered to me. "Will we be alright?"

"Yes," I said, pretending to sound confident.

"Good," Delilah said quietly. I knew she was still uneasy, though.

The man continued pounding on the door, saying,

"If you don't open the door, I'll break it down!"

All of us stayed in the corner opposite from the heavy wooden door.

Why are you cowering? You're the man here! Get up and fight! something in the back of my mind said.

I am the man, but I couldn't take on an enemy guard, even with my adequate fencing skills.

Just try.

I forced myself to stand up and walk up the stairs to the big wooden door. I opened it and found myself overshadowed by a general. He smiled.

"So, where are the rest of you?"

"Th-they're down there," I said. I straightened up. "But you'll have to get through me first!"

The general chuckled. "Oh, really?"

"Yes!" I retorted, in a higher pitch than I meant to.

"Alright, then." The guard started to shove by, but I stood my ground. I closed the door behind me and pulled out An épée from an armor stand. I held it, ready to fight.

The general chuckled. "En garde," he said, pulling out his own sabre. It was broader and sharper than mine, but I had to fight back. I lunged at him, but he parried and tried to flunge. I sidestepped, almost making him crash into an armor stand. He regained his ground just as I performed another lunge, which he parried and attempted a riposte, which I dodged and performed a remise, causing him to back up until he hit the wall.

"You don't know when to quit, do you, lad?" he said, out of breath. He flunged at me once again, and I did a parry-by-six. He then quickly spun his leg around and kicked me in the gut with his heel. I stumbled back, trying to regain my balance. He ran toward me in a blur and held the sabre to my throat.

"Surrender, boy," the general said amusingly.

"N-never!" I said, beating his sabre. I rolled under him until he loomed over me and kicked him in the gut. He doubled over in pain. I stood up and pointed my épée at his neck.

"Now it's your turn to surrender."

He held his hands up, fear apparent in his expression.

"Let me go, and I'll do anything for you!" he choked.

"You must leave with your army and never disturb us again," I said flatly.

"I promise!" the general said, his fear only growing. I put away the épée where I found it and helped him up. He looked at me and smiled menacingly.

Oh, no.
♦♦♦
I sat in the dungeon, throwing small pebbles across the cell impatiently.

Why was I so stupid? I thought to myself. I looked around the damp space. I had to get out of here. I had to protect the women.

What if they're already taken? What if it's too late?

I had to keep may self from having these thoughts. There's always the chance that everything's fine. I just needed to find a solution. I looked at the guard ordered to watch me. He was sleeping in a crude chair, sleeping. I found the keys hanging from his belt on a handle. I tried to find anything to try and reach the keys. I found a sturdy stick and a rusty hook and tried to connect them.

It won't budge!

I looked around, desperate for anything to help me. I found some twine in the corner of my cell and tried to get the string through the stick and the holes in the hook. The twine was frayed, which made it considerably harder to connect the materials. Once I did, I admired my hook and looked again at the guard, who was stirring. I considered waiting until he was asleep again.

That might not happen for hours. I need to escape now.

I decided to attempt the escape. I held the hook and stick by the tip and slowly moved it toward the guard. He shifted when I got close. I took a deep breath and tried to get the keys. I attempted multiple times to bring the key ring onto the hook, but each time I thought I had it, the guard shifted in his seat. I finally got the keys on the hook when he sneezed. He sat upright, his eyes drifting open. I didn't pull back. I didn't do anything.

I just stayed in the same position, frozen in fear.

He sat back, his eyes still half-open, and readjusted himself. I let out the breath I was holding in.

Too close.

I grabbed the keys when they were in arm's reach and unlocked my cell door. It made a screeching sound as I tried to open the metal doors. The guard moved, but didn't wake up. I quickly pushed it open and ran for my life, the sound of the now yelling guard echoing in the corridors. I  turned a corner and tried to catch my breath. I looked around and saw dozens of guards searching for me. I ran down the hall and looked for any doors. There was nothing but armor stands and topiaries. Ahead of me was a dead end. I was trapped.

An enemy soldier turned the corner, saw me, and yelled,

"I found him!"

Soon dozens upon dozens of guards were surrounding me. The general I had fought earlier stepped in front of the crowd and looked down at me, smiling that same menacing smile.

"You should know better than to trust your enemy," he said flatly. The legion chuckled in response. The general walked toward me, his hand outstretched, and his saber in hand. I backed up until I hit the wall.

"Maybe it's time I got rid of you once and for all!" the general said, raising his sword. I closed my eyes, waiting for it to be over, to be quick.

"Hey!"

We all turned toward the high voice coming from across the hall. Rosaline stood at the end of the corridor, unmoving. I was shocked.

What was she doing?

The general looked to me. "To be continued," he said with a bow. "Get the girl!"

The legion ran towards Rosaline, who turned around and ran away. I followed them, shouting,

"Stop! Don't hurt her!"

I stopped in my tracks when I turned the corner. My father, along with every guard in our kingdom, fought the enemy. Swords clashed and bodies fell. I stood in awe at my father, who was fighting with his own sword. He saw me and mouthed "The women!"

I quickly realized that he meant the queen and her servants. I tried to find a way through the hall without getting involved with the battle. I looked out a nearby window.

Not too much of a drop.

I jumped over the frame and fell on a bush about fifteen feet down. It cushioned most of the fall, but it left my back aching. I surveyed the courtyard. It was just as chaotic as the hall. Nobles and peasants alike were fighting enemy troops and having mini-battles across the gardens. I weaved loosely around them and redirected myself to the main gate of the castle. I surpassed the raised metal gridded gate and ran through the main entrance. I ran through the empty halls, trying to find the same door I was originally hiding behind. Once I found it, I threw open the door, yelling,

"Come out! We have to leave!"

No response. I hurried down the stairs, two at a time. Everyone was gone.

I'm too late.