The Captured Princess

Chapter Fifty: Theo

I woke up to someone shaking me, who I soon discovered to be Adira.

“It’s okay. We are going to be okay,” she said to me.

I started to move when I realized that I was tied to her, our backs against each other. I looked around the cave to find it empty except for Adira and I.

That’s when the soldiers stormed into it. Their frames filled up the entrance and partly blocked out the light. I squinted up at them as they peered inside.

When they spotted us, they all rushed over. “We found her!”

“She’s over here!” several soldiers yelled. I noticed more come into the cave. They bent down by us and began untying the ropes.

Once we were free, I struggled to stand even though the pain in my shoulder made it increasingly difficult. But I had to be strong, after all, I had been sent to save the princess and had failed. I was no longer worthy to be her guard.

I caught a glimpse of one guard I knew well as he walked over to me. He helped me stand, not saying anything.

The other guards made a box around Adira while some lifted her up and began carrying her. I could see her protesting to all the attention, but none of the men would move. I knew they all cared about her and wanted to protect her.

The man helping me walk, his name was Lenon, finally spoke to me, but not before shaking his head slowly. “I can’t believe you went after her.”

I turned my head slightly to better see him. “What do you mean?” I managed, “The king…ordered me to.”

Lenon looked at me like I was the dumbest bunny he had ever met, and in return I glared at him, “Are you serious? Why do you think his highness would send out one guard alone to save his only daughter? And it just so happened to be the guard that had fallen in love with her.”

Finally, I realized what he was saying. “So, you mean to say that the king wanted me to fail? But, his daughter…” I just didn’t understand it. I knew the king hated me, but why would he risk Adira?

“Well, I guess to him he wasn’t really risking her because he sent all of us out to find her right after you left. Of course, we had to return to the castle days later with the news that you both couldn’t be found. The king had been so angry, he sent us right back and told us not to return until we found the princess,” Lenon explained.

“He wanted me to…die,” I said slowly, almost as if it was too crazy to believe. Which it really was.

Well, shucks, that stinks. Stay tuned for updates! ;D

Theo - Ithildae