Bewitched (Snow White with the Red Hair Fanfic)

24.Despair

"Shirayuki!" I called, looking at her from a distance. She immediately noticed me at the sound of her name and I rushed to her. She seemed happy to see me. As I was to see her.

She was sitting among the herb shrubs but it only took me a second to notice her apple red hair. She stood up instantly to greet me into a warm embrace.

We hadn't talked to each other for only two days but it felt like weeks and I was dying to tell her about what happened and also ask her about her condition. "Lera, I'm glad to see you up and well." she said.

"My feelings exactly! How have you been??" I asked. She nodded happily. "Fine, better than ever." she claimed. The sun was just about to set as we talked.

"I'm so happy for you! Both Prince Izana and you would make a lovely couple." Shirayuki commented and I blushed a bit. I'm getting used to this...

Once our talk had finished, Shirayuki had to continue on with her work while I waved bye before going back to my room. I passed through the gardens as usual.

Before I was alerted by a man grabbing me from behind. I immediately panicked and struggled to get out from his grip. Until the person spoke up...

"Calm down for god's sake." It was Obi. He almost scared the life out of me. "Couldn't you just talk to me normally??" I complained. "Well, it wouldn't do good,"

"Why not?" I asked. He glanced around the area before grabbing my hand and pulling me closer to the trees to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

"What's the matter?" I asked. It was getting serious. I could definitely feel it. Something was wrong. "I can't let anyone from the palace hear this. I need you to follow me out of town by midnight to meet someone. He will tell you the rest."

"Wait! I'm still confused. What is all this about?" I questioned. Obi never conversed with me unless it was urgent. It was urgent then.

"You'll know when you see him. I promise you it's someone who won't harm you."

I nodded in understanding. Am I really going to just go off again? Trusting Obi?? "Meet me here by midnight." He said before finally walking away.

I should, Obi is worried for me. I should, no, must trust him this time. I was going to go. I would meet the person who had business with me.

Midnight arrived slower than I expected and I slowly sneaked from my room to the gardens. The sound of my footsteps on the grass was very alarming and I tried my best to mute the sound of my heels.

"Let's go." I whispered to Obi, who seemed to have arrived a few minutes earlier. "We need to go through the back gates. I'll give you a hand so hold on tight, okay?" he said.

"What do yo-"

In a single moment, I was lifted into his arms. "Oi!" I shouted but it came off as a whisper since I was aware not to make noises audible enough for the entire palace to hear.

Obi carried me all the way to the back entrance and out the palace grounds. I held my cape tightly to avoid my face from being shown. A lady had to be careful, right?

"We're here." Obi alarmed. I looked around seeing only trees and bushes. Indeed, it was somewhere I didn't know. Why was that person so eager to meet at such an isolated area?

"Well, where is the man?" I asked, searching around for any other signs of humans. Suddenly, a person came walking out from the shadows of the rustling trees and I was shocked to find out who it was.

I hadn't expected to meet him here. After all these years, it was a miracle to see him again. He was my younger brother, Angov. Rushing up to him, I embraced him into a hug and he immediately hugged back.

Signaling Obi to give us some privacy, Obi took the hint and walked away to a safe distance.

I was so glad to see him again. I thought he'd never come to see me after running away from the Arinos palace. But why was he here!? "Angov." I called. He hugfed me in silence and soon enough, I felt his tears on my shoulders.

"Angov, what's the matter?" I asked, caressing his once silky hair with my hand. "Sister, it appears that our family has been ruined." he croaked.

Ruined?

"What...do you mean..?" I asked. "While you were here, there was a riot in Arinos." He finally let go of me and I could finally observe his face. He looked as same as before except that he seemed thinner.

Had he even been eating properly???

"The riot was underestimated and the rebels entered the palace..." he said. The palace!? "What happened to Mother and Father and Kisa!??" I asked in shock.

"Kisa is nowhere to be found. It is possible that they captured her and imprisoned her somewhere. As for Father and Mother," I could see more tears trickle down his cheeks and I felt my heart stop.

"No. It can't be!" I cried. I dropped to my knees in grief. "They died, Sister. We do not have a home anymore." Angov said. But why? Why?? Why!???

Finally, my own tears welled up and I couldn't hold them in any longer. I still hadn't been appreciated by Father. I still had a lot of things to tell to the both of them. Tell them about Izana and how I was doing in Clarines.

It was all over. I would never see them again. It was all for naught. "So, what do we do now?" Angov cried and sat opposite me. "I barely escaped from the rebels. There's no wonder what they'll do to Kisa." he said lifelessly.

It was inevitable that she would be publicly executed. But if there was even a tiny bit if hope that she would be alive, I would go. "I need to see for myself." I declared. "Angov, I know you've just arrived but time is ticking."

I stood up and wiped my tears away with my sleeve. "Kisa needs to be saved."

"But I do not wish for your life to be in danger as well. Shan't I follow back as well?" he pleaded. It would be pleasing to have someone by my side while going to enemy's quarters. But it was my homeland and it would be a disgrace to give up my Father's efforts and place of birth to such ruthless people.

"Alright. But I have a feeling we'd need more people than just us." I sighed. There was no way I could tell anyone about it even if the whole of Clarines would be finding out in a few days or at the most, a week.

"Why don't we call Obi then?" Angov suggested. "He knows about us being siblings and he seems pretty knowledgeable in combat."

"How did you even meet him?" I asked. How was Obi instantly able to acknowledge Angov as my brother? Angov and I looked nothing alike. He had the same majestic features like Kisa.

"I met him at the harbour. I heard him mentioning your name to a blonde woman so I immediately knew he was somehow your guard."

I nodded in understanding. "Anyway, let's get you cleaned up. Hopefully, we'd be going back to Arinos sooner than later."

I waved at Obi and he finally came towards us. "That was quite a reunion I believe. I hope everything is alright."

"Obi..." I smiled, cheeks still wet from the tears. And I gave him a hug. "Thank you so much for bringing my brother here. I owe you now." I said.

I let go and thanked him over and over again. "Alright, alright, princessy. I told you it's fine." he said. With that, I took Angov to the inn where Shirayuki had lived before.

The landlady and I had known each other before so it was quite easy to bring in Angov as my guest. I said a goodnight to him before hurrying back to the palace with Obi.

"And Obi," I called. "Yes?" he responded at the entrance of my room. "Don't tell this to anyone, not even Zen." I reminded. Obi looked confused with my request.

"Since I am no longer a princess, I will fulfill my responsibilities and withdraw my future plans at Clarines. For that, I need to prepare." I explained with reason.

He sighed before nodding. "As you wish. My only job is to protect you."

I spent the night thinking until dawn arrived. I still wept in my sleep thinking about my parents and my homeland. Even if I didn't have quite a memorable time there, it was my home.

And it is not a choice that I will get it back.