Alfheim

X. Blindfolded

When they removed the blindfold, my eyes had to adjust to the brightness. I looked around. I was surrounded by a crowd. It looked like I was in an arena. "Welcome back again. We're so glad you came back," the queen said with a malicious smile. The queen stood at a balcony that looked over the arena. She wasn't alone. Behind her were some chairs. One for her and the rest for her family and Gideon and his mom. The King wasn't paying attention. He was reading a scroll. Sierra's chair was next to the queens'. It was empty. And Anne sat next to Sierra's empty chair. Left from the King sat Gideon. Gideon... Why did I trust him? I looked him in the eyes. He looked away. How could he... And why did Anne let this happen? I looked at Anne. She kept staring at Gideon. She gave him a look of disappointment. "I've thought about different kinds of punishments. A quick death is too good for you. I've decided you have to fight our strongest beast to regain your freedom. If you win, you're free. Do you understand?" the queen explained with an evil smile. I nodded. I had no choice, I guess I can only obey. My wrists were bound together and if I ran I had nowhere to go. And there were guards at every exit. There's no way out. Gotta think of something. Come on, Ysabel. Think! "Any last words?" the queen asked. Before I could answer the king stands up and shouts: "Stop. Bring the prisoner back to her prison. There is something I need to discuss with the queen," he said while showing her the scroll he was reading. The queen's expression changed. Her eyes were wide open. Two guards grabbed me and waited on the queen's order. "You heard the king. Bring her back to her prison!" the queen said with a concerned look. Then I was taken back to the prison. I glanced over my shoulder as I was taken away. Gideon looked upset. Was he that desperate to get me killed?

A few moments past. I don't know what time it was, but I think it was around dinner time. My stomach was rumbling. "Stand up!" a guard said while opening the door. I stood up. He walked towards me and freed my wrists. He blindfolded me and dragged me away. I tried to ask some questions. But he ignored me. "Where are we going? What is going on?" No reaction. When he removed the blindfold, I found out I was in one of the royal suites. No one was there except a maid. "The queen requested me to fresh you up," she said with a smile. I nodded. While still not understanding the situation, I followed the maid to the bathroom. The bathroom was huge. It was the size of a large bedroom and had a huge bathtub and shower cabin.
"I've hung some clothes and towels on the rack over there," she pointed out.
"Do you need help with undressing?"
"No, thank you!" I shouted out. Geez... don't they know what privacy is in Alfheim?
"Then I'll be waiting outside," she said before leaving the bathroom. I looked in the mirror. My hair was a mess and I had bags under my eyes. My body was covered with a thin layer of dirt. I looked exhausted. I undressed myself and stepped into the shower cabin. I turned the crane open and drops of water started to pour on my skin. It felt really good. I really needed a shower. After my nice relaxing shower I got dressed. What the maid had chosen for me was a long pastel blue dress that had an off-shoulder top. The maid hadn't said anything about the hair, so I decided to brush it all to the left and let it hang over my shoulder. I opened the bathroom door and walked towards the maid while holding the dress up. 'You look beautiful, my lady,' she said. My lady? Why would she call me that? 'You can call me Ivy,' I said. 'My lady, I think the queen would disagree,' she said nervously. 'I will guide you to the Great Hall.' I followed her to the Great Hall. And there I found the queen and king sitting on their trone talking to a woman. She was accompanied by two guards with different colored armor on.When she saw me entering the hall, she turned around and recognized me.