When Angels Fall

Chapter 4 - Broken Dreams

Alina

It had been several hours since Julian left her. She had done as he said, and she had flown on, until she reached the next village by sundown. But Julian had not caught up with her yet. Of course he wouldn't. Not if she kept on flying so earnestly. Perhaps she should slow down. She was surely safe from the guards now. They had not been following her as far as she knew. But what if they had caught Julian? Her heart stopped for a moment at the dreadful thought. No, that was not possible. He was going to catch up with her as he promised. She was sure she will see him again.

It was getting dark and another long stretch of woods lay ahead of her after she had passed the village. She dreaded the idea of spending the night inside these dark woods alone, without Julian. But she knew it would be safer to hide in there. With a racing heart, she nudged Achilles to dive into the woods, but she did not get in too deep. She remained near the edge where it was not too dark and where she could see glimpses of the open fields from between the trees.

It took her all night to fall asleep. She shifted nervously, gasping and turning at every rustle and every leaf that touched her. There was no way she could sleep wrapped in this dark horror all alone, and she huddled close to Achilles's massive sleeping form, seeking what little security she could find. She kept slipping in and out of a long exhausting and restless sleep, until eventually, worn out and tired, she managed to doze off. But it did not last for long. Distant sounds disturbed her. The usual rustling of leaves. But there were also voices. Voices of men. She woke up with a start. And her heart stopped in horror at what she saw.

Surrounding her and a nervously shifting Achilles, were five winged guardsmen, circling her as she still sat on the ground, blinking her horrified eyes at the tall brooding figures.

The sound of her own pounding heart rang within her ears, her lungs seemed unable to draw breath, nor let out her trapped screams of terror, her limbs went numb and she found herself sinking back to the ground as her mind slipped out of consciousness...

***

She opened her eyes to complete darkness. She tried to rise but she could neither move her hands nor her feet. Not even her wings. And she realized that she was tightly chained. The air was thick and damp, making it hard to breathe, and the floor was rough and cold beneath her shivering body. She was too stunned to cry, and even the tears would not rise in her eyes.

A long time had passed as she lay in complete silence, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness she could tell that there was another presence with her inside the cell. She squinted and her eyes fell on the motionless body lying on the floor not far from her. She gasped in horror as she made out the lean form and the shoulder length hair.

"Julian!" She whimpered, but he gave no response. What have they done to him! "Julian! Answer me!" She cried out, finally finding her voice, but Julian still gave no response. Her body shook with racking sobs and she buried her face against the floor.

So that was it! 

All their dreams had come to an end, and soon their lives as well, she thought. They would never go to the West. Julian would never join King William's army. He would never rise to be a great knight like Tristan. Why was this happening? Why! She cried bitterly. Was it too much for her to live in peace with a loved one?

She lay weeping, her whole body shaking as she wondered what horrible fate awaited her. And death was her only desire now. And it was a price she was ready to pay, to escape her miserable life. Julian would be killed too. That didn't sound bad after all. They had not been able to be together in life, but at least now they would join each other in death...