The Broken Rules

Chapter 6: On the Road to Yazralon

  *Gwaine's perspective, riding through the forest during the thunderstorm*

           The rain was getting heavier by the minute, it was getting harder to see and I was completely soaked, I had always hated thunderstorms. Almia brutally halted, getting me off balance and nearly falling off. I calmed her agitation and looked around, I roughly perceived a rising fire not far away from my location. It would have been almost impossible to have a fire unless the original fire was protected from the rain... After Almia's calming, I hurried to the place where the fire was seen. Trees flew past me as Almia galloped rapidly towards the orange and red catastrophe. The trees started to fade and I heard waters rushing slower and slower. I came out of the forest and up ahead, laid a cabin next to the Devil's Source on fire. I made my way there to see if anyone there was in danger or hurt but stayed far enough to not get too close to the growing flames. I noticed a woman's body bleeding out.

           A clean-cut, it must have been made by someone with a sword. I looked at the ground and found multiple hoof tracks: the soldiers. They came through here. I ran back to Almia, mounted and brought her to an immediate canter following those tracks. A few strides later, there was another track but coming from a different angle. The soldiers would never ride separately, they would always do a tight curve to join the group. If that were true, then the only possible explanation would be Pluto's hoof marks: Luna! The soldiers had found her and were chasing her, I could not let them approach her, I ordered Almia to accelerate, the wind was howling stronger making it hard to hear and almost impossible to see due to the constant hitting of rain against my face and body. I continued to follow the tracks ahead.

           One thought only: please Luna, do not get caught, I'm almost there!

           *Luna's perspective, being chased by the soldiers*

           How could they do such a horrible thing?! I thought the soldiers of Claribel had some sort of decency, why would they hurt an innocent woman for my head! Thoughts of hatred and confusion raced through my mind as the rain was pouring down. Sounds of galloping, screaming men and roaring skies were surrounding me, making my head and vision heavy and fuzzy. I regained some vision before I heard a soldier getting closer, an archer to be precise, he prepared his arrow, aimed and loosened, a near miss. The arrow flew close to my left cheek, leaving a small scratch, one that burned due to the high speed of the tearing of my skin.

           If there wasn't a storm, his aim would have surely brought him luck and I would most probably have died with an arrow through my head. I whimpered as I tried to look ahead, desperate to survive, desperate to find a way that could save my life. Pluto was slowing down due to fatigue and constantly being on the move, the soldiers behind me were catching up. Was this really how I was going to die? Were all the actions I took, was that woman's life sacrificed for nothing, was everything in vain? I looked down at my hands, my body shivering from the cold, my clothes drenched, Pluto slowing down more and more. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry for everything...

           Suddenly, a loud scream and a neighing horse caught my nerve, I turned around to look behind and to give an explanation to the agonising scream: another rider, one that was not part of the troops. The rider killed one of the soldiers. He knocked another one to the ground slowly but took down the soldiers one by one. Stupidity grew on me and I stopped Pluto as all the soldiers focused on him. The saving rider, too far for me to make out his face to know his identity, shouted out to me: