TAKE TWO, kotlc

Chapter 36- Braelynn

The vote of the royal family overpowers the court.... Tell my father I said hello...

This was it then.

Her manifestation.

Her first day of Foxfire.

This was it.

This was goodbye.

And when Arella had told her to tell her father hello, did that mean that Keefe was... was...

She closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them, the reality in front of her would change.

It didn't.

This was the end.

"I'm sorry I never got to say goodbye," Braelynn whispered. She thought of so many people she wished she could say it to- but she was still alone.

Tonight was her last night.

Her last night.

Last night.

Night.

___________

"Braelynn- Braelynn!"

"I know, I know," Braelynn mumbled, blinking the sleep out of her eyes that were still sore from crying. "I know, I'll wake up... face the court... die... whatever..."

"No, I'm not-"

"You're not tolerating sarcasm, rebellious attitude, or snark of any kind, yes, I've heard it before," Braelynn whispered, still not wanting to open her eyes.

"Braelynn! It's me!"

Wait a second... the guards never called her Braelynn...

Filled with hope, she rolled around- and she barely could recognize the face in her shock.

"Jocelyn?"

She barely knew the elf- all she remembered was that she was Adryan's older sister, a Charger. Essentially, the sister-in-law of the person who...

Too tired to think, she settled for, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm helping you escape, you idiot," Jocelyn told her bluntly, already unlocking her chains with the sharpes, shiniest key Braelynn had ever seen. "Come on, it's barely five. If we can get out of here in ten, we might be able to crawl out of this dump alive."

Braelynn stared at her in awe, not keen to argue with the person who was currently saving her life. But she couldn't... "Why are you helping me?"

"That's a long story, one I'm not planning to tell you anytime soon, and one we don't have time for." She gently pulled away the metal and set it silently on the ground, offering her a hand.

Braelynn took it, flinching.

"Come on. Guards are knocked out, and I already calculated the fastest route to the West Wing entrance. Problem is, we'll pass right by my sister-in-law's bedroom, so you'll have to be quiet. Got it?"

"I..."

"Thanks," Jocelyn finished, ignoring her. She fiddled with the lock a moment longer and pushed open the door. The hallways were, as promised, completely deserted.

Braelynn pressed herself against the wall and followed the mysterious Charger out of the hallway, through the corridors, towards the light and fresh air Braelynn thought she'd never see again.

"Hurry. They come around for morning posts around this time, so we can cut through the forest, but..."

Braelynn stood up straighter. "I'm fine. I'm used to running for my life."

Jocelyn smirked at that and fled through the forest, barely waiting for Braelynn to catch up. Her legs were still sore by the time they reached the first clearing, where Jocelyn was waiting, looking impatient.

"We should stop here."

"Rest?" Braelynn asked hopefully, still panting.

"No, so I can tie my shoelace." She bent down, tied it in two flicks, and stood up again.

"I'm kidding," Jocelyn added when Braelynn looked at her as if she'd never seen her before in her life. "Let's sit."

"SIt... right..." Braelynn said uncomfortably, fidgeting as she sat down on one of the logs, and Jocelyn took the seat across from her.

Braelynn pinched herself, careful to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "So... what do we do now?"

Jocelyn raised an eyebrow- and even the simple gesture managed to look ominous. "What else?"

She leaned closer. "Let's talk."