Her mind stopped working when Aria realised that someone was really hugging her. And it was her mother!!!! Aria breathed in her mother's scent and tried to move her hands to hug her back. But her hands and feet were still tied. Tears began to flow from her eyes as she said, "Mo-mom, is it re-really you?"
Natalia said, her voice cracking, "Yes, my angel. Yes."
She then stopped and cupped Aria's face in her hands. She wiped off the tears and dirt on her face as she said, "Oh, I'm so relieved that you are okay. I was so scared."
Aria: "Mom, I was scared."
Natalia: "Yes, yes my angel. No need to be scared now. I will get you out." She then called someone. A big man with dark skin appeared on the door. He took out a key from his pocket and began to open the locks of Aria's hands and feet.
Aria looked behind her mother and said, "Mom, where's dad? And Beth? And Julia?"
Natalia broke into tears upon hearing this and she said, "They are waiting for you outside. We will go and meet them."
Aria looked at the man who had freed her feet and said, "Mom, what decision did grandpa take?"
Natalia: "He said that you did not commit any crime and were free to return to the castle." Natalia not once looked into her daughter's eyes when she said this.
Aria could easily tell that her mother was lying. She was also smart enough to figure out what had happened outside and why was her mother here. She said quietly, "Mom, will you tell me the truth if I ask something?"
Natalia froze for a second before smiling, "Of course, my angel."
Aria looked at her mother's face and sighed. If her mother was breaking her out, there was no reason to make things difficult for her. Aria asked, "Mom, what's the time?"
Natalia was confused upon hearing her question. She had thought that Aria had figured something out and was going to ask about Christopher's decision. But little did Natalia know that Aria had figured everything out and knew that she would no longer be seeing her family.
Natalia: "Why, it's about 3:30 in the morning."
Aria: "Oh, that's why I was so sleepy when you came." At this point, her hands were also free. She squeezed her hands and feet as they were hurting and said, "Okay. Let's go mom."
To Aria's no surprise, her mother and the man led her through a secret passageway and not towards the exit of the dungeon. They walked for what seemed like about half an hour, and Aria's feet were badly injured. The passage was dark and Aria's shoes had been removed, so she quite frequently stepped onto something that hurt her foot. But Aria did not complain as she continued walking, holding her mother's hand.
The man in front suddenly stopped and began trying to remove a big boulder that seemed to be blocking their path. But the boulder was too heavy. Aria helped him by bending earth and removing the boulder.