"Help me to not live with the regret that I might've gotten him killed today."
These words played over and over in Alexander's dreams along with a few others. He never heard Artemis sound so sad before outside of talking about how long she lived in the forest. "Artemis!" His eyes flashed open remembering he was supposed to be with her right now.
"What the…" he trailed off feeling his hands bound together. The soft feeling of a bed beneath him made him realize he was no longer in the forest he spent the last few days in. Looking around, Alexander knew he was in his father's room.
He tried to free his hands quickly because he knew Artemis wasn't here. She wouldn't have come along with his father since she could not stay out of the forest for too long. His hand also felt free of the bracelet she placed on him which wasn't a good sign.
"Ah," he groaned, using all of his strength to force his hands out of the shackles they were in. It wasn't an easy task and his hands bled while doing this.
"Why are you hurting yourself son?" George asked, seated in the corner of the room. He was waiting for Alexander to wake up because he knew his son would try to run away. He only spoke up to stop Alexander from hurting himself.
"Free me, father. I told you to help me save her," said Alexander.
"I am doing as she asked me to Alexander. She does not want to see you hurt and as your father, I don't either. Just stay here until everything has passed and I will clear your name. I left some men there to keep her safe for as long as they can so please, stop."
"Free me or I will do it myself. I promised to help her get away from there and Mclane's do not break their promises," Alexander said while continuing to free himself.
"Which is why I won't break my promise to that woman to keep you here-"
"She's going to get hurt if we leave her there all alone!" Alexander yelled at his father. He felt frustrated and angered by the fact his father brought him home and chained him up when it was obvious he wanted to help Artemis not be trapped in the forest anymore.
"I'm sure she knew that when she sent us away. She doesn't want our help and wishes for you to be safe. You have always thought about others Alexander but now, I want you to think about your own safety here. I have already lost your mother and I am not willing to lose my son as well. You are all that I have left, son."
"I am going to help her," Alexander stayed true to the promise he made. It was his own life to risk to help Artemis. She deserved to be free from a lifetime of imprisonment in the forest.
Many of his good men were going to die because Catherine disliked the fact that he liked Artemis. Catherine's jealousy was not worth innocent soldiers and Artemis dying over. He was worried about what Wendy said about Artemis not reincarnating for a while now. What if something bad happened to her and she was unable to return because there was something wrong this entire time?
Artemis had the sword and bracelet with her but he was still worried. He had a daunting feeling in his chest about how today would end. Even if she was a Goddess meaning her wounds would heal, he didn't want to imagine weapons being thrown her way in an attempt to hurt her.
"Thomas and Catherine were able to convince everyone that the king's killer lives in the forest and evidence from the king's room shows he shared the same suspicion that something dangerous was living there. Unfortunately, the fallen sword is missing so they plan to light all corners of the forest and burn it down with whatever is inside," George informed Alexander.
"She cannot just leave the forest if that is what you were thinking, father. She'll be forced to return to the fire. The place she called home would be destroyed. You have told me many times not to destroy things that weren't created by humans. It can have a dangerous ripple effect. That forest has souls wandering around and a tree that listens to the wishes of humans. What will happen if you set it all on fire?"
"Let go, father," Alexander said once again. Behind his back, he broke a finger in order to free his hand but didn't show any pain to his father. He broke a finger on his other hand in order to free his other hand.
"This must be how I looked in your grandfather's eyes when I went against his wishes and married your mother. When I die, she will strangle me for letting you risk your life. As much as I want you to be safe, I know that you are stubborn and would eventually leave to see the Goddess. Remind your mother of that when you see her and let the Goddess know I tried to keep the promise to keep you safe."
George stood up from where he sat, going to the door of the room to leave, and left it wide open for Alexander to leave when he was ready. His son couldn't fool him with the fact he had freed his hands. Knowing Alexander had to break something in order for him to free himself was what made George change his mind.
Alexander ignored the pain in his hand from his broken fingers and rushed to the door with the intention of getting to Artemis before it was too late.