The arrow had landed on his shoulder. Elise knew her aim was not perfect due to her trembling hands. She mustered the mindset to steady her hands and make this the death shot. All the while thinking
"I won't let anyone hurt my family"
Before she could release the second arrow, her grandmother spoke
"Elise, stop. Don't do it. Do not have this man's blood on your hands." her grandmother continued to speak, holding her stomach close to the wound. She attempted to stand. Only with the help of the twins could she be able to continue to stand.
"Your grandfather always said that you are all our little defenders. You have done good tonight, Elise. You heard the bell, the guards are going to be here soon"
At that moment, Rena and Meera had burst into the room, attempting to process the sight before them. Not a minute later did Elijah and arrive as well, he quickly approached the masked man aiming his sword at his neck. Jasper had arrived with some guards.
"Take Her Grace to get medical attention. Meera, Jasper, take the children somewhere safe, now" one of the guards carried Her Majesty away. Eon and Renner ran to their Uncle Jasper
"Elise, sweetheart. Well done," her mother had gently touched her shoulder which snapped her out of her thoughts. Her mother smiled at her, the last thing Elise saw before the doors closed was her mother, father and the remaining guards surrounding the man.
During the next few days, the castle was on high alert, everywhere Elise went, there was a guard assigned to her Captain Paris. When she entered her bedroom, it was searched.
"Are you ready for your lesson today, Princess?"
"I'm not looking forward to it. Master Philus is a little on the boring side. I just wish he wasn't so strict and maybe think about other ways to present the material that I have to learn. Despite all of that, he is brilliant." Captain Paris laughed
"He has been that way for as long as I've known him"
"I'm sorry, you know him?"
"He is my father," Elise stood there, eyes wide. She had offended not only her tutor by his son who also happens to be her guard.
"I am very sorry, Captain Paris. I meant no disrespect" she was grappling for words
"It's fine, Princess. I know he can sometimes have a one-track mind. But I know if you told him to adjust his methods. He would consider it"
"Really?"
"It is worth a try. Remember I must ensure your safety. Therefore, I would never put you in harm's way."
"Wait, so you also know my father well because Master Philus was also his tutor"
"Yes, I do. We met at the training camp." The training camp where every child at the age of ten years old must enter to gain at least a year of combat training. Some stay a year or two at the camp to learn the basics, usually have occupations that are not in the Elensia's Army. The rest would remain until the age of twenty-one to become a member of the army which would mean they have acquired advanced skills. Traditionally, the prince would train separately, but that changed with my grandfather. He boldly requested to be trained with everyone else, his logic was that to build a relationship with his people, he needed to live among them. Thus, the reason my father followed the same action and trained with everyone else.
I knew Eon and Renner would also follow this path. It was still unknown if this would be mine. Elise has only been the second Princess of Elensia ever, let alone a firstborn princess. The first princess was an only child and it is written in history that after her marriage, Elensia suffered greatly and was in its darkest time.
"If you don't mind me asking. I have never seen you around the castle."
"I am assigned to guard our borders."
"I have only heard that the best of the best are assigned to that task. Now, I feel horrible."
"Why?"
"Because they have one of their soldiers guarding the princess instead of the kingdom. The safety of Elensia and its people is more important, I can take care of myself." Captain Paris smiled
"Protecting you and protecting the borders go hand in hand a little. If I may speak freely, my Princess. If we have done a better job at protecting our borders, what happened that night wouldn't have occurred"
"You shouldn't blame yourself nor feel guilty. Whoever he was just got lucky to enter Elensia but we are lucky to have caught him"
"I'm mistaken, you played a big part in his capture"
"It's not true. Eon, Renner and grandma did most of the work"
"Don't underestimate what you contributed"
"I have a son about your age, Taris. When I told him the story of what you, the princes and Her Majesty did. Do you know what he said?"
Elise shook her head wanting to hear the answer
"That has to be one of the bravest things I have ever heard and that he wishes he could shoot an arrow as well as you. You are becoming an inspiration without knowing it." Elise looked at Captain Paris' smiling face and saw how he enjoyed telling the story.
However, that story could have been told with a different narrative. One would involve Elise killing the intruder rather than saving her brothers and grandmother. After that night Elise knew that her grandmother said those things not to save the masked man's life but her own.
"I just hope I will continue to live up to the name"
"I trust you will. Now, it's time to meet with Master Philus."
"Yes, I'm ready." Elise send with a smile on her face as Captain Paris and she walked to the classroom
Meanwhile
"Your Majesty, you called for me?" Ariah poked her head into the room where Rena was waiting for her.
"Yes Ariah, please come in. I am still trying to figure out how that man entered the kingdom. I have looked into every drawing of every room and there is nothing. The only other option would be that a citizen of Elensia helped him to enter." Ariah look down at the map
"I thought His Majesty would also be here since he is knowledgeable about architecture"
"He is with his mother"
"How is Her Grace?"
"She is slowly recovering, she did lose a lot of blood. Jessica is trying her absolute best.....Ariah....Ariah, are you okay?"
Rena saw Ariah's face turn pale, while she stared at her neck and what was around it.
"Where did you get that?"
"My necklace, His Grace brought it back from his travels. It was a gift, I have been wearing it more often since his passing, why?
"I'm sorry your Majesty that I hadn't noticed it before.
"What is it?"
"The necklace, my vision of the attack. You were wearing that necklace in my vision"