"Princess Freya!" Alan called out and ran towards me while I was in complete shock as I touched my hand to my stomach and I felt the arrow that was half in my stomach, making the blood flow out of my body.
Suddenly the men that were attacking us turned and went towards the jungle. Maybe because they got what they wanted, they were here to harm me or more like killing me. I could see but not clearly, my vision was becoming foggy. I could hear the soldiers calling me but I was unable to respond and started feeling like I was about to faint any minute.
The next minute I felt someone behind me, when I turned, I saw Alan climb on Nora and sit behind me. we made eye contact and it felt like he was trying to hold our eye contact while he grabbed my shoulders from behind with his left hand. My back touched his hard chest and I was able to smell his manly yet calming scent.
"Inform about the attack and arrange the medical arrangements for princess Freya!" Alan commanded and a few soldiers went towards the palace on their horses.
He placed his right hand on my stomach where the arrow was still inside and pulled it out. A scream roared in the air and a sob escaped my mouth.
"I am sorry, I had to do it otherwise the poison on the arrow would spread more in your blood." He said apologetically as he pulled out a piece of cloth that was on his waist and he placed it on my stomach giving it a tolerable amount of pressure.
"Hold it." He instructed me and I did what he told me to. I felt Nora moving and when I tried to see, I could make out that we were headed towards the palace. I played my head on Alan's shoulder as my body started becoming limper and the pain was heightened.
It would have been a beautiful ride towards the palace except if I was not hit by an arrow in my stomach, that to poisonous one. Alan held me tighter as Nora took up the speed and it was the last thing I sensed before becoming unconscious in Alan's arms.
***
"How are you feeling?" Queen, mother asked me as soon as I was conscious. My head felt a little heavy and I had body pain.
"Fine," I uttered and tried to sit up. Barbara came to help me sit by taking the cushions behind my back and helping me slowly take care of the huge, white bandage that was on my stomach.
"You might feel weakness for a few days. I would recommend you to take a rest and eat healthily," Edward said with a smile and left the room after bowing respectfully towards the Queen, mother, and me.
"I will take care of your food, darling. Don't worry, you will be fine." Mother said with tears in her eyes yet a faint encouraging smile on her face.
"I am so sorry for making you all worried about me every time," I said generously as I have seen these people with tears in their eyes quite a few times now in just a few days.
"Oh honey, you don't have to be sorry. It's not your fault." Barbara said as he held my crying mother. Father entered the room with mixed expressions on his face.
"I want to talk to my daughter, alone." He announced and everyone mother, Barbara, and servants left the room.
"I feel ashamed to be not able to protect my daughter." He started and I gulped as I saw tears forming in his eyes.
"It's not your fault, I was not able to defend myself."
"Because you have lost your memory and I could have sent more soldiers and security with you. I almost lost you twice in a single weak." He said and I could see the disappointment in his eyes. also, he lost his daughter the first time itself as I am just someone who was transmigrated to his daughter's body in this era. But I made my heart shatter that a father was crying in front of me from the fear of losing his daughter, I never had that.
"It's fine, father. I am fine now. Dr. Edward told me to rest and eat healthily." I tried to explain to him that I was okay to which he just nodded his head.
"I trusted Alan to take care of you, but he couldn't. I will have to have a word with him," he said with angry expressions. I felt the urge to defend Alan and so I did.
"Father, he helped me and he was the one who brought me to the palace in time otherwise I would have been dead by now," I said firmly and he was surprised with my answer.
"Well, I guess you are right. Then I order you to learn how to fight, I understand that you don't remember anything but you will need to learn how to fight. You are the princess of Cohill and also you need that for your safety. Will you be okay if Alan teaches you?" he asked me with a raised eyebrow.
"I – Yes, I would want to learn how to fight after I get better, I guess," I said to which he nodded and smiled at me before leaving the room.
I signed and ordered the servants to be left alone in my room. I had my lunch and dinner in my room with my mother and Barbara staying in my room to make sure I had all my food.
It was almost night the sun was almost setting as the sky was becoming darker blue and the air was becoming colder. It's just how it is here at night, beautiful. I had lighted a few candles in my room which made my room look beautiful too. As I stood in front of the huge window in my room that has the most beautiful view with the huge mountains, river and, today's full moon made it more special.
I heard the knocking on the door, turning around I said, "Come in."
Alan came inside and my breath caught in my throat. He simply looks dreamy in candlelight, at night, my god! His hazel eyes connected with my ocean blue ones.
"May I have a word with you, Princess Freya?" he asked me with strange expressions on his face which I couldn't put a finger on.
"Yes, you can," I said and he walked towards me keeping a decent amount of distance between us, we both stood in front of the huge window with an unknown look in the eyes of each other.
"How are you?" he asked me and I could sense concern in his voice which made my heart flutter.
"I feel a little weakness in my body and the wound hurts pretty bad." I told him sincerely, I don't know why I just told him the truth rather than just saying 'fine'.
"I hope you get well soon and I feel guilty for what happened today. I am your guard and it's my responsibility to protect you from anything that comes your way, but I was unsuccessful today. I am sorry and if you don't feel safe with me, you can always change your guard as per your wish." He said without taking his eyes off mine.
I felt sad that he feels guilty for what happened today but I think it was not anyone's fault. It was mine, if the real Freya was in my place she would have fought as she knew how to.
"It's not anyone's fault. And I would not want to replace you with someone else. And by the way, father has made the decision that you will be teaching me how to fight after my wound heals." I explained to him with a smile.
"That would be an honor, Princess Freya," he said without breaking the eye contact and smiled, showing his dimples which makes him look prettier than ever. A blush crept my cheeks and I turned my head towards the window gazing outside and witnessing how beautiful the full moon looks in the dark blanket called sky.
"It's beautiful." I voiced my thoughts as I saw the amazing sight in front of me.
"Indeed, it is," Alan said and I looked at him to see him looking at me with a soft smile on his face. When I understood that he was not talking about the moon but me, I blushed profusely.
"Freya" I heard and looked behind Alan to see mother standing at the door. Oh.