Chereads / The Oak Bride / Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Counterattack

Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Counterattack

GWENA'S POV:

I opened the door in the secret passage and got into the kitchens, there were young girls, counted nine, cleaning, cooking and washing dishes, some were busy with other duties,while two sat talking in whispers, they all stopped as they noticed me coming in.

"Good day princess" They said in unision courtseying same time and bowing slightly, not surprised since they already knew of the secret door there

"Good day to you all too" I replied them making my way to the door leading into the castle. I made my way towards the stairs and froze when I heard father's voice.

"Gwena, where were you when our guests came around?", He asked, anger lacing his every word, his voice rising as he completed a syllable and moved to the next.

I turned immediately to the sound of the voice and saw father beside the stairs hidden slightly by the shadows. He walked closer to the light, half his face still hidden, giving him a subdued look.

"Ummm in the gardens?", I said, my head low waiting for a reprimand.

"Gardens?", He asked perplexed "What would you be doing there?".

I raised my head a bit and looked into his eyes.

"I just felt that was the right place to be Father, and I got to see the prince there too, didn't I?", I answered him

"So you met with the prince all the same then" His anger dissipating a bit

 "Yes father", I affirmed.

 "And what do you think about this man?", He inquired as he leaned on the stair rail looking up at me.

 

What man? The prince? *Scoffs* oh please, such ignoramus. First time with a lady and didn't even ask of her name.

"Well he was nice really" I said conflicting what was on my mind.

He looked at me expecting more answers but I had nothing more to say, he gave up trying and went to his chambers while I went to mine.

I half ran up the remaining steps eager to be on my bed and clean of sweat and dirt.  I closed my door and rested my forehead and half of my weight against the door and half closed my eyes.

I saw a man covered in black clothes holding a large bow with arrows in a slack bag slung over his right shoulder, I couldn't get his face because he was hooded, he seemed to be waiting for someone poised on a tree.

Flashes of light passed between my eyes and I felt cold then warm and hot all at once. I could see the snow prince with blood over his hands,he sat huddled on the ground, his back to me,his escorts all dead with arrows sticking out of their head and the snow queen in the hands of the prince. I walked round them slowly and looked closely, DEAD. She was DEAD. NO NO NO. The snow prince held unto her and was screaming as blood flowed down his chin and face in rivulets.

  

I screamed and screamed again..this can't be happening, no it can't. I tried putting my hand on his shoulder but it passed through without obstruction, it isn't real, this isn't real.

Let me be there, let me be there..I repeated again and again mouthing the words.

I realized I was in a forest with tall trees tall above all around me. I walked slowly towards a tree placing my palm on it and it stayed firm. It's REAL now.

  

I ran towards the road and stayed just along the edge of the road, looking around cautiously I saw the Bowman on a tree branch, I looked towards the road and saw the snow carriage making it's way towards us, I heard the sharp drawing of the arrow and before I could react, four arrows had left the bow towards the carriage and found themselves into the head of the escortees.

I brought out my hand knife from my cloth and watched for a while hiding behind a tree trunk away from sight.

   

I saw the snow prince get down with his hand on his sword,the Bowman drawing an arrow back once more, he was aiming for the prince. NO WAY. I picked a stick and threw it at him, it distracted him as his attention got torn between knowing what hit him and aiming at the prince, he missed the shot and tried getting down from the tree as the prince sighted him.

He began running into the forest and I ran after him, I heard the prince's steps right behind me and I went into some high bushes by my right while the prince continued straight towards the hooded man. I walked a bit and quietly towards the prince,I stepped on a twig and the snow prince turned back sharply that I had to duck.

"Show yourself" He screamed, while the crows all took to flight.

I sighted the Bowman on a tree just above the prince and aimed at him with my knife, it hit him right on his chest and he fell, I watched as the prince walked towards the body and prodded it but there was no movement, he was probably dead already.

I closed my eyes and saw my room materializing before me, the snow prince eyes the last thing I saw.