Samuel lay on the ground, defeated and resigned to his fate. He closed his eyes, saying a silent goodbye to himself as he faced the sea of angry faces above him. The mob raised their weapons high, and in a single, coordinated motion, they brought them down upon him.
The world exploded in pain and darkness, and then, nothing. Samuel's life had come to an end.
As the mob dispersed, a figure emerged from the shadows. A young woman, perhaps in her mid-twenties, approached the scene on a white horse. Her appearance was striking, her long black hair left untied and concealed beneath a white hat adorned with blue trim. She wore a flowing silk black robe secured by a white rope at her back, her form disguised as a man.
Without hesitation, she charged into the crowd, her horse scattering the goons in a matter of moments. Samuel found himself suddenly lifted onto the horse's back, and before he could process what was happening, he was being carried away from the scene and into the unknown.
Exhausted from his ordeal, Samuel rested his head against the woman's back, his consciousness slipping away as they rode through a dense forest. The woman, noticing his fatigue, gently wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of her hand. A smirk played on her lips, her expression one of determination and bravery.
She urged the horse onward, its hooves thundering through the underbrush as they disappeared into the night. The kingdom was left in turmoil, its future uncertain as the young prince was spirited away by a mysterious savior.
The woman guided her horse skillfully down the mountain behind the fenced palace. The main palace block stood tall, its T-shaped structure facing away from the town's main road. Using a right turn on a soil junction, she made her way to her cottage, located a thousand kilometers from the palace.
When they arrived, she gently carried Samuel into an unused hut, laying him down on a mat and propping his head up with a small black pillow. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow, but she could sense that he was still alive.
She sat beside him, her hand trembling as she resisted the urge to reach out and touch his face. Her heart raced as she looked at him, her feelings for him overwhelming her. But she knew that she had to remain focused on helping him recover.
Realizing that she needed to administer his medication, she steeled herself to undress him, not wanting to stain his outfit. She carefully unbuttoned his robe, removing the secured belt and gently spreading the fabric open. His average pants remained.
The woman gazed at Samuel's chest, her hand hovering over his six-pack. She admired his toned physique, struggling to maintain her composure. She wanted to act calmly, but her feelings for him were strong, making it difficult to suppress her desires. With a deep breath, she regained control and focused on caring for him.
The woman carefully mixed various herbs in a black clay pot, using a small pestle to gently pound them into a powder. She then strained the mixture through a sieve into a clay cup, creating a potent liquid concoction.
Samuel lay motionless on the mat, his eyes closed as if he was dead. She gently raised his head and placed it on her knee, carefully helping him drink the medication. Afterward, she laid him back down on his pillow and examined his fractured leg.
She gently touched his injury, a small smile playing on her lips as she realized that it would prevent him from returning to the palace until it healed, so that he will accompany her more. With that thought in mind, she left the hut, locking the door behind her.
She made her way to her special hut, its interior decorated in black. Once inside, she changed into a long white silk robe that complemented her dark complexion, leaving her hair unpinned.
She walked outside to a couch chair positioned outside her downstairs house. Snowflakes drifted down gently, and she held out her hand, catching a single flake on her palm. She smiled softly, feeling a sense of destiny in the moment.
As night fell, the snow continued to descend, blanketing the surrounding mountains in a blanket of white. The trees in front of her house became encased in ice, their branches weighed down by the accumulating snow.
The woman rose and made her way to the hut where Samuel lay. Unlocking the two doors, she entered and found him still unconscious on the mat. She looked at him with a gentle smile, her heart filled with a mixture of concern and affection.
She approached him slowly, her thoughts racing as she considered the gravity of their situation. She knew that the palace would be searching for Samuel, and that they would not rest until they found him. But she was determined to protect him, no matter the cost.
She sat beside him, lost in her thoughts, oblivious to the fact that she had left the doors open. Suddenly, she felt a chill run down her spine as a warm hand grabbed her wrist from behind.
The unexpected touch filled the air with suspense, and a heavy silence descended upon the room. The snow outside seemed to fall slower, each flake dancing in the air as if suspended in time.
As their eyes locked, a wave of emotion washed over them, a shared understanding that transcended words. His face, illuminated by the soft glow of the snow outside, was a mesmerizing sight, his features cast in a dreamlike haze.
The girl couldn't help but gaze at him, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and dread. But as she looked at him, she realized that he did not recognize her. His eyes, now clearer, studied her with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
"Why did you leave me here in this cold weather?" he asked, his voice tinged with accusation. The girl shivered as the words hung in the air, the weight of his question weighing heavily on her shoulders.
She had hoped to avoid this moment, to keep her identity a secret. But as she looked into his eyes, she knew that she could no longer hide.
As Samuel held her hand, his grip tightened......….