Chapter 2: moonlight encounter.
I stood frozen, the Queen's words hanging in the air like a challenge. Xander's voice narrowed, his teeth clenched in anger.
Suddenly, a noise echoed from outside the Windmill, a rustling in the bushes. The Queen's head snapped towards the sound, her eyes flashing with irritation.
" Who dare to interrupt us? she spat."
A figure emerged from the darkness, its features illuminated by the moonlight.
It was a young man, his eyes locked into mine with a fierce intensity. He was dressed in leather armor, a sword at his side.
"Emilia, come with me he said, his voice low and urgent.
The Queen's eyes widened in rage. "You fool" she hissed . " You think you can defeat me?"
The young man drew his sword, it's blade glinting in the moonlight. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect Emilia," he said his eyes never leaving mine.
Xander snarled, drawing his own sword. "You will pay for insolence," he spat.
The two men clash,their swords ringing out in the night air. I watched in horror, unsure of what to do.
But as the fight intensified, I knew I had to act. I turned to the Queen, my heart pounding in my chest.
"I'll never join. My voice firm, I said.
The Queen's eyes flashed in anger, but I stood my ground. And then, in a flash of movement, the young man was beside me, his sword press to the Queen's throat.
"It's over," with a triumphant voice, he said.
But, as we turn to leave, I saw something that made my blood cold. Xander lying on the ground, his eyes locked into mine with a fierce warning.
When I came to, I was lying on a soft bed, my head throbbing with pain. The young man was sitting beside me, his eyes watching me with concern.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"My name is Finn," he replied, his smile gentle. "I've been sent to protect you, Emilia."
I struggled sit up, but with Finn's hand on my shoulder, he pulled me back." Rest, he said, you've been through a lot."
As I laid back, memories flooded my mind. The Queen's betrayal, Xander's deceit, the fight in the Windmill...
"Finn, what happened to Xander?" I asked, my heart racing.
Finn's expression turned grim. "He's gone, he chooses his loyalty to the Queen over you.
I felt a pang of sorrow, but it was quickly replaced by anger. Xander had betrayed me, just like his mother.
But as I looked at Finn, I saw something in his eyes that gave me hope. A fierce determination, a promise to protect me.
"Why are you protecting me?" I asked, my voice barely above whisper.
Finn's smile returned, "his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Because you're the to saving this kingdom, Emilia. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect you.
As I looked Finn, I knew I had found ally, a friend. Together we would face whatever lay ahead, no matter the danger.
Finn's words echoed in my mind as I drift off to sleep, my body exhausted from the events of the night. But my rest was short-lived, as I was awoken by the sound of footsteps outside the room.
Finn's eyes snapped open, his hand on the hilt of the sword. "Stay her," he whispered before slipping out of the room.
I waited anxiously, my heart pounding in my chest. Who was it, friend or foe?
The creaked open, and Finn returned, a look of caution on his face. " He said his voice low. " They've received word of your escape, and they are sending a team to extract you."
My heart leapt with hope.
The rebellion? could they really help me?
But as Finn help me to my feet I saw the doubt in his eyes. "We can't trust them," he said. " We don't know their true intentions."
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But as I looked at Finn, I knew I had to make a decision. Trust him, or take a chance of the rebellion.....
And then, just as we were about to leave, I heard a faint noise coming from outside. A rustling in the bushes, a snapping of twigs.
Finn's eyes locked into mine, his expression grims." We have a company," he whispered.
As we turned to face the door, isaw a figure emerged from the shadows....
The figure stepped forward, its features illuminated by the moonlight, it was a woman. Her face scared and weathered, her eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity.
Who are you? Finn demanded, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The woman's gaze Locked onto mine. "I'm Ava," she said, her voice low and husky. And I've been sent to bring you to the rebellion."
I hesitated, unsure of what to do. But as I looked into Ava's eyes, I saw something there that gave me hope. A glimmer of kindness, a spark of determination.
"How do we know we can trust you?" he asked, his voice skeptical.
Ava's voice was wry. "You don't," she said. "But you don't have a choice. The Queen's men are closing in, we have to leave, now."
As she spoke, the sound of horses' hooves echoed through the night air, growing louder through every passing moment.
Finn's grip on my arm tightened. "We have to go, he whispered."
And with that, we followed Ava into the night, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the ground as we rode into the unknown...
We rode in silence, the only sound, the pounding horses' hooves on the damp earth. Ava led the way, her scared face set in a determined expression.
As we approach the rebellion's hideout, a sense of unease crept over me.
What laid ahead? would we find allies or enemy?
Finn's hand on my arm tightened as of sensing my fear. And then he whispered, "stay close."
We entered the hideout. A dimly lit covern filled with shadowy figure. Ava led us to a figure cloaked in darkness.
"Welcome Emilia," the figure said. Its voice low and gravelly. "I am the rebellion's leader, Marcus."
As Marcus stepped, his eyes glomming with intensity, I felt a shiver, run dowy my spine.
"We've been waiting for you," he said, his voice gripping with urgency. "The Queen's power grows by the day. We need your help to stop her."