~~~
Felicia's feet pound the stone floor, her heart racing. Astrid's voice echoes, "Run, Felicia! Don't look back!"
Ryker's soldiers close in, their boots thundering.
Nelson's warriors fight valiantly, but they're outnumbered.
Eira's sabotage slows Ryker's advance, buying Felicia time. Felicia bursts into the palace, slamming the door shut. Her breath comes in ragged gasps.
Astrid awaits, a dagger in hand for defense. "We must hide," Astrid urges.
Felicia nods, following Astrid through secret passages.
Nelson's voice echoes in despair as he fears that Felicia had met with harm's way, "Felicia, no!"
Felicia's heart shatters. Astrid's grip tightens as she leads Felicia to the dark passage. "We will definitely get through this," Astrid vows.
Felicia was too stunned to ask any questions. All she could do was oblige to Astrid's leading and hope Nelson was safe.
Suddenly, passages collapse, trapping them. Felicia's scream is muffled by dust.
Astrid's eyes lock onto Felicia's.
"We are not alone here. I can feel another strange presence here," Astrid whispers, trying to avoid attracting whatever was lurking in the shadows.
A figure emerges from the shadows. "Kael," Felicia gasps, hands placed over her mouth in shock.
Kael, Ryker's deadliest warrior, sneers.
"You are definitely mine now, your majesty," Kael mocks Felicia as he growls at the two women. Felicia's world darkens.
Nelson's roar echoes from where he is, "Felicia! No!" But it's too late.
Kael's blade flashes. Felicia's fate hangs.
Felicia's eyes widen in terror as Kael's blade inches closer, its razor-sharp edge glinting in the flickering torchlight. Astrid lunges forward, her dagger flashing like a silver serpent, but Kael deflects the blow with ease, his strength overwhelming.
Astrid crashes to the ground, her body thudding against the cold stone. Felicia's scream is silenced by Kael's iron grip, his hand clamping over her mouth like a vice.
Nelson's warriors breach the passage, their armor clanking, swords raised. Eira leads the charge, her sword slicing through the shadows, its blade shining with deadly precision.
"Get back, Kael!" Eira warns, her voice echoing off the stone walls.
Kael sneers, his face twisted in a snarl. "You think you can stop me?" he taunts.
Eira's sword clashes with Kael's, the blades ringing out in a deadly melody. Felicia seizes the distraction, breaking free from Kael's grasp.
Astrid stirs, her eyes flashing with determination. "Run!" she shouts.
Felicia sprints forward, her feet pounding the stone floor. Nelson's voice echoes through the passage.
"Felicia! Follow Eira!" he yells.
Eira's sword dances with Kael's, the two warriors locked in a fierce battle. Felicia reaches Eira's side.
"Go!" Eira urges Felicia.
Ryker's soldiers close in, their boots thundering through the passage. Nelson's warriors hold ground.
Felicia and Eira flee, their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The passage narrows.
A dead end looms.
Felicia's heart sinks. Eira's eyes lock onto Felicia's
"Trust me," Eira whispers, a hint of hope evident in her tone.
A hidden door swings open. Felicia's hope revives. They successfully slip through the door after much hassle, and then the door seals.
Ryker's roar echoes. "Find her!" he thundered at his men. He had just joined them after waiting impatiently for feedback from the messenger he had sent to Nelson's kingdom.
Felicia's breath comes in ragged gasps. Eira's grip tightens. "We are safe," Eira said as she tried to comfort Felicia.
But Felicia's heart whispers. For how long?
Nelson's battle cry echoes. The kingdom's fate hangs.
Ryker's darkness closes in. Felicia's future is uncertain.
Nelson's eyes blaze with desperation, like wildfire raging through his soul, as he scours the passage, his heart racing with every step. His warriors comb the shadows, their swords at the ready, their faces set in determined lines.
"Find her!" Nelson thunders, his voice echoing off the stone walls, shaking the very foundations of the passage.
Ryker's soldiers scatter, fleeing before Nelson's wrath, their footsteps echoing through the darkness.
Eira's words echo in his mind: "I've got her, Nelson. Trust me."
But trust is a luxury Nelson can't afford, not now, not when Felicia's safety hangs in the balance.
Fear claws at his heart, its icy talons piercing his very soul.
What if Ryker's men have her? What if Eira's plan failed? Nelson's gaze scans the passage, his eyes burning with intensity, every second an eternity.
Suddenly, a figure emerges from the shadows.
Astrid.
"Your majesty!" Astrid rushes forward, her face etched with worry.
"Where is she?" Nelson demands, his voice sharp and urgent.
Astrid's eyes lock onto Nelson's as she sternly explains, "Eira took her through a hidden door.".
Nelson's grip on his sword tightens. "Lead me to it," Nelson orders without any hesitation.
Astrid guides Nelson through winding passages, the air thick with tension.
Nelson's anxiety grows, every step weighing heavily on his heart.
They reach the hidden door. Nelson's heart pounds, his chest heaving.
He bursts through. A dimly lit chamber unfolds, its secrets revealed.
Felicia's voice whispers. "Nelson, is that you?"
The moment Nelson's eyes met with Felicia's, relief washed over him, a tidal wave of emotions.
Felicia rushes into his arms. Nelson's embrace crushes her, his arms wrapping around her like a shield.
"I am never letting you go," Nelson vows, his tone firm and solid.
Eira stands guard, her sword at the ready.
Meanwhile, Ryker's roar still echoed outside.
"You think you have won?" Ryker taunts as he lets out a maniacal laughter.
Nelson's gaze hardens. "I will protect her with everything I have got! You will never have her!," Nelson growls.
Ryker's laughter sends shivers. "We will see about that," Ryker sneers with an odd confidence.
Nelson's warriors ready for battle. Felicia's heart ponds within her chest.
The kingdom's fate still hangs, but Nelson's determination burns.
He had to protect Felicia, no matter what it would cost him.
Ryker's siege intensifies, his army's relentless drumbeat shaking the kingdom's foundations. Nelson's warriors man the battlements, their faces set in grim determination.
Felicia trembles in Nelson's arms, her eyes wide with fear.
"I will not let him harm you," Nelson whispers, comforting an already tense Felicia.
Eira stands guard, her sword shining.
Right in that instance, Ryker's warriors breach the outer walls of the Kingdom of Evaria.
.....