I couldn't walk since my left leg was hurt, but I wanted to get out of the forest.
*****
Hezron and his men went deep in to the forest to find the empress. He kept praying he could find her very soon. There would be a great storm tonight. He didn't want to think of what would happen if he couldn't find her on time.
The knights couldn't believe how worried their emperor was. Did he now care about their empress ? They wouldn't believe that. They could only swallow their question. A wild beast approached them. Since they were many, they killed it easily. Hezron was afraid she has encountered other wild animal. Was she able to escape them? Hezron saw one of her jewelleries on that wild beast they killed
"That must be the empress'." Amos said.
"Could it mean the empress already encountered this animal?" Asked a guard.
"Does that mean she's dead?" Asked a guard. They all felt shivers ran down their spines.
"She's not dead. Anyone who says this will face the consequences. We continue the search." Hezron said coldly.
"Yes your majesty. " They all responded. He looked scary right then.
Hezron wasn't willing to believe the empress was dead. She might still be there. His heart told him not to believe. His heart told him to continue searching. For once, he chose to listen to his heart.
****
I continued walking, but I still couldn't find the way out. I was very tired. It was getting dark. I walked another two minutes and the ground felt like it was moving. I couldn't go anymore and with all means, I couldn't fight anymore. This weakness was too much.
"I'm sorry Dorcas. I tried to survive, but I can't go on anymore. I hope we see each other in our next life. Sorry.... Sorry.....so.....rry." I fainted.
It started snowing heavily, but Hezron didn't let his men stop. They needed to find her today or never. He felt as if, if he couldn't find her that day, that would be his last of seeing her. He didn't know why but he feared to lose her. They walked for another hour and it snowed.
"Your majesty, the snow has started. We need to find shelter." General Aris said.
" Let's continue. " He said firmly. No one could go against his order.
They continued for another two hours and it snowed heavily.
"Your majesty, it has started to snow heavily. We need to find shelter. " Gerenal Aris said.
"We continue. " He said coldly.
"But-"
"Let's go a little further, please, Gerenal Aris. " Amos said. He understood his Lord so much.
They walked for another hour. As they walked, though windy, he saw reddish brown hair. He walked closer to that a.d saw the face of the empress. She was covered in snow. Half of her face was shown. How was that even possible.
He quickly took her from the ground and laid her on his lap. She only had her chemise on. Her forehead was covered with a piece of cloth. Her hand was also covered with a piece of her clothe. Her feet was also covered so as her tummy, as blood was all over her body. He removed his robe and covered her in it. Her lips was dried. Her body was cold as a dead person. The good thing was, she was breathing and her heart was beating even when it was slow.
"She needs immediate attention from the royal physician. " Hezron said.
SHe can't move in this weather. It is even about to get worse. We need shelter." General Aris said.
"I saw a cave when were searching. " Amos said.
"Let's go there then. We move early morning. " Hezron said. They climbed on their horses as they rushed to the cave. He was glad she was alive.
They got to the cave after ten minutes. Everyone settled in the cave and ate something. They all felt sorry for the empress. What did she experience? Amos set fire for Hezron as he ordered. He covered her with so many clothes and brought her to the fire. She was so cold. Looking at her, he felt killing senses in him. He want3d to kill those who made her go through that.He wouldn't spare a penny.
He stayed with her, robbing her reddish brown hair that was messy gently. Looking at her closely, he realized how beautiful she was. The people in the cave couldn't believe their eyes.
"Don't you think his majesty is acting strange?" Asked a fellow knight undertone.
"Yes. He is acting like a worried man in love." Another said. They were sitting together.
"But isn't his majesty in love with Lady Vanessa?" Asked a knight.
"Yes, we all know how their love has been since young. He must be just worried because it's the empress. " Another said.
"I heard he ordered for Vanessa and her father be put in prison."
"That's good. I never liked her anyway. She is insolent and arrogant." Another said.
"But why?"
"We should find out when we get back." The first one said.
"I would be very happy if his majesty lives with her majesty forever, happily. " Another said. Many of the knight agreed.
Hezron held the empress in his arms the whole night. She neither moved nor made a sound.
Early that morning,they set off. They rode faster than the first time. They would only rest for some few minutes only for eating. They reached Ronoris in the evening. He took her straight to her room and Amos called for the royal physician. Dorcas was happy when her lady was back. She cried when she saw her condition. She became attached to her in these months.
" Bath her in hot water." Hezron ordered.
When Dorcas, Mabel and Samanta saw all those wounds on her, they had sad expression.
"What did she go through?" They all asked. She didn't feel anything when she was in the water. No matter what they did, her skin was still cold. They told the royal physician about her condition. He gave them medicine for her wounds.
There wasn't even a sound from her when the medicine was applied. She felt like a dead person. They made her clean and meat before they laid her on her bed.
"Give her some days, she will recover." The royal physician said.
"And her coldness?"Asked Dorcas.
"She has been exposed to the cold for too long. This is all I can do. Unless his majesty decided to consummate their marriage." Elder Hamor said.
"I can't do something without her permission, especially, something like this. Try other means." He said coldly. He didn't want to hurt her more than she has endured.
" I will do my best." He said.
He stayed with her the whole night. He visited Vanessa the other day in prison. He had no sympathy like the first time.
"Well, his majesty should help me. I was locked here with force." She said faking tears.
"I ordered them to do that. How could I have missed this side of you?" He said.
"That was because you were a fool. I had to cool you and comfort you and you fell for it. You fell for my tricks. So did you find everything or should I say more. No matter what, she will forever hate you." Vanessa said.
"It can't be true." He said.
" What? Are you blind? I made you accuse her. I made you insult her family. I made you put her in prison and I made you make her go through that suffering. I placed peanut in her food. I pretended to be slapped by her. I changed the arrow. I called people to ambush her, but they said your name. I made you sent just three guards with her...." She said evilly.
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If Hezron really regret and apologize, should Love just forgive her or should she let him suffer first?(From Author)