He threw her on the bed roughly, and she bounced a bit."I'm not a sack that you can just throw around as you please"That's what you're worth."She tried to sit up, "I have had it with you, you will see what I will do........"Vernon did not bother to listen to what she wanted to say, rather he just turned on his heel and left."Don't walk away from me!" she yelled out.The following afternoon Sylvia had a massive headache and with every stone the carriage hit, she felt it."Don't tell me you're going to vomit.""No, it's just the bumps paining me."Vernon shook his head, "You should not drink if you can't handle it."Julia wanted to slap him, his condescending tone grated on her nerves so much, that he did not have an ounce of sympathy for her.The carriage stopped abruptly and there were screams, Sylvia was wondering what was going on.Vernon opened the carriage door,"We are under attack, My King!"Vernon reached for his sword, and he turned to her,"Try not to die or not, your choice.""You're not going to leave me with a guard?""No, we need every man on the battlefield."Sylvia was shocked, "Are you being serious? I'm the Queen, my life is worth something.""Or you can follow me if you want.""That is not plausible, I don't know how to fight!""Then good luck."With that he left and Sylvia could hear screams, she could not stay in here. So she climbed out and bodies were falling beside her.She spotted Vernon, he was standing his ground, and they all were charging at him. With his dress attire, they knew that he was the King. Sylvia was now thinking about what to do.Should she go back inside the carriage and hope for the best? No, she would run and save herself, Vernon did not care about her so why should she care about what would happen to him?So Sylvia dashed for her life through the forest hoping that no-one would not notice her slipping away. She fell and hurt herself. A horse was heading towards her and turned, it was an enemy.The man climbed down and hit her on the head, that blow hurt. He came and kicked her once more.The force was so strong that she felt blood trickle down from her head, the next blow was to her head from the hilt of his sword and everything went black.Sylvia stirred awake and her body was in a lot of pain and the memories came back, she tried to sit up but Maria was by her side."You should not move My Lady.""Maria, what's going on?""We turned back, as carrying on to your parents was too dangerous, with the surviving guards confirming that there were further traps ahead."Sylvia noticed that they were back at her prison."How many hours have I been asleep?""You have been asleep for five days My Lady.""Five? What happened.""The king saved you in time."Sylvia groaned, now she owed that ratched man a lot, how did her trying to survive on her own life turn into him saving her?Her face hurt the most,"Maria prepare a bath for me.""Right away My Lady."Maria helped Sylvia up and when she looked at herself in the mirror, the shock and horror that met her was indescribable.Sylvia could not see herself, her face was blue and black, and the only saving grace was the fact that all her teeth were intact.She entered the bath waters,"Has the king come to see me at least once?""No, My Lady."Sylvia could tell that Maria was holding back something."Tell me.""He remarked on your beauty, the day he came to set you down, saying you looked like a beast. I'm sorry My Lady.""I want to be alone.""Of course My Lady, I will be outside if you need anything."Sylvia had a lump in her throat, of course, he did not care about her condition. Her heart hurt, she had not managed to go and see her parents but this had to happen to her.For the coming month, Sylvia did not go outside, as she remembered running into the concubines as she ate her dinner.She could see the shock and then the relish in their faces, only Alice was kind and spoke to her as if she were still normal.The servants also looked at her in the same manner, pity most of all, which was the one emotion she hated.Sylvia stayed indoors there was no word from Vernon but with Maria being her ears the first few days when she had wanted to know what he was up to.Only heartbreak followed when she was told he was busy and still had plenty of time to entertain his concubines.Rumors were rampant, and most said they did not blame him for not wanting to visit her with how she looked.So Sylvia spent her time using medication on her face, and she got better as the days went by.Her face was always covered with medication, it was healing nicely. The bruising had gone down and her porcelain tone was back.She was back to her natural beauty, and she dressed up. Sylvia wanted to sit by the garden. Maria came in,"My Lady.""What's wrong?""You look fairer.""Thank you Maria.""Let's go to the gardens, I have missed sitting outside.""Right away."They arrived by the garden, the scent of the flowers, the breeze, and the sunlight felt amazing on her.How she missed this so much, being cooped up had done wonders for her physically but emotionally it had drained her.Her worries were flowing with the breeze, the hope and freedom she felt embraced her."I see the gods have blessed you once more."Sylvia stiffened, she wondered when Vernon had arrived.Early access to chapters: www.patreon.com/taniashava