"Grandma?" Her voice was a mixture of relief and surprise.
"Grandma!" She said again, this time her voice held more emotion as she ran to her one source of comfort.
Her peace and her home after her parent's death.
"Shh, my little bird, don't cry," The old woman caressed her long blonde hair while she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Come on now, don't cry, A proper lady doesn't cry,"
Iris could already predict those words would come out of her grandma.
But this was not one of their 'Lady Training sessions,'
This was real life.
Her life,
and it was falling apart.
"They want me dead grandma! I didn't do anything," She shook her head vigorously.
"I know dear, I know," Grandma patted her hair two more times, then raised her head to face her and planted a kiss on her forehead.
The old lady helped Iris up, while standing up herself.
The expression she was now wearing was nothing like the calm, soothing one she had offered a while ago.
She was now more serious. A hint of worry which she couldn't completely conceal shows a little.
"You must leave."
Iris's brows creased at the sudden demand.
"What? why?" she frowned.
"They'll kill you once they penetrate these walls," Her Grandma's voice trembled as she spoke. Showing how hard it is for her.
Iris managed to give her a smile.
A warm one. One with a little bit of hope.
"Eden wouldn't let them! He'll protect me! And his men too!" she said with so much confidence that the old woman could only shake her head.
"This is beyond your brother's power…"
"...But he is the Duke!" Iris interrupted.
"...And that doesn't make him above the law!" Grandma's voice was stern, making Iris falter.
"...But"
"The rules are to kill any witch who dares to use her power,"
"But I'm no witch!"
Her grandmother took a deep breath.
Silence covered the room.
And nothing but the loud thudding of the mob could be heard.
"I didn't kill Dominic! I am not a witch!" Tears gushed down her now sore throat.
"Ayeeee!!!" The loud sound of men celebrating outside grabbed their attention.
"They've made it in!" Grandma was suddenly alert.
She scurried to the table, and picked up a leather pouch that she had kept there earlier.
"Hear," she pushed the bag in Iris's hands.
Then shoved a piece of paper she was holding a while ago into her hands.
"Listen to me, you need to make it to the address on that paper. The Baron is a friend of your father and would keep you safe."
Iris couldn't believe her grandmother's words. She couldn't believe this was actually happening.
"Get on a ship and leave this cursed Island my love." She caressed her hair warmly.
"Don't stop until you get to the Capital!"
"The capital?" Iris couldn't believe her ears.
In all her nineteen years of existence, she has never stepped foot out of their little Island. Let alone make it all the way to the Kingdom's capital.
"Grandma, no please," She held her Grandma's hands.
She has always wanted to travel.
To sail away from this small Island.
But not this way.
Not as a fugitive.
"Go!" Her grandma was almost yelling.
"There's enough jewels and coins in the bag for all your needs."
Grandma was now aggressively pushing her to the balcony.
"Here," She handed her a black robe which had a hood to cover her hair.
"Lay low, and make it there alive. please my little bird. Don't let me down the way your father did,"
The words tugged at her heart.
Her father died in a shipwreck along with her mother.
She was just ten when it happened.
The pain and emptiness never seem to go away.
Iris was about to protest, to reason with her grandma to change her mind.
But the sound of the mob making their way up the stairs made it clear to her that there was no other way out.
Taking deep breaths, she started climbing down the same walls she had struggled so badly to climb up earlier.
Once again, she was welcomed by the rough stones, cutting her, causing her to bleed.
The noise upstairs was getting closer.
She should have known.
The law against witches using their powers was so strong that even the castle guards are to follow no command that goes against the law.
Of course Eden wouldn't have been able to help her.
But at least he would have tried.
She wished she was given the chance to see him one more time before leaving.
Who knows if they'll ever meet again.
Making it to the dock was easier said than done.
It took her hours of asking strange men for directions.
Even though she shouldn't be, considering her current situation.
Lucky for her, most of the town was at the castle, trying to find her.
To kill her.
And the few who weren't there were those who had too much on their plates to care about the drama.
After purchasing some bread and water -the only food that was available at the docks- She paid the man in charge and was given a warm spot alongside some other travellers.
She sat on the open ship.
Something she had never experienced even though she grew up on this Taff Hills.
She had always wondered what her first time on water would feel like. -That was supposed to be after she married Lord Dominic Hencler and moved to Eldrid.-
It was supposed to be today.
It still is today, but in a different, more pathetic way.
"All aboard for Eldrid!" The captain's words made her feel like throwing up.
She had to go through Eldrid to make it to the capital.
No one knew her there. But the thought of going to the town where is believed to have murdered the Duke was not very pleasant.
The ship started moving.
At first she felt some sort of dizziness.
But soon enough, she was used to the feeling and even got the chance to doze off with her bag clutched tightly to her chest.
…
"What have we got here," a raspy voice made her flutter her eyes open.
she squinted sharply, trying to adjust to the sunlight.
-It was morning already? She wondered.
But she had bigger issues at hand.
Issues like three grown men towering above her with menacing smiles tugged on their lips.