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There really isn't much of the enemy left. It is a simple matter to slip through them to where my soldiers are camped before the city walls.
They are all in disarray without Jacob to lead them. It takes all I have to put on a brave, noble face and deliver a resounding speech after promoting a commander to temporary general.
Milo, the new general, supplies me, Sir Eric, and Sir Matthew with food. I ask if there is a way into the city, but he shakes his head. It is heavily fortified, he says.
I pass the rest of my meager meal in silence. Milo offers us two extra tents to spend the night, and Eric and Matthew discuss what we can do next. But I already know.
I do not sleep. In the depths of the night I creep out of the camp on foot. On an afterthought, I had left my jewelry in my tent where it would be safer. Then I stumbled all the way into the nearest enemy camp.
Why did I not just request an audience with the King? I did not want to give him time to prepare. And most of all, I wanted to go alone. I don't know why. I just had to.
It wasn't long before someone noticed me. A dirty, smelling officer looked sleepily out of his tent while I tried to make as much noise as possible. He saw me and grinned.
"Well, what do we have here? What's a wench like you doing wandering around here?" he asked, grabbing me and pulling me up into the light by my elbow. I flinched but maintained my faraway look. "Where is he? Where is he?" I kept moaning.
The officer seemed shocked. "Why, if it isn't the Queen! Well, don't I know somebody who'd like to see you!"
Soon two soldiers grabbed me roughly by the arms and took me quietly off to the city. It was a long walk, but we encountered none of my watchmen. Milo hadn't had time to reorganize yet.
The muttering of a password opened a small door in the walls. After much more walking, we were at the palace. My legs ached, and my heart hammered. What was I doing?
"Urgent surprise for the King!" one of the soldiers told a guard. He took one glance at me, widened his eyes, and ran off. The King returned soon after, hastily dressed.
"You captured her? How on earth did you manage that?" he asked with interest.
"Wand'rin 'round the camp. Mighta gone a bit loopy, I think," cackled a soldier.
I continued looking around wildly. "Where is he? Where is he?"
Edward tipped my face up, and I forced myself to look through him as if his face was not inches from mine.
"All right, leave her to me," he yawned, letting me go and turning to the side. The soliders reluctantly leave us alone.
"All right, Alisyn," he says boredly. "I'm not fooled."
I smile coolly. "Very good."
"I suppose you're here for your...betrothed."
"Of course."
"And tell me, why should I return him to you?"
"Because..." I think. "I shall be very angry with you if you don't."
He laughed. "All right. Have a nice trip back to Denalham."
I walked forward and forced him to look at me. When he did, I felt like melting. I hadn't seen him in so long...and here he was...
What if we just forgot everything and went on as before...?
His eyes were a soft, light green now. Everything about him had softened as our eyes met. He reached for me...and I turned away.
"Where is he?" I asked quietly, my face coloring.
I could hear him turn away as well. I could picture his scowl.
"Locked away. Until I can decide what to do with him."
"Release him."
"No!"
We face each other again. Our voices are rising and falling. Now they are quiet again.
"Alisyn...I don't know how to resolve this."
Oh, I don't, either. "Give up."
"I can't do that!"
"Why not?"
"Because--" he sighed. Then his cruel smile returned. "Look. It's late. I'll show you to your new rooms. After all, you're my prisoner now. And I believe that means I win the war."
I had nothing to say to this. When he closed the door on me and I was left alone--in my own rooms, I realized--I leaned my forehead against the wall.
What have I done? What did I hope to accomplish?
 LadyAlisyn · Thu Aug 06, 2009 @ 12:07am · 0 Comments |
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