Falling for Him

by EmeLie Jackson

  ""Why? Ye think she cares wha' 'appens to 'im? Nah, we keep 'em both around and make 'im watch his fiery woman break!"" the men guffawed.

  My breathing came in ragged gasps now in between Jon's fingers.

  ""Don't listen,"" Jon whispered.

  I tried to focus on the even beats of his heart, but it was drown out by the angry stomping of hooves and the raucous talking.

  ""Well, all sounds fun and dandy, but first we gotta find them ye bastards!"" black beard growled.

  ""Follow the creek, he's smart and he'll go into safe territory.

  If we don't find em, take as many guests as ye want!"" with the command, the horses plummeted onward and away from us.

  Jon stiffened.

  We waited in silence for half an hour before he relaxed.

  ""Jon?"" I croaked, his hand gone from my mouth.

  ""Yes?"" he whispered.

  ""Will you please explain this all to me?"" I was frustrated at my lack of knowledge, and scared and cold and hungry.

  He pulled my legs up, cradling me close to him.

  I was thankful for the warmth, as I was sure he was.

  ""Ehh, well I don't really feel comfortable, ye see""¦"" he trailed off.

  I was tired of his hesitant attitude.

  ""I don't care anymore if you're comfortable or not.

  I deserve to know.

  "" I growled, finally angry enough to speak my mind.

  I crossed my arms in defiance.

  He sighed heavily.

  ""I've run into those men many times, killed a few of their friends.

  They are all exiled from Mount Tier, and their shaved heads mark them as murderers, rapists.

  They are evil.

  "" He whispered into the dark.

  I had a hunch I knew what they intended to do with me, and it made my empty stomach churn at the thought.

  He sighed angrily now, obviously seeing images in his mind he'd rather forget.

  ""They wouldn't just force ye to do things, they wouldn't just take your innocence.

  They'd torture you.

  Like the twins they mentioned.

  Of course they raped them, but they do other vile things, turned them against each other, forced them to kill one another.

  For their entertainment.

  "" he growled.

  ""Sorry,"" he muttered, apparently embarrassed at his unusual candor.

  ""Why? I should be apologizing for getting us in this mess and-"" before I could fully show my appreciation, though, his hand was back over my mouth, and I heard the unmistakable scream of a girl.

  "

  "Chapter 7

  My entire body shook, and I was worried that we would be rooted out of our hiding spot because the chattering of my teeth.

  Jon's muscles were tense.

  I closed my eyes, pinching them shut against the never ending darkness, but it didn't drown out the noise.

  I could tell he was in agony, unable to do anything but sit quietly and endure.

  I focused on the beating of his heart again, which had become a bit more rapid.

  The screams were mingled with deep laughter.

  I felt as though it would never end, like my descent from the Mountain.

  But I had learned that all things eventually end.

  After what felt like eternity and then some, all became quiet, save for the loud snores.

  I wondered if we would try and escape now, or if that were still impossible.

  I found I wasn't so afraid for myself anymore, but instead I was afraid for Jon.

  I imagined someone hurting my siblings, and the pain of watching that would be unendurable.

  I found it surprising how quickly I'd come to care for Jon.

  This notion made me uneasy.

  Was it right for me to develop an attachment to someone I hardly knew? Especially since I still held some hope that I'd one day be reunited with my family? Yet what other choice did I have at the present?Sometime during my fitful musing, I dozed off into a light sleep.

  Jon shifted suddenly, waking me.

  The early dawn began to creep into the cave, flooding it with orange light.

  I exhaled in relief that the sun had decided to rise another day.

  I began to worry that the cover of darkness would soon be gone, though.

  As the light crept farther in, Jon, too, became more restless.

  Almost as if he were waiting for something or someone.

  In a rush, I heard the thundering of hooves""”enough to make the ground quake.

  My heart leapt into my throat.

  Jon sat up, pulling me to the entrance of the cave quickly.

  I resisted, not wanting to be seen.

  Shouts and angry curses erupted from the group of sleeping men.

  Jon was obviously taking in the sight before him, and I plucked up my courage and peeked around him into the morning light.

  Taking in the chaotic scene before me was overwhelming.

  I counted twenty horses, with only one saddle empty.

  Angus.

  Jon rushed past me and into the fray, his sword glinting in the bright rays of sunlight that streamed through the tree limbs.

  I reached after him, only clutching at empty air.

  I fingered the small knife in my boot, hidden there at his suggestion.

  Would I need it? I focused solely on Jon, everything around him a complete blur.

  He fought as though it were effortless.

  Swords clanged against one another over and over, the metallic sound grating at my ears.

  My widened eyes ceased to blink, even when Jon's sword would sink into flesh as easy as one would bite into a ripe peach.

  Shouts, screams of utter agony, moans, pleas and cries echoed in my ears while images of brutalized bodies and blood and pale lifeless forms littered my sight.

  All was now quiet.

  My eyes snapped tightly shut, willing my brain to not accept what it had witnessed.

  ""Burn them.

  "" an unrecognizable, breathless voice spoke from far off.

  ""And take the girls back for a proper burial.

  "" My eyes unwillingly sprang back open, only to rest on the angelic faces of two girls, not much younger than myself.

  The sources of the screams from the night before stared back at me with dead, blue eyes.

  Everyone began to move at this command.

  Jon kept his eyes down, helping to move the bodies into a heap.

  His once white shirt was stained and ripped beyond repair.

  I could fix that, I thought rather irrationally, considering what I'd just witnessed.

  Jon pulled away from the group, silently sneaking over to our cave.

  Who were all these men?""We have to go.

  "" he muttered hastily.

  I snapped myself out of my trance, wringing my hands together.

  I followed silently, unsure of what to say.

  Angus stamped his front hoof and threw his head as we approached.

  Jon helped me settle into the saddle, jumping up behind me.

  I continued to stare at the bodies.

  A brown horse trotted in front of us, interrupting my line of sight.

  ""Who's this?"" a deep voice asked.

  I glanced up.

  A man, a bit older than Jon, peered curiously down at me.

  I looked away, my hair becoming a curtain between us.

  ""None of your concern.

  "" Jon bit back bitterly.

  Angus swayed beneath us.

  ""It is my concern if I sent twenty of my men here to save you, losing two of Raga's daughters in the process.

  "" his voice was even, lacking emotion.

  I chanced another look at him.

  His black hair was cropped short, his nose straight and pointed.

  He sat with his broad shoulders squared.

  I squinted at him, and his dark eyes flashed to me.

  Jon's eyes.

  ""You're
coming with us.

  "" he said, turning his horse to lead us away.

  ""That doesn't mean I'm staying.

  "" Jon said rather defensively.

  He stopped, now glaring openly at the both of us.

  ""No, but you will entertain me with the tale of how you came across the heiress to Mount Tier.

  "" I was shocked at the realization that he meant Me.

  How could he know I was the princess? And what did my rank and status mean out here? He turned and trotted away.

  Jon urged Angus forward.

  ""Jon, I-"" I began to whisper.

  ""Shh.

  "" he commanded.

  I had the feeling we were headed into dangerous territory.

  Not an immediate physical danger like the fight that had ensued before my eyes just moments before, but a quiet danger that required more wit than brawn.

  "

  "Chapter 8

  We rode for a while, the area becoming less and less forested and more flat.

  The day had turned rather dark and cold; it matched everyone's mood.

  Jon, although right behind me, felt as distant as ever.

  The girls' bodies were covered in blankets and draped across a white horse's back.

  A hand hung limply from under the thick checkered quilt.

  I bit my tongue to keep tears from falling, my vision suddenly blurry.

  All the men were quiet, but their eyes kept flashing to me with great curiosity.

  None looked as though they held any hostility towards me, which I took as a good sign.

  Eventually, I could see smoke rising in the distance.

  The last of the tree limbs gave way to a large, open area.

  We passed beneath logs that formed an archway, what looked to be the skull of some animal in the middle.

  I knew better than to ask Jon what it meant at the moment.

  I didn't quite know what to make of any of it.

  There were structures made of tough fabric, and others that were made of stone on the bottom and wood on the top.

  There were little fires all around, and people came out of the structures to peer curiously at our arrival.

  The women all wore skirts in dirty white or colors that matched the earth, and their hair was either wild and flowing free or braided down their backs.

  Their faces were closed off as they stared at me.

  Some glared, and one old gray-haired woman bared her teeth at me as we made our way past, into the middle of the area.

  An earsplitting shriek made me jump, and a woman ran towards the horse carrying the dead girls.

  She grasped at their lifeless hands, unable to contain her sobs.

  A stern looking man came up behind her, attempting to console her.

  She turned and sobbed into his shoulder.

  His face remained stoic.

  I hadn't noticed that we had stopped moving.

  Jon slid down, helping me after him.

  The man who had eyes like Jon's thrust his head towards the largest structure, and we followed him to it.

  This one was mostly made out of stone, from what I could gather.

  It was massive; as tall as it was long.

  It was the only thing I'd seen that somewhat resembled my home.

  Smoke rose steadily from a long rectangle at the top.

  The door before us was wide; dark grained wood that had obviously weathered a few storms.

  Strange, circular symbols were embossed above the door, almost hidden to the weary eye.

  Before we entered, I felt my first ever rain drop on my cheek.

  I peered up at the sky.

  I didn't know whether these people believed it was a good or bad omen.

  It only snowed on the mountain, and always below us.

  Inside was dark but warm, my eyes adjusting to the lowlight.

  We followed silently down a narrow stone hall adorned with torches every few feet.

  My heart ached.

  Home, I thought.

  There were many noises bouncing off the walls, voices and clanging of metal and thuds.

  Whatever this place was, it was busy.

  We came to two more double doors that stood open, exposing a grand room lit by a massive fire at one end.

  There were long tables with benches, and at the head of the room, a short table facing the rest with fewer chairs.

  It was raised above everything else.

  A silent symbol of status.

  We were led through this room, to the right and back through even more doors, the smallest I'd seen yet.

  Eventually, after three flights of stairs, we were in a small room, the high windows open to the stormy day.

  There was some sort of large, furry animal on the floor, acting as a rug.

  Perhaps it was a bear.

  A fire roared in the corner, the room too stuffy for my liking.

  Strange paintings lined the walls, along with decrepit books.

  ""So,"" the man sat at a desk, not unlike my father's, and commanded our attention.

  He motioned for us to sit in the two chairs opposite him as he pushed papers out of his way.

  It was strange to sit in a chair after my time in the forest.

  I obeyed, while Jon just crossed his arms defiantly.

  ""What do you want, Thran?"" he growled.

  This man, Thran's eyes narrowed the slightest bit.

  ""I want to know the story of this""”"" he motioned to me, ""brother.

  "" Thran stared levelly at him.

  I glanced up at Jon.

  They were brothers.

  ""I found her in a pile of rocks at the bottom of the Mountain.

  She doesn't remember how she got there.

  I took her in, call it compassion or stupidity.

  End of story.

  "" I felt uneasy at Jon's lie.

  ""Is this true?"" Thran asked me.

  My eyes widened and my heart thumped as he addressed me so directly.

  It wasn't done that way in the Mountain.

  Women were to keep quiet.

  I looked at Jon, then back at Thran.

  I nodded slowly.

  He didn't seem to believe me.

  ""What's your name?"" he questioned.

  ""Elise.

  "" I muttered, wringing my hands together nervously in my lap as I bit my lip.

  Thran stared at me, and I could feel his mind working hard as he did so.

  I decided I didn't like him.

  ""You can have the tent farthest to the south.

  You'll be left alone there, I assure you.

  "" he said, obviously releasing us.

  Jon grabbed my arm gently, tugging me up.

  We made our way back outside into the cold and to Angus.

  Jon grasped the reigns and lead him towards a long structure.

  ""Stable.

  "" he muttered before I could ask.

  I closed my mouth and nodded.

  I followed and watched as he stripped Angus down and turned him loose into a fenced area with other horses.

  He left the saddle in the stable, but carried everything else back to this tent.

  It was quite a ways from everything else, and I was thankful we were away from all the stares.

  If my pale, freckled skin and bright red hair wasn't enough to mark me as different, then my demeanor would quickly let people know I was an outcast.

  He held the fabric open, and I crouched to make my way inside.

  It was much more spacious than it appeared, and the floor was covered in soft furs and raised off the ground on a sort of wooden platform.

  There was even an area for a fire and a large bed like mine at home.

  I smiled slightly at the welcome luxury, looking to Jon.

  My smile faded when I saw his expression.

  ""What is it?"" I asked quietly.

  ""Not right now, Elise.

  I just want to sleep.

  "" I was sort of stung by his a
nswer.

  He dragged his hands across his face and sat on the floor to peel off his boots.

  ""Take the bed and go to sleep.

  "" he said as he broke kindling and began making a fire.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and watched him.

  He fell back, laying close to the fire, clearly exhausted.

  My mind was too busy with thoughts to want to sleep.

  I took off my boots and pulled the blanket around my shoulders.

  Before I knew it, I, too had fallen asleep.

  I awoke sometime later to Jon shuffling around.

  I felt I had only been asleep for a few minutes, but I could tell it was darker outside.

  There was a strange sound of something hitting the tent.

  My brow furrowed and I sat up, rubbing my eyes.

  Jon didn't seem worried about the noise.

  ""Here,"" he tossed me a heavy piece of clothing.

  ""It's raining.

  "" ""Where are we going?"" I questioned, putting my arms through the holes.

  The coat was heavier and sturdier than any I'd ever worn before.

  ""To the mess hall for dinner.

  "" he pulled on his boots and put his own coat on.

  He held open the tent door, and I peered out.

  The landscape had drastically changed since I'd been asleep.

  The clouds were dark and ominous, and rain beat down onto the ground harder than I thought it ever could.

  The water mixed with the dirt and stuck to everything.

  People were rushing towards the large stone building, holding their coats above their heads to keep the rain from hitting them.

  I stuck my hand out, letting the water bounce off my skin.

  It didn't hurt.

  Jon nudged me, and I moved out.

  I didn't bother to cover my head, but instead stared up at the sky.

  It was much colder than I thought it would be.

  ""Hurry,"" he grabbed my elbow and steered me in the right direction.

  As closed off as he'd been since we arrived, his voice seemed a bit lighter now.

  My boots made a funny noise as we ran along, nearly getting stuck in the sticky substance.

  Once we entered, I was almost soaked through and freezing.

  I didn't know how I felt about rain just yet.

  I was thankful for the warmth in the long space.

  It was loud, people yelling and dishes banging.

  There was lots of laughter.

  My eyes wandered up to Thran, sitting in the middle chair at the table facing the rest of the crowd.