by Lily Thomas
Keylz tried to say something, but Stryme and the other warrior were already taking off. He had no choice but to trail behind.
Elizabeth was still staring at the fairies, when the sound of approaching hooves echoed through the forest. She was so absorbed in watching them, she didn't notice any sound. Not the growling of her stomach, the wind or the leaves blowing past her.
The fairies all gave little cries of alarm, as they sensed the three fire giants drawing near. With a couple flitters of their wings, they disappeared into the tree branches. Yet, they still held Elizabeth's full attention.
Even with the fire giants closing in, they were reluctant to let go of their captivated audience. They held her attention until a hand came out of nowhere and seized her arm in a rough grip. Her eyes focused on the enraged fire giant before her.
Shaking her head clear of the fairies influence Elizabeth felt her heart drop. The fire giants had found her. She had failed yet again to get back to save her people.
Was she to never succeed? Her face scrunched up with misery. Why couldn’t he just let her go so that it was easier for her heart? Every time she was near him she lost her mind. She wanted nothing more than to choose love, but obligation had been bred into her.
Stryme let her arm slip from his grasp. “I apologize, if I’ve harmed you. You gave all of us a scare, when you never returned to the castle.”
“I’m sorry.” She mumbled. She looked up at him and saw the concern in his eyes mixed with displeasure. “You didn't hurt me.” She reassured him.
“You must be half-starved.” Elizabeth turned to see Keylz standing beside them.
He handed her a fur pouch he had untied from his waist, and she opened it eagerly. Her fingers shook from her excitement about having food in her belly again. She looked inside, and her mouth watered instantly.
The bag contained dried meats, and she couldn't restrain herself. She took one, clamped her teeth on it, and yanked off a piece to chew. Her saliva glands had a field day. It felt so good to be eating something. She let her eyelids sink closed, as she enjoyed the flavor of meat rolling over her tongue. It was so much better than those little red berries.
Stryme and Keylz waited patiently for her to finish. With what she had just done, she was surprised they weren't just hauling her back to the giant castle by her hair.
“Thank you.” She said to Keylz, as she handed the almost empty bag back to him.
“Of course.” He moved away to allow them some privacy to talk.
“You shouldn't have left with just a horse. You had no food, Elizabeth. You could have starved, before you even reached another human. It was foolish of you. I would have thought seeing the mountain cats would’ve taught you a lesson.”
“I fully realize the mountains are a perilous place, but it wasn't as if you were leaving me much of a choice.” Elizabeth huffed, as she stood brushing the dirt and grass from her animal skin dress.
“And the fairies?” He raised an eyebrow, his crimson eyes flashed. “I think I’ ve warned you before about them.”
“They haven't done anything to me, now have they.”
“Did you even notice us approaching? Did you notice anything, while you stared at their glittering wings? Like your stomach growling? Or me trying to talk to you?”
“You tried to talk to me?”
He raised both of his eyebrows.
“I see your point.” Elizabeth said, realizing he was right. The faeries had been distracting her from the world around her. A mountain cat could have snuck up on her, and she would never have been the wiser.
“They’re the tricksters of this world. You must not let them distract you or you could be harmed.”
“I understand.” She looked over at where Keylz waited with the other warrior and their horses. “Will you be taking me back to the castle then?”
“You know I will be.” He said matter of fact.
Taking her arm, in a rougher than usual grip, he guided her over to the horse she had taken and lifted her onto the saddle. Then he mounted up onto his own horse, grabbed her reins, and led the way back to the castle.
He said something to his fellow warriors, who left, leaving them to travel back in tense silence.
They traveled at a quick pace. Fire giant warriors would periodically join their group, as the headed back towards the castle. Elizabeth watched, as the number of warriors kept growing. He must have sent an immense search party out to find her, and it felt awful for having run away.
It wasn’t like she was going to give up. She and Sarah would come up with another plan in no time. Elizabeth couldn’t stop, when she had a driving force like Sarah with her.
They rode through the rest of the day and night. Elizabeth almost fell off her horse a couple of times, as she drifted off to sleep, but Stryme was always there to save her.
After the third time, Stryme stopped their party long enough to place her before him on his horse. He wrapped a muscular arm around her waist, and off they went at a break neck pace back to the castle.
She felt so warm and secure in his arms. Heaving a sigh she allowed herself to relax against him. Within seconds a deep sleep drew her eyelids closed and dreamed of a life with him.
Stryme loved having her within his arms, but he felt betrayed she had taken the freedom he had given her and tried to escape.
Why did she seem to think she was the only one who could save her people? Why could none of the other girls take her place? Was there no one in her kingdom who could ensure her peoples’ safety? Alliances through marriages weren’t always sure ways of gaining an ally.
He kissed the top of her head, while she slept. Stryme hugged her a little closer to his chest. He never wanted to let her go.
Elizabeth woke, when they finally arrived in the courtyard of the castle.
“Did I really sleep through the whole journey?” She asked him groggily unable to believe it, but at the same time understanding the drain her trip had taken on her.
Stryme nodded, dismounted, and offered her his hand. She took it gladly.
Lele was standing off to the side glaring at her.
Lele was acting as though Elizabeth hadn’t tried to escape. She and Lele were never going to get along for as long as they lived or for as long as Stryme was interested in keeping her here.
Sarah and Kiyla rushed out of the castle. When Sarah's eyes landed on Elizabeth, they went glazed and her fingers turned white with how hard she was gripping her dress. Kiyla's crimson eyes were just cold.
Sarah came over and hugged Elizabeth. “I’m glad you are safe.” Then in a lower tone, so no one else would hear she said, “How did he catch you again?”
Elizabeth nodded. “I’ll tell you what happened, when we get time alone to speak.” She turned to Stryme. “Do you mind if I retire to your chamber? I’m still exhausted from the journey.”
He gave her a nod of approval.
Elizabeth tugged Sarah along with her to the castle entrance. When she passed Kiyla, she muttered an apology that she was dubious Kiyla even heard. As quickly as they could, they got themselves to Stryme's room.
“What happened?” Sarah burst out as she sat on one of the chairs near the fireplace. Her arms rested against her knees, as she leaned forward waiting for what ever Elizabeth had to say.
“Well, I met some of those fairies again.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes. She was ashamed for being so silly. How many times did Stryme have to warn her before she would believe him about the fairies?
“Fairies?”
Elizabethsat on the bed to face her. “Yes. They’re little flickers of light, until they come close enough to you. Then you can see they are actually little people.”
“What do they have to do with you getting captured? You had a fantastic head start.” Sarah said unable to understand.
“I’m getting to that, but the faeries play a part in how I got myself captured. They ended up mesmerizing me. I don't know for how long exactly, but it was long enough for Stryme to
find me.”
Sarah shook her head, as she frowned. “What a shame. I thought for sure you would make it this time! I’d never have guessed you would need more than a day to escape from your fire giant.”
“He’ll never trust me again. I doubt we’ll ever get another chance like this.”
“We’ll make ourselves a chance then.” Sarah said, no doubt lacing her voice.
Elizabeth looked Sarah in the eyes. “He will probably be watching me more than he already has been. It will mean we won't be able to make ourselves a chance. He will watch me like a hawk.”
“I see.” Sarah looked thoughtful for a moment. “We’ll just have to come up with something.”
Elizabeth shook her head at Sarah and let out a chuckle of laughter. “Please! No more plans! You’ve got me in more trouble than I can handle. Not too mention, I’m getting tired. I got so close, and then it was ripped from me.”
At least, Sarah didn’t seem to blame her for failing this time.
Elizabeth and Sarah spent the rest of the day in Stryme's chamber.
A pit formed in her stomach, when she thought about trying to leave again. She hated how she treated the giants who had trusted her. Kiyla had trusted her to go back to the castle, and now Kiyla could be in trouble with Stryme for not watching her closer.
A groan escaped Elizabeth.
“What are you moaning about now?” Sarah asked from where she was sitting before the hearth.
“I think we’ve stayed up here long enough. They’re all probably down there having dinner, by now. I can't stay up here in this chamber hiding in shame.”
Sarah looked around the room and grumbled. “You’d think he’d want a window in his room. And what do you mean hiding in shame?” Sarah said turning to stare at Elizabeth.
“Come on.” Elizabeth snatched Sarah's hand in her own and dragged her from the room. She didn't want to answer the question, because she knew Sarah would never come to understand her feelings.
She felt shame for betraying every giant who had treated her kindly. This whole place had really grown on her. Elizabeth felt shame for the secret she was still hiding. Her brothers had treated Stryme so badly, and he had no idea. She feared what his reaction would be when she did tell him.
He had been enjoying bed sport with the sister of his captors, and she was sure he wouldn’t be thrilled by that knowledge.
Everyone was already down in the great hall, as Elizabeth had expected.
She felt so awkward entering the room. She could’ve sworn everyone stopped and looked at her. Maybe she was wrong about it, because the volume in the room never changed, and Sarah acted like everything was perfectly fine.
Exhaling Elizabeth forced herself to take quick steps towards her seat at the main wooden table. There was no need to be a chicken. Sure she had got herself caught again, but at least she had tried.
Sarah went to sit with the other young women, probably to tell them Elizabeth had once again failed to get to Sardarn.
“Good evening.” She said quietly to Stryme.
Elizabeth was nervous about how he would act with her now that she had betrayed his trust. She didn’t believe he would lash out, but he might act coldly to her.
Stryme gave her a fleeting look to acknowledge her presence at the table, but he didn't say a word to her.
A tad crestfallen, she took her seat beside him. She toyed with the food she had before her on the table. With a flick of her finger, she had a pea like vegetable flying across her plate.
She finally tore her eyes from the plate of food in front of her only to have her gaze collide with Lele's. There was a smug look all over her face, as though she had somehow won a battle only she knew about.
Elizabeth frowned at her. This woman was starting to drive her crazy.
She didn't know why Lele was acting smug, but she gave Lele her own evil smile. If she was going to be staying here, then she was going to lay down her law. She was a princess, and she wasn’t about to let Lele rule her life.
Stryme nudged her with his elbow, drawing her attention away from Lele.
“I’ve decided to assign a guard to you at all times.” He waited as though he expected her to say something. Maybe he expected a fight over the idea of being always under watch.
Instead, she just nodded her head. “I thought as much. I wouldn't expect you to trust me anymore, but I would like to let you know something.”
She took a deep breath. She needed to get this out there already. Elizabeth needed to tell him the truth and she didn’t know how to bring it up anyways. They were in a public place, and she hoped that meant he wouldn’t want to cause too much of a spectacle.
“The men who inflicted those scars are my brothers.”
He stared at her blankly. It was as if he wasn’t able to process what she had said, but she saw a light enter his eyes the moment he understood what she was talking about.
“I’m glad to hear you understand why I can’t trust you. I’m restricting you to the castle from now on. You won’t be able to go outside the castle walls, even if you have your guard beside you. And there will have to be no more visits to the stables, lest you get some more ideas about escaping.”
It was her turn to stare at him blankly. Why wasn’t he ranting at her? Surely, he would hate her for what her brothers had done to him.
Why wasn’t he questioning her about her brothers? Shouldn’t he be asking why she thought it was them?
“Why is it so important that you keep her here?” Keylz asked in their language. “Why not let her go to Sardarn as she clearly desires?”
Stryme scowled.
“You feel tenderness towards her, don't you.” It wasn't a question, just a statement. “You realize you can't keep her here forever. I doubt she could forgive you, if you keep her from helping her people.”
Keylz sure knew how to bring to light all the worries Stryme had. He wasn't strong enough to let her go though. Even after the news she had just delivered him.
Her brothers.
Now that he knew, he could recognize the similarities between the three of them. She was a dainty female version of her two brothers. He was just too shocked to react. He had to take some time to think this information over. He had memorized their smug faces before blacking out so he could someday get his revenge.
But she was related to them. If he wanted anything from her, he would have to give up his revenge or give her up for his revenge.
“I want to know how she plans on saving her people. They haven't worked together for generations, and now all of a sudden she thinks they will help her?”
She was the only female who needed to get back, and he suspected it meant she needed to marry someone in Sardarn. It was a thought he couldn't dwell on or he might go punch some holes in the castle walls.
“You have yet to ask her?” Keylz seemed a little astonished. “I would’ve thought this might have come up before now.”
“I don't believe she would tell me, even if I asked her.”
Keylz chuckled at him. “You should just ask her and see what she is willing to tell you. She may even tell the truth, if she thinks it will be her only way of getting you to understand and let her go.”
He eyed Elizabeth, out of the corner of his eye. “I will ask her tonight then.” He slapped Keylz on the back. “I keep you around for good advice, don't I?”
Keylz gave a bellow of laughter. “When you listen to me. If she doesn't wish to tell you, you could always asked the other human female. Sarah, I believe her name is. I think she would be the one most willing out of the two to let you in. She wants out of here any way possible.”
Stryme was about to ask Keylz what he thought about her brothers’ involvement in his torture, but decided against it. He still needed to think it over himself, before he got opinions. Stryme needed to figure out what he thought of her being related to his captors.
Stryme escorted Elizabeth to his chamber earlier in the evening. Now they were sitting before the crac
kling fire. She was doing some stitching she had been able to find, and he was cleaning his swords again.
He wanted to hate her, but he found it difficult.
She hadn’t been a part of his pain and embarrassment. If anything he was getting some revenge by taking their sister to bed. He was sure neither of them would have been happy with that knowledge.
“Elizabeth.” He said over the crackle of the fire. “Why do you believe Sardarn will help your people with the rock giants?”
Had his voice pitched a little, when he asked the question?
Pausing in her work Elizabeth looked up at him. She wondered where the question had come from. She thought he hadn’t any more interest in why she was going to Sardarn.
“Well,” she started as she adjusted to the random question and tried to decide what to say to him, “we sent them a letter entailing what we would give them in exchange for their aid against the rock giants.”
“What is your king going to give them?” Stryme looked directly at her.
She shifted uncomfortably. As if sensing he was making her nervous, he focused his eyes back on cleaning his swords. She didn’t know what to tell him, but the truth might be good. After all, she hadn’t tried just telling him the truth.
“He has agreed to combine our kingdoms by blood.”
He took a little while to respond. When he finally did, all he asked was, “How?”
Elizabeth put the sewing down in her lap, so she could give her full attention to Stryme. There was no need to hide the truth from Stryme anymore.
“My father offered my hand in marriage to the prince of Sardarn. I am to unite the two kingdoms by marriage.”
The only sound in the room was the crackling of the fire, as it happily danced over the logs in the hearth.
He stood suddenly and stared down at her. The fire burning in his crimson eyes made a small shudder run through her. Not only was she related to the humans he had hoped to kill one day, but she was also betrothed.