Princess Elara

Princess Elara of Thrmes is 20, King Orin of Thrmes is 48, Prince Varion of Thrmes is 27, King Rein of Kalk is 28. Kalk is to the North

other characters: Rolf is 43.

Chapter 3

Four nights till the Ambush

Elara begins to wake slowly as she hears shuffling and feels Orin climbing into bed and wrapping his arms around her, sighing with exhaustion he buries his face into her neck.

"My dear, you've slept the day away." His voice is soft with slight worry, Elara hearing this sits up rubbing her eyes and looks around.

The chambers are bathed in the warmth of the setting sun, she stretches as Orin gets comfortable in the bed letting go of her.

"I didn't mean to, I just. I couldn't sleep." She explains as she gets out of bed and goes behind the privacy screen, dressing into the same old ridding gear with her woven cloak around her waist and a gown on top of it. "I might go walk Fern around the encampment just to stretch her legs." She makes an excuse as she ties her hair with a blue ribbon, a ride at this hour should clear her head.

"You should have the stable hands do such tasks, its beneath you." He says as he sits up to look at her, she comes out dressed in a long silk gown looking dejected at his reply. He sighs and continues. "I suppose if such things keep you happy then go, but be careful." He smiles seeing her eyes suddenly bright again as she rushes out of the chambers, he slumps back down into the bed exhausted with a headache from the meetings.

Elara rushes out to the kitchen first and grabs a basket and and stops in front of a cook, panting, and excited.

"May I have a basket full of savoury bread, meats, and baklava." She asks like an excited child, she quickly corrects herself holding out the basket and clearing her throat. "Please, fill this with bread, meat, and baklava. Thank you." She says slightly embarrassed.

The old cook nods with a smile, she finds the princesses energy endearing. But the other maids seem to still keep their eyes averted while they help and listen, soon the basket is handed back heavy with food and a bottle of fresh water filtered through the clay water jugs.

"Here my lady..." The cooks voice is warm and soft despite her age, Elara smiles and does a slight bow to the cook.

'She is the first one that's smiled at me, that hasn't looked away.' Her mind lingers on that as she leaves the kitchen and heads to the stables.

At the stables she gets to Ferns stall, lifting her skirts she grabs the hidden cloak and wraps it around her as she walks to the tack room. She doesn't grab a bridle but takes a blanket and her saddle securing it as Fern stands waiting, she ties some extra ropes to the saddle and attaches the basket to Fern and mounts her. Fern seems pent up from being stuck inside a stall all day and happily trots out of the fortress stables, out the gate, and into the encampment.

They trot around the encampment making Fern go in loops while watching the main entrance as its guarded, but with different men from yesterday. Both standing at the entrance facing outwards.

Feeling bold she holds the cloak and rides out as a steady trot, to her surprise the guards don't try stop her. She keeps her steady pace and then as soon she she is out of sight she urges fern into a gallop northwards, she closes her eyes feeling the wind on her as she holds onto the horn of the saddle and Ferns mane. Fern slows and they turn off into the same clearing as yesterday and stops. Elara slips off her gown tossing it into a hollow tree, now only in comfortable ridding gear she holds onto the horn of her saddle as they head north east the twilight dimming the forest as crickets and fire flies float in the grasses between the trees.

Getting deeper into the forest she hears the owls calling and wolves howling in the distance, non of which bother Fern the dusty grey mare carries her rider steady. She once lived in woods like these in a herd of over 50 other horses, each was slowly caught for use in the war. They had her herd, her foals, and left her behind as too old, skittish, small, and stubborn to waste the time on. It wasn't till she found Elara injured alone in the mud that she got close to anyone. She had fallen, and Fern just stood there watching her until the guards found her. Elara felt less alone since that day, she spent years going into those woods leaving piles of food for Fern throughout the winters. Eventually the mare was waiting for her surrounded in the rain forest ferns in the spring.

Since that day Fern had put on much more muscle, her thick snow proof coat was still dusty in complexion but turned a more deep grey. Elara learnt from books and training with stable hands how to handle her and work with her rather than against her, now she was her horse and her closest confidant.

Ferns blackish feathered hooves eat up the ground as the continue north east stopping at a small clearing with a large oak tree at its centre, the clearing is still in Thrmes and far from the border still. Elara scratches her neck as Fern stops to graze, She dismounts and unties her basket bringing it to the oak tree. The sky is clear and its a full moon, the stars shimmer above them, Fern keeps an ear towards her rider as she grazes, the grass here is much sweeter than the cut and dry hay they have for the horses in the stables.

Elara slowly unpacks and starts to eat while leaning against the tree, she watches the stars shimmering as she stares upwards. Closing her eyes she focuses on the sounds, bugs chittering, owls soft distant calls, foxes scratching in the undergrowth, distant sounds of horses make her eyes snap open. She quickly stuffs the uneaten food into the basket and runs to fern who is now trotting to Elara while watching the distant path to the south-east her ears flickering back and forth. She quickly mounts up and ties the basket as she walks fern into the tree line, they stop in the shadows watching as the noises get closer.

The Wounded

Four horses and riders enter the clearing searching slowly, they are dressed in Thrmes colours. Elara breaths a soft sigh of relief, but beneath her Fern stays still tense. They watch as the soldiers seem to ride in a circle around the clearing and then continue on towards the fortress to the west, once they leave the clearing she urges fern back to the path the same one they came from. They head east at a slow walk as she pats Fern, suddenly Fern stops and faces the shrubbery on the side of the path and snorts loudly. Elara looks around, barely able to see in the dark but she can make out the soft breathing of a wounded animal its raspy and wet. She dismounts slowly causing Fern to squeal softly with worry as she keeps herself beside her rider, Elara slowly leans down and looks under the shrubbery. She sees a horse on its side dead, and the shine of its riders armour. She jumps back looking up and down the road quickly, the soldier behind the dead horse seems to curse under his breath at her reaction. Elara freezes and mounts Fern as she hears the men from earlier coming back this way.

'They were looking for him.' That's a fact she knows, she turns Fern to the east and urges her to a slow walk.

She can hear them galloping towards her, she pulls Fern to a halt as they yell something in the distance.

"Halt! State your purpose!" A soldier barks at her, she turns Fern around, wondering if they will recognise her or not.

"I got lost when fetching water, my horse spooked and it took me here. I'm on my way back now sir." She keeps her head down, her hands on Ferns mane as she goes over exactly how angry Orin will be about her being out here at night.

"A girl? Get off the horse." He commands his voice seems to be almost happy now, she feels a wave of dread wash over her as she looks up at them meeting their hungry eyes.

"Okay, oh... I uh... Saw a Kalk soldier riding that way earlier, his horse seemed lame." Elara points not at the bush but to the south, her voice steady as she struggles to stay calm.

"Fuck." The soldier of the patrol mutters and curses and then they all ride past Elara and to the south as the comb through the forest, she watches as the disappear into the darkness in the distance.

She urges Fern to the shrubbery where she hears his faint breaths, dismounting quickly and approaching slowly.

"Do you want help getting to the border?" She offers softly feeling pity for the man under the armour.

Elara hears the faintest rasp of a whimper, she looks around before crawling under the bush. She reaches out and grabs the gauntlet feeling him close his hand on hers, she pulls and he uses his legs to try crawl out grinding his teeth and hissing in pain. Now out in the open Elara quickly points down, a signal for Fern to kneel which she does tense but trusting her rider as Elara tries to help the man up against Fern. His left leg is spewing blood and he seems weak, she can't see any injuries on him under the armour but she helps him at least lie across the saddle. She clicks for Fern to follow and leads her back into the back of the clearing, there she pulls out his dagger from his belt and cuts his armour off. She cuts cloth and leather and tears it to strips she finds the wound a large gash on his calf. She immediately gets to work using her her hair ribbon, and cloth she cuts from his clothes, she packs the wound quickly. As she is stuffing the cloth into the wound he cries out in pain, both Elara and Fern tense. With the man now loose of most of his armour and roughly bandaged she climbs up on fern behind him and urges her to walk as she discards the basket and uses the ropes to tie him to the saddle. As she pulls the knot she hears the galloping in the distance and whispers to Fern.

"Bolt." Fern knows the command and lurches into a full gallop taking any path she chooses as Elara holds onto the man and the saddle, she sits on Ferns flank uncomfortable with each hoof beat but it will have to do.

After a while Fern slows into a canter, her body lathered in sweat as her sides heave each breath, they continue north to the border its still hours away. Reaching a stream she brings Fern to a stop and begins to untie the man doing her best not to drop him. She slips off and pulls him down into the soft ground, he winces and groans in pain. Elara starts to cut more of his armour off removing the plating and finally the helm, he looks at her glaring but helpless.

"You're too heavy, I need to take it off." She whispers to explain then turns to his leg and cuts cloth from his tunic and adds it as another layer of wrap.

She leans over to the stream and cups water in her hands and brings it to his lips, he drinks slowly and then winces. Elara does the same for herself and commands Fern to lie down next to them hoping to stay hidden. after Ferns breathing has steadied, she slowly pulls him onto fern over her flank sitting up. She uses the ropes to try give him a way to hold onto the saddles horn as she urges fern to stand slowly and climbs into the saddle in front of him, he hisses as she brushes against his leg and chest. She Urges fern forward into a canter north following the stream, His breathing seems to be getting more laboured by the second. Looking ahead she can see the mountains looming as they near the border. The land seems to be more sloped here as they go uphill, she leans forward praying he does not fall back and off Fern.

As they get into the snow and pine forest they don't see anyone around, Elara shivers against the cold. Soon in the distance they see the ruins of a mill, the wheel in the frozen stream. She urges Fern to it, the stone water mill is in ruins but its sheltered enough for them for now. As Fern stops just before the door way Elara quickly slips off Fern and commands her to lie down, the man slumps forward against ferns neck. Elara rushes into the mill, its a barren dusty mess inside barely illuminated by the moon through the cracks in the stones. She sees an old ruined pelt, thinking quickly she drags it to ferns side. Slowly she pulls the man onto the fur and does her best to drag him inside, after struggling and pulling she finally has him in the shelter and kneels beside him. Checking him for injuries she lifts and pulls at his clothes, she sees the bruising on his ribs and the leg has finally stopped bleeding. She wraps him in the pelt and puts her own cloak on top of him.

She sits in a corner staring, what is she supposed to do? does she leave and hope someone finds him? or does she just, let him die? She stays there and curls up watching his breathing, waiting for it to steady or stop.

The Knight

She wakes after an hour suddenly as a Kalk knight stands over her his head turned to the man laying in the corner, he is still breathing but raspy.

"HERE! Get a healer." One of the knights from the clearing that day looks down at Elara, a few other soldiers walk in behind him and start to tend to the wounded soldier. "Girl! you better have a decent explanation." His tone is commanding but not angry.

"I... I found him..." Elara goes to stand but the knight puts the tip of his blade up near her throat and she freezes.

"Stay." His voice is firm, Elara slumps down and into the wall behind her. "Explain from the floor."

"I found him and brought him here." She glares at the knight, he lowers his weapon slightly. "His horse was dead, he was in Thrmes." She explains her voice slow and quiet with exhaustion.

He just huffs and nods to his men. The man is carried out by two other soldiers of equal size, he groans in pain, alive at least. The knight straightens and sheaths his sword as the main Knight from the clearing enters, the crest on his red cloak and his left hand on the pommel of his sword.

"Report." He asks the other knight as his gaze stays on Elara.

"The girl claims she found Thoren in Thrmes injured with a dead horse, and brought him here." His tone is flat critical of what rumours he is believing or not, as he motions to Fern who stands outside with Thorens blood on her flank.

The main knight looks over and nods then gazes down at Elara on the floor still, she stays curled up cold and staring at her hands covered in dried blood.

"Bold..." He mutters as he looks from Elara to Fern and down towards Elara again. "Your name girl?"

Elara looks up at him for a moment with a slight glare trying to keep a brave face.

"Fern." She says with anxious annoyance as she looks up at him.

"Thank you Fern, Thoren would be dead by now if not for you." He bows slightly his voice genuine and soft, he motions for the doorway. "I can escort you to the border if you would like? It'll be the least I can do." His offer sounds genuine in her ears, but the stories she's heard of kalk knights make her hesitant.

She stands up and nods slowly, she looks at him but she can't see anything under that helm other than the shine of his eyes on her. He turns to the door leading her and the other knight out into the night, the snow crunches beneath them as they move and mount their own horses. A few have already left on their horses carrying Thoren else where, but roughly twenty of them still remain mounted up and looking towards the tree line. Elara mounts Fern carefully and sore, she pats the mare and leans against her mane for a moment exhausted and anxious. Two of the mounted soldiers go ahead and Elara follows as the rest join, she can feel their eyes on her. The head Knight watches her curious, and brings his horse ahead beside hers while the others follow them.

"What brings you out at such an hour Fern?" He puts an effort to make his voice sound more soft and less threatening.

Fern raises her head her ears flicking in response to her name as Elara looks up at him, she pushes on the mares name praying he wont tell that Fern is the name of her horse.

"I just... Was just roaming, and saw a Thrmes patrol was looking for someone..." She explains quietly.

"Roaming by the border during a war is dangerous." His voice is gentle but warning, he goes on speaking more clearly. "Tell me about this mare, she must be incredibly strong to carry the both of you." He motions towards Fern as he speaks, his tone casual and less of a commanding Knight and just a man. his sudden hand movement towards Fern is met with pinning ears and snorting.

"She was wild, from west Thrmes. She's aggressive..." Elara pats Fern as she makes an effort to not say Ferns name, after all she told them it was her name, a weak lie but she absolutely cant not introduce herself as Elara... "And you, how did you find us?" She looks up at him, he straightens his posture.

"My men patrol the border every few hours, not much goes unnoticed." His voice goes back to that commanding knight, looking down at her he clears his throat and speaks more softly. "I enjoyed the baklava you brought, did you make it yourself?" He asks softly his head still facing forward but his eyes solely on her as they ride.

"No. There was some in the kitchens, I just grabbed it." Elara thinks saying that makes more sense, then realises there's not many places within a day or two ride that have a 'kitchen' that would have such expensive things other than the fortress. She keeps calm and focused as she thinks of her next excuses.

"I suppose you work at the fortress in Thrmes yes?" His tone is both kind and critical as he listens for any tell in her voice, as he expects her to lie.

"Yes, But I'm just a servant." She says softly trying to focus on being genuine and calm, but a servant wouldn't be calm at this moment so she relaxes the facade a bit. "Are you going to imprison me?"

"No. Kalk is at war with the Royals of Thrmes and their armies, not the servants." His tone is soft and gentle as he tries to make his point known. "I only harm those who plot and bear arms against us, not a girl who returned a horse and saved one of my men from her own." His voice is soft with a hint of admiration.

She lets the silence settle as she thinks over what he said, his posture, his tone, its all frightening to her but he seems so gentle and sincere...

"I'm sure you've heard stories of Kalk, our ways, our fights, some lies, some truth. We are brutal, but there are things we will not do and do not agree with that Thrmes does." He pauses his tone still calm and gentle. "Tell me what have you heard of us?"

"That your king burned Thrmes knights alive for entertainment..." Elara says it softly afraid to anger him, he chuckles softly shaking his head and then nods.

"Yes, we did, but we had reason." His tone turns more calculating with pride dripping from his words. "Those knights led a raid on a small farming village just west of here. They killed children, women, elderly. Their men boasted about harming the innocent in that village. That was the reason." His says firmly. "What else have you been lied to about?" he softens his tone.

"Not exactly a lie then." She whispers, and he gives a slow nod. "That your king beat a man to death with his bare hands?" She states a little braver now sitting up straight, He scoffs.

"Yes, he did. But that man was a traitor and one of Thrmes filth." He curses softly.

Elara winces a little and looks out to the tree line, He sees this and clears his throat and speaking softer and slower this time.

"I have heard many rumours about that Thrmes fortress and the things Thrmes have done, Torture, rape, abuse of power." He looks at her without turning his head testing to see her reaction. "They even used the offer of a truce and negotiations to try lure the King of Kalk out to kill him."

"What? What rumours?" She asks genuinely confused

"We've heard that Orin and Varion have imprisoned many Kalk women, torturing them before killing them." His voice is grave and quiet. "You should be careful about roaming around, it's rumoured the Thrmes patrols do not care if the people they run into are Kalk or Thrmes, that they kill the local farmers for sport." He continues and straightens his posture staring ahead. "And the battle of Mt. Raven rock..." He explains calmly restraining his disgust at their names. "Orin promised his daughters hand in marriage in exchange for the end of the war, a marital alliance. When we got to Raven rock, Varion and his men were waiting and tried to slaughter us all. True cowards." He curses under his breath.

Princess Elara Ch. 03

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