A forbidden love

Chapter 14: Time to wake up

The man on the platform waited for the eagerly anticipating audience to quiet down. It didn't take long for them to realize his wishes, he always licked to have our full attention before proceeding further with any matters. He paced around Aanan, pocking and prodding at him in various places, the audience was so quiet his grunts were audible from across the massive amphitheatre as the man touched his battered body. I winced at the thought of the pain Aanan was going through, I couldn't even imagine half the pain he must have been feeling.

Once the man was standing once again behind Aanan, he steadily turned towards my mother, sister and I waiting for the last signal. My mother must have sensed my anxiety, because in the corner of my eye, I saw her nodding towards the man answering him in my steed. This was it. Whipping back to face Aanan, he lifted the rope high above his head and hastily brought it down to the ground, making an icy sound that echoed through the arena. My heart began to race, I don't know what for, I barley knew this prince, so why did I care so much for him already?

For the second time he lifted his hand high reaching towards the heavens. This time he wasn't going to miss. He swung his arm down with great force as the tip of the whip graced the skin on Aanan's back causing the audience the erupt in excitement. I subconsciously sucked air through my teeth, hissing at the sight. I watched as Aanan stumbled on his feet, the chains tightly tugged at his wrists sustaining the distance between him and the ground so that he couldn't fall to his knees.

A grunt left his lips as he staggered to get back on his feet. Already there was a large red mark stretching across his back where the whip had grazed his skin. The man brought the lash back up above his head for a second round, the rope gleamed in the sunlight. Bringing it back down the sound it made against Aanan's back caused for the audience to burst into a ruckus for a second time. He hit Aanan again, and then another time until his wounds started giving way and blood trickled down his back. I winced every time the whip hit Aanan's skin, making him struggle against the chains to find any position possible to make the impact less painful.

The man then suddenly stopped to take a breath, he stood still marvelling at his blood-stained work. Relief rushed through my body as Aanan was finally given a moment to rest. The man then dropped the whip to turn around and dig through his bag once more. "What's he doing?" Evelyn questioned my mother. "The torturer has come up with new whips to lash the prisoners with. He said it's been very effective during questioning. Even the strongest of men are bound to break."

I turned back the arena where the man pulled out another whip, with a shimmering metal object on the tip it of the rope. "Mother, what is that?"

"That's a small iron blade. It has been used during sever cases of torture when a prisoner was punished for terrible crimes."

Just when I thought things were going to get better from here on out. The man turned back to Aanan, touching his wounds making him wince at the pain. He bent over to whisper something in Aanan's ear and then came back up into a readying position to presume with the flogging. This has to stop. Stop! I tried to say it out loud, but the words didn't seem to leave my mouth. I was frozen in place, I couldn't move.

He lifted his arm, and with swift speed he brought the whip down against Aanan's back once more, causing him to cry out in pain. The blade on the tip of the whip slashed threw his skin, over and over again as blood rushed out of his body like a fountain. Stop. The ruckus surrounding me seemed to blur out as the only thing I could think about was whether Aanan would survive or not. He continued to cry out in agony as the whip beat him, tearing at his flesh. Stop, Stop! He could barely stand, tugging at the chains around his wrists for support, coughing up blood in the process.

"Stop," Somehow, I managed to muster a word, the only word I could think of that played on repeat in my head. It must have been barely audible since no one turned in response to my protests. "Aah!" I heard Aanan's cries and something in me just snapped, "stop." I said it louder, "did you say something dear?" my mother questioned. "Y-yes, stop this."

"What was that? Arya, speak up, I can barely hear you." I felt hot tears streaming down my cheeks, "Arya, whatever is the matter?" I turned to my mother in desperation, "Mother, stop this!" The sound of the whip making brutal contact with Aanan's skin rang in my ears like a painful cry, and his protests begged me to make everything stop. My hands clenched into fists as I became agitated and could barely stay still in my seat. "Stop it, stop it!"

"Arya control yourself!" My mother grabbed my hands cupping them into her own trying to calm me down. "N-no no, no I will not. Stop it mother!" I began sobbing uncontrollably as my very body began to fail me, with every lash Aanan took to the back I felt a sudden pain rush up my spine. Gasping for air, I staggered to my feet, it must have something to do with the fact that we're soulmates, I can feel his pain. "Arya! Get back here."

Before I knew it my feet were carrying me in the direction of the main staircase that led directly to the entrance of the arena. The pain surging through my spine became more and more agonising the closer I got to the arena. I grabbed on a railing to stop myself from falling gasping for air. "Stop!" No one was listening. The audience grew louder and louder, and soon I felt small and insignificant. No one can hear you. Faintly I could hear someone shouting in the distance, "get the princess!" I turned around and found two guards running towards me.

I had to make a run for it, I sprinted into the arena. Heading straight for the platform, I ran as fast as my legs could take me, in protest of every muscle in my back that said to do otherwise. "Stop!" I kept yelling, begging the man to stop hurting Aanan, but he wouldn't listen. Once I reached the platform right in the centre of the amphitheatre, I sprinted up the stairs and made a run to protect Aanan from the next lash that made its way. "Arya!" I wasn't sure who it was who called my name, I just know I heard it.

Everything happened so fast. I grabbed hold of Aanan from behind to shield him from the next blow. "I said stop!" I screamed, finally letting out my heartfelt cries. Immediately, I felt a sudden gush of excruciating pain that hit me from behind, followed by another sensation of electricity surging through my body and warms tingles all at once. I saw a bright light that engulfed the whole of the arena, and then my vision began to blur. All at once my energy seemed to have left my body, and I fell limp to the floor barely able to keep my eyes open.

Looking down at me were several worried faces, my mother, Evelyn, Soren, Aanan and the wretched man who caused all of this. I'll make you burn for this. I struggled to catch my breath as I choked on a thick, warm, metallic substance that boiled in my throat. Arya! Get help, we need help! I heard several voices above me melting together as one as I struggled to stay focused on one thing. She can't breathe! I felt my myself being lifted off the ground as a strong pair of arms wrapped around my limp body. ...rything's going to be ok love, just focus on my voi...

Someone was saying something to me, but I couldn't quit figure out what it was. We're losing her, get the royal physician! Stay with me Arya. In the background I heard a very familiar voice, so clear and soothing, what's happening? Help her! Aanan, I could hear the pain and worry in his voice. That was the last thing I heard before I was knocked out cold.

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We're not entirely sure what happened. We've never seen this type of ancient magic used before. Something prevented the whip from touching her, somehow, she was left completely unscathed. However, we've noticed some change in her connection to the magic in our forests.

What are you saying? She's connected to the magic of the forest?

Precisely your majesty, the surge must have awoken a dormant part of her magic, making her much more powerful than our most highly trained sorcerers. She's been touched by mother nature herself; this must be a sign!

Thank you, you may leave, I'll call for you if need be.

How does she fair mother?

The physicians say she's stable, but they're not sure what exactly happened that day.

Could they tell you anything about the mark?

No, but they think the surge somehow strengthened her connection to our ancient magic, I think that may be the cause of the mark. How's Soren doing?

I barely see him. He's been down there with the fae since the incident.

He hasn't touched the fae has he?

No, the two guards I've placed in the dungeon have kept an eye on him so that he doesn't do anything stupid until Arya wakes up.

Good.

There was movement in the room I was in, and I heard a door opening and closing. It was suddenly quiet, no one was here.

Wake up Arya, it's been days. Its time to snap out of it!

I thought I was alone. I tried to move, tried to open my eyes to see where this voice was coming from. I struggled against myself, trying to force myself to move, but I couldn't.

Arya, I know you hear me, wake up!

I was trying, but I didn't know what was happening. Panic started boiling in the pit of my stomach as I forced my body to do something, anything, but it was like I was there, but not there. I had no control of my body.

You have to try harder, get a hold of yourself! Wake. Up.

'I'm trying!'

It felt like I was yelling at myself, at someone who wasn't even there, but I heard it, someone calling out to me. Someone was telling me to wake up.

'Who are you?'

Suddenly my body felt light, like I was floating. I opened my eyes and was greeted by nothing but darkness.

It's time to wake up my dear.

The voiced echoed in my ears. In a distance I saw a faint figure making its way towards me. The closer it got to me, the more I could see what I was looking at. A young, beautiful woman. Her golden hair flowed down her body like a waterfall, caressing her hips. Her eyes were a deep emerald green that somehow captivated me. Once she stood in front of me, she placed her warm hands on my cheeks and said it again.

It's time to wake up.

'Who are you?'

I am whoever you want me to be, the birds you see in the sky, the forest you played in as a child, or the air that fills your lungs. I am the mother you claim to have abandoned you, or the mother you believe to have nurtured you, I am whatever you want me to be.

The woman gave me a mysterious smile, and then gently touched me on the nose.

Now wake up child.

Looking around me I was suddenly drowning, surrounded by water. Struggling for air I did the only thing I could, I swam up. Up above me was a dark night sky, and a bright crescent moon that illuminated the way. It got bigger the closer I got to the surface of the water, and as my head breached the surface, I found myself once again in my bedroom. I was finally awake, panting, gasping for air.