Love through time and Dimentions

Chapter 4

The morning of the ambush

"She has not woken up? Why has she not woken up? Ælfnoð i need answers now." Ælfnoð dipped the rag in the water and placed it on Liliana's forehead. "I am not sure, Sire, her fever is really bad and she exerted herself a little too much. I think her body was not ready for all that happened yesterday." Eirik paced around his tent worried. ""Your highness pacing around like that is not going to help her pass me that bowl of broth." Eirik paced the bowl of broth to Ælfnoð. Ælfnoð began to spoon the broth into the girl's mouth, giving her time to swallow.

"I know it's just I have this funny feeling that something bad is going to happen tonight. Ælfnoð I need you to promise me something." Ælfnoð paused and looked at the prince. "Anything, sire." Eirik stopped and looked at his friend. "If anything does happen, I want you to grab your horse and get Liliana to safety. She is the priority." Ælfnoð clenched his teeth, not liking the idea of leaving the heir to the throne behind for some strange girl, but he just nodded. There was no arguing with him. Ælfnoð went back to his task and soon the bowl was empty. Ælfnoð stood up and made his way to his friend. He placed his hand on his shoulder. "She is going to be fine. Once we get her to the castle, a healer can tend to her better than I can and she will be good as new."

Eirik let out a breath that he did not know he was holding and just nodded. Ælfnoð left the tent and Eirik went to sit next to Liliana and held her hand. "Oh great creator please, please, please, keep her safe. I don't know of what importance she is, but something is telling me that she is."

~That night~

Eirik had been in and out of his tent all day. He was trying to distract himself from Liliana. He had only just met her and yet he was so worried about her. He had never felt this way about any of the other women in his court. Well, maybe one, but she had no interest in him at all. He had come back in for the final time when he noticed her tossing and turning as if she was in some nightmare. He rushed over to the cot and she seemed to be moaning. He removed the now dry rag from her forehead and placed it back in the bowl and began to remove it to place it back when , suddenly, a horn sounded and there was shout outside. "It's an ambush."

Eirik ran to the entrance of the tent. Aldric's men had come running into the camp brandishing swords and torches. He managed to close the tent and back away. Eirik began to grab his armor and sword when suddenly Liliana sat up with a start and looked around the tent to get her bearings. He watched as she began to make her way to the entrance of the tent. I followed, worried about what she was going to do. When she saw the fighting she had started to back up. Eirik quickly got behind her and clamped his had over her mouth so she would not scream. She began to struggle. "Shhhh, It's me Eirik." He said and let go when she finally stopped.

"What is going on?" She said in a whisper. "Aldrics men. They ambushed us. I need to get you out of here. You were out for two days and you still have a fever. It's not safe for you." Eirik picked Liliana up bridal style, Liliana protesting the entire time, and ran out of the tent dodging swords and arrows. "Ælfnoð get her out of here." Ælfnoð came riding on a brown and white skewbald horse. Eirik passed Liliana up to him and he was about to walk away when Liliana grabbed his hand. "Don't leave me please." Eirik pulled his hand away from hers and began to walk away. "I will be right behind you." He says with a smile as he draws his sword and joins the fight. He had no time to watch as the two figures disappeared into the night. He had already begun to engage with one of Aldric's men.

~Beyond Emerwood forest~

Ælfnoð and Liliana had been riding for hours in complete silence. Suddenly Ælfnoð spoke up. "He made me promise that I would get you to safety." Liliana took a shaky breath. "We should have stayed. What if he is injured or worse?" Ælfnoð chuckled a little bit. "I doubt it. His.... Lord Eirik is a highly trained warrior. It will take much more than a small ambush to bring him down." Liliana looked up slightly when Ælfnoð had said the word his only to look back down thinking nothing of it. "Miss, we will stop in a few hours. We need to go a little father. I know that you may not be feeling well, but you must hang on." Liliana nodded. "Once we get to the kingdom, I will have a healer tend to you."

Liliana smiled. "Thank you. I know you don't like me well, more like don't trust me and yet you have been treating me and now this. I know you promised Eirik and you are not doing it for me, but it still means a lot." Ælfnoð was a little shocked by her words, but then a smile crept on to his face. "Your welcome." Then everything became quiet once more.

A few hours later, they came to a small village. The sun had started to rise and it brought color to the sky. It started off pink, then a bit of purple and finally yellow. It was magical. Liliana's eyes lit up with joy and awe. A few minutes later, they arrived in the village. Stopping at a stable, Ælfnoð got off the horse and then helped Liliana down. She smiled up at him. "You stay here while I go get us a room." Liliana nodded as Ælfnoð walked away.

Liliana turned around and smiled. The village itself looks elegant. With its mahogany wood rooftops, limestone walls and fields of farmland that went on for miles. It was a prosperous little village and the people seemed to be happy. Since it was early, some people were coming out of their houses to start their work in the fields and the kids started to play. She wandered away from the stables and over to where a few children were playing with a ball. She smiled. There was suddenly a tug on her shirt. "Excuse me your pretty will you play with me?"

Liliana looked down to see a little girl holding a doll made of straw. The little girl looked to be about Milo and Henry's age and she had blue eyes and blond hair that fell into ringlets around her face. Liliana kneeled down in front of her and smiled. "Okay, what would you like to play?" The little girl's eyes lit up. "Hopscotch!" Liliana just giggled and smiled, taking the little girl's hand as she stood up. "Lead the way um... I am sorry, but what's your name, little one?" The little girl looked up at Liliana. "It's Isabella. What is yours?"

Liliana smiled. "It's Liliana." Isabella's smile grew bigger. They walked for a little bit until they came to a stop next to a tree in the center of the village and on the ground where sticks made up the squares. "Liliana, do you know how to play?" Liliana nodded her head. Isabella went to the first square and started to jump. When she finally came to the end she looked at Liliana. "Okay your turn." Liliana walked to the first square and started to hop to the next. By the time she got to the last one she had to pause. She began to feel light-headed.

Liliana shook it off and finished and then it was Isabella's turn once more. They both did it several more times, it was after midday by now, when suddenly there was a commotion. "Isabella, get over here right now. You know you can't leave the house." A man with brown hair rushed over and forcefully grabbed Isabella's arm. " I'm sorry, I just wanted to play for a little bit." Liliana bit her lip. "Excuse me sir, but all growing children need to be able to play and just be themselves." She gently took Isabella's hand and tried to guide her away from the man but his grip only tightened.

The little girl cried out. "Mr. Silas, please let me go. I will be good and come back to the house." Liliana looked at Isabella and knew instantly that she needed to do something. "If you are not her father or family member I can't let her go with you and I can tell that you are not because she called you Mr. Silas and not father. Not to mention you look nothing like her." Mr. Silas was fuming and he gritted his teeth. "I am taking her home and there is nothing you can do to stop me."

Liliana looked at Isabella and motioned with her head at Silas' hand, then then pretended to bite and then she motioned her head as if to say run. Isabella nodded and bit on Silas' hand who cried out letting go, and the little girl took off running. Silas tried to go after her but Liliana got in the way. "You wench, how dare you get out of my way!" Liliana shook her head. A crowd had started to form around them. "You are not going to take that girl."

Silas swung his hand and slapped her, making Liliana take a few steps back. She stood her ground. "I said I will not let you take that girl." Silas grinned. "Fine, if you are going to be that stubborn, then maybe this might change your mind." Silas pulled out a dagger. Liliana's eyes went wide and and she backed away some more, only to trip, hitting her shoulder on the ground. She winced. Silas came closer as Liliana closed her eyes and looked away.

There was no sharp pain of a dagger being plunged into her, only the muffled sound of someone being dragged away and then arms wrapping around Liliana as she was picked up and carried away. She began to struggle out of fear as the person carrying her knelt down and cuddled her. "Shhh it's okay nothing is going to happen. Your safe." Recognizing the voice, Liliana opened her eyes and saw a familiar face. " Eirik!"