CHAPTER 004
1073 Words
***Present Day***
Aubrey sat in her chambers, her hands trembling as she clutched the fabric of her dress. The weight of her father's command crushed her, by sunrise, she would be bound to Dominic in marriage, and worset yet, Lancelot would be executed.
She refused to let that happen.
A soft knock on her door startled her. She turned swiftly, expecting a guard. Instead, a cloaked figure slipped into the room.
“Aubrey.”
The voice was familiar, laced with urgency.
Aubrey gasped. “Galen?”
From beneath the hood, her elder brother revealed his face. Prince Galen, who was once the heir to King Ragnarok’s throne, had been cast aside after a failed rebellion.
He had lived in the shadows ever since, exiled within his own home.
“What are you doing here? If father finds you here, you will be killed.” she whispered.
“I came to save you, baby sister.”
Aubrey’s breath caught. “You know about Lancelot?”
Galen nodded grimly. “Anna thinks she’s won, but she has no idea what she’s set into motion.”
Aubrey narrowed her eyes not believing any of this, so she asked;
“Why help me now?”
Galen’s expression darkened. “Because this kingdom is rotting, and Father’s rule must end.” He leaned closer. “You and Lancelot… you are my leverage. If we succeed, you will be free, and I will take back my rightful place on the throne.”
Aubrey hesitated and . “And if we fail?”
“Then we all die, because there is no room for failure.” Galen retorted sternly.
A shiver ran down her spine. There was no other choice.
Could the creator have answered her prayers by sending Galen to her to save them or is this just another ploy.
But right now there is no other choice. It's either she goes through with this or she loses Lancelot and her freedom forever.
“Tell me the plan, I want to be a part of Everything. I need to save Lancelot, I love him,” she whispered.
“Are you sure you are willing to give up your claim to the throne? Leaving now means you will be termed rebellious.”
“I never wanted to rule, all I ever wanted was to find a man who would love me and live a normal life, now that man is Lancelot.”
“Very well, once you begin, just know that there is no going back.”
The guards patrolling the dungeons were seasoned warriors, loyal to Ragnarok without question.
But Galen knew their weaknesses.
With a forged royal decree and a bribe of gold, he and Aubrey made it past the outer walls. But the real danger awaited below where Lancelot sat in chains.
They slipped through the stone corridors, their steps silent. As they neared the cell, a lone figure stood guard.
Aubrey froze.
It was Anna.
She turned, her expression unreadable.
“I knew you would come,” Anna said quietly.
Aubrey clenched her fists. “Move aside.”
Anna studied her for a moment, then sighed. “Father believes Lancelot is already as good as dead. He won’t see this coming.”
Galen stiffened. “You’re helping us?”
Anna smirked. “I hate losing, dear brother.”
With that, she unlocked the cell.
Lancelot looked up, his face bruised but defiant. The moment he saw Aubrey, his eyes softened.
“You came for me,” he whispered.
Aubrey rushed to him, pressing her forehead to his. “Always.”
Galen cleared his throat. “Touching, but we need to leave now.”
As they fled through the tunnels, alarms sounded above. Ragnarok had discovered the betrayal.
Anna turned to them, her voice cold and commanding. “Go. I’ll buy you time.”
Aubrey hesitated. “Anna? What, what are you?”
“Shh, don’t waste this.”
And with that, Anna turned smirking as she walked away, deep down she had her reasons and it sure wasn't honourable.
The tunnels beneath the castle reeked of dampness of soil and stones.
Galen had led the way, holding a torch light flickering against the narrow walls as Aubrey and Lancelot followed closely behind.
The sound of metal boots clashing against the stone floors above signaled the king’s wrath had been unleashed.
He wouldn't watch a lowly Knight take his daughter away from his grips, not possible, not as long as he was still breathing.
Aubrey clenched Lancelot’s hand. “Anna… she’s buying us time.”
Galen scoffed. “Lets hope she is but she may be our little sister but don't you believe in the prophecy? That's not our sister Aubrey the sooner you understand that she is the doom of the entire kingdom, the better for you. Let's just hope she lives long enough to keep father's men away from us after which she can die for all I care.”
“Galen!!”
“If you had seen the things I have seen and heard from the old gods in whom I serve, you will know why I am wary of her.”
“Your Highnesses, less talking, we might attract people.” Lancelot uttered,
Galen shot him a glare, but Aubrey shook her head. “He’s right. We have to focus on escaping. Where are we headed anyways?”
Galen paused at a fork in the tunnels. “I have a ship waiting at the southern cliffs. If we make it there, we can disappear before Ragnarok’s men catch up.”
Lancelot nodded. “Then we move quickly.”
They sprinted through the passageways, the echoes of their own footsteps a constant reminder that time was slipping away.
Then, boom! Suddenly, the ground trembled, dust falling from the ceiling.
“They’re collapsing the tunnels!” Galen cursed. “Father isn’t just sending men after us, he’s sealing off our only escape route!”
Aubrey’s heart pounded. “Then we need to move faster.”
They ran, dodging falling stones and choking on dust. But as they neared the tunnel’s end, a figure stepped out from the shadows in front of them was a well known and feared knight.
A black knight in a black armor.
“Going somewhere?”
Aubrey’s blood ran cold, it was none other than Knight Varys a black knight, one of the most feared knights in the Kingdom of Maliover.
- Writer
