The King's Abducted Queen

Chapter 5

This journey had begun with her on the way to marry an influential Mavis lord. Her carriage had been intercepted and attacked. Her soldiers and maiden's had been slaughtered. Now, she was a captive of the king of her enemies.

The enemies of her people.

For generations, the Thunder and Mavis factions had been at war. After the Great Rift fractured the gnomes into two distinct races—those of Light and Dark—they had battled as if it were the very reason for their existence.

To her knowledge, a Mavis princess had never before fallen into the hands of the Thunder rulers.

This could mark the darkest moment in their history. What would the Thunder king do with someone from the Totem bloodline in his grasp?

Her feet stumbled to keep pace behind the shadowy horse, and as tears continued to trace down her cheeks, she gradually became aware of just how exhausted she was. It had already been well into the night when the carriage was ambushed; she had no idea how much time had passed since she ran for her life with Nadine or witnessed the lord confront the ghoul.

But Alira felt the fatigue settling in, and being pulled along at the pace of the mighty horse was draining the last reserves of her energy.

The adrenaline that once surged through her was fading, and all she wanted was to collapse onto the ground.

Alira had screamed until her voice was hoarse, but there was no one to hear her cries. They were far from any Mavis village, and her soldiers and maiden's were nowhere in sight. It could be days until Alden noticed that her entourage was missing and that their wedding was delayed.

Now, they moved in silence, the only sounds being the rhythmic thud of hooves against the dirt. Owls hooted from a distance, and occasionally, something rustled in the underbrush—too close for comfort.

An ominous aura surrounded the dark lord and his shadowy steed, seemingly keeping the night creatures, including the lurking ghouls, at bay. Yet, Alira knew they were close.

It felt as though sheer will was the only thing propelling her weary legs forward. Every part of her ached, each step more painful than the last.

"Ah!" she exclaimed as something protruding from the road caused her to stumble and fall. Bound at the wrists, she could not brace herself, and her elbow crashed against the ground while her ankle twisted painfully.

Dazed and exhausted, stars flashed behind her eyes as new pain surged through her body. She barely registered the crunch of boots on the path until they appeared before her.

"Get up," Lord commanded, crouching down to face her as she lay helplessly in the dirt. "I will drag you through the mud if you do not rise."

"Then drag me," she retorted, tears streaming down her face, although it was anger that fueled her voice. "It doesn't matter anymore!"

Her rage twisted her features into a fierce glare as she locked eyes with those cold amber orbs that revealed nothing.

"Promise not to scream, and I will untie you." Alira blinked in surprise at his unexpected offer. "Will you rise now?"

But doubt held her back as she met the gaze of the king of shadows, swallowing hard.

"You will never outrun me, so do not even think of attempting it."

"I don't believe I can," she stammered, glancing at her aching ankle. "My foot is twisted."

He huffed through his helmet, then stood up again. A moment later, he bent down, scooped her up into his arms, and her breath caught in her throat from the shock.

Now, she was cradled against him as he carried her back to the saddle of his dark steed.

"Will you promise?" he repeated, his voice low. With a swallow, Xena nodded, keeping her gaze averted from the intensity of his eyes, which felt as though they were piercing through her. This man was a threat, and she despised the vulnerability she felt in his presence.

He positioned her at the front of the saddle, and she landed against the leather with a soft 'oof.' Glancing down, she gasped at the height from which she was now sitting; they certainly did not have mounts of such stature back home.

A chill raced up her spine when the lord settled behind her on the saddle. The cold, dark metal of his armor was an unsettling reminder of the danger she was in. Holding her breath, she braced herself as he urged the horse forward. True to his word, he deftly slipped a small knife between her wrists and severed the rope binding them.

"You better hold on. I won't be moving slowly for your comfort." His gruff voice unexpectedly sent warmth through her, making her acutely aware of how closely they were pressed together. She bit her lip, feeling a mix of anxiety and frustration as he urged the horse, whom he called Artemis, into a quicker trot.

"Little sunflower," the lord began, "I'm aware you are of the Totem family, but are you one of the king's brood? Rumor has it that Hades has a harem of wives who bear nothing but daughters." He spoke of her lineage with a hint of boredom, igniting her anger.

"You know nothing about my family!"

"Ah, so you are of the Mavis king's brood and not merely a distant relative fortunate enough to carry the family crest." He shifted behind her, causing goosebumps to erupt along her skin. "Well then, princess, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

A lump formed in her throat as her heart raced at the lewd manner in which he addressed her.

"So, which princess are you?" he prodded, but a cold sweat returned to her brow. Why did he need to know her name?

"Alira Solen," she snapped back quickly.

"A lovely name for a lovely little sunflower." His rough chuckle put her on edge.

"What do you need my name for? Are you planning to capture me for ransom or use me against my kingdom?" The question slipped out, emboldened by the sight of the bloodstained gauntlets gripping the reins before her. Yet, he remained silent for what felt like an eternity.

After a resigned sigh, he finally replied, "I'm not sure yet." She noticed him tighten his grip on the reins. "I take it you know exactly who I am?"

"Of course. With that ludicrous crown on your helmet, I've heard enough about you." His laughter only fueled her rage. "What is someone like you doing in Mavis territory, anyway?"

"It wouldn't be very wise for me to disclose that information to the enemy, would it?"