The Sacred One

    My eyes forced themselves open only to be blinded by the bright sun and merciless rays. I found relief in the shadows the autumn leaves made as they drifted towards the ground and others danced with the wind. Slowly pushing myself off the colorful ground I took a look around me. Trees that seemed older than life itself surrounded where I stood, breaking the sunlight with their large shadows. I wasn't able to recall where I was or how I got there.    I looked down at the pale white skin that covered my hands and they just looked so foreign, like they weren't my hands. My eyes glanced down at the rest of my body, all of it seemed so unfamiliar but I didn't know what familiar was supposed to be either. The sound of hooves broke my attention away from myself. A woman rode with such grace yet there was an essence about her that radiated that she was not someone to trifle with. She sported shining armor; similar to a knight's, with long braided blonde hair that floated behind her that you could only assume reaches past her waist. Her speed slowed as she and her horse approached me.    "What's your name, Maiden? I haven't seen a face as weary as yours around these parts." She demanded to know with a voice that could both lead and stop an army. She gripped her sword that hang on her hip but still appeared unthreatened by me.    "I don't know where I am, I mean no harm-" I tried to explain myself to hopefully get some help to find civilization.    "I asked for your name." She spoke sternly and unsheathed her sword, pointing it in my direction. I gulped and panicked trying to muster anything to tell her, any name is fine as long is kept me alive.    "Aliena, my knight." I blurted out hoping that was a good enough answer for her or else I would need to buy more time to come up with a last name. Her face scrunched up at the word 'knight'. "I'm sorry for imposing on owned land, I don't exactly know how I ended up here."    "I am no knight, I am a Dame. Not to mention one with enough connection to the lord to see you executed for simply standing on his land without his permission." She barked, but even with such a harsh demeanor there was a sparkle in her bright blue eyes that emitted kindness and that she was someone to trust. "But I suppose it's no harm, afterall you aren't the first drunk to wander her way out of the village's bar, you're just lucky to have a better outcome than they had with the elements." She sheathed her sword and hopped off her horse making her way towards me. I wanted to fight her drunk comment but I'm sure my appearance was much worse than the dirt smudges I could see on my hands and I didn't want to make her think I was any threat to her 'lord'.    "I apologize, my Dame. As you said I'm not in the right mind but I'm starting to stabilize," I spoke enough truth to appease her. "Is there anyway you could be so kind to escort me back to the village so I can get some rest and avoid keeping you from your duties any longer." I pleaded, hoping to at least find the nearest safe haven I could manage.    "No, Maiden. You must still stand to your lord and tell him of your misdemeanor and he will deal with you as he sees fit." She insisted and reached for my hands in attempt to bound me. I pull my arms away from her and stumble back.    "No, you can't do that! I am no threat, you cannot be so cruel to me!" I could feel the panic start to take over and the fact I was able to keep such a clear head up until this moment was unfathomable to me. I fell back on the ground in attempt to get away from her but it was no use, she grabbed my wrist and quickly bound them together limiting my movements.    "You're right about not being a threat, but you still have to face the consequences of your careless actions." I struggled under her strong grip hoping to get free but all hope faded when I felt a sharp pain in my neck that was followed with an unwilful deep sleep.    Much time must have passed because when I had awoken once more the skies that peered through the windows were a midnight black. My eyes traveled down to the thick blankets that engulfed my body. She had put me in a bed, not to mention the comfiest one I've ever laid in, at least I think. My wrists were no longer bound together and I moved all my limbs just to make sure I wasn't attached or chained to anything. I threw the blanket off of me and pressed my feet against the cold marble floor and weakly made my way to a mirror the was uncomfortably close to the bed. I got a good look at myself for what seemed like the first time. My dark black hair was completely disheveled with ringlets making their way near my hips, a torn and dirty light blue dress that came down to my ankles and wrists, incredibly flowy but not revealing other than the cleavage stitch of my dress was ripped and seemed to be getting worse every time I moved. Mud and dirt caked almost every exposed area of skin. If I make a case in front of her lord looking like this I don't think I'll have any chance.    A small tap was at the bedroom door and without time to answer it swung open and enter my captor and a small elderly woman at her side in a servant's uniform. "Good, you're awake. Did you not eat anything during your night of binge drinking? I've never seen the nescius berry knock anyone out for 12 hours without killing them." She cruelly spoke again. I began to feel my blood boil, and I took brave yet pathetically weak steps towards her.    "I am not a drunk!" I began to yell in her direction. "I had only just woken up when you found me, I have no idea where I am or even who I am so you'll have to forgive me for being a bit frustrated given the situation I'm in! I didn't mean to wander onto your lord's dumb land, I don't even know how I came to get there so please keep the degrading comments to yourself and let's get this hearing over with!" I exerted the small remaining amount of my energy and collapse on the floor with my hands over my face. "I just wanna find my home." I weakly tried to continue. She grabbed at my hands and and lifted me up but something seemed to change her mind over trying to punish me and she just tossed me aside.    "I have Dei here to help you clean the muck off of you and give you a wardrobe to pick from to be suitable in front of the lord, since I'm so cruel." Without another word she marched out of the bedroom leaving me alone with the quiet servant Dei. I wept as her frail yet gentle hands reached out for me to help me out.    "Come, my lady. Don't mind Bella, we've had threats around the border, one that even just took her beloved brother from her. She doesn't mean to act like a brute, she just won't lose anyone else if she can allow it." Dei tried to explain Bella's shortcomings to me but I was too panicked to even consider why she did what she did, I just nod my head in response and let the tears slide down my face taking some of the dirt with them. "Let's get you washed up, my lady. The lord is very busy man and we mustn't take up anymore of his time."  I followed her as she opened one the doors in the bedroom to reveal a very elegant bathroom.    "If I'm able to I'd like to bathe by myself, Dei. I just need a moment to myself and wash away the anxiety." I requested and she gave me a weary look. "I can keep the door cracked to ensure I'm still in here." I pleaded and she finally gave in.    "Fine. But I will be helping you with your dress and hair to present yourself to the lord." She buckled and left me in the bathroom to my own doings. I didn't waste much time drawing a bath and lowering myself into it, enjoying the way the warm water licked at my skin. I chiseled away at the dirt at my skin and out of my hair. The suds and the water were both a murky dirt colored brown by the time I was done and pulled myself out. After drying myself off to the best of my abilities I walk out of the bathroom to reveal Dei prepping a work area for my hair and I could just feel my curls get frightened at the amount of hair ties and pins she had waiting for me. I took a deep breath in preparation to hand myself over to her frail hands. She beckoned me to the stool that sat in front of a large cherry oak vanity on the east side of the room. I came towards her with only a clean white linen covering my body. She sat me down and was swift to work with my hair.    "You have lovely hair, my lady." She spoke softly as she took some the long black curls and pinned them out of my face. "Many of the Maiden's would do anything to have your gorgeous raven locks." she commented sweetly picking up more hair pins for her work.    "You're very kind Dei. You're the first person I've met with human decency since I woke up." I sat as still as I could gripping the damp rag trying to calm my nerves.    "You mustn't let Bella's aggression paint a poor image for the rest of the those who reside in the kingdom's walls. Even our lord is a kind and generous man, despite the fact the young lord tries to hide it every given chance he can." Even though she spoke positively of the lord, I didn't want to give him a chance to not show his kindness. After a few minutes of slight hair pulling Dei had my hair in a gorgeous half up half down style, with pins holding together a small bun in the back while the remainder of my curls hung long towards my waist. Dei tucked the last few curls in place and led me to a wardrobe that was built from the same wood as the vanity, with carved intricate designs of angels covering the doors. " There a few dresses in here that I believe will fit you." she pulled out three dresses, one was a velvety emerald green with sequins on the bust, the other a pastel yellow that seemed so flowy you almost wanted to pounce around in a summer's field, and then the last which was my pick. Dei helped me into it and laced up the back, pulling it tight to fit and tying it into a bow. i waltzed my way to the mirror to get a good look at myself.    "Oh, Dei," I gasped taking in my reflection. A maroon dress that was tapered around my waist yet so flowy around my legs and draping towards my ankles, and v-neck cut at the cleavage with a thin silk lace criss-crossing its way down my torso and long sleeves made from a sheer fabric coming to a cuff at my wrists. "It's absolutely stunning. You do some amazing work, I'm sure you've made hundreds of women look so beautiful."    "Some were easier than others, but may I say my lady you were the easiest out of all of them. Natural beauty can do wonders." She smiled kindly looking over her work. I finished getting ready on my own, thanking Dei as she left the chamber leaving me shoes to wear to my hearing that matched the gown that did wonderful things for my self esteem, I really hope they let me keep it. A knock broke my hopes, a knock much harsher than before.    "Maiden? Lord Miles is awaiting you." Although there were much less insults, I recognized the voice as Bella on the other side of the door. I opened it to find her waiting, much less confident than our previous encounter. Her shining armor was replaced with a light green dress, just as feminine as my own. "You look very presentable, Maiden. I'm sure our lord will be very lenient with your case."    "Thank you, Bella. I appreciate the compliment." I tried to acknowledge her attempt at kindness to stay on her good side.    "I see Dei told you my name," She sighed. "I am sorry for how I treated you, Maiden. With all the threats on our borders I have been paranoid and it seems to cloud my judgment and character." She apologized, and I took it for what it was, no need to seek more sympathy from her when she obviously has her own quarrels at the moment.    "I forgive you, Bella. You were only doing what's best for your kingdom and that can pay a price at times." I spoke forgetting about what Dei had mentioned of what became of her brother. I hope she didn't read to much into it.    "Yeah," She mumbled gloomily. "but come, no need to keep Lord Miles another 14 hours." She forced a smile.    She lead me down the beautiful and elegant stone wall corridors of the castle, leading up to a pair of giant double doors, big enough to fit the biggest of giants. The carvings on the doors were so small and intricate it would had taken even the most talented carver decades to finish. Bella pushed through the double doors and entered a room filled wall to wall with refined art and a long table that sat in the middle of the surrounded by twenty chairs. At the far end of the table sat three huge men that gave off the essence of warriors.    The one on the left had a long red ponytail that was matted enough to put the most well built rat's nest to shame, with freckles that seemed to trail every inch of his skin showing years of being out in the sun. The one to the right had short blonde hair that gave off a more disciplined energy than the previous man. He sat tall and seemed to be staring daggers at the red-haired man that sat across from him, a tension that hopefully didn't interfere with my case.    Finally, the man in the middle, he sat back in his chair, his posture spoke volumes about how little he wanted to be there. He had curly short brown hair that held tight in their coils, most of his exposed pale skin was covered in battle scars, his muscles were tight yet he gave no indication of flexing, something told me despite his slouched posture he had enough power to take out the both of them without struggle. My eyes finally met his, his eyes were different colors; one an emerald green and the other a hazel color of honey, both so beautiful. "My lord, I have the intruder here that we found on the east side of your forest. She is here to state her case." Bella bowed and left the room, leaving me only with these three burly men that surely had hundreds of gory war stories that would make the weak hearted ones faint.    "State your case, starting with your title that dear Bella seemed to have left out." The middle one spoke sternly, a booming voice that instantly whisked away all the self esteem Dei had helped me build up  just brief moments ago.    "It's no harm on her part, my lord and my case will eventually explain that. For, I do not know my name," I went onto explain how I had woken up in his forest with no recollection of who I was or where I was, how I had no intention of coming off as any threat to his kingdom.    "She's lying," The blonde one roared. "She's merely a distraction to seduce you and gather as much information as possible to report back to Diablo and the rest of his army." His wild accusation left a confused look on my face. Before I was able to defend my honor the red hair man stood from his chair walked towards me pulling a dagger into my view. Without time to protest he pricked my finger and dropped a few droplets of my blood into this small vial surrounded but what almost looked like translucent wires.    "Ow! Thank you for the warning." I blurted, my patience was wearing thin with these people. As soon as I was about the blurt out any other sarcasm that could get me in trouble with these men the wires on the vial turned a glowing blue that resembled the ocean.    "She's telling the truth, my lord. Not only is she telling the truth but according to the Veritas bottle she is also a pure heart, free from all sin." His eyes met his lord's with hope.    "Leave us, men." The lord finally spoke once again. I wasn't sure what odds I didn't enjoy more, being alone with all three of them or just being alone with Lord Miles. The two men left the massive room, shoving each  other on the way out, almost like a sibling rivalry. "I apologize for what you've endured since you've awoken. Since you don't know your name, what would you like to be called?" Dei was right, he was kind.    "Aliena. That's the name I came up with when your Dame stumbled upon me." I spoke with a bit more confidence, since it seemed as if I had nothing to worry about.    "Well, Aliena," He straightened his posture and his gorgeous eyes met mine. "You're guilty on all accounts and will be escorted to your chamber immediately." I could feel my heart shatter in my chest. I fell to my knees and sobbed so hard I could hardly get breaths in between tears. I feel as if I had only started this life, and now I'll spend it locked up for treason and conspiracy.    "Please, Miles. Don't do this, what I tell you is the truth-" I tried to plead with his wrath.    "Do not address me by my name, you have not earned the right." He roared as he stood from his chair and made his way to me. He towered over me as I sat on the floor continuing to sob, wondering how my existence could be cursed like this. Did I have a family? Were they worried about me or looking for me? "I hear your truth, but we won't know your true intentions of trespassing so close to the castle until your memory is back, so until we can confirm that you are an ally you will be held as an enemy." I looked up at him searching for any ounce of mercy.    "What if my memory never comes back?" I whimpered and looked directly into his checkered eyes. I was searching for an answer I knew would never get, which seemed like the theme of this dystopia that I have found myself in.    "Then you'll find a way to get comfortable with the dungeon walls for the remainder of your years." He made his way to the doors and left me there sobbing. "Sean, Artemus, take our offender to the dungeon and sees that she is imprisoned."    "But sir, the Veritas bott-" The red haired man tried to interfere with my unfair fate, but his request was no match for this Lord's cruelty.    "I know what I said, Artemus." Lord Miles snapped and shoved past the men; refusing to listen to any reason, thus sealing my grim curse. I took my remaining hope and dignity bringing myself up to my feet before the two large men could pick me up or drag me like the rag doll I was in comparison to their stature.    "We're very sorry, my lady." Artemus whispered under his breath as he approached me, making sure the Lord couldn't hear his sorrow. He furrowed his bushy red eyebrows at me, with honey colored eyes that held not only sadness but also curiosity. The blonde haired man who I presumed was Sean only glared at me, staring daggers into my already wounded soul. He didn't say a single word to me, which had almost surprised me I had assumed he'd be happy with the verdict.     Artemus, and Sean followed their Lord's wishes and locked me in a rusty cell. I sat on the wooden cot that was attached to one of the walls and just stared at the floor, studying every pebble, every crack. The musty smell of old sitting water filled my nose as I managed to go from beyond hysteria to calm, although I wasn't ready to accept the idea that I was going to spend the rest of my days in this cell to rot. Something was coming, I can feel it in my bones.