IRREVOCABLE LOVE

The deafening c***k of gunfire shattered the silence of Ravenwood Forest. Gun shots filled the forest, sending a terrifying message through the spine of all living creatures. The parrots, sparrow's, weaverbird and all others took advantage of their wings and fled for safety. Squirrels and rabbits scurrying around and ducking themselves into safe burrows. Even the trees and plants appeared to be trembling - leaving the crickets and other insects with no other choice for safety, and exposing them to their death! "Run!" Prince Danville Harrison tightened his grip around Precious Willes' trembling hand as they dashed through the dense woodland, with their hearts pounding in their every footsteps. Thick branches lashed against their faces, while thorny vines tugged at their clothes, threatening to slow them down. Every breath burned in their lungs, yet neither of them dared to stop. Stopping would mean the end of their breath. Behind them, beams of flashlights danced wildly through the still broken darkness. "They're over there!" A leading voice ordered. "Don't let them escape!" "His Majesty wants the girl alive!" He shouted louder. The soldiers' voices echoed through the forest like hungry wolves closing in on their prey. Another gunshot rang out. Bang! The bullet tore through the bark of a towering oak, barely inches from Danville's head. Precious cried out as she instinctively ducked. Danville immediately pulled her behind a thick tree, wrapping one arm protectively around her while shielding her body with his own. He felt for her, to an extent that he could give his life for her. "Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice calm despite the chaos around them. She shook her head, though tears streamed freely down her cheeks. "I'm fine..." Her voice trembled. "I'm just... scared…" “Scared for you.” Her voice shrilled Danville gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face. "So am I." She looked at him in surprise. "You are?" He smiled faintly. "Only because I have someone precious to lose." Her heart tightened, she had always hoped for a great future for them, but whatever fate had in store for them - she thought - would come out as destiny and not as an accident. But now even while death hunted them through the forest, he still found a way to make her feel safe. She rested her forehead against his chest, and felt free, like her worries had been soaked away. Listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, invited a warm smile to her face. But still, with their present state, the smile faded away. "I never wanted this," she whispered. "I never imagined loving someone would become a crime." Danville placed a finger beneath her chin, lifting her gaze until their eyes met. "Loving you is the best decision I've ever made." She swallowed the lump in her throat. He continued: "If this is the price for loving you… a purple flower in my heart…" He smiled warmly. "...then I would gladly pay it again." Fresh tears filled her eyes. "I love you, Danville." "I love you too, Precious." For one fleeting moment, the world disappeared. All their worries and burdens disappeared. No kingdom. No enemies. No king driven by obsession. Only two hearts bound by a promise - so irrevocable - that neither war nor death could break. Then— The sharp bark of a command echoed through the trees. "They're close!" A soldier shouted. Danville's expression hardened instantly. He reached beneath his dark thorn jacket and withdrew a compact pistol. The polished metal caught the faint moonlight. Then he checked the magazine. Only six rounds remained. Six bullets against dozens of heavily armed soldiers. Though it was not enough. But if those six bullets bought Precious another minute of life…he thought -then they would be worth it. He slipped the weapon back into position and took her hand once more. "We have to keep moving. They are closing on us." She nodded. “Don't worry Danville, we're in this together” she assured. Danville smiled. “Love is seen in bravery and understanding, don't worry. I've got you, the purple flower of my heart.” She gave him a joking punch and laughed quietly. Danville giggled. “ Stop it silly, be serious now. Flatter later.” Together they disappeared deeper into the forest. Several kilometres away... Inside a convoy of black military vehicles, the cold presence of a cruel heart settled dangerously. King Lorgart Ashken sat silently in the back seat of his armored limousine. His cruel icy eyes stared through the tinted window toward the endless darkness of Ravenwood, in deep brutality. The atmosphere inside the vehicle was suffocating. No one dared speak. Not even the driver - should they speak, that might be their last breath. Everyone kept to their position and neither broke the stillness. It was worth it to play the role of a mime rather than to sell their soul to fertility. At least, they enjoyed the benefits by working for their king, so that was enough for them. Varok - the King's General, the first Man amongst others who found the way to the King's heart, and a loyal childhood friend - walked to the king. Lorgart's jaw tightened. "I warned her." His voice was soft. Dangerously soft, and it sent a running tension through the fellow soldiers. "I offered her everything." His clenched fist struck the armrest. "A throne." "A crown." "The title of Queen of Kaldoria. And the first ever!" His breathing became heavier, his blood boiled within himself. "And she chose..." His eyes burned with fury. "...an Ashvalian." The word itself sounded like poison. “Such ungratefulness.” He smiled wickedly. General Varok, seated opposite him, lowered his head respectfully. "Your Majesty." "Our men have surrounded every exit from Ravenwood Forest." "They cannot escape." Lorgart leaned forward. "They can." Varok frowned. “Oh yes, they can.” The king's eyes narrowed. "Love makes people do impossible things." He slowly stood. "That is why love must be destroyed." “I approached for love…and a raven came and devoured it without pity…then I will never pity.” His cold voice filled the vehicle. "Capture Precious Willes alive." A pause. Then came the order that froze everyone inside. "Prince Danville Harrison..." His expression darkened. "...dies tonight." The night grew colder. _ _ _ _ Danville and Precious finally reached a narrow river cutting through the forest after which they collapsed onto the damp grass, struggling to catch their breath. For several long moments, neither spoke. The sound of flowing water was the only thing breaking the silence. Danville reached for the little stream and scooped water into his hands offering it to Precious. She drank gratefully. But still, her mood was saddened. "I'm slowing you down," she murmured confidently. "No." Danville tried to disagree. "I am." She maintained. "If I weren't here, you'd already be back in Ashvale." She lowered her head. "You'd be safe." Danville knelt before her. "Look at me." Slowly, she raised her tear-filled eyes. "Do you know what my father taught me when I was a child?" She shook her head. "He said…" "A crown means nothing if there is no one beside you to share its weight." Danville smiled. “And fortunately for me, I found the person I want beside me." He gently took both her hands. "I don't care about kingdoms." "I don't care about wealth." "I don't care about the throne." His voice softened. "I see a great light in you, the purple flower which bloom's in knowledge, character, virtue, and lot's of them. The promises we made to each other flow's in my blood. That's why I chose you…" “Always." Unable to hold back any longer, Precious threw herself into his arms. "I'll never leave you." "Never." Danville said. Danville kissed her forehead. "And I'll spend the rest of my life proving that." Suddenly— Crack! A twig snapped somewhere behind them. Danville's head turned instantly, his eyes shown in alarm. His hand moved to his pistol. Now, another sound. And then footsteps… Emerging slowly. It sounds so deliberate. Someone was approaching. Danville stepped in front of Precious, shielding her. "Come out!" he commanded. Still, there was silence, but Danville grew more observant and widely alarmed, fully prepared to take down the stranger, should the person be innocent or not. Then, from between the trees, a tall figure, dressed entirely in black emerged into the moonlight. The stranger raised both hands to the air. "Your Highness..." The stranger called gently. Danville stared in disbelief. His grip on the pistol loosened. "It... can't be." The stranger smiled faintly. "It's been a long time, Prince." Behind them, the distant voices of soldiers grew louder. The voices of the roaring soldiers shook the forest. "They're near the river!" "Search every inch of the area!" The leading voice commanded. The mysterious man glanced toward the approaching lights before looking back at Danville. "We have less than a minute." "If you want to live..." "Follow me.”