MINE TO HOLD

PALACE UNDER ATTACK

EPISODE 10

Night deepened over the palace with most of people sleeping peacefully unaware of the storm creeping towards them,,only the sound of distant torches crackling the corridors.... until a soft metallic clink disturbed the stillness a palace guard on night duty frowned ,gripping his spear as he stepped towards where the sound had come from...

"Who goes there???" But there was no answer,,he then turned to a corner and froze ,a hooded figure stood at the end of hall motionless,, eyes glowing faintly beneath the mask

"State your ...." Before he could finish a whistle cut the air,, the guard collapsed without a sound ,,a thin dart lodged in his neck,,,two more shadows approached,,they dragged the body away in the darkness.

A second guard notice a movement too ,,he raised alarm but a rope snapped around his throat he was pulled into the darkness too.

Back in Aurora's room she was sitting her bed,,, Aurora wiped her tears away silently ,,her thoughts were still in chaos when she had a bang on her door.

"Princess open the door ..the palace is under attack with unknown assassin some are heading to the queen chambers" the guard warned pounding on her door ,,, her father's words echoed in her ears..

'Promise me you will protect your mother and brother if danger comes?? Harlot will always need a shield and your mother a shadow' but then she knew her brother was safe with Lucas ,,without a word she took her sword and ran towards her mother's chambers her brown gown billowing behind like a falling banner,,she was barefooted,,on the way she could hear sound of sword in her mother's chambers ,ran more faster ,,she bursted in her mother chambers and saw two of her mother's guards lying down lifeless ,,Captain Charles her mother's trusted guard was still fighting against the assassins who were masked but they were almost overpowering him,,Aurora shouted ..

"Mother..." the assassins looked at her holding a sword and laughed not knowing what a waited them...a Princess who fights like a trained killer. The attackers wanted to provoke her so they pulled Charles down ready to cut his throat but Aurora didn't hesitate,,she sprinted her gown snapping behind her ,,her sword flashing like flame,,she slammed the nearest attacker who was holding a sword on Charlie's throat and just in a spun of the seconds she gave him a clean strike her blade cutting across his arm,,the man screamed falling back while holding his half arm,,Another rushed but she slipped beneath his sword and rammed her shoulder into his chest sending him crashing into the pillar,,her blade stopped at his throat and she gave him a sharp cut.. he fell on the ground and breath his last..they came to her more and but she fought with them like a warrior no one had ever seen..with her one arm behind her back jumping a slashing their throat one by one and eventually there was no one left. She ran to her mom and knelt beside her

"Mother am here to protect you" She said looking at her.

"Having a daughter is no weakness...you are more than a son to me...your father will be proud of you" Her mom said touching her loose hair,, but outside the door they could hear enemies gathering at her mom's doorstep,,, Charles looked through a door hole and stepped back silently

"We are trapped " He whispered,,,Queen Margaret trembled but Aurora stayed calm

"l fought my way in...l will fight a way out mom....trust me " She said courageously touching her sword.

On another place deep in the palace lower vaults dimly lit with flickering touches ,Prince Harlot wheelchair rolled across the stone floor,,Grace ran beside him with her one hand holding a torch and the other held a sword..,Lucas walked behind them ,,armor gleaming like a torchlight ,sword ready,,his every step was measured ,every sound analysed

"This way your highness " He shouted his voice low but agent,,Harlot eyes scanned the places.

"Lucas how many" He asked

"Too many to count..they are trained but we will survive" Lucas said and then he heard a faint click echoing above them,,Lucas froze shadows shifted and three figures dropped from the ceiling, silent ,blade gleaming,,Lucas moved like lightening ,he deflected the strike that was aimed at Harlot with a swipe of his sword,,the second tried but Lucas twisted he used his momentum and threw him on the wall,,the third lunged directly at Harlot but Lucas slammed his arm forward ,,blocking the blow and shoving the attacker back.

" Lucas they are coming" Harlot said his eyes wide open.

"They won't reach you...am your protector born and destined to protect the throne " He started talking in a low tone and then even louder they had been surrounded with more than fifty assassins,, Lucas, Harlot and Grace were now standing at the centre of their enemies,,,Harlot and Grace tensed,,froze and waited for their last breath,,they held their hands and smiled at each other but then,,Lucas turned looking at Harlot with steady gaze and said words that left assassins wonder if they were needed at that time.

"Am not a mere guard...l am the protector...born and destined to protect the throne....and no one.....l said.....no one....Will touch what l protect " his voice was loud and powerful,, suddenly a sound came from him like that of a howling lion tearing through the whole palace,,echoing through the walls making the assassins to shake in fear.

Harlot eyes widened in fear and confusion

"What's that?!" He asked tensed holding Grace's hand who was also trembling like a leave .

Lucas chest rose as he beat it with his fists ,the power in him surged,,then there was a glow of light that spread on his skin like molten fire on his skin ,,the vault seemed to ignite around him, flames licked along the wall but did not burn ,,instead they illuminated his form ..larger than life,, his body stood tall, shoulder broad, his head high,, he growled once more and then spoke

" The throne.....the heir.....and the kingdom...is under my protection " His voice deep and steady,,the light surrounding him grew almost blinding,,his eyes shone like molten gold,,a subtle aura of ancient power encircled him...the assassins froze in fear they had thought he was a mere man but now he was a giant god, a lion incarnate, a force of nature that could not be stopped,,one by one they flee away their screams lost in the roaring power of Lucas. Lucas then came back to reality,,he also was shocked on how he had that much power.

Back then,, at Aurora she kept fighting to keep her mom safe,,her moves was something the attackers never expected with one of her hand at the back ,,she shifted her sword from this place to another,,the palace guards had now reinforced her,,she had torn her gown into a short one,,they were still at it when assassins heard a howl wild, ancient and powerful,it echoed through the palace walls loudly like a lion had awakened.. Aurora gasped ..stopping a heart beat ,,eyes wide open

"He....he...has awakened " One of the attackers said in fear

"We were not told the protector still lived" Another said dropping his blade,,they began retreating and one by one they flew away.

Aurora's sword remained lifted but her breath caught.

"Lucas. " She whispered.