Light of the Unexpected Adventure

Chapter 20 Taking Opportunities

Gabriella's POV

I adjust the pouch around my waist as I hear her nervously hum out getting my attention once again. "No.. You can't leave just yet.. You don't have the rest of your stuff and.. You need it." She says as I feel my eyebrows touching as I nod, agreeing with her. I would like everything else if I can, but I am not sure if I will be able to get that. I watch her head hang as she stays quiet for a moment as if she is thinking. I feel her hand on my shoulder tighten as she sadly looks at me.

"I do agree with you though.. You have had a very rough life, but.. It could have been worse.. So be happy with what you have had and the opportunities that have been given to not just you but everyone you care for. I think that when life brings you gifts, you should take them because there are not many out there.. You know?" She asks as I nod suspiciously, because I don't know if she is talking about me anymore. I wouldn't ever imagine that this trip is a special opportunity or anything. It's a death sentence at it's best, just as I said before. So this conversation makes no sense to me at the moment.

"This isn't some special and fun place I am going to.. You know that right? This isn't a special opportunity given to me. This is a dangerous task that I could possibly die from." I say as she nods. "I wasn't.. Talking about you in that aspect." She says as she swallows the lump in her throat. "Who were you talking about?" I ask curiously as she looks away again, but this time she won't look me in the eyes. "Come on Grace, you're my sister.. Just tell me what you're talking about." I say again egging her on to tell me, because I need to know what she means.

"You want to know what I was talking about?!" She snaps out at me, causing me to flinch at the hostile turn this conversation has taken. "Yes." I softly say, as she huffs out. "Gabby.. it is now the time to support myself, and do what I need just to get out of the dirt. I need to take the opportunity given to me." she says as I shake my head in confusion. "I don't understand." I hear another yelp but this time it's clearer than before. It's my name being yelped out.

My eyes widen as I shake my head and stepping back. She grabs my arm and keeps me here. I try to pull my arm out of her grip as I feel it tightening, squeezing so hard that she is making it hurt. I watch as she reaches with her open hand and swings the room door open which is inviting guards in, before dropping her hold on me. I am in complete and utter shock, I never even knew they were there. I watch as they take this open opportunity as they start to storm into the room.

All of them except for the two that are holding Merida and Victoria. They have their mouths covered, not allowing them to warn me, I would assume. Maybe those yelps were them trying to help me. I clench my teeth holding back the anger and sadness filling me up right now as I watch them barrel in the room effortlessly. The sounds of the clinking to their metal armor sings as their stomping continues, ringing into my ears loudly. That is until they have completely circled me. My head is on a swivel as I look at every single one of the men.

My eyes bounce to each man as my heart races at this thought. My eyes even notice the frustrated-looking ones of the guard I have seen a couple of times now in the past couple of days. His eyes connect with mine as he shakes his head, only for a second. I send him a look back, saying that I know I am in trouble now, so no need to say I told you so. I don't need his opinion about it, when I know he warned me yesterday. He finishes coming in until he is standing directly behind me as I shake my head before turning to look back at my supposed friend.

I am finally figuring out what is happening. I didn't have to worry about the guard turning me in when my friend already planned to do so. "Grace.. I can believe this.. Please tell me my mind has made things up and that you would never betray your sister of all people.. I know we are not related by blood, but I have always thought of you as my family." I say as she shakes her head but doesn't say anything to me, showing this isn't some bad dream I can't awake from. I shake my head, biting the inside of my cheek as she squeaks out. "I wanted to be the one to tell you because I wanted you to see things from my point of view."

I feel my eyes watering up, letting the tears brim my eyes. "No.. no.. How could you do this to family? All we have is each other in this harsh world." I ask her feeling the tears that were welling within my eyes, now dripping down my cheeks. I watch her shake her head but holding her head higher than I have ever seen it. "I am sorry.. I truly am, but I am tired of living in the dirt scrounging for food and being beaten just for looking the wrong way.. I am better than that.. So I deserve better than that." she says this straightening her back as she looks down at me as if I am so far beneath her right now. I feel my teeth and fists clenching as I instantly see the King walking in and standing behind her.

"My queen, you're too good to me.. This is the best present I could have ever asked for. You made my life and these guard's lives so much easier by telling us where she was hiding." He states this admiration for her before he kisses her cheek as she smirks over at me, letting me know what this truly is. "So.. This is why you're sentencing me to death in his cages? Not for just the money.. But to also be Queen? This is the opportunity for you that you were taking?" I question this with pain in my tone as she raises her head higher again. "My soon-to-be husband and King has said that he will spare your life, if I give you to him." I shake my head in disbelief.

I gasp for air, feeling so much heartbreak and fury at once, the anger that is building within me at this thought is almost unbearable. "And you believe what that.. Awful man.. That.. Pig swallow says? He has never been a man to stick to his word. He kills everyone that is not like him.. Just like the many he told he would spare for their information, just to put them on the hanging block. I am no dimwit. I can see straight through the lies. I just hope you're a better Queen than you ever were a friend." I snap back as the King pushes her out of the way just to storm up into my face.

He pushes me a couple of times as I clench my fists, fighting the urge to hit him, knowing that will be the death of me right here right now if I do. I stumble back, until I am leaning on the guard behind me as I hold my head up high, not trying to falter even with the King's heated glares and breath all over my face. He takes his leather-gloved hand and slaps me across the face. The pain is more than I imagined. I have been beaten many times before, but this was something else. I feel as if my jaw has been broken off when I know that is not the case.

The momentum takes me as I fall to the ground, with nothing to brace my fall, especially since I never expected that. I grunt out in pain as I glare up at him. But he is not looking at me right now, he is looking at the guard behind me. "DO NOT help her guard. You will stay right there, do not move unless you plan to join her." He snaps this at him as I slowly look up and behind me at him to see the sincerity in his eyes for me. He doesn't like what is happening to me, and I am grateful for that at least. I watch as he shifts in his stance but nothing else happens after that warning.

I look back to the King, just to see that his glares have been shifted right back to me. "You will not talk about me nor your soon-to-be Queen like that.. That, in itself, could be considered treason." I spit at his feet as I snap back. "She is no Queen of mine, and neither are you my King. Do with me what you want. I care not. I have nothing else to live for. So call my honesty treason, call my bluntness in the cuffs of betrayal what you please. I care not what you think of me. I know who I am and what is wrong and right.. This is wrong, but with your authority and the darkness that you plague across this village, the little bit of light I have within me will not stand a chance. So smite me down as you please and plead with the people about how horrible of a person I was, that I threatened them all, and how you had to do what was right just to save their lives. Keep lying to them, because as of now they will believe it.. But there will be a point in your life where your lies won't continue to save you. They will see straight through them, and you will rue the day that you put all of this monstrous actions into motion." I declare with so much hurt and anger in my words as the tears drift from my eyes.

"You hatred-filled trollop!" He slaps me again as I fell back, leaning into the guard's legs, since I never had the chance to get off of the ground. "Just beat me and treat me as you do everyone else. You do what makes you feel better.. but know it will only help you now, but it still won't save you. And for you.. My Queen.. I hope you're happy with yourself.. I hope you see my face every single time someone is murdered in his name. I hope you never forget the actions that you took to make your life 'better' as everyone you ever cared about finally saw the true blackened heart you have. You and the King are perfect for one another, and I hope that you see that." I spat at her as I saw her eyes watering as she shook her head.

I slowly stood on my own, before raising my head high as I glared into Grace's eyes. Her eyes squint at me before she smirks, making me nervous about what thoughts are behind that look. "Did she just try to curse us with her disgusting magic? I think she has put a dark lore across your name my King and she deserves to be punished for her unsavory words." she says about me, "What? How dare you!" I spat as I lunge at her to attack, but I cannot reach her. I instantly felt as big, metal-covered arms wrapped around my torso, I was held back from hitting her as I had hoped for.

These armored arms are holding me back as I tremble, cry and swipe at her face, just hoping I make at least a little contact. But it doesn't work like I had hoped, but luckily for me, she has been struck with the fear of my actions as her eyes widen and her mouth drops open. Her hands went straight up hoping to 'fend' herself from me, but that wouldn't have helped her if I wasn't held back. "Let me go.. she deserves this.. she was my family and she betrayed me." I yell out, just hoping the man behind me will let me go, but he does not.

"The guards listen to me only." The King spats in my face as he demands. "Guards escort your Queen back to the castle.. and take this trollop to the dungeons.. I will speak to her privately later." He says to the guard behind me as I shake my head, kicking and screaming out as he picks me up off of my feet, taking me out of the room. I pass by my friends as they fight just as I have to try to help me, but the guard's strong hold is too much for them. I shake my head at them. "Stop fighting.. please. I don't want anything to happen to you two. I love you both and thank you for trying to help me. I will be alright.. Just don't worry about me and have a good life." I declare quickly to them as we pass by.