Lithuwyn slammed the door shut behind them, she turned the
key and rattled the handle to make sure it was locked, before leaning her back
against it and letting out a deep worried sigh. She looked at her younger
sister who was still starring at the door, her face pale with fear.
"He wouldn't dare Selest, calm down. It's safe
now" Those words didn't come easy, as her conscience screamed to her Save? Really save? Are you mad? This place
will never be save!
She contemplated the trembling girl for a moment and walked
towards her, putting an arm around her, she lead her towards the bed “You
should rest, it’s been a long day and tomorrow will be another...” Selestyn
looked back at her, shaking her head slowly “I c-can’t s-sleep, w-what i-if...”
Lithuwyn did not let her finish, hushing the girl softly she stroked a lock of
golden hair from Selest’s face “I will stay here and watch, so you can sleep
soundly. I won’t leave your side, ever again...” The younger girl nodded then
and climbed under the covers, her meek body still shivering slightly. Lithuwyn
walked over to the fireplace and added a few more logs for additional warmth. I will kill that bastard if I must...
Bloody plans clouded her mind then as she gazed into the flames. From time to
time she cast a glance at her sister, sleeping uneasy, bad dreams and memories
of the worse reality haunting her. This could not go on.
Lithuwyn peered out of the small window. Dawn was near, even
though the courtyard still lay in darkness. She could make out a few torches
where the night’s watch patrolled the balustrades of the homestead. She waited
and observed for a while. None of the flickering lights were moving so the
watchmen were likely asleep or occupied with games and mead.
Lithuwyn turned around and looked at her sister. She was
sleeping, even though her dreams still seemed troubled, her body twitching now
and then and her eyelids moving. The days events likely occupying the girl's sleep.
Quietly Lithu moved to the big wooden chest against the far
wall and opened it, cringing as the hinges squeaked loudly I meant to oil that, I remember... Still frowning, she grabbed a
leathery bag and turned it upside down to empty it of Selestyn's things, she
watched small pieces of wood land on the floor, some had been carved on the
edges, yet the work had not yet been completed. Lithuwyn shook her head and
picked the wood up again and replaced it inside the bag, she'll need this to keep her mind of things, with that thought she
picked a small wood-carving knife from the trunk, grabbed a few clothes, warm,
comfortable and practical pieces and stuffed the bag with as much as would fit.
She closed the bag and tied the ends so nothing could fall out. She glanced
back towards the bed, at the sleeping girl. She raised up slowly and walked
over to her, gently placing a hand on her arm she shook her a little,
whispering for her to wake up.
Selestyn opened her eyes and looked at Lithuwyn a little
startled "Is something wrong? Is he back?" Her voice broke as she
spoke, she was clearly upset and scared. Lithuwyn hushed her sister and moved
her hand to move a lock of Selestyn's golden hair from her face and tuck it
behind her ear "Everything is fine... but you have to get up, put this
on... We're leaving" She placed a bundle of fur and leather covered
clothing in front of Selestyn and before the girl could protest she raised her
index finger to her lips "Shhh, quietly..." I'll be dead if he finds out...
While Selestyn began to get dressed, Lithuwyn stripped the
bed of blankets, folded up two and then began to rip a few sheets into strips
of cloth. Selestyn cast a confused glance at her older sister but dared not
ask. Once dressed and packed with Selestyn carrying two blankets and Lithuwyn
the rest the girls sneaked through dark corridors as quietly as possible,
making their way down to the stables.
As they reached their destination they slipped inside and
closed the gates behind them. Selestyn walked over to her beloved gelding
Sawoldreor and stroked the beasts flank whispering softly to him while Lithuwyn
gathered up saddles and reins and began to ready the horses. She knelt before
Sawoldreor and one by one fixed some of the scraps off cloth she ripped up
before to his hooves, she looked up to Selestyn "This should make us a
little quieter" she then moved on to do the same to her own steed. Once
satisfied that everything was secured to the horses, Lithuwyn grasped her
sisters hand and looked at her "Wait right here... I'll be right back.
Promise not to move till I return." The younger girls nodded in response
and then hugged her gelding, watching Lithuwyn leave.
Lithuwyn slipped out of the stables as quietly as they had
come, closed the door behind her again. Selestyn settled nervously in the straw
listening out for every sound, gasping quietly at every shadow. What was only
minutes of being alone with the horses seemed to be hours to her. She wrapped
her arms around her knees and rested her head down, closing her eyes she tried
to remain calm. She looked up when Sawoldreor nudged her head with his nuzzle,
she reached up and scratched him gently behind the ears then got to her feet
and rested her head against his, whispering quietly to him "All will be
well, she knows what she's doing, all will be well..."
Moments later the stable door opened slowly and Lithuwyn
stepped back inside, two bows swung over her shoulder several swords wrapped up
in a blanket, a spear harnessed at her back and another sword and a dagger
sheathed at her sides.
"You ready?" Lithuwyn did not wait for a reply
this time but handed her little sister a leather belt with a dagger sheathed in
it. Selestyn tied the belt securely around her waist and the two of them began
to lead the horses out of the stable, suddenly Selest stopped and peered over
at her sister "Wait..." she turned around and hurried back to the
stable and back to where her horse had stood before. She kicked aside some hay
and uncovered a small wooden trunk. She opened it carefully and pulled out a
small cloth bag. It looked to be made with a lot of care, stitching of horses
and colourful designs decorated it. She grasped the bag close to her heart and
nodded before rushing back to her horse and fixing the bag to the saddle
"Mother's harp..." she said quietly as she saw the questioning look
upon her sisters face, who now nodded and proceeded to move out of the stable
into the darkness of the night.
It was a clear night, faint moonlight helped see the path,
and the stars would make it a little easier to find the intended route. Slowly,
quietly they made their way to one of the side gates of the settlement, they
opened it with as little noise as they could and walked though it, when torches
appeared above them on the wooden tower and a deep voice shouted through the
night "Ready your bows!" Surely
he wouldn't? Lithuwyn's thoughts raced as she tried to make some sense of
what she heard. Had her father really just given an order to shoot them both
down? She peered at Selest and nodded "mount up and start riding as fast
as you can! DON'T look back, sister! No matter what you hear keep riding!"
Selest swung herself up on her gelding and clicked her tongue setting the
animal first into a canter then into a gallop. She could hear arrows piercing
the air around them and the hooves of Lithuwyn's steed right behind her, followed
by other horses she did not care to think about.
A scream broke the monotonous beating of hooves on the
ground, it was Lithuwyn's... "Keep riding!" She shouted, yet pain
filled her voice. Selestyn did as she was told and kept riding, laying low on
her horse back. Lithuwyn reached for her shoulder and snapped the arrow that
had hit her there while she bit hard into the leather of her rains. Keep riding... Keep riding...
