LK

My arms burned from hours of hauling firewood, but I couldn't stop. My father and I needed

o need to talk; we both understood what needed to be done. I bent down again, the so

ate rush... and it made me pause. My heart raced. I froze. Was my father behind m

sound, trying to track where it had come from. The forest

tree. His horse was nowhere to be seen. I didn't know why, but I couldn't ignore i

ng, but there was something wrong. His forehead was sm

thing quickened, as if he were trying to say something, but no words came. I didn't kno

going to

ething h

rough my fingertips, into his skin, deep into the wound on his head. My breath hitched when I saw his

is hair and face. I pulled my hands

y thoughts, a voice sho

prin

chest. I crouched behind a thick cluster of trees, the sound of hooves growing cl

e one I had helped. He was being lifted,

ther, disappearing

inst my ribs as I stared at them... at the smoothness, at the power that still seemed to pul

that man.

CE Z

is just forming again. I try to recall.

ak, my voice fore

ers quickly, stepping out from

tness under me. "What the hell happened?" I ask

uld be the one telling me that," he says. "You had blood all over your head, do

onfused. "

on

ming back in bits. "From the horse

igured. But the physician exam

it was blinding. It knocked m

laws deeper. Trees... wind... the

whisper, sitting up f

hor asks, hi

girl. She was there. She knelt beside me. S

"You sure you didn't imag

was real. I remember her

he asks. I can hear the disbel

I admit. "But I felt

slightly. Not from fear. But from know

ck," I say, clim

re?" Dare

woo

Your Highness, you're

at? Didn't you just say the physician f

say. "And I need answe

to argue, but I cut him o

the woods," I say

hat's

k on the doo

ened to me? My father?" I aske

prince," Darethor rep

ocking?" I growled, tens

eady moving. He reached th

..." he mutte

er eyes met mine briefly... then dropped to the floor with practiced grace.

al maid, like you requ

lust... though she was beautiful in a

uldn't catch. "What's your name?"

e and answered, "M