As Anne burst through the first branches of the thick forest and balanced herself against the trunk of the nearest tree, all she could think about was where she could hide. Beads of sweat trickled down her oval face and dampened her raven hair. In an effort to calm down, Anne clutched her chest and gulped down the woody air, desperately trying to revive her parched lungs. After running for a little over half a mile, fatigue was finally beating her into submission.
She had no idea how far her pursuers were behind her. The only instruction she had gotten from Captain Alder was to run as fast as she could away from their ambushed carriage. It had all happened so fast. The carriage shuddering to a halt, the screaming voices, the driver being thrown from his seat, all these images seared through her mind. Anne squeezed her eyes shut and tried to forget. Did the captain and his men survive the assault? She wondered if she would ever see them again.
Anne probed deeper into the wood, staying as close as she could to the ground. She found a pine with a large hollow in it, big enough for her to hide inside and stand in comfortably. Anne remembered a time when she wouldn’t have dared crawl into something teeming with bugs and the like. But those times were long gone. She slipped into the opening and prayed that she would go undiscovered. With a sigh, Anne slid down the inside of the trunk and sat on the soft forest floor.
Finally able to relax for a moment, Anne gathered herself together and assessed her belongings. With her free hand, she felt that her dagger and small food pouch were still attached to her belt, as well as a compass and water canteen. She hadn’t had to use the knife yet, but that time seemed to be nearing every minute. She grabbed the water canteen and gulped down half of the contents. The cool water flowed down her throat satisfyingly.
Her other hand was wrapped around a small bundle covered in thick blankets. Even though Anne had suffered some minor cuts and bruises, the package she held remained unscathed. Carefully, she lifted the blanket and revealed the tiny head of an infant boy, asleep in her arms. Smiling, she looked over his tuft of coal black hair, pink cheeks, and miniature hands poking out from the blanket, just underneath his chin. Around his neck was the pendant she had given him only a few hours before; a silver link chain with a brilliant red feather upon it.
“Spread out! She can’t be far!”
Anne snapped her head up. Stern voices echoed through the brush forcing her to quickly cover the sleeping boy over. She pressed herself against the inside of the tree, willing herself to be invisible. Fear swept over her like an enormous wave, sending chills down her spine. She hugged the child close to her, trying to summon the courage to keep her going. When the noise seemed further away, Anne slowed peeked out from her hiding place. Three men had entered the wood behind her, the same men that had attacked her carriage. Grief washed over Anne as she thought about the fates of the captain and his men. As she feared, they were Lethonian soldiers, all armed with bows and swords. What would she do if they looked inside the hollow? There was no way to escape if she was caught in there. She had to move, and quickly. As the voices began to fade, Anne carefully tried to inch out of the hollow and away from the pine. All she needed was to build some distance.
SNAP.
The sound vibrated throughout the silent wood and sent birds flying from their nests. Anne’s heart skipped a beat as she looked down. A twig lay on the ground, snapped in two by the heel of her boot.
“There she is!”
Spotted, Anne broke into a run. Arrows cut through the air on both sides of her, narrowly missing.
“Aim, you fools!”
Another wave of arrows flew by, this time, more accurate. Two arrows struck Anne’s body, one hitting the lower right side of her abdomen, just grazing her. The other found its home deep below her left shoulder blade. Pain exploded from the two wounds, causing Anne to stagger in agony.
Somehow still keeping her balance, Anne ran on, further into the wood until she stumbled onto a dirt path. A little ways down, the path split into two, extending into opposite poles of the forest. Just before the split was a large boulder which Anne limped over to and hid behind. She picked up a broken fern and brushed her foot prints away from the trail. Wincing in pain, she slid down the back of the rock and prayed that she was well hidden enough. She heard the rushed footsteps of the guards pass her and come to a stop at the crossroads.
“Curse this wood!” said one of the soldiers.
“How could we have lost her so quickly?”said another.
“I don’t know. I’m certain that I hit her though.”
“She sure can run.”
“Silence, both of you!” shouted the third pursuer. His voice was gruff, much more vicious than the other two. The soldiers were immediately silent and waited for the third man to speak. “She will be headed this way, towards Regalia. Getting to Nordos is her only sanctuary now.”
“But sir, there is no way that she can make it all that way in her condition.”
“Which is why I am certain we will catch her.”
Pain radiated through Anne’s back and spots were dancing in front of her eyes. She needed them to leave, and quickly. She looked around for a distraction. A large stone stood out in the grassy floor. Anne palmed it and threw it as far as she could towards the path to Regalia. It clattered to the ground amongst the shadowed trees.
“See? She’s given herself away already. After her!” And the men all ran down the path, disappearing into the darkness.
Anne had bought herself a little time, but where would she go now? The plan had been to go to Regalia. The Lethonian guards would not have jurisdiction, therefore granting her amnesty. But there was no way she could get there now. Not with the wounds she had. She would have to figure something else out. Anne slowly unwrapped the cloth sling that held the baby and placed him onto the earth beside her. She wondered if she would have the strength to pick him up again. She smiled weakly, seeing that after all of the ruckus, he still remained sound asleep. Slowly, she tried to remove her cape but stopped instantly as pain seared through her body. Her back was wet with blood as was the rock she had been leaning against. The arrow in Anne’s back was in such a position that she couldn’t reach to take it out. She would just have to endure it for now.
So now what? Going to Regalia was obviously out so she would have to find somewhere else. But Anne didn’t have a clue where she was, being the farthest she had ever been away from home. Only the captain knew the area here, but he was gone.
Anne looked down the other path that branched off from the fork. It was just as dark and uninviting as the path to Regalia. Who knew if this path would lead into the deepest regions of the forest as well as her doom? But…it could also lead to help. It was a gamble, but Anne had to hope for the best.
“Ok. Ok. We can do this,” she said as she managed to stand up wrap the baby back up into the sling. Her shoulder felt as though it were on fire, pulsing from the arrow still lodged in her back as well the now the added weight from the boy. Painfully, Anne moved forwards toward the path, away from the direction taken by the guards.
The only light in the wood was that from the moon, which hung low in the sky, large and full. The trees shone silver in the moonlight, giving them an eerie glow. Anne hugged the baby closer to her, now realizing the numerous other dangers that lurked in forests. Her mind began to play tricks on her. She started to see eyes in the darkness and hear growls in the wind. Wanting to get out of the wood as fast as possible, Anne broke into a run and went as fast as she could until she finally reached the edge of the forest.
Anne peered out over the landscape. The path from the wood extended into a large grassy field dotted with wild flowers. Wind ripped through the tall grass making it lap back and forth like the ocean. Anne’s breath caught as she saw that on the other side of the field was a small village. The place couldn’t have been bigger than an acre, lost in a nook within rolling hills. It was quaint and small, seemingly untouched by the outside world. Perfect, Anne thought. She struggled down the path towards the town, happy she had found a place to hide for the time being.
“Just a little farther now,” she spoke into the bundle in her arms. Anne slinked through the town entrance easily, finding no guards to block her. The houses that lined the path were all adorably homey but lifeless. Not one window had light. It must be terribly late, she thought. Anne turned right a crossroads and made her way up to the first house that she saw. She banged on the door a few times but got no answer. She got this from the next three houses that she went up to. How could no one hear her cries? Someone had to be awake.
There was one more building left on the road, a little bit isolated from the rest. It was a small cottage, built of brick with a bright blue door. Buttercups grew in the surrounding garden and hung from the windowsills. Anne stumbled up the steps and pounded on the door. Please, she thought, please let someone hear me. But after a few minutes she didn’t hear any movement from inside. So, with all her might, Anne threw herself into the door. She nearly passed out from the pain, but a light began to flicker through the window.
“Who the hell is trying to break my door?” The door was wrenched open and Anne fell into the arms of a large man. She peered up to see a round, bearded face with considerable shock upon it.
“What the devil!” said the man.
“Please…help me…” croaked Anne. She tried to rebalance herself but only managed to fall over again.
“What’s happened?” The man saw that Anne was bleeding and his face turned grim. He caught Anne in the crook of his arm and transferred her weight onto himself.
“Th..thank you,” Anne said feebly.
The cottage was quite cozy inside although utilitarian in décor. The front room was spilt into two sections, kitchen on the left, sitting area on the right. A fire burned in the hearth opposite a plump brown couch, pleasantly warming the interior. Bookshelves lined the right wall along with a small desk with dozens of framed pictures upon it. The kitchen looked well kept but unused. A wooden table with four chairs sat to the left, in front of a cast iron stove and a large cabinet. Pots and pans hung from the ceiling, glinting in the light from the fire.
“Ma’am, my name is Gordon. Gordon Hillard. I don’t know if you know, but you’re in Barrington, the west end. Whatever has happened to you, I care not, but you’re bleeding very badly and we’ve got to stop that right away.”
Anne nodded her head weakly. Gordon helped her from the front room, down a narrow corridor and into a room on the right. It was quite small with a single cot against the wall. Gordon pushed Anne down onto the cot sideways so he could see the arrow coming out of her back.
“I’m no physician, but this looks serious. I’ve got to get some supplies and boil some water. Try not to move too much.” He said as he stood up to leave.
“Wait!”, said Anne as she moved to grab his arm.
“What miss?”
“My baby…”. She revealed the sleeping boy that had been hidden in the folds of her dress. She lifted him as best she could and gave the boy to Gordon. His eyes locked with Anne’s, boring into her with silent questions.
“I’m sorry. I know I’m wrong for…barging into your life but…I have no one else. Please…he’s my son.” Gordon took Anne’s son, opened one of the drawers in the cabinet across the room and placed the boy amongst the sweaters and scarves that were inside. Gordon smiled weakly at the child and then turned to leave the room.
Anne could hear Gordon stomp towards the kitchen and start the water. Anne wondered if she could trust this man who had let her into his home without a question. He could be alerting the authorities right now, she thought. However, it didn’t matter anymore, Anne didn’t have anymore strength to keep running.
She did wish she could apologize.
To Gordon, for descending on his quiet life.
And to her son…for everything.
She felt guilt swell up inside, pushing up her windpipe and settling into a lump in her throat. The tears that streamed over her bruised cheek and onto her lips tasted salty and moist. Anne choked them back, willing herself to be strong. She breathed deep but even that hurt.
Her son finally awoke in the drawer across the room and began moving his tiny arms. She wished that she could get up to hold him. Anne closed her eyes and thought about everything she had been through and all of the people who had lost their lives trying to protect her.
Gordon walked back into the room and placed a steaming pot water on the table beside the cot. He drew a chair over to the bed and proceeded to examine the arrow lodged in Ria’s back. He started to grab it but then hesitated.
“Are you a felon?” he asked.
Anne shook her head no.
“Are you a soldier?”
Anne shook her head again.
“How did this happen?”
Anne thought for a moment, wondering how much information to reveal.
“M-my husband was a Lethonian soldier. We were trying to get out of the country because we didn’t agree with the war. But on our way out we were spotted by the dictator’s men.”
Gordon looked concerned.
“Will they come here?”
“No…I managed to get away. They think I’ve gone…to Regalia.”
He pondered this a moment.
“Good. Now hold still.”
Gordon ripped the fabric away from her cape. He placed one hand firmly against Anne’s back and gripped the arrow with the other. Anne curled her fists around the sheets underneath her and howled in pain as Gordon removed the arrow. Blood flowed freely from the open wound, warming her skin and making her feel light-headed. Gordon dipped a cloth in the hot water and cleaned the cut. He then wrapped a white bandage around her shoulder, as tightly as he could, to stop the bleeding.
“This doesn’t look good. We need to get you to a doctor. You’ve lost a lot of blood already and if I can’t stop it, you’ll bleed to death.”
Blood had already soaked through the first bandage. Gordon wrapped another one over it.
“What’s your name?”
“That’s not important.”
Gordon eyed her suspiciously. “You trust me with you life and son, but not your name?”
“It’s….my name is Katherine.” Anne wasn’t taking any chances with her real name.
“Ok, Katherine. Is your husband meeting you somewhere?” asked Gordon.
“He…he didn’t make it. He’s dead,” said Anne bitterly.
“Oh. I’m sorry for your loss. Do you have any family left?"
“Not anymore…only my son.”
Gordon looked back to little hands poking out of the chest of drawers.
“What is his name?”
Anne closed her eyes and etched her son’s little face into her memory.
“Aiden. His name is Aiden.”
“Hey, you’ve got to keep your eyes open okay? Stay awake.” said Gordon.
Anne gripped Gordon’s arm and stared into his brown eyes.
“Listen to me. I need you to take care of my son.”
“Wha—“
“Listen! Promise me that you’ll take care of him…and protect him no matter what happens!”
“Miss you can do that yourself once we get you to a doctor.”
“…Promise..me…”. Her blue eyes bored into Gordon.
“I can’t make a promise like that!”
“Promise me! I have no one left!” demanded Anne.
“Alright, alright! Just lay down and save your strength.”
“Thank you…”. She released Gordon’s arm and laid back down on the bed. She closed her eyes again.
“Hey, what did I say? You have to keep your eyes open! C’mon wake up!”
“I’m just…I’m so…tired…”
“I know but you can’t sleep, we’ve got to stop this bleeding. And I am sure that you have some family somewhere. We could contact them and…”
But Anne wasn’t listening anymore. She didn’t hurt, she wasn’t sad, she knew her job was done. She didn’t want to leave, but as long as he was safe, she could go.
“Miss, stay awake!” said Gordon as he shook her violently. But it wasn’t any use. Anne wasn’t there any more.