Into the darkness

I was really scared on hearing those footsteps so the fastest way I could think of defending myself was attacking whoever it was with my candle stand before I'd start shouting and hopefully if my hit is strong enough and makes him pass out, I'll tie him up and hand him over to the guards. 'right Nardin, hit him hard on the head.' I thought to myself then tightened my grip on the candle stand.

The footsteps stopped right in front of my door. I swallowed hard, my heart was beating at that moment. Slowly, the doorknob turned and the door clicked open. As soon as the person made his way in I quickly attacked him with the candle stand but he quickly dodged it and held my wrist firmly. That was when I realized who it was.

"Liam!" I screamed in surprise.

"Nardin!" He also expressed his shock before he let go of my arm.

I quickly pulled him in for a tight hug without even realizing it. "Where have you been? I've been really worried about you." I said to him before I broke free from the hug.

"I'm... I... It's none of your business Nardin." He responded as he looked away and started walking into the room.

"It's none of my business? Liam, you let us stay in danger and it's none of my business? I thought... I... I thought we had a connection that night, I thought we were finally going to be... You know what? Never mind. I probably thought so highly of myself. You're nothing like your brother Percy." I said in tears and walked to the bed to force myself to sleep but honestly couldn't.

Liam stood there for quite some minutes staring at me. He was sorry but couldn't admit it. I silently waited and hoped he'll say sorry or just show that he was sorry but he never did and what he said next came as a shock to me.

"I'm going out. I'll see you at dawn." He said and without even caring if I heard him or not, he walked away.

As soon as Liam left the room, I got up, pulled my black hood over my head and body, and then followed him into the darkness where he was headed but before I left, I went to check on the queen and the in their chambers and the king was still unconscious while the Queen sat on his bed and placed her head on his body. She had already sent out so many guards and knights to the black river and none of them came back yet. She was alone so I left and quickly followed Liam, my husband.

I wanted to find out what he always went out at night to do. I kept a trail on him until suddenly I lost him, I was so sure I followed him closely but suddenly he was gone. I couldn't see him anymore and oh lights I was in the middle of the forest where I'm sure I'll not be able to find my way home.

"Shit, where did he go now?" I muttered. I looked around and couldn't find a lead back home. My heart was suddenly starting to beat heavily. I was lost and there was no sign of my husband anywhere neither was there a sign of home anywhere. I turned and decided to head back to the road I came through but it looked different. I started to make my way back slowly until I heard someone or something rumbling in the trees. I quickly halted thinking I was probably doing it myself but the rumbling continued. This time the sound increased.

"Who... Who's there?" I finally asked after I summoned the courage to amidst my fear and worries. I was looking around when I noticed someone was behind me. I swallowed and slowly turned around to set eyes on Liam.

"Liam!" I exclaimed in shock.

"What are you doing here?" He asked without a smile on his face.

"I.. I.. I.." I started to stammer without making up a single sentence.

"You followed me, Nardin, why?" He asked again.

There was a rage in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." I said in fear.

Liam quickly grabbed my wrist and started to drag me back home. I didn't even realize when we got to the palace.

"Let go of me." I said as soon as we got into the room.

"How dare you..." Liam started but I stopped him.

"I am Nardin Eldrago Liam, your wife and I have the right to protect you." I said. What was I even saying? I could even see the surprise on Liam's face.

"Protect me?" He asked.

"Yes, Liam. If you will not protect me then I will protect you." I said.

"I don't protect you?" He said.

"Do you? Liam, there was a fire in this room last night and I was scared."

"Fire, are you hurt?" Liam asked with sincere concern in his eyes but I ignored his question and kept going.

"I was worried about you even when I was in danger but you, what did you do? You left without caring and then you come back and pick up a fight with me."

"Nardin I never meant to walk away just like that. I needed to fix things." He said.

"Fix what? I know you probably hate me but..."

"No, I don't. Maybe I've always not shown it Nardin but I care about you and I want to protect you." Liam finally admitted.

I was really confused. Was he serious or is this going to be just like the white river?

"And what happened at the Devata festival, did we have a connection or did you do it to piss Percy off?" I asked.

Liam kept mute for a while before he slowly pulled me close to him. "Nardin I... I..." But before he could say it, we heard the sounds of the warning bells.

Shit! What was going on? Those bells were never rung until there was an emergency in the palace or maybe great danger.

"Come on." Liam said to me and we both headed out to find out what the emergency was.