Time is running

Alaric ran towards the door, trying to get away as quickly as he could, without further thought or query. King Larson called his name just as he was about to step outside the hallway, causing him to stop. Savannah, who was terrified, and Ezekiel all rushed in the direction of the king and the guard.

"King Alaric, think things over before acting on impulse." Ezekiel nodded in agreement as King Larson made his statement.

But," Alaric said.

"Brother, King Larson is right." Ezekiel spoke.

The man repeated himself after turning to face them. "The queen is in agony, and she requested the king," As he said, he turned to face Alaric.

"I should leave," Alaric spoke as fresh droplets of sweat adorned his temples, indicating increasing mental tension.

Ezekiel said, "I'll go with you."

It's your wedding day, so no,

"Prince is right, we'll go with you." Savannah comfortingly said. That caused Alaric to cry, and he nodded.

The celebration quickly came to an end, and as the guests left the castle, they started talking among themselves about what had happened. The remaining visitors were taken care of by King Larson, who reassured them that nothing to worry about. King Larson took precautions to prevent the word from leaving the place. They all prepared to go for the Josen Kingdom on the same night. Alaric was feeling awful; guilt came over him after telling his brother the night before to enjoy his day, and now they were racing their way. As he considered the worst-case scenarios, tears streamed down his face. Alaric rode ahead with the guard, while Ezekiel and Savannah rode in the carriage a bit behind. Ezekiel remained glancing out the window as the news hit him hard. Diona was like a sister to her.

How quickly the lovely ceremonial evening turned into a horror! Nobody would have considered it. Everyone was singing and dancing one moment, and then the night was silent. There was nothing but the sound of horses trotting and carriage wheels.

Alaric didn't have enough time to go the northern route that would have taken two days. He was constantly sobbing and panting. He figured that it couldn't be the usual labor pains because the maids and guards wouldn't call him right away. The king followed the guard because he used shortcuts to get there in time. The roads were small, and the carriage that Ezekiel and Savannah were travelling could not use shortcuts. As a result, they split off, with the carriage going the direct route and Alaric riding his horse to the shortcut.

He continued to chant while moving at top speed. His throat was burning from continual panting and heavy breathing, but he chose to ignore it. He couldn't think clearly because he was blaming himself for not being present with Diona, and he loathed his fate. Even though the shortcuts felt like the longest route, he continued looking at the moon, which shone brightly. As the canopy formed a shed, its light fell dimly on the road. The road seemed so lengthy that even his tears dried up.

He knew he was getting close because the shortcuts took him to the forbidden place. Just that he will get home in time was all he prayed. He had no idea how long they had been on the road, but eventually the light began to rise and the sound of birds chirping could be heard. The evening was over. Finally, the terrible night was over. The horses were moving continuously without stopping, as if they understood how crucial the situation was. Alaric hoped that Diona and the child were safe despite his deep knowledge that he would not arrive in time. "Stay safe, please. I'm coming." He murmured to himself. But every living organism has limits, and it appears like something stopped the horses from going any further. Alaric's horse abruptly came to a halt and collapsed. Alaric slipped as he fought to keep his footing. The guard who was accompanying him came to a halt and assisted the king in getting up.

"Your Majesty, are you all right?" The king nodded as the guard inquired.

"The horses are exhausted."

"We should take a break. Your Majesty, I'll fetch you some food."

Alaric nodded again and leaned back against the tree. He closed his eyes and prayed to God to protect his family. His horse neighed and lowered its head, as if to apologize. Alaric touched the horse softly "This is not your fault. Ease up." The horse closed its eyes as he said.

After a while, the guard returned with some fruit and water to drink. He softly awoke the monarch as he slipped off to sleep and offered him the berries. They sat for a time after feeding their horses. The king continued looking at the guard as though he wanted to ask a question. The guard groaned briefly as he realized what he was about to ask.

"The queen was fine yesterday morning. She went about her daily tasks and smiled with the maidens. But then, as though a wave of misery washed over the castle, she grasped her stomach. The head maiden assumed everything was normal until—" He paused to glance at the king, who was listening intently to everything he said. The guard inhaled deeply. "Until her breath became obstructed and she requested you."

"Obstructed?" the king inquired, immediately rising. The guard and horses stood up as well, looking at the king.

"I'm not sure, your Majesty." He paused once more. "It was as though someone was pulling the air from her lungs."

The king's sense of terror overcame him once more, and he climbed the horse. The animal seemed compliant enough, and from what he could tell, it was prepared to run. Alaric didn't waste any more time and gave the horse a small kick to get it moving. Alaric sobbed because he lost control of his emotions. He became more anxious as a result of the new information and couldn't stop thinking about Diona. Looking at the sun, it appeared like it would take an additional several hours to travel from the forbidden land to the castle.

The sun began to set in the west for what seemed like hours. It would be a mistake to say so, but the sky was the most beautiful. The slight orange hue enhanced its gleam. The orange sun appeared to be drowning. The surroundings appeared to be silent, as though there was some energy around. As Alaric sensed the old fear, a shudder crawled through his veins. He remembered that day, the day that still haunted him, the day his family was cursed. He could now see the town after exiting the forest and forbidden land. To his amazement, the town was beautifully decorated yet appeared to be empty. The doors were shut as if trespassers had broken in. He arrived at his grand entrance after crossing the village. And the castle appeared to get larger by the minute. He was almost there. As he approached the castle, a feeling of serenity washed over him, and he sighed in relief.

The massive iron doors swung wide, as if the guards had realized the king had arrived. The horses came to a standstill as the King and his guard entered the castle. The king leaped from his horse and began running. The soldiers and servants bowed before him, but he continued to run. He ran until he arrived at the queen's chamber. The door was shut and the guards stood guard. He moved more slowly and stopped in front of the door. As the king approached, the guards bowed. When they saw the king's condition, their eyes widened. He had droopy eyes, untidy hair, and dirty clothes, as if he hadn't slept. Alaric slowly pulled the door open while closing his eyes as the guards moved away.