CHAPTER 5 (The Run And The Protector)

Chapter 5: The Run and the Protector

The night was moonless, the sky a blanket of darkness punctuated by faint stars. The mistress of the palace, clutching the infant Seraphim tightly to her chest, moved swiftly through the forest. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding in her ears. She knew the penalty for her actions—death. But she also knew that leaving Seraphim to Varek's mercy would have been a fate far worse than her own.

Seraphim, swaddled in a blanket, whimpered softly against her chest. The sound both comforted and terrified her. She cooed softly, trying to calm him, her voice trembling with both fear and determination. "Shh, little one," she whispered. "We'll be safe soon."

The dense forest seemed to close in around her, every rustling leaf and snapping twig a potential threat. The path ahead was treacherous, uneven with roots and rocks that threatened to trip her at every step. She had memorized this escape route long ago, knowing it would one day be her only salvation. Yet, she had never imagined she would be running with the royal heir in her arms.

Behind her, the faint sound of voices grew louder. The guards had noticed her absence. She knew it was only a matter of time before they discovered what she had done. Her pace quickened, her legs burning with the effort of carrying both the baby and her own fear.

Suddenly, a shout rang out, cutting through the stillness of the forest. "Over there! She's heading for the woods!"

Her blood ran cold. A guard had spotted her. She glanced over her shoulder, her heart sinking as she saw the faint glimmer of torches bobbing in the distance. The alarm had been raised. They were coming for her, and they would show no mercy.

The mistress pushed herself harder, her feet slipping on the damp leaves underfoot. Her lungs burned, and her arms ached from holding Seraphim, but she couldn't stop. Not now. Not when the boy's life depended on her.

The shouts grew closer, the pounding of boots on the forest floor echoing in her ears. She darted off the path, weaving between the trees in a desperate attempt to lose her pursuers. The forest was her ally now, its dense foliage shielding her from view. But it was also a maze, and she knew one wrong turn could spell disaster.

Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed through the forest. An arrow whizzed past her, embedding itself in a tree trunk just inches from her head. She stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to regain her balance. Fear surged through her veins, giving her the strength to keep going.

"Stop!" a guard shouted, his voice laced with anger and frustration. "You can't escape!"

She didn't answer, her focus entirely on the path ahead. She could hear the guards crashing through the undergrowth behind her, their shouts growing louder with every step. She was running out of time.

As she burst into a small clearing, her foot caught on a root, and she fell to the ground with a cry. Seraphim wailed, his small voice piercing the night. The mistress scrambled to her feet, clutching the baby protectively. She looked around frantically, her mind racing for a solution. There was nowhere to hide.

The guards burst into the clearing, their torches casting flickering shadows on the trees. The mistress backed away, her heart hammering in her chest. She was cornered.

"Hand over the child," one of the guards demanded, his voice cold and unyielding. "You've nowhere left to run."

She clutched Seraphim tighter, her body trembling with fear. "Please," she begged, her voice breaking. "He's just a baby. Leave him be."

The guards didn't answer. They advanced slowly, their weapons drawn, their faces grim. The mistress closed her eyes, whispering a silent prayer. She had failed. There was no escape.

But then, a low growl rumbled through the clearing, sending a chill down her spine. The guards froze, their eyes darting around in confusion. The growl grew louder, more menacing, until it seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.

From the shadows of the forest, a massive bear emerged. Its fur was dark as the night, its eyes glowing with an almost otherworldly light. It stood on its hind legs, towering over the guards, its presence both majestic and terrifying.

The guards hesitated, their confidence faltering. One of them took a step back. "What in the gods' name is that?" he whispered.

The bear let out a deafening roar, its voice echoing through the forest like thunder. The sound was enough to send the guards into a frenzy. They raised their weapons, shouting orders to each other, but it was too late. The bear charged.

The mistress watched in stunned silence as the creature barreled into the guards with incredible speed and power. It swiped at them with its massive claws, sending them flying like ragdolls. The torches fell to the ground, extinguished in the damp earth, plunging the clearing into darkness.

The guards fought back, but their weapons were no match for the bear's ferocity. One by one, they fell, their cries of pain and terror filling the night. The mistress could only watch, frozen in fear, as the bear decimated her pursuers.

When the last guard had fallen silent, the bear turned its glowing eyes toward her. She gasped, clutching Seraphim tightly. Her body trembled as the creature approached, its massive form casting a shadow over her.

She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the end. But instead of attacking, the bear stopped a few feet away. It stood there, staring at her with an intensity that made her shiver. For a moment, the forest was silent, save for the soft whimpers of the baby in her arms.

The mistress opened her eyes, her breath catching in her throat. The bear was watching her, its gaze almost… gentle. It lowered its head slightly, as if acknowledging her. She stared back, unable to move, unable to speak.

And then, without a sound, the bear turned and disappeared into the forest, its massive form swallowed by the shadows. The mistress remained on the ground, trembling, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

Seraphim stirred in her arms, his cries fading into soft murmurs. She held him close, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she whispered, though she wasn't sure who—or what—she was thanking. The gods? The bear? Fate itself?

Gathering her strength, she rose to her feet. The clearing was littered with the bodies of the guards, their torches extinguished, their weapons scattered. She didn't linger. She couldn't afford to. Clutching Seraphim, she moved forward, her steps unsteady but determined.

As she disappeared into the forest, the memory of the bear lingered in her mind. It had saved her, spared her and the child. She didn't know why, but she knew one thing for certain: they had been given a second chance.

Somewhere deep in the forest, the bear watched them go, its glowing eyes flickering once before it vanished into the shadows. The forest fell silent once more, as if the events of the night had been nothing but a dream.

But for the mistress and the child, it was a night they would never forget.

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