Banished

Muffled voices swirl around my head. As I try to register what's happening, I feel a wet towel furiously dabbing my face.

"Uh?"

"Her fingers moved! I think she's awake!" I hear a voice which resembles that of my mother's.

I flicker my eyes, but a blinding light hits my face, and I whip them shut immediately.

"Lyanna! Lyanna! My dear, can you hear me?"

I try to open my eyes again. This time the light is not as blinding as before. It takes me a few seconds before I'm able to adjust my eyes.

"Lyanna," my mother wraps her arms around me weeping on my neck.

"What happened?" I manage to ask.

My eyes are finally open, and I survey my surroundings. I'm not on my bed, I'm not in my room, but I'm on the cold floor at the palace with the king, my father, and my mother staring at me.

My mother is wailing seriously for whatever reason best known to her, my father doesn't even spare me a glance, he just stares into space, his eyes distant.

"Lyanna Sanders, can you explain what made you cross that wall even when your father asked you not to?" The king finally speaks up.

The way he sounds is not good at all. I smell doom.

I swallow hard, my face all sweaty.

"Don't keep me waiting, young woman, answer me!" He yells.

"I... I wanted to.." I swallow hard again, feeling myself trembling all over.

"Speak up!" My father hollers.

Tears prick the back of my eyes the moment I realize I'm doomed.

"I.. wanted to retrieve my.. tennis ball," I choke on my words, knowing how foolish it sounds.

I catch my father glancing at me with hurt in his eyes. He is most definitely disappointed in me.

"I did say I would get you a new one, didn't I?" His voice is barely above a whisper.

I drop my head in shame because I can't stand any of their disappointed gazes.

"Lyanna Sanders, you do realize you've made a huge mistake? Crossing over to the borders of our enemies?" The king asks.

I sniffle, tears pouring down my cheeks, "Yes," I whisper.

"You've done something unforgivable, and will be punished immediately."

"Your majesty please..."

"No Matthew, we will respect the rules, just as they are."

"Your majesty, she is only a child. Please tamper justice with mercy," my mother cries.

"Your daughter knew the rules, Elizabeth. She should not have broken them."

My heart twists painfully at his words. The knot at the back of my throat tightens, making it difficult for me to breathe.

"Lyanna Sanders, by power vested on me as the king of the faery kingdom, you are hereby banished from the realm. You are to depart the kingdom at once and shall not return upon pain of death. May the winds carry you far, and may you find peace beyond our borders."

I whip my head up in disbelief at his words, "What? You're banishing me?"

"Lyanna, you just can't seem to understand what you've done. Those people are our enemies, we are not to interact with them in any way, hence that wall," he adds.

I look at my father, "Father say something! You'd let him banish me just like that?!" I yell.

My father doesn't look at me. Instead he looks away, and I can tell he's trying to hide his tears.

"Your majesty please!" My mother falls at his feet sobbing, "Please! She's my eldest child! Don't take her away from me!"

"I'm sorry Elizabeth, but the laws have to be followed."

"No! I'm not leaving! You can't banish me!" I scream at the top of my lungs.

"Your majesty! Please!" She clutches his legs, but my father walks over, grabs her arm, pulling her away.

"Elizabeth, crying won't do anything. It has already been done."

"Don't you dare say that, Matthew! She's your daughter!" My mother pushes him away.

"She's isn't a child! I had already warned her earlier today, why was it so hard for her to listen to me?!"

"Father," I run to hold his legs, "Forgive me father, what I did was stupid, but please don't let him send me away, where would I go?" I wrap my arms around his legs.

"Let go of me, Lyanna," he warns.

"Guards! Guards!" The king calls for the guards.

Three hefty men on white three-piece suits rush in.

"Take her away to the main hall. Now."

The men advanced towards me, grabbing my arms.

"No!" I yell, "Let go of me! Let go of me! Mother! Mother!" I yell so loud.

"Lyanna, my child!" She tries to run after me, but father holds her back.

"Elizabeth stay put!" He scolds her.

"Leave my daughter alone! Leave her alone!" She screams.

I kick as hard as I can, trying to scratch at them but to no avail. They're too strong.

I am being hoisted towards the main hall.

I cry hard, and loud, begging to be released, but no one pays attention to my cries.

The guards arrive at the main hall. Many people are already in, seated.

Audible gasps fill the room as I'm being carried into the hall.

They carry me up to the podium that's above the rest of them.

With a heavy heart, I just accept my fate. I just collapse to the ground as they let me to the ground, sobbing heavily.

...

"Therefore, Lyanna has been banished from the faery kingdom, and upon the pain of death, she is bound not to return."

The clerk to the king reads out to the people.

My mother collapses to the ground as soon as the proclamation is read out. Some guards rush to take her out of the hall.

My father just bows his head in shame. I can see his shoulders shaking due to his crying.

"Take her out of here."

Arms encircle mine, making me stand to my feet. Slowly, I'm being led out of the hall amidst the disappointed eyes of the crowd.

Murmurs arise because I'm being led out.

My head hangs in sorrow, unable to look up.

Soon, I'm being led to the gate, never to return again.

"Lyanna."

I pause in my tracks, and look over my shoulders to see my father running towards me.

When he reaches me, the guards step away.

He squeezes something into my hand.

"The Faery goddess be with you," he places a hand on my head.

This time I see the tears in his eyes, but he tries so hard to blink them back.

"Farewell Lyanna," he takes some steps backwards, then turns on his heels, never looking back.

My heart shatters into a million pieces as he hurries away. I look at me, it's a credit card.

"Come on, you should leave." One of the guards snaps at me.

Numb, I drag my feet to the gate, never to return again.