ONE LANE BACK

The chains groaned under her weight, a low metallic creak echoed off the walls. Every small movement, a shift to relieve the strain, sent a sharp clink through the silence.

The iron bars swung open as footsteps rang out against the stone floor; each step seemed deliberate, echoing off the walls in a rhythm that filled the room with dead silence.

The blazing flames from the torch swung across her face, as she slowly lifted her eyelids.

"Siiiisssss, srahhh…" She hissed violently, showing her fangs.

Pulling violently, the chains clinked from the rippings.

"Ha…Ha… well aren't you just terrifying?" Cersei mocked as she pulled Agatha's hair.

"You committed a grave offense! You slept with my husband." [Cersei smiled]

"You made the wrong woman your enemy, darling."

"I committed no offense." [she spat back at Cersei] "He came to me!"

"Let me go!

Please, I haven't eaten or drank in days." She slowly whimpered.

"My baby…my…ba…please spare us."

"Oh, so you're thirsty? I see." Snapping her fingers: "Guards, give her water."

Agatha felt like she was drowning, the sound of water colliding with the hard stony floor was heard. An unending fall she couldn't drink from.

She coughed violently, as she sobbed. "Please, let me go."

Cersei smirked, collecting the spike-full whip from the guard, as she swung violently at Agatha's stomach.

"Arhhhh…Ahhh…No…" Screams of anguish tore through Agatha, as every whip slit her skin open.

Cersei, having had enough, threw the whip to the ground in disgust as she caressed her stomach.

"I carry the true heir." Whatever demon you carry inside of you; will perish alongside your corpse.

"Take her to the field of deaths, and let her run to hers!"

Cersei, satisfied, walked elegantly, outside the iron bars; she whispered away from Agatha's hearing into the guard's ears.

"Follow her till the ends of the earth, and ensure you see her corpse."

"Yes my Queen." The soldiers responded by taking a bow.

The iron chains dropped to the grounds alongside her body.

They dragged her across the stone floor, her bare feet scraping against it.

"Regor," Agatha whispered as her heart shattered into a million shads. "Save me!"

"No one's going to save you." He said as he kicked her to the ground.

A soldier pulled his blade ready to cut through her throat.

"No brother, it wouldn't be fair now if we're biased to our new queen."

"You're right!" The other responded in a sarcastic tone.

"We shall play the game, shan't we?"

The others smiled in delight as they felt pleased.

"What…game?" Agatha muttered.

Crouching down beside her! He looked intently into her desperate eyes with pity.

"It's called ... RUN!!" he said as his face became stern.

Agatha, weak and heavy, trying to process what she was told, saw several guards aiming spears at her. Seeing this, she instinctively took to her heel.

Spears flew past her from every angle; fear and hopelessness gripped her all at once.

Pain shot through her senses as a spear scraped the skin off her hand as it flew past her, carrying parts of her flesh.

Stumbling to the ground, she feared she wouldn't make it. Laying there for a few seconds, she realized the constant firing of spears was no more! She could hear the men mocking and chattering from miles away.

Seizing the opportunity, she ran as fast as she could to the ends of the field and into the bushes she leaped.

Stung by the cactus plantation around the field, she pushed her way through as it pierced her from all angles. Enduring each sting, she cried as she saw spears flying at her!

The soldiers chased after her but stopped right in front of the cactus field.

"No way man! there's no way I'm going in there!

"She's getting away! Don't you see!" He shot violently at the other.

"Let's just go around it. There's no way she'll get that far;" The chief guard suggested.

A sharp yelp escaped her mouth as she tried pulling every thorn away from her body.

"Mmmmm…uhhhmm…" Strangled muffles escaped her vocals as she tried not to be loud.

The night sky began to visit as owls sang and crickets chorused. Crawling into a dead tree trunk, she decided to take shelter there.

Greeted by the morning sun, birds chirped as her eyelids flustered open, showing her gold-brown eyes.

Thump…Thump, her ears twitched as she heard footsteps.

Sniffing and snorting, its ears folded around itself as its curious eyes met Agatha's.

Sensing danger, it tried hopping away but its neck met the fangs of a hungry mother.

Biting into its raw skin, her face twisted in disgust, but she was starved out of her senses.

Covered in blood, she wiped her mouth and left what remained of the rabbit.

"Water!" she whispered from her dried throat.

Wandering deeper into the bushes, her feet met the forest.

"Anyone who enters never comes out dead or alive!"

A tale her grandma always told her, and here she was, standing in front of the mouth of the forest.

"My baby!" all her senses shouted as she ventured deeper into the forest.

Drinking from a tiny puddle, she heard the sound of steel approaching as she rose to her feet and ran deeper into the forest.

Huff... huff... Her ragged breaths echoed through the forest as her bare feet pounded against the damp earth. Dry leaves crunched beneath her feet.

Pain shot through her spine as a twig snapped beneath her feet! A muffled cry escaped her lips.

Run…Run..Runn…Runaway! was all her mind whispered.

Her once smooth skin was now scarred and wounded, but she never stopped running.

Her feet dashed on the earth as wind blew through the woods.

The footsteps behind her never stopped.

They got closer and louder as rustling was heard behind her.

Their armor and steel clinked chaotically.

Her heart raced louder, as the ravens cawed, screeching their claws against tree trunks.

She knew nothing but one! “My child must live.”

A loud wail escaped her mouth as an arrow pierced through her leg.

Mmmm…

she gasped and cried, trying to be silent.

"There she is!" They chorused.

Agatha winced as she hopped on one foot, clutching her injured leg.

Every step felt like a death sentence. Her whole body ached for a saving grace.

Arrows flew past her in all directions.

Biting her lips, she mumbled as the terror inside her became overwhelming.

Tears streamed down her cheeks non-stop.

"So this was the end," she whispered. A sudden pain shot through her arm. Another arrow!

"Please have mercy."

Stumbling to the ground, she felt defeated.

Clinging to nothingness, all she heard was loud steps hammering against the ground. She swallowed forcefully.

Her eyes popped wide open as she heard a gush of waves and right there! the words escaped her mouth.

"Maybe we can live, just maybe."

Injured, Agatha, like a fish on dry land, struggled as her arms strained and wounds bled profusely.

Her fingers dug deeper into the soil with every pull.

"Dear god," she muttered, taking a glance at her pursuers.

With barely any strength, she plunged into thin air.

A splash! was all the forest echoed as freezing water swallowed her whole.

"Was that the sound of water?"

They rushed as their boots hurled against the ground.

The cold water sent icy chills through her.

Feeling choked below the surface, her chest tightened. Holding her breath, she tried to stay still!

"Just a little bit longer and maybe they'll go away! A little bit longer felt worse than drowning."

Agatha struggled as bubbles escaped her mouth.

"It's Blackwood."

"The River?" the other asked as his eyes widened.

" Hmmm… She's pretty dead to me."

" Let's go boys, it's sad! I thought I could fk a pregnant ct today." (pwah) Spitting into the river. The captain shrugged, shaking his soldiers.

Marching back, the men sang ("Through the dark, through the trees,

We fear no shadow, fear no beast.

By steel and blood, by fang and bone,

We claim this forest as our own."

Chorus (Hey! Ho!

The night shall know!

Hey! Ho!

The Mondriach go!") out of the forest towards the Mondriach territory.

Sinking deep into the river, her hair flowed among the waves. Frightened! she swayed her arms, forcing her injured limbs to join in as she gulped the salty water.

Her heart beat slower as the icy water overtook her innermost core.

Her hands cut through the wave harshly, as she swam across the river, but the waters had other plans as it carried her through violently.

Rasps of pain escaped her lungs as she smashed through rocks and back into the deep waters she returned.

Catching the light of the night sky, she resurfaced again.

Smashing into another rock, she held on tightly like her life depended on it.

Holding on tightly, she leaped onto a bigger rock and unto another as she fell on her stomach! Clutching hard, but never stopped.

From rock to rock she climbed as the height became more petrifying, fearlessly, shuddering as the wind blew through her wet skin.

Missing a step, she slipped again, letting out a silent whimper and rapid breathing.

Holding on with one hand, she felt her heart stop as her wrist was grabbed by something above.

"Please…please. Just let me fall to my death."

"No one's dying tonight! Hold still."

A voice affirmed.

Raising her head up to see who it was, she felt hope again.

She finally breathed with slight relief, but the pains she felt dangling from a cliff were grave.

"Now listen to me. I'll pull you up with both your hands, but as I do, I want you to step on the stones like a pedestal. Can you do that?"

"Yes… yes I can."

On the count of three! 1…2…3…

Swinging against the cliff, she struggled.

Hmm… the man grunted as he pulled Agatha up.

Studying her for a moment, he noticed the blood that stained her torn clothes and the bruises scattered across her skin. His expression hardened, but he said nothing.

Seeing a woman in this state filled him with anger, pain, and pity.

"Who did this to you?" he finally spoke.

Agatha lowered her gaze, afraid that if she spoke again, the tears she had been holding back would finally fall.

She had spent the entire night running, fighting, and begging the gods for one more breath. Now that she was no longer being chased, her body seemed to remember every wound at once.

"Where do you live?" he asked but never got an answer.

"Miss. I'll have to take you back to your home," he said.

"Please don't." her weak voice whispered.

"Take me with you."

"My place is no fancy castle, miss; the forest is my home."

Agatha nodded in agreement, knowing well that a fancy castle is the last place she'll ever want to be in.

The forest was strangely quiet around them. Only the distant rustling of leaves and the sound of the river breaking against the rocks could be heard.

For the first time that night, Agatha allowed herself to breathe.

" What is your

name, miss?"

"Agatha. My name is Agatha!"

"It's a Blood-silver moon today, miss. Let's get you all warm inside."

Her stomach moved violently as the baby kicked hard.

The stranger froze as his eyes dropped to her stomach.