*Few weeks earlier*
*Eleanor's POV*
"Eleanor! Eleanor! Eleanor!" I heard my mother's voice yelling my name from the front yard. "Mother, I'm right here," I replied. My mother emerges from the front yard to the back yard where I'm sitting right now.
"Where are you?"
"Up, up here mother." She looks up to find me sitting on a tree in the back of our house.
"Oh dear gods, Eleanor, I've told you times without numbers to never climb a tree, you're a lady."
*Oh god not today*
"Mother come on, you know I really love it," I said with a smile plastered on my face.
"Down." mother warned with her signatory frown on her face.
*Not again*
"Mother," I tried protesting.
"Down!!!" she snapped angrily.
"Fine." I muttered inaudibly, climbing down the tree. *Seriously*
"Here, take these to the market and sell all of them." mother said handing me a basket of what??..... fruits?!!!!*Oh dear gods please let this be a bad dream* "Huh?" I queried.
"You heard me right young lady." mother snickered.
"Mother?!! you know how much I hate crowds." I whined with eyes wide open. Mother signed and looked at me. "Sorry Elly but you don't have a choice here, if you don't go...." She paused and sighs "Elly you have to, I need to go to the palace, get some few works done. Okay???"
"Sure." I muttered solemnly.
"Come on Elly cheer up."
"Fine." I muttered under my breath and carried the basket of fruits, signed heavily and walked out.
*UNKNOWN POV*
"You got all the men ready."
"Yes my lord."
"Good we hit them at midday."
*Eleanor's POV*
"Eleanor! Elly! Elly!" I heard a familiar voice yelling my name, I turned and sighted Gwendolyn my best friend running towards me with a sack in her hands.
"Hey!" she gasped breathlessly.
"Hey, what's that?" I asked
"Oh this," she paused, "clothes, my aunt made them, I want to sell them at the market...and what are you.....holding....wait.....are those fruits...." She asked amused her lips stretching into a grin, one chuckle, two, three, four...and....she burst out laughing.
*Seriously*
"What..?!!!....you want to sell....those....at...the...market..." she asked in between laughs, I rolled my eyes and answered "yes".
She started laughing again.
*Seriously she's meant to comfort me not make fun of me* I glared at her.
"Oops, sorry sorry, I just couldn't help it" she said, "well let's keep going.
*
*
"Eleanor." Gwen beamed.
"What is it that you have to say now, huh?" I asked.
"You heard the good news right?" she asked looking at me expectantly.
"What good news?" I questioned and kicked a stone on the way.
"Huh, wait!....you don't know...." she gasped looking at me like I've suddenly grown two heads. "Holy dear gods, where have you been Eleanor?" she drawled looking amused I just shrugged and kept walking "Hmm, I guess climbing trees and reading those boring fairytale book Huh?" she mocked.
"Fine, let me tell you, well the king and queen are having a baby!" she beamed excitedly.
"Huh really!" I exclaimed.
"Yes of course, I also heard they're gonna distribute foods and the price of most goods in the market would dropped."
"Wow, well I guess when I sell this fruits, I'm gonna use the money to buy some foodstuffs."
"Sure." she replied. "Come on, let's keep going, we don't wanna be late, so we can sell our foodstuffs quickly and head back home."
"Yeah" I replied and we walked faster.
*UNKNOWN POV*
"Are the men ready?"
"Yes my Lord, they're well armoured and prepared."
*Signs deeply*
"Now......we strike them now."
"Yes my lord."
*Eleanor's POV*
"And here's your change...... thanks ma'am....and....goodbye." I said to the last customer, woah I'm done for today, that was pretty easy "Gwen, are you done?" I yelled with a loud voice, damn this market is so noisy.
"Almost!" Gwen shouted, then a woman stop by to buy the last cloth in her hand, paid and left.
"Done." she said smiling.
"So what's next?" I asked.
"Well we go shopping!" she replied with a smile plastered on her face.
"Yeah, let's go.
*
"So he told me he loves me and he wants to get married to me and I was like, hey I don't love you, talk more of getting married to you and he was like it's not a matter of love, it's just a matter of decision and blah blah blah......well, I couldn't take it anymore, I walk out of him." Gwen narrated, we were currently on our way to buy vegetables and head home..... Gwen was telling me of her encounter with one her numerous admirers named Graham.
"So you disagreed?" I asked.
"Obviously, Elly." She replied. We stopped to buy some vegetables.
"How much are these maam?"
"They are........." She paused when we heared a frightened scream from somebody.
"Run, run, everybody, run!" A man screamed. I wasn't thinking again, I took my heels, then we heard sounds of horses and chariots, arrows were flying in he air and dropping like rain, gods, why now, I could swear my heart was in my throat.
"Elly!" I heard Gwen yelling my name.
"This way." she pointed towards a small pathway leading to the castle. We were about reaching there when an arrow flew into Gwen's leg, she screamed and fell down.
*Oh dear gods* "Gwen!!! oh my god!!"
She groaned in pain, I look around and saw the whole market in commotion, blood splattered everywhere. "Elly, run!, leave me!!, I can't cope with this, I would only slow you down." she groaned while panting heavily.
"No, no, Gwen, I can't." I dropped the basket I was holding, dropped to the ground, examined her leg "Gwen, you have to let me pull out the arrow." I said to her.
"okay! okay!, just do it...." She replied groaning obviously in pain.
"okay." I took a deep breath and pulled it out, she let out a short scream and panted heavily, "come on Allow me to carry you."
"No elly, you have to run" She insisted
"No way Gwen, there's no way in the name of the gods of Narva that i would leave you here." I vowed, I helped her get up by putting her hands around my neck and we started walking slowly to the castle, as we were about to come out of the lonely way, Gwen whispered "oh no!"
I looked up and saw that the castle that we were running to for protection was already surrounded by the invaders. I felt fear enveloping me as we were about to turn back, a man on a horse, who was fully armoured and looked like their leader turned back and sighted us. I could swear my heart literally stopped beating. I guess he sensed us, he turned his horse toward us, some of the warriors noticed and turned to look at what and their leader turned around and dear gods......I already felt like we were at their mercy.
Instinctively, i turned around with Gwen still on my shoulder and started walking away faster, I was already panicking, I could hear the galloping of horses few metres behind us, within the blink of an eye we were surrounded by these invaders on horses, Gwen fell to the ground because of the pain coming from her leg. I dropped to the ground to hold her, I looked up and saw these scary looking men on horses watching us like prey, I couldn't breathe, just sat there and watched like a helpless dog. One of the warriors brought out his sword probably to end us, when the assumed leader said with a deep voice that shook me to the core.
"Wait!!! We might be needing slaves."
*What!! Did I just hear correctly.....slaves???*
"Yes my lord."
"Gather as many as you can....and then...we burn down the castle."
*Wait!!...castle.....oh gods.....mother........* I panicked within me.
Then a huge looking man came to us with a long chain that screams BONDAGE!!! and attached to my hand and gwen's hand.
Soon, I heard lot and lots of screams, most people were slaughtered and some were brought as slaves and then the castle was set on fire.
*gods...mother...* Tears were already down my face as we were led to a very big ugly looking chariot. I still had to support Gwen and yes with my hands chained.
I look back to see the entire once happy Kingdom of Narva already set ablaze, dear gods what is today again???
*Eleanor's POV* I breathed heavily but kept digging, beads of sweat were all over my head, running down my face and blurring my vision, but I kept digging non-stop, why should I?, I'm not thinking of spending the night here looking for some stupid gold. "Eleanor," I paid no attention to who was calling me "Elly!" still kept digging, "Eleanor!!" Gwen called and held my arm to stop me from digging further, I panted heavily."You should take a break." She looked at me sympathetically, "here, sit here." she said, pulling me to sit on a rock."Thank you." I whispered and sat down. Fourteen months, it's been fourteen months since I've been here, fourteen months of sorrow for every last member of Narva, fourteen Months of being whipped and treated like an outcast from hell, fourteen months of suffering, fourteen months I started bearing the name "slave
"Don't you think that was mean?" Nikolai asked as they walked down the hallway leading to the prince's room. He was rewarded with a deadly look from Luciano. "Oops sorry" He raises his hands in mock surrender. "Didn't mean to offend prince Wolfy.....pleeeease.have mercy my prince...don't..kill... meee!!!...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to offend the kingdom biggest baby cat!!!" He teased mimicking a helpless voice and laughed loudly clutching his stomach. They reached Luciano's room and the guards opened the door and they both stepped in. The room screamed ROYALTY. It was spacious, a little bit dark and well furnitured with a king sized bed at the left side of the room. A shelf occupied the right end of the room with a table and chair close to it. There was a door at the right side of the room leading to the bathroom. There was also a standing mirror purely made of gold at the right side of the room, besides it, a table filled with all sorts of jewelry made of expensive gold stoo
Maria took a deep breath before speaking "you have been assigned to clean and make sure Prince Luciano's room is in order." Eleanor could hear a loud bang in her head. *Prince Luciano!! Dear gods!!*. She looked at Helen with eyes wide open in shock. She could only nod her head. No words forming in her mouth. She was about to turn around and take a seat when Madam Helen added "you should get your equipment, you're starting right now." Eleanor felt her legs go weak, she had to lean on the wall to support herself from falling. *Prince Luciano!! Oh god please!!* Since her stay in Cordenia Eleanor has heard a lot about the cold hearted Prince. He has murdered a lot of time without any little tiny bit of conscience in him. How was she going to cope with him, who knows maybe one day might just strangle her or slice her head with those big swords he carries about. God, no, she was not ready to die yet. She was already panicking within herself. Helen felt really sor
I held my skirt as I raced up the stairs to the Prince's bedroom. It's my second day working as his personal slave. I was relieved of a few of my duties, I feel sorry for Gwen and the others because they still had to work the mines today. I stopped to catch my breath as I reached the last floor. Was I really ready to face the prince today? I remember yesterday when I hurriedly finished my work and literally ran out of the castle just to avoid seeing him. I guess I just have to deal with seeing him everyday. I reached my destination which was exactly in front of his room and met two guards there again looking like their faces were made to frown. I greeted them but they just kept looking at me like I'm some dumb fool. One of them, yes I recognized him, he was the one who came into the room to call the prince yesterday. He turned and opened the door for me. I opened the room and met the prince and the Queen in a heated discussion, i didn't even get the chance to hear what they were a
Eleanor's POV "Hey brother" he said looking at me "who is this" he asked *okay, here we go again* "My personal slave" He grunted in response before walking away to train with few of the warriors My heart was beating real fast...wanna know why...okay...the prince's younger brother has been standing here six minutes since prince Luciano left and has been staring at me...does he even know who I am? "Hey" he said *wait..is he talking to me* I actually wanted to ask but restricted myself. "Nikolai" He said, stretching out his hands for a...what??...handshake!!! I paused, staring at him like a fool.. wait..just wait..he wants to shake him...whaaaat!!!! a common slave like me?? He chuckled to himself before saying " hey c'mon I don't bite" He stretched out his hands again saying "I'm Prince Nikolai, but you can just call me Nikolai" *no way! Do I want to be beheaded?? maybe not yet* I tucked my hair behind my ear before stretching my hands to
So when would Elliot arrive here in Cordenia" Ariel asked "I don't know, he should have sent a letter by now" King Axel replied "I really can't wait, at least he would talk some sense into Luciano's head" She said, turning to face the king and helping him with the buttons on his shirt. "Luciano?? What did he do this time Ariel??" The Queen signed, finished the buttons and took a step back. She folded her hands under her breast before speaking "you would not believe what I'm about to tell you" She paused before revealing "Luciano assigned a slave of Narva to work for him as his personal maid" She said with a voice that clearly sounds like she's gossiping "What?!!!!" The King roared "how could he?!!" Exactly. That was the exact reaction she wanted to get from him. "What the hell is wrong with him?" He yelled, his eyes red in anger. "I don't think it's his fault though" She said calmly, causing the king to snap his head to look at her like she just said the dumbest thing eve
*Eleanor's POV* I heaved a sigh of relief as I walked into the empty kitchen. I leaned on one of the kitchen cabinets to catch my breath. Today has really been hectic, we have been cooking different kinds of meals. Why? According to what I heard, this lord Elliot happens to be a very powerful person and is very hard to please. The maids wouldn't stop gossiping about him, and I've been thinking if he's that hard to please, why are they wasting their time preparing a surprise party for him. Well the worst part is, nobody's attending the party aside from the king and his family. So why are they cooking all the kinds of meals I've never heard of before, talk less of eating them. I doubt they are going to finish it. Madam Helen rushed into the kitchen and literally dragged me out rushing her words. "He's here! He's here! We all have to assemble to welcome him, c'mon hurry!!" I almost rolled my eyes. We got outside the castle and I sighted Gwen looking around, probably searchi
*Eleanor's POV* I walked into the castle to assist other servants to clean the palace. I can say it again that yesterday was another worst day of my life. After the prince ordered me to get dressed, I went to my room and got dressed in another of my slave wears, which was neater and did not stink of sweat like the one I had on. I still wonder how I'm still alive today because yesterday my heart was pounding hard like it wanted to break out of its ribcage, and the deadly look the Queen was giving me did not help matters at all. I can't say the Royal family is one interesting family because the so-called 'party' or 'dinner' they were having went in total silence. Only the King and his brother were making small talks. It was just once Prince Luciano spoke, which was when his uncle 'Lord Elliot' was trying to be a good uncle and asked Luciano how he had been, he was like "Luciano! It's been so long since I last saw you, you've grown into a big man now." And Luciano's reply went