His Abducted Bride

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  He hurried to his battle room to retrieve his armor. He knew better than to go against King Petros without the proper enchantment. Since King Petros had access to magic from a powerful magician, then he needed to be sure he could defend himself from it. As he reached the room, he caught sight of a mouse scurrying across the floor and realized it was following him. Pulling out his sword, he leapt toward it and pinned it against the wall.

  “Who are you and what business do you have here?” he demanded.

  The mouse squeaked in protest, its whiskers twitching in panic.

  “Show yourself, traitor.” He removed the sword on the mouse’s body but kept it pointed at him.

  The blue mist swirled around the mouse until one of Sandy’s knights emerged from it. Trembling, he knelt before Gavin. “Please don’t kill me. He made me do it. He threatened to kill everyone in Crystaline if the others and I didn’t comply.”

  “Threatened how?”

  “They killed the knights we told you about. It was a warning. He buried them up to their necks, cut out their tongues and left them there for the vultures to eat. Please, we have wives and children. We don’t want them to suffer the same fate. Even you, with all the things the author made you do before you abducted her hadn’t been so cruel as to give your enemies a slow and painful death. You were always quick.”

  “I’m not in the killing business unless it’s absolutely necessary,” he replied and lowered his sword. “Do you know where he took the author?”

  “He wants her back in her world. It was my friend’s job to place the book in the castle where she wouldn’t be able to resist reading it. Then, when you weren’t looking, it had a spell to send her to him. I was supposed to follow you and tell him what you would do. He’ll be taking her to the portal that will lead her back home.”

  “Fine. Then you are to tell him I stayed here to fight. Understood?”

  “Yes, my lord,” he eagerly said, bowing with relief.

  “But if I find out this whole thing you’ve told me has been a ploy, then I will kill you.”

  He gulped and nodded. “It’s not a ploy.”

  “Then you have nothing to worry about.” Without another word, he continued on to the battle room.

  ***

  “Let me go, you brute!” Sandy whacked the young version of King Petros against the head once more, but his hold on the reins didn’t loosen. Had she not been bound to the saddle through a spell, she would have risked an injury and fallen off the steed. As it was, her hips on down were paralyzed. She shoved at his back and, for the heck of it, said, “Would it kill you to wear deodorant?”

  “I don’t wear it because I knew it’d bother you,” he spat and waved his hand so that magic bound her hands together. “Enough. You should have come with me when I made the offer. I would have been a lot nicer if you had.”

  “You do realize my plan is to kill you off if I write the second book, don’t you? Why do you think I had to get King Blackheart out of the way first? You were going to be the next villain, and every villain is supposed to die. If you send me back, I’ll still control the stories.”

  “You’re so amusing. You think there’s not more than one way to thwart an author’s plans? Blackheart chose to bring you into the story. I won’t be so kind.”

  “But you need Blackheart to die first, don’t you? That’s your problem.” How she wished she could whack him again! “Because you know you’ll never win a battle against him. He’s too good of a warrior for you to defeat.”

  Though he didn’t answer her, the clenching of his jaw told her all she needed to know. She was right. He needed Gavin out of the way before he could proceed with his plan, whatever that plan was.

  King Petros ignored her as he led the horse deeper into the forest. She hadn’t taken the time to examine her surroundings up to that point, but since she couldn’t whack her abductor anymore, she started to notice what the depths of the Havenshire forest were like. The trees towered above her, their green leaves seeming to whisper a warning that the breeze carried. The deeper they went into the forest, the darker it became. She couldn’t be sure, but she could swear that something was watching them. She glanced over her shoulder and swore she saw something scurry across the winding path. She inwardly shivered, praying that Gavin was right, that the creatures lurking in this place would protect her because she was married to him.

  King Petros continued on the path, bending when they passed under large and thick tree branches. She tried to bend, but the spell he’d cast over her prevented her from doing so. At one point, she thought for sure one of the branches would hit her, but at the last moment, it pulled back, allowing her to pass unscathed. To her surprise and relief, the other branches did the same if she came in their direct path. So the forest would protect her! Perhaps things weren’t as hopeless as King Petros would have them appear. Encouraged, she called on the creatures to help her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  In his battle attire, Gavin had the magician send him to the forest where he waited by the entrance of the portal that separated his world from Sandy’s. The portal was well hidden in the side of a tree, a slight change in the bark’s consistency being the only identifier to its location. He didn’t know how King Petros discovered its location, but the fairies warned Gavin that he was on his way.

  He unsheathed his sword as soon as he heard the sound of a horse traveling the path. When it came into view, Gavin saw the branches reaching out in an attempt to grab Petros, but he managed to ward them off with his sword. Sandy, who was on the horse behind him, couldn’t move. No doubt she put up a fight, so he felt the need to restrain her. Gavin couldn’t help but smile. She must have fought hard if Petros had to resort to magic.

  A group of gnomes came up to attack Petros, but Gavin held his hand out. “I’ve got it,” he called out to them. “Petros is my problem. I want to deal with him myself.”

  The gnomes bowed then departed back to their hiding places among the trees.

  When Petros saw him, he pulled his horse to a stop. “You can’t stop me, Blackheart!” Even as he made the proclamation, he had to fight off another tree branch.

  “You shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew.” Gavin twirled his sword as he waited for Petros to get off the horse. “We both know you’re no match for me.”

  “I wouldn’t boast so soon.” He slid off his horse and patted Sandy’s thigh.

  Sandy sat, frozen on the horse, unable to speak but able to glare at Petros.

  “She’s not so bad once you make her shut up and stop moving,” Petros said.

  “Release your spell on her.”

  “Or what?”

  “Or I’ll make you.” Gavin approached him then swung his sword so fast that the tip seemed to suddenly appear at Petros’ throat. “Let her go.”

  Petros vanished.

  Whirling on his heel, Gavin stopped Petros before he could strike him with a sword, his sword blocking Petros’ in a swift motion. “Too easy, Petros.”

  Petros grunted but brought his sword up and tried to strike him again. The fighting ensued for several minutes, their swords clashing, their breathing growing shallow from exertion. When Gavin gained the upper hand, Petros released his spell on Sandy who fell from the horse.

  Gavin knew better than to let his focus leave Petros, but Sandy cried out in pain and he couldn’t help but glance her way. And that one second was enough for Petros to gain the advantage. One minute, Sandy was lying in the dirt path, and in the next instant, Petros was pulling her up from the ground.

  She stumbled against him and pounded her fist into his chest. “Let me go!”

  Petros held her around the waist with one arm and held his sword out to Gavin to prevent him from getting near her. “I can’t wait to get rid of you,” he snapped at her then looked at Gavin. “I’m going to make a deal with you.”

  Gavin slowly stepped toward him, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword. “And what would that be?” If Petros hurt her
, he’d make sure he regretted it.

  “She either goes back to her world or she dies here.”

  “That’s not exactly a deal.”

  “Sure, it is. In both situations, I win.”

  Gavin took another step forward. If he could get close enough to Petros, he could swipe his arm and he’d have to let go of the sword. “I take neither option.”

  He pointed the sword at her side. “Take one step closer and you won’t have a choice.”

  He stopped, his mind racing through what little choices he had.

  “Don’t make a deal with him,” Sandy said and struggled to get away from him. Not that it would do her any good. Petros was much too strong for her. “I can’t be hurt. I’m the author. I’m invincible inside this story.”

  That was no guarantee. Sandy hadn’t had a chance to be hurt during her time with him, something he wouldn’t have wanted but if they had tested her theory with something as simple as a paper cut, he’d feel more assured about it right now.

  “It doesn’t matter what you think, Sandy,” Petros said, directing his gaze to Gavin. “What matters is what Blackheart chooses. So what will it be? Send her back or I kill her?”

  Gavin glanced between her and Petros, realizing if he didn’t do something fast, he was going to have to give into the ultimatum. If he sent her back, he wouldn’t see her again. Petros would find a way to have the original story restored. The only thing preventing that was the fact that Sandy was trapped in this version of the story. But he couldn’t allow Petros to kill her. Either way, he was going to lose her, but he couldn’t lose her because he’d been too selfish to send her back and let the original story be reinstated.

  His grip tightened once more on the hilt of his sword. He walked in a circular path around Petros, forcing his opponent to divide his attention between holding onto a struggling Sandy and him. “Why don’t we do it this way?” He swung his sword, studying Petros for a point of weakness. “You let Sandy go and I’ll let you live to run back to your kingdom like the coward you are.”

  “I’m no coward,” Petros barked.

  “You’re hiding behind a defenseless woman. Only a coward does that.”

  Petros gritted his teeth, his hold on Sandy weakening. Seeing his chance, Gavin swung his sword and cut off Petros’ hand, causing the sword to fall to the ground. Petros swore and used his magic to knock Sandy against a nearby tree. Then he formed a ball of fire with his remaining hand and flung it at Gavin. Gavin shielded himself with the sword, and the ball bounced off of it.

  “You think I’d be foolish enough to go into battle without a sword that deflects magic?” Gavin closed in on his opponent, ready to strike him and remove the threat he posed once and for all.

  Ignoring his injury, Petros smiled and beckoned Gavin forward. “Come and get me.”

  Gavin leapt at him, but he disappeared. Turning around, he saw that Petros was behind him. He gritted his teeth. How he hated magic! With a glance at Sandy who was demanding she be released, he realized Petros had made it so that Sandy was frozen to the tree. Being released was the worst thing that could happen to her. As long as she stayed out of the way, she’d remain safe.

  Gavin remained still, knowing full well that Petros would only disappear again if he tried to attack. There was one viable option he had. Keeping an eye on Petros, he rushed to Petros’ sword and grabbed it.

  “You really shouldn’t have picked up my sword,” Petros said, an irritating smirk on his face.

  “You’re stripped of your weapon. Go home with your tail behind your legs while you still have your other body parts intact,” Gavin replied, holding both swords, ready to use them if Petros should come at him with any magic.

  “Or, I could do this.”

  Before Gavin had time to blink, Petros’ sword flew out of his hand and toward Sandy. Gavin saw what was going to happen before it did, but he wasn’t quick enough to stop the sword before it pierced her in the stomach. She let out a cry and collapsed to the ground as the sword returned to Petros.

  Gavin ran over to her, his steps feeling abnormally slow, his heart seeming to come to an abrupt stop. He reached her and gathered her into his arms.

  “Sandy?” Gavin examined her dress where the sword had struck her and prayed she’d been right, that because she was the author, she couldn’t be harmed. But his prayers were in vain. Blood was quickly staining her dress. “Sandy!”

  She groaned and clutched her stomach. “I didn’t think I could get hurt.”

  Blinking tears from his eyes, he held her closer. “Don’t move. I’ll get the magician. He’ll heal you. You’re going to be alright.”

  “I’m afraid that’s where you’re wrong,” Petros said, approaching them, his sword over his shoulder. “The sword is poisoned. It’s only a matter of time before she dies. Tell me, Gavin, how much is it worth for you to live?”

  As much as Gavin wanted to slay Petros right then and there, he knew he didn’t have time. If he was going to save Sandy, he had to do it now. Lifting her as carefully as he could, he carried her toward the portal.

  “What are you,” she clenched her teeth and clutched her stomach again, “doing?”

  “Once you go back to your world, the original story will return.”

  “No! What if,” she grimaced, “I don’t remember you? What if I can’t get this version of the story back?”

  “Then you’ll finish the original as you intended.”

  “I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to lose you.”

  He reached the portal and glanced back at Petros who tapped his foot on the ground as if bored. Ignoring him, Gavin stepped into the tree. He braced himself for what he was about to do. Now wasn’t the time to get sentimental. He needed to focus on getting her to safety. Then he could deal with his feelings later, if later ever came. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Would she remember him? Would he remember her? Would they be facing each other as enemies on the battlefield as soon as she crossed the barrier to her world?

  He released his breath and stopped at the threshold of the shimmering blue light that marked her world. Kneeling down, he got ready to gently roll her through the portal when she grabbed him.

  “Come with me,” she pleaded.

  He caught sight of the blood in her mouth and his gut clenched. He knew she’d been fatally wounded, but this scared him all the same. “I can’t go with you,” he whispered.

  “There’s no reason why we can’t be together,” she insisted, her grip starting to weaken.

  “I can’t go through without magic. I was going to stop you from going to the portal. I was going to keep you here.” And that was a mistake he was going to have to live with. He swallowed the lump in his throat. “You will heal in your world. Everything done in this story will be undone once you go through the portal.”

  “Wait!” she screamed as he settled her against the barrier. “If that happens, then you’ll die. King Petros has it set so that the original version will resume from where it left off and he’s taken over the story. I might not be able to stop him. I might not be able to undo what he does. I might not be able to bring you back!”

  “I know.”

  “But Gavin…” Tears filled her eyes.

  He kissed her. “I love you, Sandy.”

  Prying her hands off of him, he forced her through the portal. Then, in one whirlwind motion, everything around him changed. It took a full minute before his new surroundings came into view.

  He was on a horse, a sword and shield in his hands. He wore his battle gear, as did his horse. The army behind him gathered for war. His red flag with a black heart and two swords under it fluttered in the breeze of the early morning. The light from the sun cast an eerie red glow over the barren land.

  Across the valley, another army stood, ready for battle. It was her army—Sandy’s army. He couldn’t see her that well from the distance that spanned between them, but he knew she was the queen sitting upon the white stallion. Her army waited for h
er command, and it was at her command the battle would begin.

  To his right, within a few feet of him, Petros came into view. He walked over to him, a pleased smile on his face. “Prepare yourself for the final scene of the original story.” He chuckled. “It’ll be so much fun watching you die.”

  Gavin tried to get off the horse so he could go after Petros, but he couldn’t move. He couldn’t even speak.

  “I’m in control of the story now,” Petros said. “You will only do and say what I allow.” Then he disappeared.

  Gavin’s horse shifted beneath him, anxious for the moment when Petros would move the scene forward. As much as Gavin didn’t want to proceed, he knew he had to. And up ahead, Sandy waited for him, not as a friend and lover but as his enemy. He gripped the sword and shield. Before the day was over, he was going to die.

  Sandy lifted her sword into the air and shouted the battle cry. Though he fought the invisible force that made him raise his sword into the air and repeat the battle cry, it was in vain. He wasn’t in control of his actions or words anymore. He was, once again, under the command of the author, and in this case, the command belonged to Petros. He nudged his horse in the sides, spurring it to action. He raced toward Sandy’s army, his men riding right along with him.

  The scene had officially begun.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The absence of pain was the first thing Sandy noticed. The second thing she noticed was that it was night. She stood up in her apartment and turned on the light. She touched her stomach, afraid of what she’d find but was relieved when she saw she wasn’t injured. There was no cut, no blood, nothing that would indicate she’d been close to death just moments before. Had she not been wearing the dress Gavin had given her and had there not been a cut in the dress, she would have believed it was all a dream.

  She hurried to the computer that was within a few feet of her bed. On the screen, she saw that it was the same day it’d been when Gavin had come to abduct her. So no time had elapsed in this world while she was gone. She supposed that made things easier as she adjusted back to her life here, but her life wouldn’t be the same if she couldn’t be with Gavin.