Wasting no time, they ran as quickly as they could, jumping over rocks and dancing around trees, branches whipping their faces as they ran until familiar sights jumped out at them. A special rock here, a twisted tree there, the drawings in the dirt, they were back on the path to the tunnel. Her heart lifted with joy when the opening came into view. They moved deliberately, making sure no one watched as they closed the tunnel door behind them. Familiar, stuffy air surrounded them. They were safe.
Daniel took a deep breath of victory. Around him, he saw Roone the woodsman knocked out and Paulsen slowly regaining consciousness and muttering under his breath. His body weary and heavy now that the battle was done, Daniel lifted his face to feel the breeze flow across his skin, cooling and re-energizing him. Opening his eyes just a bit, he could see faces from the top of the walls leaning over and cheering him on. Their sweet sounds of laughter, joy, and merriment echoed down to him.
Prince Braden cheered especially loudly, a smile stretched across his face. The prince patted some men on the back and pointed to the excitement. It took a moment, but guards came running toward him from the castle gates, their metal armor clanking as they disarmed and tied up the two men, then ran to Daniel’s side. Each man grabbed an arm and lifted him up so he was looking up the castle walls at King Theodore. King Theodore raised his fingers to his brow and nodded slightly in gratitude, their eyes locking for a moment. Daniel lowered his head in respect and smiled as feelings of relief and exhaustion rushed through him.
Daniel held on to his companions for strength as they lifted Paulsen to his feet. Daniel grabbed the back of Paulsen’s arms and pushed him forward toward the gates to be led to the dungeon. Paulsen groaned as each step twisted his arms and hurt his bruised and broken bones. Chunks of mud fell off him while they made their way from the battlefield through the gates and onto the cobblestone square.
Little sympathy came from the men and women in the square as they dragged Paulsen in. They jeered at him and let their children threw stones. Those who once fled him with cries of horror now faced him with far louder shouts of condemnation.
Paulsen was thrown into the corner cell, landing with a loud thump as he hit the ground and cursed beneath his breath. The cold metal clasp of the dungeon door rang strong and clear as the door closed behind him. His cheeks were bruised blue and purple, and his eyes were still bloodshot and wild, focusing in on Daniel. Clenching his teeth together, he hissed like a caged animal. Daniel shook his head and sighed deeply, feeling relief in his heart. This creature was locked up.
Daniel turned to the guard he was leaning on. “Where’s Madeline?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The trip home through the tunnel was quicker than the trip out had been. Madeline was in a rush to return.
Entering the grand chamber where all the tunnels met, she felt a rush of wonder roll over her again. The magic of this room filled her heart. She memorized the exquisite designs on the markers. Looking around and treasuring the grandeur of the chamber for a moment, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before choosing the tunnel marked by a castle.
The wooden door between the tunnel and the dungeon clanked loudly as they opened it. Princess Madeline stepped forward, pressing the door open with force, and practically ran into Daniel, who stood there with his mouth wide open in surprise.
“Madeline?” Daniel asked.
“Daniel, you’re all right! They told me you were fighting Prince Paulsen, and I—”
Rushing to her, he picked her up and twirled her around. “What are you doing here? And what is that?” he asked, pointing to their tunnel.
“I can explain all that later,” she said looking up into his eyes and tenderly moving a strand of hair out of his face.
“Don’t worry, we have Paulsen locked up down here. Your father and most of the knights are off in the forest, looking for you.”
“I know. I was there when the battle started between our knights and Paulsen’s men. But Emmett and his brothers were there to whisk me away.” She gestured to the three figures that had just emerged from the tunnel. “But we’re safe now; that’s all that matters.”
“Yes, we are,” Daniel said, bending down for a kiss. His fingers traced the outline of her chin as their lips touched.
“Oh, please,” they heard from behind them.
Turning, they saw Prince Paulsen leaning on the cell doors.
“You two make me sick,” he said, snarling at them through the bars. “I cleared the forest. I fought for her. She is mine, my prize,” he said, his lips turned up in a strange smile, banging his fists on the door.
Princess Madeline’s stomach tightened. Daniel reached for his sword, but Madeline touched his hand and shook her head. She straightened her back and looked at the prisoner with pity. “I am not a prize, Prince Paulsen. I am a person with thoughts, feelings, and dreams. I am not something to claim, and I am most certainly not yours.”
Turning her back on him, she felt better. The final weight of the battle lifted off her shoulders. She looked down and entwined her fingers with Daniel’s. Beaming, they walked up the stairs together and closed the doors with a slam, feeling the dungeon door—and the past—close.
Prince Braden and King Theodore focused their eyes on the tree line. Their knights had gone in full force for battle, their horses running, banners waving, and armor clanging.
King Theodore and Prince Braden watched the horizon for movement. The sun crawled across the sky, melting the built-up snow into slush. Their breath cramped in their chests, and their fingers were white from gripping the edge of the wall. Sweat dripped down furrowed brows as they waited for a sign.
Today had been a trying day for the king, and he was anxious for news of this last stage of battle. Price Paulsen was now securely imprisoned in the dungeon. King Theodore had seen, with happy tears in his eyes, Madeline reappear with Daniel from the dungeon. Daniel had again proven himself worthy of his position and shown his love for Princess Madeline. Today was coming full circle; now he just needed news from the battlefield.
Prince Braden saw them first, the red dragons on the banners flying through the air. Victorious cheers erupted from the wooded edges. Their men were returning! Victory was secured. King Theodore clapped his hands together and smiled as he looked over his kingdom and saw hope returning to all the faces below.
The air filled with lightness as a new surge of energy erupted and cheers rang out. From the woods to the top of the towers and below in the square, everyone was celebrating. Musicians ran for their instruments. The gates creaked open to allow them through. Children danced while the women cheered and blew kisses. Laughter, music, and joy filled the air.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Triumphant cheers echoed through the courtyard. The sunset matched the castle as every shade of red, orange, and yellow proudly flashed through the air, nature waving its own banner of victory. The air smelled tangy, a sweet mixture of the wine and the happy tears of those below. Warmth filled the hearts of those dancing in honor of their knights, their kingdom, and their freedom, and the cool breeze kept the air light and fresh. Faces beamed with smiles that had not been seen in many days.
King Theodore stood at the front of the castle walls, overseeing the commotion below. He watched over his kingdom, happiness glowing on his face. His fingers gently rubbed his chin, and a smile played at both ends of his mouth as his eyes twinkled in the sunset. His crimson robe shone as a bright beacon, the light of freedom for those dancing. Clapping his hands in rhythm to the drums, he welcomed Elias to his side.
“Elias,” the king bellowed, clapping him on the shoulder and pointing to the crowd below. “Today marks a good day.”
“A very good day indeed,” Elias said, his smile growing as the laughter and merriment flowed through the air. His green robe blew gently behind him, sparkling in the wind.
“I think it is time, Elias. I think it is time to look at what happened and where we go from here,” King Theodore said, his voi
ce catching slightly as the emotions of the past mixed with the emotions of the day.
Both men were silent, listening to the music in the air and watching the dancers, taking their time to find the right words.
Elias looked at King Theodore. “I think our problem grew from the way we perceived events. The way you saw and felt was valid, the way I saw was valid, but perspectives are unique to each person. Look out here in the courtyard. To those dancers twirling, everything around them seems to stand still. When you stop and step back and observe, as we are, you can see the movement all around. The dancers, the banners waving, the children playing, even the wind blowing. Everything is in constant flow. Depending on your perspective, your focus, sometimes small—or even large—pieces can be missed.” Elias’s eyes shone.
King Theodore rubbed his chin, taking in everything he had heard. His eyes were soft, his cheeks warm and red, and with an outstretched arm, he looked at Elias and smiled. “All is forgiven. All is well to move forward from here.”
“That we will, for Eleanor,” Elias said with a strong grasp of his arm.
“For Eleanor,” King Theodore agreed. They embraced, and years of worry, tears, fear and anger disappeared in their arms.
“Father,” Prince Braden said, approaching the two men, kneeling to the ground.
“Son, rise,” the king said. “This is a time of celebration; no formalities are needed.” King Theodore grasped his son’s hand and smiled.
Braden smiled in return but kept his face veiled. “Father, the last few days have made something very clear to me. I chose to follow you, and these past few days have shown all that I still need to work toward. I vow to you my pledge of duty, honor, and respect.”
Braden looked up at his father, hope glistening in his eyes, devotion evident in his set jaw. His father grasped his hand and pulled him in for a hug.
Elias smiled and his heart grew as he watched his kinsmen reconnect. Beyond their shoulders, Elias caught a glimpse of red dashing out of view. Excusing himself, he ran down the stairs to follow her. Her sobs were easy to track as they wound their way around the crowd. When he found her, she lay on the ground with her head in her hands and her red hair swept to the side. Her pale skin glowed beneath the sunset sky.
“My dear Sophia,” Elias said, patting her back. “I take it you heard the prince?” he asked, helping her to a standing position. She mutely nodded, trying to calm her trembling chin, sniffling to stop the tears from flowing. Looking up at Elias, she sought his eyes.
“He pledged his life to duty. Where does that leave me?” she asked, her eyes imploring an answer that Elias could not give. “I am a noble beneath his rank. I openly defied the king and helped the princess do so as well. I don’t even know who I am, where I belong.” She looked at him, pleading for something to give her hope.
Elias squeezed her hand. “We all walk a different path. Sometimes that keeps us together, sometimes it sets us apart, allowing growth or change. I cannot tell you where to look, but I can attest that there is strength in you that you don’t see yet. A magic waiting to be unveiled.” He looked at her deeply for a moment before closing his eyes. The wind blew through their hair.
“Yes,” he said with a smile, “definitely magic waiting to be discovered.” Elias patted her on her shoulder and laughed whimsically as he returned to the king’s side.
Biting her lip, she tilted her head, watching him walk away, wondering what it was that he saw. Her eyes followed him back to the edge of the stairs and settled back on Braden, who stood elbow to elbow with the king.
“Excuse me, Sophia?” came a quiet voice next to her. She turned, her hair whipping around.
Emmett smiled at her sweetly, almost shyly, holding his hand out. “It’s a celebration. Would you join me for a dance?” he asked, his eyes showing hope and nervousness.
Sophia took a deep breath and stole a quick glance behind her at Braden. Turning back to Emmett, she flashed her biggest smile.
“Yes, it is a celebration,” she said, taking his hand and lifting the hem of her skirt. They ran to the center of the square to join the fun, their laughter joining the festive around them.
Princess Madeline sat on the edge of the fountain, leaning back into Daniel's arms. Snuggling in, she felt the tingles settle into her stomach and smiled, knowing she was safe and home with her knight. Her fingers traced his as their hands entwined.
“Daniel?” she asked, looking up at him, her emerald eyes searching his face.
“Hmm?”
“Are we safe now? Where do we go from here?”
“There’s only one place to go from here, my princess. We move forward.”
“Where is that?” she asked, seeing secrecy in his eyes.
Letting go of her hands, he turned her so she was facing him, their eyes locked onto each other. “We go back to Dragon’s Gate.” His eyes twinkled as a smile grew on her face. “I have a team ready to go, we just need your father’s approval before we set out.”
“But how? How did you plan all this?”
“Madeline, you’re in my thoughts all the time. My future is by your side. It is my job, my goal to help make all your dreams come true.”
“All my dreams have come true,” Madeline said, leaning toward him, pulling him close for a tender kiss. Their lips locked as the music rose around them. Tonight was a dream come true for all.
EPILOGUE—DRAGON’S GATE
The seasons turned quicker in the north, and it wasn’t long before spring knocked on its door. The winter snows had begun to melt. Vibrant greens from the forest contrasted against the skies, and the rich, dark earth blossomed as the snow retreated. Beautiful wildflowers in every color sprouted around them like scattered jewels, bright visions of treasure laced within the ground.
Princess Madeline smiled, taking in new smells. A spicy aroma hung in the air, tantalizing her senses, lilac and perhaps mint. Her horse snorted. She patted him gently before dismounting.
Her feet sank into the muddy ground, the bottom of her riding boots now dirty, but Madeline did not mind. Spinning around with excitement, she raised her head to the sky and smiled as the sun found a way to shine down on her.
“What do you think, Madeline?” Daniel asked with a smile, brushing his hair out of his face.
“Oh, Daniel,” she said, throwing her arms over his shoulders. “I think we’ve found our home.” She spun around to see more.
The landscape rolled in gentle hills, allowing for good vantage points. To the south, she could see the tree line of the great forest; the western plains rolled out before her in long waves, and the eastern flats looked as barren as they did from where she had grown up. Her eyes glistened as she looked north. Dragon’s Gate stood in front of her, its high archway welcoming her as it had on the first day.
She recalled how the sun had appeared to wink at her from under the red archway that day. Today she felt the full scrutiny of the gate’s eye. She could see the trepidation in the eyes of a few members of her group as they glanced up, perhaps recalling childhood stories of dragons. For her, there was no fear, only a deep, growing fire inside.
She knew, standing with the wind blowing in her face, that she was home.
“I can see it now,” she said, smiling. “Our castle here, the stables down there.” She pointed down the rolling valley. “You can have your tournament field there. And the gardens, we must have gardens,” she said wistfully, already lost in thought. The possibilities were limitless as they imagined their future together. Something in the sky caught her eye, growing closer and larger.
“Daniel?” she asked, pulling him near. “What kind of bird is that?”
Squinting his eyes, Daniel looked up toward the sky. “Not any I have ever seen. Men, come quick,” he said, motioning behind him to the other guards. “That, in the sky, have any of you seen it before?”
The men all squinted, looking up at the approaching bird in wonder. The animal seemed to grow larger with each wave of its wings, undulating
through the clouds as if swimming through waves.
The group watched, transfixed on the animal, and Elias approached to look. With astonishment, he jerked his eyes open, furrowing his brow. “That is no bird, Princess. Take cover!” Elias ran, hastily grabbing Madeline’s wrist and pulling her away.
“Elias, wait,” she said, trying to free her arm. “What is going on?” she asked, rubbing her wrist where he had pulled it.
“Princess, it’s a dragon.”
The dragon appeared above their heads, larger and quicker than before. Its dark green body undulated through the sky, the scales on its body shimmering in the sunlight. Its wings expanded over the length of a tournament field.
“Daniel!” she screamed, running as quickly as she could back to their horses, trying to find cover in the landscape. There wasn’t much to hide behind in this territory. The trees were low and spread out.
The men had all scattered as far as they could run. Elias camouflaged into the bushes with his green robe; some of the guards were already galloping off on horseback. Daniel raced toward Madeline, sweat beading on his temples. Without thinking, he grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder, running as fast as he could to any shelter. Her dress swept in front of his face and her chest heaved into his back as the fear pounded through them both. He squatted down low and brought Madeline to the ground below him to protect her from attack.
“Where did you take us?” she asked, feeling the smooth rock beneath her. “Are we inside?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Dragon’s Gate,” he finished.
The wings beat faster and louder as the dragon approached, the force of the wind pushing them deeper into the rocks. Madeline took a deep breath, then gasped in horror when the dragon lurched toward them. “No!” she yelled with all her might, squeezing her hand around her shell necklace. Reflective rainbows seemed to flicker off the shell onto the smooth rock around them, and warmth radiated through her palm. Her body shuddered twice before falling limp. The dragon swooped beneath Dragon’s Gate, right above their heads before moving north.
The Battle for Princess Madeline Page 9
