Reunion

Bala ran towards Seren with a message in her hand from the imperial Castle, ordering Owen to return to the palace quickly. He was needed for a political matter, and they would be sending an underdog knight to protect Seren, since someone was following her. Bala continued, “And that we must keep our ears and eyes open, because there is an enemy under our heel,”.

Seren shook her head, “No, he can just take Owen.”

Owen was behind Bala, following her to inform Seren of the news, too.

“He is my jester!” Seren said, clenching her wrist.

“He can protect us as well, he can fight…”

“I can fight,” said Seren.

Bala shook her head, “Sorry. Your Grace, but orders are orders.”

Seren rose her shoulders, crossed her arms, and turned on her heel.

“Your Grace,” Owen yelled, walking towards her, reaching out for his dagger and offering it to her.

“I promise it will be a short trip.”

“I know you can fight, so take this and use it,” he told her in a low, serious tone.

“Even if there was no danger, slice apples with it,” His tone rose back to its usual ironic attitude.

Seren giggled, “You always make everything funny,” taking the dagger, holding it with both of her hands, tightly.

He took some steps back, smiling, “It is my job to keep you sunny,” then turned on his heel, leaving the crew behind.

“Bala, let's go, I am tired.” Seren walked with Bala.

“And Lotus is probably waiting for us,” Bala said.

They left the lake heading towards the carriage.

“Your Grace, Bala,” Lotus yelled, eyes shimmering, waving at them.

Bala ran to Lotus, while Seren kept walking.

“I prepared some snacks and made the inside of a carriage as comfy as possible,” she said excitedly.

Seren hearted screamed to be unconscious, to sleep, to escape reality, but the reality right now was Lotus's hard work to lift everyone up; she could see she cared enough to even add her favourite candies.

Her lips parted, wanting to utter something, and for the first time in Seren's life, she raised her head and looked at someone who wasn’t family with eyes that held oceans that fell like rivers.

“Why would Lotus a peasant ever show charity for someone like me, a spoiled brat who cried under chandeliers grieving my mum's death, while she lived a live where grief was not even an option, even if you’re family had died, she lived in hell didn’t even got time to grief her family,” seren thought perplexed, her head was heavy on her shoulders and the throat filled with spikes.

“If I die, would anyone even grieve?”

Seren said with a shaking voice, her hands trembling.

“Your Highness!!!”

“Are you OK! Do you need help?”

“Do you have a fever?” Lotus put her hand on Seren’s forehead, checking her temperature

“Why do you care for me?” Seren cried.

“You should be hating me.”

“I didn't do anything to deserve it!”

“No! You didn't, but your Highness…” Lotus paused for a bit.

“You treated me for me, and that is all that is important.”

“I am not like this because you are a noble, but because you are good, aside from me, you still have potential.”

“And things to give, so of course I care for you, and of course I would grieve you,”

Lotus reassured Seren, which made her cry further.

“I feel the same,” Bala added.

After a heartfelt cry, Seren finally stopped and raised her hand to reach out for her favorite snack. She ate one, then two, and a smile appeared on her face.

She grabbed the kettle that was sitting on the table with two cups, then poured tea for both Bala and Lotus, delivered both of them, and then poured her cup.

“Alright!” Seren said, stretching her arms, “Let's play cards!”

They played cards till dusk, then they ate and drifted to sleep.

As the sun slowly rose, a sudden sound of friction of iron stroke, stomping, making the ground shake, and the carriage shook with all the chaos.

Seren and her maids quickly woke up, terrified. Bala quickly jumped, taking her sword. Seren held Owen’s dagger tightly, while Lotus cried in fear, hands on her ears, rocking back and forth.

Bala took the time to try and calm Lotus down.

Bala patted Lotus's head, then held Lotus's hand, “The danger will go, it is almost gone, don't worry, we are here,” Bala said, trying to reassure Lotus calmly. Soon, Lotus calmed down.

Then Bala looked at Seren and shook her head, questioning, “What do we do?” Bala asked, ready to jump out.

Seren looked around from the window, studying the situation outside.

“On three, we jump out,” Seren said

“Including you, Lotus,” she turned to Lotus, smiling.

“Lotus can't fight!” Bala said.

“I know! That is exactly why,” Seren replied.

And all three of them counted to three and jumped out of the carriage.

Bala quickly jumped into the chaos, swaying her sword left and right as if she were in a dance, dancing step by step, outshining the most shining star.

Seren was protecting and shielding Lotus while watching the men's clothes, analysing every metal, every fabric and stitch, every pattern, trying to guess who they could be.

Interrupting her, more rebels appeared and marched toward the fire, which left no choice for Seren but to fight.

She marched towards the men and, with a graceful sway and while using only a dagger, she was able to disarm one of them and take his sword.

As the chaos was about to end, while Seren was distracted by the intensity of the fight, someone had crept behind her, ready to hit, but Lotus had seen him, her body moving on its own, while yelling, “Seren! Behind you!” she reached Seren and stood in between the sword and her, however Seren quickly pulled Lotus by her apron which led both of them to fall crouching, leaving an open space for Seren to strike, wasting no time Seren, holding lotus with one hand and struck her hit onto him with the other, finishing the whole fight.

Seren exhausted fell onto the ground panting, and everyone rested.

Soon, after everyone had calmed down. Seren stood, “Collect everyone!” She said, “We are taking all of them with us. No matter who, living, dead, or injured.”

“This is no ordinary attack.”

“Treat the injured, and check the pulses of the dead; if the pulse is beating, then treat them as well.”

“This is gonna be an interesting trip,” she thought.

After everyone was classified and treated, those who were in serious condition were put in the carriage as it was ordered by Seren, and those who were healthy were taken on foot, but regardless, all were taken as hostages.

Then Seren commanded to bring her a horse to ride, and Lotus rode with Bala.

Seren rode the horse behind the hostage, making sure everyone acted accordingly.

After walking around and what felt like forever, the trip was almost at its end, because they had almost reached their destination.