~Rowan~



'I have to tell Zayne about this right now!!" I turned to leave, when I felt Steph's warm hands around mine.

She was trying to stop me with all her might.



'NO wait!! Please don't tell Zayne." she pleaded loudly. Her voice was shaking, her eyes heated up, and dried tears remained on her cheeks.


'Why shouldn't I? You guys kidnapped Flora for days, torturing her, her family and even the whole kingdom.


That's sick. Steph I'm disappointed that you joined to do this, I really am!"


'If you tell Zayne, all of us are going to get arrested.

Luther is going to drag me down with him! Please I don't want to go get a hang, please!!" Steph was desperately pleading.

I've never seen her before.


I took a moment to think it through, and how things would pan out, if I indeed tell Zayne.


Turns out, she was correct, knowing Luther very well, once caught, he will make sure he drags everyone down with him.

Punishment for kidnapping an innocent girl like Flora, might be hanging or life imprisonment.

I can't wish that for Steph.

She was lonely and got involved with bad friends, but that doesn't mean she's a villain like Luther.



'Okay, so what do we do? Luther has to pay for this, one way or the other!"

I said in a husky voice.


'I don't really know. But I know Luther is about to do something big very soon.

He didn't tell me."

Steph added.


If we catch him red-handed, and take him to jail, Steph's name will be exempted.


That sounds like a good idea to him!


'What about Flora? We can't leave her here."

I said to Steph.

She lowered her head to think of a solution.


'Maybe she can stay with me." Steph's next words left me speechless.


'Stay with you?" I asked once more


'Yes. I'll just tell her to remain in my room at all times. And I'll try to improve my relationship with her."

Steph carefully explained.


Thinking about it for a while, it really wasn't a bad idea after all.

All we have to do is explain to Flora, all that is happening.


'Let's get her."


I followed behind Steph as she walked back into the cave.

It took a little more effort for me to squeeze my larger figure through the cave and into it.


Looking around the interior of the cave, it flooded back nostalgic feelings from when me and Zayne played here.

We could sometimes spend the whole night here.


I followed behind Steph, as we continued through the narrow path of the cave, she after some time, she could turn to her right.


And in the room, there laid Flora.


I was taken back a bit, seeing her in the flesh. It was even worse than when Steph said it.


'Can you carry her?" Steph asked me, stepping away from in front of her body.


I bent lower to Steph, grabbing her across my body.

'Go out and hold her when I give you, OK?" I said to Steph.

She immediately walked out and retraced her steps to the outside of the cave.


And with Flora's lifeless body firmly held by me.

I slowly and carefully walked to the cave entrance.

I carefully sent Flora's body to the outside for Steph to gently carry and set on the ground.


And then, I squeezed my body through the cave and outside.


'So, how long is Flora going to be asleep?" I curiously asked.


'The drugs make her unconscious for a whole day.

So we inject her everyday."


'Okay, let's get back to the castle before it's morning.

Remember no one can see Flora, until we've put down Luther."

I sternly warned Steph, as if I was the one at risk of getting jailed.


I carried Flora all the way to where I left my horse.

Which was a few meters from the forest.


Getting a strong rope from the forest, I carefully tied Flora's body to the back of my horse.

I had to make sure I tied it well enough, to prevent any harm on Flora.


Steph rode her horse into darkness ahead.


And after I tied Flora to my horse, I climbed on my horse and rode back to the castle.


Soon, I disappeared into the darkness.



We finally reached the castle. Leaving our horses at the stable.


Getting Flora to Steph's room is the delicate part of this mission.

If anyone at all sees her, then that spells doom for Steph.


Most people are deep asleep by now, so the best way to arrive safely in Steph's room, was to remain as quiet as possible.


Steph moved silently in front of me, serving as my eyes.

She would peep through every corner to check if the coast was clear, before signaling me to come.


Steph was peeping through the corner by the steps, when I heard distant footsteps approaching her.


She immediately signaled me to hide.


I frantically turned my head, looking for a good hiding spot.


I decided to hide behind a large pillar, still with Flora on my arms.


'Steph? What are you doing out here?" I heard a quite familiar voice.


'Nothing, I just came back from… the forest." Steph whispered the last part.


I peeped through the pillar, to see none other than Thorn, standing across Steph.


After we interacted for a few minutes, Thorn continued in our direction.

My heart raced frantically, as he stopped next to the pillar I hid myself in.


He was shaking his head as if he picked up a scent.


Just then, we heard a disturbing noise from the corner of the courtyard.

Thorn instantly turned to the direction of the noise.

Staring hardly to pick up any movement whatsoever.


This was my chance!!


With Flora still on my arms, I tiptoed carefully, and hid by the pillar before that.

Our distance was quite far from Thorn, for him to pick up any scent whatsoever.


And after a minute, Thorn finally continued through the courtyard until he was out of our sight.


I breathe a massive sigh of relief. It was too close of a call.


'Rowan.. Let's go, now. Before he comes back."

Steph said in a harsh whisper.


I quickly dashed out from behind the pillar, Flora still in my arms.


We gently climbed the stairs, while still hurrying our steps to reach the quarters before Thorn returned.


The quarters were dead empty and silent when we arrived.

So, getting to Steph's room was relatively easy.

I load Flora on Steph's soft bed. Her room was dimly lit, a cold breeze filled the room.


I was about to leave, when I heard Steph's soft voice.

'Rowan.. I'm really sorry about everything. It's just that Luther made me feel welcomed when nobody did.

That's why I decided to stay around him, even after knowing he was very evil."

Steph, made a warmth and honest confession.


'I understand Steph. You made one mistake, but you shouldn't be punished for the rest of your life just because of it."

I spoke from the heart as well.


'Thank you for everything you did today. You could have easily gone back to Zayne and turned me in, but you didn't."

Steph said to me, in a heartwarming voice. Her beautiful eyes fixed on mine, staring deep into my soul.


There was a sudden romantic tension stirring up between us.

Our eyes were firmly fixed on each other. Ignoring everything around us.


I slowly approached Steph, and wrapped my large arms around her, pulling her closer to me.

Steph's lips parted slightly, and I didn't need any more words.

I leaned in, tentative at first, unsure if I was crossing a line or not.

But Steph met me halfway, her warm breath mingling with mine.

The kiss was soft, almost hesitant, as we were both testing the waters of something new and fragile.

My hands gently cupped her face, and her fingers brushed my hair, pulling me closer.


The room seemed to shrink, the air between us charged with something electric.


It was quiet and slow, a simple kiss, but it felt like a promise, a quiet beginning, something neither of us could take back but didn't want to.

When we pulled away, her eyes were wide, as if she was still trying to make sense of the moment, but there was a quiet smile tugging at the corners of her lips—something unspoken between us now, something both thrilling and terrifying.


I finally snapped myself out of my romantic dilemma.

'Er… So...that's the night right?" I stuttered to speak, but managed to muster a few words.


'Yeah!"


'By the way, the second you hear anything about Luther's plan, don't hesitate to tell me."

I said before leaving her room.


~Steph~


We rode on our horses to the castle. Gliding to the fresh breeze in the air.

Rowan rode with Flora tied to his horse, just behind me.

We left our horses at the stables, just outside the castle.


We gently proceeded into. The castle. Our steps are very cautious.


I served as the eyes of Rowan, who held Flora in his arms.


Things were going very comfortably, and we were almost to the stairs.

But suddenly, I heard loud footsteps, descending from the stairs.


I turned to signal Rowan to stop, but before I could turn, Thorn was standing in front of me.


I was a little startled by his sudden appearance and his cold glare towards me.



'Steph? What are you doing out here?" He asked in a stern voice.


'Nothing, I just came back from… the forest." I whispered the last part of my sentence.


'You should have been back a while back. Was there any issue?"

Thorn asked, his voice very interrogative.


'No!!!" I was quick to deny his doubt.


'I just stayed outside to enjoy the cold breeze."

I answered, without flinching even a little.


Thorn remained speechless just staring at me. His eyes were cold.


'Okay."

He finally moved from my front, but suddenly stopped just a few steps behind.


My heart was pounding intensely, when he began sniffing around.

My fear was that he picked up Flora and Rowan's scent.


Oh no! I need to do something, or he's definitely going to see Rowan.


I frantically searched around me, for anything I could use.

Out of desperation, I picked up a sharp rock and tossed it powerfully to the direction opposite to where Rowan hid himself, making a loud noise interrupting the silence of night.


Thorn quickly turned in that direction, giving Rowan the chance to move up to safe distance away from Thorn.


After a few tense and agonizing seconds, Thorn finally decided to walk away.


I quickly alerted Rowan to run to the stairs and meet me, before Thorn returned.


Past that tense moment, it was much easier getting to my room as the maid quarters were empty.


Rowan dropped Flora on my bed, and was about to leave when I stopped him.

I gave him a sincere apology, the guilt of my actions reached its tipping point.


'I understand Steph. You made one mistake, but you shouldn't be punished for the rest of your life just because of it."



I then shared a heartwarming gratitude to him, looking him straight into his eyes.


Suddenly, a romantic tension stirred up between us.

And in the heat of it, Rowan pulled me closer to him.

His breath mingled with mine.


And, finally we shared a warm kiss, and for a moment all the burden of my problems just felt lifted.


Rowan was about to leave when he gave one last instruction.


'By the way, the second you hear anything about Luther's plan, don't hesitate to tell me."


But as he left, I couldn't help but reconsider this.

Not for the fact, I wasn't willing to end all my dealings with Luther and send him to jail. But I needed Luther to take out Zayne, then my mind could be at rest.


After a moment to think, I finally decided I won't tell Rowan about Luther's plan, but I'll make sure Rowan arrests Luther after he's killed Zayne.


That way, everyone gets what they deserve!!