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Description
The Golden Maiden
Chapter Three
   I never understood what people meant when they said they have experienced a loud silence. How could a silence, which is no sound at all, be loud?
   That night, I finally understood.
   It was the absolutely loudest silence I have ever heard. And it struck me to the core. That little light in my heart, my hope, was completely gone as all eyes fell on me. My legs were stiff, and my mind itself was frozen. Adrenaline started pumping erratically through my veins, but my mind wouldn't let me flee.
   At least, not until the crowd broke free of its trance.
   "Well, grab her!" Someone shouted, and I swear that the Darkness itself erupted in that small inn.
   The silence was overpowered by the sporadic and sudden movements of the crowd. Chairs were thrown back and tables overturned as they all charged directly at me. My eyes grew wide, and I could suddenly, and thankfully, move my legs. With a strangled cry, I vaulted over the bar in an easy motion and started for the kitchen. Thank the Guardians that there were so many of them. The mob struggled to follow through the narrow doorway, but as I glanced back, I saw one hooded man smoothly slip through, and before I knew it, he was at my side with a firm grasp on my wrist.
   I struggled, but his hold was like steel. I beat his chest with the heel of my free hand, but he seemed unfazed. Then, I looked up into my capturer's face. My heart practically screamed upon seeing through the shadows of his hood. Those grey eyes, it couldn't possibly be…
   "Rylen?" I whispered despite myself as he dragged me back into the main room.
   He, of course, didn't respond, as he swiftly drew a dagger from inside his cloak, holding it out menacingly towards swarm of my people. They fell quiet at the sight of the dagger that somehow made it to my throat. Guardians, this couldn't be Rylen, and I knew it wasn't him when he shouted at the crowd.
   "Back off," The man growled, poking my flesh gently with the dagger, and I felt a little prick as a bead of crimson dripped onto the metal. "She's mine. I will be the one taking her to the king."
   "Yeah? You and what army, bud?" A rather burly man demanded, stepping forward.
   "I will not hesitate." My abductor hissed, pressing the dagger deeper into my skin, and I bitterly released a small squeal. "The bounty is significantly lower if she's dead."
   The man backed off immediately. And no one else stepped into the hooded man's path as he forced me forward through the crowd. They cleared a trail to the door for us, some more reluctant than others, but they moved. He made me go first, that cursed dagger still cold against my slightly bleeding neck. Narrowed eyes, as well as regretful looks, stared at us, watching us leave. Once out the door, the man turned back to the lot. With one hand holding my wrist securely, he removed the blade from my neck to brandish it at them.
   "Don't follow." He ordered forcefully.
   Just hearing the tone of his voice would make me obey him. But, of course, I had no say in the matter. He closed the door to the inn, and the sound echoed throughout the mountain trail. I started to struggle promptly, but this man was strong. He twisted my arm savagely behind my back, making me hiss in pain. I hated looking weak, and so I very much hated this man. With his dagger still drawn, he started pulling me with my arm still bent behind me into the forest instead of down the path and towards the castle.
   "W-where are we going?" I asked, holding my free hand to my neck only to bring it back bloody.
   As the man began to answer, I finally managed to break free, jamming my elbow into his face with a satisfying crunch. I jumped for his dagger, and I was able to slap it from his confused grasp. We then began a dance for the blade, his hood pulled back in the process. It was too dark for me to see his face, though. I finally knocked him over with a frustrated cry, and I landed on top of him, pinning him down with my legs on either side of him. The dagger found its way into my hand, its point threatening to puncture his own throat. Just as I was about to slide it into his neck, the moonlight peeked through the trees landed right on his face.
   "Rylen!"
   My breathing came out in a shudder as I looked upon Rylen's face. His grey eyes met my surprised green gaze with a soft expression. Blood was pouring out his broken nose where my elbow had smashed his face, distorting his face slightly. But, it defiantly was him. My grip on the dagger loosened, and it tumbled onto the ground harmlessly to the side. My first thought was to kiss this wonderful man, but I pushed that confusing suggestion from my mind as I got off Rylen.
   "Cassidy," he said simply, sitting up, as I knelt next to him
   "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead!" I demanded, a little hurt by his lack of emotion. "Oh Guardians, your nose, I'm sorry…"
   "I could ask you the same question," Rylen answered with a small smile, wincing a little before bringing a hand to crack his nose back into place. The pop that followed made me want to throw up, but it appeared that Rylen fixed his nose. "Well, I was just able to escape the executions that Farn was so graciously handing out, and then, like you, I'm guessing, I ran. I was hiding in the forest, but then I got hungry for some real food. It didn't take long to find this place. And thank the Guardians I did. I came in just as that horde converged on you."
   His voice broke off suddenly, and he swallowed very hard as his eyes met mine again.
   "I truly thought you died…" Rylen whispered.
   I froze again, but for totally different reasons than earlier. When he said my name, there was nothing in his voice. But when he said that, there were too many emotions for me to pick which one it really was. Brushing a now-completely dry strand of gold behind my ear, I glanced down, speechless.
   "Cassidy, listen to me." His voice changed incredibly once more, more serious now, so I looked up at him. "You must find the Scepter of Eternal Light. It is the only thing that can save the Four Kingdoms now."
   "Wait, wait, you really believe that I'm the Golden Maiden? Me?" I asked, flabbergasted that I seemed to be only one that thought this was all a myth.
   "The day I saw you, I knew." Rylen affirmed, making me blush a bit, and I ignored my heart as it skipped a few beats. "I wish to accompany you, and no words will sway me."
   "But, Rylen, the story." I murmured, thinking back to the myth that proved to be truth thus far. "It says that only one can go on this journey. If it's true, then only one of us will return and-"
   "Don't you think I know this? Cassidy, as part of the Golden Guard, I was filled in on this 'myth' the day I took my vows. The High Priest read us the tale of the Maiden, and how we are to protect her till death. Like my father before me, I will protect you till my last breath." The intensity of his voice took my breath away once more, and I could not find a response. "Say no more, Cassidy. I'm going with, whether you like it or not."
   I bit my tongue, anxiety racing through me. Rylen stood up then, and he offered a hand to me. My hand grasped his, and as he pulled me up, I began to contemplate how I feel about Rylen. He was my best friend, really. That was all he ever was. But now, as I watched him throw his hood over his striking features, my heart began to say different.
   Goodness, Cassidy, now isn't the time to think about stuff like that.
   Rylen looked towards the mountains, north toward the land of the elves. I unbound my hair, letting the golden mass gather around me for a second before tying it back up into a simple ponytail. I patted my sides, remembering that my bag, as well as my sword, was still gone. Just as I released a groan, Rylen held my bag and scabbard out to me.
   "I-how?" I sputtered, taking the bag and making sure everything was still in there, and then buckled my scabbard to my belt with my sword hanging at my hip.
   "You really need better hiding places." Rylen commented, throwing a spare black cloak over me, tying the strings just below my chin and covering my golden hair with the dark cowl. "You never were too good at hide and seek."
   His closeness made me woozy, and I was grateful once he stepped away and looked back north. Now is not the time to think about that, Cassidy! He gazed up at the stars, and then pointed northward.
   "The elves; they are our best bet, I'd say." said Rylen, turning back slightly to look at me.
   "And why do you say that?" I questioned, doubt lacing through my words. It's not that I didn't trust Rylen, I trust him with my life. It's just… "How do you know all this?"
   "My vows, princess. That's how." Rylen repeated, reaching out for my hand.
   "You are a mystery, Rylen of the Golden Guard." I teased, taking his offered hand.
   "You have no idea, princess."
   And then, he pulled me into the darkness of the wood.

Description
The Golden Maiden
Chapter Three
   I never understood what people meant when they said they have experienced a loud silence. How could a silence, which is no sound at all, be loud?
   That night, I finally understood.
   It was the absolutely loudest silence I have ever heard. And it struck me to the core. That little light in my heart, my hope, was completely gone as all eyes fell on me. My legs were stiff, and my mind itself was frozen. Adrenaline started pumping erratically through my veins, but my mind wouldn't let me flee.
   At least, not until the crowd broke free of its trance.
   "Well, grab her!" Someone shouted, and I swear that the Darkness itself erupted in that small inn.
   The silence was overpowered by the sporadic and sudden movements of the crowd. Chairs were thrown back and tables overturned as they all charged directly at me. My eyes grew wide, and I could suddenly, and thankfully, move my legs. With a strangled cry, I vaulted over the bar in an easy motion and started for the kitchen. Thank the Guardians that there were so many of them. The mob struggled to follow through the narrow doorway, but as I glanced back, I saw one hooded man smoothly slip through, and before I knew it, he was at my side with a firm grasp on my wrist.
   I struggled, but his hold was like steel. I beat his chest with the heel of my free hand, but he seemed unfazed. Then, I looked up into my capturer's face. My heart practically screamed upon seeing through the shadows of his hood. Those grey eyes, it couldn't possibly be…
   "Rylen?" I whispered despite myself as he dragged me back into the main room.
   He, of course, didn't respond, as he swiftly drew a dagger from inside his cloak, holding it out menacingly towards swarm of my people. They fell quiet at the sight of the dagger that somehow made it to my throat. Guardians, this couldn't be Rylen, and I knew it wasn't him when he shouted at the crowd.
   "Back off," The man growled, poking my flesh gently with the dagger, and I felt a little prick as a bead of crimson dripped onto the metal. "She's mine. I will be the one taking her to the king."
   "Yeah? You and what army, bud?" A rather burly man demanded, stepping forward.
   "I will not hesitate." My abductor hissed, pressing the dagger deeper into my skin, and I bitterly released a small squeal. "The bounty is significantly lower if she's dead."
   The man backed off immediately. And no one else stepped into the hooded man's path as he forced me forward through the crowd. They cleared a trail to the door for us, some more reluctant than others, but they moved. He made me go first, that cursed dagger still cold against my slightly bleeding neck. Narrowed eyes, as well as regretful looks, stared at us, watching us leave. Once out the door, the man turned back to the lot. With one hand holding my wrist securely, he removed the blade from my neck to brandish it at them.
   "Don't follow." He ordered forcefully.
   Just hearing the tone of his voice would make me obey him. But, of course, I had no say in the matter. He closed the door to the inn, and the sound echoed throughout the mountain trail. I started to struggle promptly, but this man was strong. He twisted my arm savagely behind my back, making me hiss in pain. I hated looking weak, and so I very much hated this man. With his dagger still drawn, he started pulling me with my arm still bent behind me into the forest instead of down the path and towards the castle.
   "W-where are we going?" I asked, holding my free hand to my neck only to bring it back bloody.
   As the man began to answer, I finally managed to break free, jamming my elbow into his face with a satisfying crunch. I jumped for his dagger, and I was able to slap it from his confused grasp. We then began a dance for the blade, his hood pulled back in the process. It was too dark for me to see his face, though. I finally knocked him over with a frustrated cry, and I landed on top of him, pinning him down with my legs on either side of him. The dagger found its way into my hand, its point threatening to puncture his own throat. Just as I was about to slide it into his neck, the moonlight peeked through the trees landed right on his face.
   "Rylen!"
   My breathing came out in a shudder as I looked upon Rylen's face. His grey eyes met my surprised green gaze with a soft expression. Blood was pouring out his broken nose where my elbow had smashed his face, distorting his face slightly. But, it defiantly was him. My grip on the dagger loosened, and it tumbled onto the ground harmlessly to the side. My first thought was to kiss this wonderful man, but I pushed that confusing suggestion from my mind as I got off Rylen.
   "Cassidy," he said simply, sitting up, as I knelt next to him
   "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead!" I demanded, a little hurt by his lack of emotion. "Oh Guardians, your nose, I'm sorry…"
   "I could ask you the same question," Rylen answered with a small smile, wincing a little before bringing a hand to crack his nose back into place. The pop that followed made me want to throw up, but it appeared that Rylen fixed his nose. "Well, I was just able to escape the executions that Farn was so graciously handing out, and then, like you, I'm guessing, I ran. I was hiding in the forest, but then I got hungry for some real food. It didn't take long to find this place. And thank the Guardians I did. I came in just as that horde converged on you."
   His voice broke off suddenly, and he swallowed very hard as his eyes met mine again.
   "I truly thought you died…" Rylen whispered.
   I froze again, but for totally different reasons than earlier. When he said my name, there was nothing in his voice. But when he said that, there were too many emotions for me to pick which one it really was. Brushing a now-completely dry strand of gold behind my ear, I glanced down, speechless.
   "Cassidy, listen to me." His voice changed incredibly once more, more serious now, so I looked up at him. "You must find the Scepter of Eternal Light. It is the only thing that can save the Four Kingdoms now."
   "Wait, wait, you really believe that I'm the Golden Maiden? Me?" I asked, flabbergasted that I seemed to be only one that thought this was all a myth.
   "The day I saw you, I knew." Rylen affirmed, making me blush a bit, and I ignored my heart as it skipped a few beats. "I wish to accompany you, and no words will sway me."
   "But, Rylen, the story." I murmured, thinking back to the myth that proved to be truth thus far. "It says that only one can go on this journey. If it's true, then only one of us will return and-"
   "Don't you think I know this? Cassidy, as part of the Golden Guard, I was filled in on this 'myth' the day I took my vows. The High Priest read us the tale of the Maiden, and how we are to protect her till death. Like my father before me, I will protect you till my last breath." The intensity of his voice took my breath away once more, and I could not find a response. "Say no more, Cassidy. I'm going with, whether you like it or not."
   I bit my tongue, anxiety racing through me. Rylen stood up then, and he offered a hand to me. My hand grasped his, and as he pulled me up, I began to contemplate how I feel about Rylen. He was my best friend, really. That was all he ever was. But now, as I watched him throw his hood over his striking features, my heart began to say different.
   Goodness, Cassidy, now isn't the time to think about stuff like that.
   Rylen looked towards the mountains, north toward the land of the elves. I unbound my hair, letting the golden mass gather around me for a second before tying it back up into a simple ponytail. I patted my sides, remembering that my bag, as well as my sword, was still gone. Just as I released a groan, Rylen held my bag and scabbard out to me.
   "I-how?" I sputtered, taking the bag and making sure everything was still in there, and then buckled my scabbard to my belt with my sword hanging at my hip.
   "You really need better hiding places." Rylen commented, throwing a spare black cloak over me, tying the strings just below my chin and covering my golden hair with the dark cowl. "You never were too good at hide and seek."
   His closeness made me woozy, and I was grateful once he stepped away and looked back north. Now is not the time to think about that, Cassidy! He gazed up at the stars, and then pointed northward.
   "The elves; they are our best bet, I'd say." said Rylen, turning back slightly to look at me.
   "And why do you say that?" I questioned, doubt lacing through my words. It's not that I didn't trust Rylen, I trust him with my life. It's just… "How do you know all this?"
   "My vows, princess. That's how." Rylen repeated, reaching out for my hand.
   "You are a mystery, Rylen of the Golden Guard." I teased, taking his offered hand.
   "You have no idea, princess."
   And then, he pulled me into the darkness of the wood.