My eyes feel heavy, but I fight the sleepiness and urge them open.

Warm lights greet my eyes as I glance around my surroundings.

I am in a small bed, loaded with warm fur blankets.

Elegant furniture and plush rugs spot the small room.

Paintings of flowers and castles hang on the crimson red wallpaper walls.

I rise up, but pause.

The nausea creeps up my throat from the pit of my stomach; realization suddenly hits that yesterday was real.

A mirror in the opposite wall reflects my pale, bruised skin.

I’m sore all over, with scratches a small cuts spotting my cold skin.

Tears fill my eyes at the memory of yesterday:

It was a cold morning, so I went out to help my father split wood. Everything was quiet, still; almost too peaceful. Smoke was rising from my house’s chimney. I could smell Mother cooking up eggs and potatoes. And then the screaming began.

People in the village ran and screamed that the King’s soldiers had arrived to show them what it would be like if we did not pay our expenses.

Many of us were near death with the increased expenses.

I rushed to Father and we gathered Mother and my brother, Seth.

We ran to the woods, but arrows were flying behind us. One struck Father. I screamed.

A soldier came behind me, but I fought back. Then another came, and thrust a fist in my face, I fell.

Smoke and blood filled my nose, screams sounded around.

I lied in the cold mud, slowly drifting away.

A tall, muscular figure, with familiar dark eyes and hair picked me up and then I fell into darkness.

I shake my head of the memory and attempt to get out of bed, but the door of the room opens and the man that picked me from near-death enters the room.

I freeze.

“Elena, you must rest. You had a hard morning yesterday,” the man says in his deep voice.

I stare at him, trying to figure out his familiar face. And then it clicks.

“Davian,” I gasp.

He smiles.

I jump out of bed and rush to him.

I clasp my arms around him in a hug.

“Davian! You’re back!” I shout. Joy filled me as I looked upon my dear friend who left for a merchant assembly a year and a half ago.

He certainly had grown up more; gained inches in height and muscle.

His face fell at the sight of my bruised cheek.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you sooner, Elena.”

I shake my head. “You saved me, Davian.”

Then the burning question that has been resting on my tongue bursts, “Do you where my family is? Is my father safe?”

A soft smile rises from Davian’s lips.

“Come.” He signals to the hallway.

I follow him down to the kitchen, where the smell of breakfast simmers.

I hear my mother and Seth arguing over how to properly eat eggs.

And the I hear my father’s laugh.

I burst into the room and almost cry with complete joy.

Everyone rushed towards me and we all hug.

Everyone is okay.

“Oh Elena!” My mother cries, hugging me.

I smile at my family and then turn back to to lip “thank you” to Davian.

He nods his head with a smile.