"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage without fear."

Chapter 29

River's POV

4 days later~

Alastair sighed, "Isaiah, would you stop pouting?"

Isaiah's eyes only narrowed as he stood by the open carriage, maids rushed hurriedly past him as they loaded on our luggage.

"I can't believe you're actually doing this."

Derek stood by Isaiah, attempting to calm him but his actions went in vain as Isaiah's pout only deepened, foot thumping harshly against the pebbled path.

Alastair rolled his eyes at him as he led me into a carriage with a gentle hand.

"Wait," Isaiah sighed, "at least let me hug him before you take him away with you."

Alastair tsked as I pushed his hand from my back and rushed to Isaiah's outstretched arms. He wrapped his arms around my waist as I stood on my tippy toes and wrapped my arms around his neck. I buried my face in the crook of his neck. He always smelled so good, like fresh berries.

"Please be careful, River," he whispered in my ear as Alastair stood crossed armed by the carriage.

I nodded against his neck, "I will, don't worry."

He laughed, "Telling me not to worry is like telling a bird not to fly."

"I'll miss you," I whispered.

He nodded with a small smile.

"What?" a voice said from behind Isaiah, "I don't get a teary-eyed farewell as well?"

I turned my face as an arm pulled me into a tight hug.

"You better miss me. Who else would interrupt their sex life to help your sorry ass at two in the morning?" I looked up to a familiar, mischievous blue.

"Thanks, Michael."

He smiled softly, "You're welcome, cutie."

An arm pulled me from Michael as I swooped into the arms of a hazel-eyed beaut.

"That's enough, it's time to go."

"Jealous are we?" Michael smirked as he leaned against Keith's broad chest.

"What's there to be jealous about? I am about to spend the next few weeks alone with him."

Michael's smirk grew, "alternative motives, huh? Careful, he's a virgin."

My face burned like a fire as my eyes widened.

He's joking right?

My head whipped towards Alastair, whose eyes widened along with mine.

"Why the hell would I do anything with my mate in the middle of a battle zone?!"

"Well, why not?" Keith wrapped his arms around Michael as he spoke, "it may be fun."

I looked up at Alastair, whose arms had begun to shake around me, "Dog," he hissed.

"Why, that's Sir Dog to you, kind Sir," Keith smirked.

Alastair's eyes narrowed, "moron," he muttered under his breath as he walked towards the carriage and placed me gently onto the plush, red seating.

I pulled my legs to my chest, resting my head on my knees as I watched him bicker with his older brother. Michael seemed to be smack in the middle of the whole thing as Alastair growled at Keith who merely smirked from behind Michael, leaving random kisses on Michael's shoulder as he eyed Alastair with amusement. Derek seemed to be somewhere else as he peered off into the distance as Isaiah watched him with a strange glint in his eyes.

I always ended up being the observer rather than being the center in a situation. A position that I prefered over the alternative. Though, Alastair seemed to be the opposite. The sun seemed to shine solely on him as he growled at his brother, all eyes on him. He was the lead, the main character and I, well, I was merely the observer, the narrator. I was the one who watched the story, not the one the story circled around, but that was alright with me. I preferred it.

He waved his hand in his brother's direction as he headed back to the carriage, sitting down next to me with a low growl.

"Idiot."

I smiled softly as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his lap as his lips lightly skimmed by shoulder blade. As much as he seemed to portray annoyance, his eyes shone in nothing but comical humor. Though he wouldn't admit it, he found the exchange as risible as his brother.

"We can go now," Alastair called to the horsemen in the front. They nodded as the slapped their reins and the carriage began to move against the rocky path.

Wait, I didn't get to say goodbye to Isaiah.

I stood from my seat, eyes widening, as I caught sight of Isaiah waving his arms with a small smile getting farther and farther away. I pushed past Alastair and pushed the curtains away from the open window as I stook my head out.

"Goodbye, Isaiah!" I shouted, hair flying in my face as the cool air whipped past my face.

I felt a gentle pair of hands around my waist, as if fearful I may fly out the window.

Isaiah's eyes widened as he cupped his mouth, "Get back in the carriage, River!"

I could barely hear his calls as I was pulled back into the carriage and into a pair of broad arms and chiseled chest. A head rested against my shoulder in a soft sigh.

"Almost gave me a heart attack," Alastair breathed against my neck.

I shivered slightly as I reached behind me and brushed my finger through his thick strands, "sorry," I said softly.

"God, barely five seconds and you're already putting yourself in harm's way."

I hummed as he swept his nose up by neck, kissing behind my ear. My fingers wrapped around his knees with a whimpered breath as I closed my eyes, soaking in his gentle warmth.

I spent majority of the journey wrapped in Alastair's warm embrace, head tucked in his chest, peering out of the window, before my eyes become too heavy to keep open. Even in the darkest of my dreams I could feel Alastair calming warmth around me, keeping me from the usual monsters that had so previously plagued my every thought.

I woke a couple times, switching between the scenery and unrealistic dreams as Alastair gentle fingers brushed through my hair. I felt my eyelids grow a couple tuns as I peered out the window, hand slowing its small circles against Alastair's chest. Spots of darkness spread across my vision as I began to drift. A sudden rocking of the carriage awoke me mid-dozing. I clung to Alastair's shirt as the carriage stopped short. Alastair's eyes narrowed, pushing the curtain from the window as he held me behind him in a protective shield-like manner.

"Why did we stop?" He called out the open window.

Silence, then grunts as the horses neighed loudly in the front.

What's happening?

I attempted to peek from behind Alastair but his arm held me captive as he slowly opened the carriage door, as if fearful of making any sort of sound.

"Remain in the carriage," he whispered as he sat me on the cushioned seat and placed a blanket on top of me, "don't make a sound."

I nodded as I watched him climb from the carriage in a stealthy manner, feet landing softly onto the dirt path. My eyes widened as I caught sight of a small, golden dagger in a tight hold behind his back.

What does he need such a weapon for?

I sat for a few minutes, fingers tapping against knee caps, before I peeked out the window, against Alastair's previous wishes. I convinced myself that it would be alright, that I was just going to peek quickly, just to fulfill my curiosity and then I was going to go back to silently waiting for Alastair.

My eyes widened as I caught sight of three broad men surrounding Alastair as he stood in the center, dagger outstretched in one hand as the other covered his shoulder. I gasped as I saw a puddle of blood beside Alastair, red, crimson streams dripping from a red patch growing on his shoulder. Multiple eyes turned towards me, golden eyes meeting mine, as I dropped from the window and onto the carriage floor. I held the blanket tightly around my shaking form, hands vibrating against the soft fabric.

Oh god, oh god.

My breath felt like acid against my throat as I gasped, throat growing tight as I shook in place.

Alastair was hurt. They were hurting Alastair.

Tears ran down my face as I let out a choked sob.

No, no, no, no.

I had to do something. I had to-

The carriage door flew open, replaced by a broad man. He peered down at me with narrowed yellows hues.

They were empty, so empty.

He hand wrapped around my forearm, pulling me roughly from the carriage. I whimpered as his hand squeezed my arm in harshly. His overgrown nails dug into my tender flesh as I choked a sob.

Alastair stood sideways, one leg bleeding out onto the, now, red dirt. His eyes grew dark as they landed on my shaking form, "Do not touch...," he gasped between pain-filled breaths.

"Oh," the man laughed, "I will touch her as much as I want. I've been looking for a bed partner and to think now I can have one of a royal's," his fingers left goosebumps against my skin as they ran down my shaking form. I felt bile begin to make its way up my throat as his fingers ventured beneath my shirt, touching the skin by my waist line.

"Stop," Alastair growled, eyes growing darker by the moment, "do not touch him!"

"Him?!" The man let go of my arm, roughly shoving me to the ground.

I hissed as my arm scraped against a nearby rock, specks of blood peeking from the open wound. All I heard through my gasps was a growl in the distance before I heard a thump. I looked up from my bloody arm to see the man now on his back as Alastair stood ontop of him pounding away at his face, blood landing on his dirty shirt in red spatters. The other two men seemed to come to their senses as they ran to their partner's aid, each landing on top of Alastair, pushing him from the man's now broken form. They tumbled on the ground, growling and twisting amongst the dirt and grime.

I sat, watching, hands holding the blanket tightly to my form.

I have to do something. I can't just watch.

I didn't know what to do. I was weak, useless. I had no idea how to fight or defend myself.

The men punched and kicked at Alastair form as he returned each swing, weaker each time as the floor beneath his form grew redder by the minute. My eyes caught sight of a shining object a few feet from my form. I shaded my eyes as the sun shown brightly in my vision. My eyes widened.

The dagger.

I threw the blanket on the ground as I rushed towards the golden object, wrapping my fingers around the golden handle in a firm grip, but I couldn't help but feel like I was holding it wrong.

How do you hold this...?

A loud groan caused my head to turn as Alastair hissed, a blue mark spreading across his cheek.

I don't have time to sit here and try to figure this out.

I felt my hands grow wet, breath begin trembling, body shaking as I walked slowly towards the gory scene.

I had to get the dagger to Alastair. I didn't need to miraculously turn into a knight, just get the heavy metal in my hands to the hands of my mate.

I could do this.

I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes.

I will do this.

I opened them slowly as one of the men pulled Alastair from the floor with a firm hold.

"Come on, little royal. Tell us where you're keeping all of your treasures. Surely you didn't travel unhanded."

Alastair merely spit in the man's face, "disgusting."

The man swiped the spit from his face with a growl.

The other man pulled a sharp object from his pocket, pushing the other man from Alastair and bringing the object to Alastair's neck, "let's just end this, leader will kill us if we come late again. We wasted enough time on this dirty royal. We'll search his carriage later and take his lover in exchange for wasting our time."

I felt myself freeze up, hand shaking against the cold handle. How was I going to do this? They didn't seem to even be aware of my existence as the two men bickered amongst themselves, the other bleeding out a few feet away.

"I don't care what you think! This is a waste of time!" The man dug the sharp object into Alastair's neck, blood began to pour as I screamed.

"No!" They both turned, eyes widened as I jumped onto the man holding the sharp object, causing him to drop it as he swung from side to side, swiping at me as I clung to his back like a koala bear.

"Get him off me!" He screamed to his partner, who was busy being mauled by Alastair.

He shook from side to side as I squeaked, hands digging into his shoulderblades.

I felt the dagger slipping from my grip as I held onto the man. I felt a pair of calasted hands wrap around my legs, pulling and tugging as I struggled to stay in place but instead ended up falling to the ground in a harsh thump. My head spun as it collided with a large rock behind me, dropping the dagger onto the grass beside me. My head pounded, black spots beginning to fill my vision as a searing pain ran up my spine.

The man growled, peering down at me with furious eyes.

Oh god.

His hands wrapped around my shirt, pulling me up until his face was merrily centimeters from mine, "You little bitch. I'll show you your place."

I cried, trying to pull from him as his hands snaked under my shirt, "look how you squirm under my touch," he laughed as he ran his tongue up my chin. I felt my skin burn where he touched, skin pulsing in revolt as his slimy tongue ran across my cheek.

Disgusting, dirty.

"That's right, good bitch," he laughed as his hand squeezed my butt.

Tears ran down my face as his dirty hands ran across my pale skin. I felt so dirty, so disgusting. He was defiling me.

Off, get him off. Make it end...make it end.

I pushed against his chest but it seemed to have no affect on him as smirked evilly at me, eyes glazed in lust as his tongue swept against his thin, cracked lips.

"Aah, that frightened look. So arousing," he smirked devilishly, his fingers pulling harshly on my hair. I felt a few loose strands pull from my scalp as I screamed.

No more, no more!

My eyes burned, my throat felt sore. It hurt. It hurt.

"Alastair!" I choked.

I felt the man pulled from me, replaced by a pair of gentle hands as Alastair lifted the man from the ground by the neck.

"How dare you," his eyes shone a brilliant gold as turned the man's neck a strange angle, resulting in a loud crack.

The man's body turned rigid as Alastair dropped him to the ground.

"I'm so sorry, love," Alastair spoke softly in my ear as he swept me into his arms, "where did he touch you?"

I shook my head with a sob.

His eyes softened as he cupped my face in his gentle hands and laid a light kiss on my lips.

"No one will ever touch you again. I promise you."

I choked on a sob as he cradled me to his chest. He stepped over the man's fallen form as he headed back to the carriage. As we grew closer, his hand swept over my eyes.

"Alastair-"

"This isn't for you to see."

What? Were there more dead bodies? I'd already seen two.

I felt myself lifted onto something soft and...moving?

"Alastair?" My voice quivered.

"We have no horsemen to keep the carriage moving so we're going to ride on a horse instead."

So it was the horsemen's bodies.

"I don't know how to ride a horse."

"That's alright, I'll take the lead. You can merrily rest," he lifted his hand from my eyes. I blinked and squinted before my vision went back to normal.

I sighed as I rested my head against Alastair's warm chest. My body still quivered from the previous...situation.

I was almost...he could have...Oh god...

"Shh," Alastair cooed in my ear as his lips brushed against the top of my head, "never again. That will never happen again. No one will ever touch you again," this time he growled, "you're only mine to touch."

I nodded against his chest as I sniffled.

"Rest, my love."

And like that, I was out.