In the morning, the sky remained grey instead of the shining sun, with snow lightly falling. Arlutrix had not woken up from his deep sleep, leaving you to eat the last slice of apple pie before the treat spoiled. As you ate the pie, you started to create a plan to escape the town before the rooster called. 

   ' We need to get out of here before the owner finds us in his stables. I want to get more food, but I don't think we should. We don't have that much money. And by the time the market opens, the owner will have found us. I'll have to leave without food, but maybe not without a horse. '

You looked up at the horse standing in the stall, eating the straw on the ground. Quickly, you left the booth, going toward the supplies the owner had for the horses. Borrowing a saddle, blanket, and reign, you traveled back to the horse, preparing the jenny for travel. Through the process, Arlutrix started to wake up. "

   " Y/n. . .we're in a stable? "

   " Yeah, I found a place for us while you were knocked out. We're going to be taking this horse, so we can travel faster. "

   " Alright, I'm sorry for being knocked out for so long. "

   " It's alright, but tell me, how much magic can you use, before using too much? "

   " I can use a lot, but considering I had to defend myself from that knight and keep the fire in the cave warm until the early morning, I didn't get to recharge. But I'm better now. "

   " Okay, then let's go. The owner shouldn't spot us here in his stables. "

Without another word, Arlutrix nodded. You got on the horse, holding the reigns tight in your grip, while Arlurtix opened the door to the small stall. The horse walked out of the stall and stood in the middle of the stables. Arlutrix shut the door and climbed on the horse, sitting behind you and holding your waist as you flicked the reigns. Slowly you rode the horse out of the stables. The stables were at the edge of town, with the last house to your right. The house seemed lonely as you walked past it and into the trees.

Arlutrix's hands around you kept you warm as he admitted heat to keep you both warm as you traveled through the snow. You didn't know how far the next town was or how far Silv was from your position; all you knew was that you were heading East. Leaning into Arlutrix's chest, you relaxed, feeling your shoulders, each as the tension left your body. Arlutrix noticed your exhaustion and took the reigns from your hands.

   " Try and rest, my lady. "

   " I shouldn't. We're not out of the woods yet. "

   " I know, but you look exhausted. DId you sleep at all last night? "

   " I did a little. I slept some, but then I would wake up in fear those guards were around. They want to apprehend us both, and turn us into the king. "

   " Both of us? No, it should only be me. I'm the one with magic, not you. "

   " Yes, but they think you've cast some spell, and you're controlling me like a puppet. The knight I scuffled with tried telling me that everyone back home believes I'd been kidnapped. "

   " Figures. I didn't think about how badly it would reflect on you. I knew it would degrade your status, but I didn't think it would go so far as to say I've kidnapped you and I'm controlling you. Isembart must have fed that lie to the king. "

   " And my mother probably fed into it, convincing everyone I would never run away, with a 'servant' of my fiancee. "

   " I never really liked your mother. She was always so pushy. "

   " And you're telling me this? " You said, jabbing his side a little with your elbow.

Arlutrix chuckled and leaned forward, nuzzling his nose into your neck. The tense atmosphere had broken with the funny comment and jabs at each other. You showed a small smile as Arlutrix cuddled you and rested his head on his shoulder.

   " I'm assuming I won't get the pleasure of being introduced as your lover to your family? "

   " Maybe, my father, but he would have to come to see us in Silv. "

   " I do like your father. He always had small chats with me when I wasn't busy, and while he was at the house. " Arlutrix said enthusiastically.

   " I'm glad one of my parents is tolerable. He's probably happy that my mother is going crazy right now. "

   "  Yes, and we will invite him once we get to Silv and everything has been settled within the kingdom. Don't forget, my lady; they're still rebuilding the empire. "

   " Do you know how much they have left to build? "

   " As far as I am aware, the castle is somewhat fixed. Queen Aileen has focused more on towns than her castle. I would say there are a few places that have been rebuilt, while her castle is supposed, being rebuilt slowly. Economy, they are making good progress. "

   " Okay, that's good. We'll have to build our own home, though. "

   " Not much for manual labor? " Arlutrix asked, teasing again.

  " Now, why should a lady such as myself build a home while I have a strong warlock that can do it himself with only the lift of a finger? " You claimed with your tone changing to one that sounded slightly like your mother.

   " Oh, shut up. I am more of a lady than you are. I don't carry around a sword. " Arlutrix laughed.

   " Because I need protecting. "

   " More like I need protection from you. "

You laughed at his words, but soon, the tension returned as shouts were heard from behind you. Looking back, you saw the guards together with their horses. Their silver swords were pointed in the sky toward you. But, before even saying his name, Arlutrix had already whipped the horse to run. Your back pressed against Arlutrix's chest as the horse ran through the snow and around trees.

   " Arlutrix, can you make us invisible, like last time? " You yelled.

   " No! Even if I did, they would still see the footprints the horse was left behind. It would be a waste of energy. "

   " Do, you know how far we are from the border? "

   " We're not close enough. We have to outrun them, if we want to get out of this with no casualties. Have your sword ready, in case. "

Arlutrix maneuvered the horse around the trees, trying to lose the guards, but the horses the guards rode on were fine, moving the way Arlutrix was. It was getting harder to create distance between you and the guards; they kept coming closer. You thought of splitting up but concluded that it was a bad idea, remembering that the knights were after both of you. 

   " Guards, aim! Fire! "

You felt the weight under the horse loosen, and you were thrown off, with Arlutrix holding you close to him. Landing in the snow, you skid until Arlutrix's back hit a tree. You looked up and saw the horse lying on the ground, with an arrow in its leg and an arrow on its hind. The guards started closing in, eventually surrounding you in a circle. Arlutrix stood, helping you up, and faced the guards as you placed your back against his. You gripped the sword, ready to fight, but you would wait on Arlutrix's word. 

   " Don't try fighting us. There are more of us to fight. It wouldn't take that long to take the both of you down. "

   " So its the easy way or the hard way? " Arlutrix asked, with his voice solid and unwavering.

   " Exactly. Pick your option, carefully. "

   " I think you know what option I pick. It's not a big decision for me. "

   " As you wish. Guards! Apprehend these two alive, no matter what cost you have to pay! "

The guards on the horses jumped down with their swords at the ready. You held your sword tightly in your hand while Arlutrix's hands started to emit colorful light, with whisps floating around his hands. The guards attacked at the same time, separating you from Arlutrix. 

Arlutrix used his magic to fight, trying to light some of the guards on fire or to make them burn in their metal armor. He used his green chains to defend himself against the chains. One guard swung his sword at Arlutrix, but Arlutrix gripped the chains on his hand and held them up, only for the sword to land against the chain with a clink. Quickly, he wrapped the chain around the sword and twisted the blade out of the guard's hand. Then wrapped the guard in a chain, using him as a shield against the other guards. 

Your fight was brutal since you had no formal training with a sword. Nevertheless, you blocked all the guards and even knocked down into the snow; you would defend yourself. The guards didn't give you room to breathe, but your movements were swift, and you managed to dent some of their armor. Something that impressed the guards was your reaction time. You weren't strong to stand your ground and instead moved around, striking from different angles. But when the guards would knock you down, cut you, or push you, it interested them how fast your rebuttal was. No matter what the guards did, you wouldn't stumble but return to your fight. The knights didn't give you time to breathe so you wouldn't give them time.

Swiftly, you maneuvered out of the way of a guard lunging at you, and you aimed for the back of his knees, where there was no armor. Your blade connected with skin, cutting into the guard's back legs, making him fall to the ground. Next, a guard tried to kick your back, and he managed a connection. You fell into the snow but quickly turned around, holding your sword up and blocking the oncoming sword. Pushing the blade away, you kicked the man's leg, making him stand straight, but you twisted in the snow, stabbing the skin behind his knee with your blade. 

You stood and aimed for another place with no armor, the pit between the shoulder and torso. You stabbed the knight as he was distracted with his bleeding leg. Your sword connected with the man's skin, cleanly cutting through the top of his shoulder. You pulled your sword out and continued to fight while Arlutrix used his magic to defeat the guards. Arlutrix had three knights on the ground, burning from within their armor, and dazed, while you had two bleeding into the snow, turning it red. 

The fight continued, but your movements were getting a little slippy, feeling your arm ache from holding the sword for so long. Another guard moved to attack you as you had early, planning to stab you through the folds between your arm and torso. But you didn't have time to dodge, leaving you to block. You moved to block his blade, but the angle was weird. You turned the sword upside down, planning to push his blade away, but due to the odd angle, there wasn't much strength in the block. Nevertheless, his sword connected, managing to stab you through. 

You held back your scream and turned (making the blade in your shoulder turn and cut you more), kicking the guard away from you. Without thinking, you pulled the sword out of your shoulder, losing time, to block the other guard behind you. A lash was spread across your back, from your left hip to the middle of your back, with blood spraying into the snow. You screamed, in agony, making Arlutrix turn his attention toward you. You fell to the ground, looking behind you at the guard who had struck you. His blade had blood dripping from the tip to the handle, and you recognized his face. It was Jeremy, the man you had fought before.

   " Y/n! "

Arlutrix abandoned the men he was fighting and floated towards you. Blue and purple sparks danced around his feet as he stood before you, defending your body. He continued to fight with the guards, but there were too many. Arlutrix, wouldn't let anyone come close to you, but you had fainted, unable to tell him; there was a guard with a sack and rope behind Arlutrix.