The journey through the forest is fast-paced and horrifying.  I'm in so much pain from being ripped away from Lorand! I have to escape!  I have to get back to the cottage! My screams are stifled by the thick fabric over my mouth.  I can hardly breathe!

When we arrive at the castle, Morden and his men pull me off the horse and carry me inside.  No! I need to get back to Lorand! With all the strength I have, I throw myself onto the floor.  Now I can roll away! But then someone's boot slams into my side, preventing me from doing so. I gasp in pain behind the gag.  Now all I can think about is death. What if they kill me before I can return to the cottage? They'll stab me, beat me, impale me, maybe even burn me at the stake!  Tears fill my vision as someone scoops me up.

“Bring her to the dungeon!” Morden commands.

Oh no!  They're going to lock me up!  Lorand! The man holding me takes a step down the staircase,and I lurch forward, catching a glimpse of the stone stairs ahead, which stretch out and below into oblivion.  If I fall down these stairs, I'll die! I squeeze my eyes shut as I try not to think of my head smashing open. Every step makes me tremble even more.

“Stop shaking!  Do you want me to drop you?”

But I can't stop.  Everything is going to kill me!  The man turns around and gives me to the man behind him, and my head tips back, making me fear for my life even more.

Suddenly the man holding me stops.  He lets go of me for a split second, and I scream.  His laugh is gruff as he catches me, and the rest of the soldiers guffaw.  I feel dizzy…

Straw pokes my back, arms, and legs through the fabric of my nightgown.  Where am I? I open my eyes and look around.

I'm in a small, dark room with ancient stone walls, a wooden door, and straw covering the floor.  There are decades’, maybe even centuries’ worth of cobwebs in the corners. My gag fell off while I was unconscious.  I groan and stand up, brushing the straw from my nightgown and picking it out of my hair. Worry swells up inside me as I remember what Morden said.

High treason.

My stomach churns violently.  Knees trembling, I sit down, and before I can help it, I'm fearing for my life again, envisioning every torture and execution method I know of.  One of those is going to happen to me… but when?

And then I think of Lorand, sobbing over me like I cried over him, wishing with all of his broken heart that I'll somehow awaken.  The grandmothers, hugging and consoling each other. My mother, shaking her head at the fact that her daughter had been killed for refusing Morden.  I wonder if she knows my fate at this very moment. Is she hysterical, like many mothers would be? Or is she appalled at my decisions and blaming me for everything?

This really is my fault, isn't it?

I should have married Morden.

No!  Morden is terrifying and cruel.  I could never be happy with him. Him and his ghastly mirror!  He wanted to murder my Lorand!

That's it.  I have to get myself out of here and find my true love.  Even if I…

The bolt on the outside of the door scratches the wood as it slides sideways.  I feel nauseous.

Morden walks into the cell, taking care to shut the door behind him when he sees me glance at it.  “Hello, little traitor. How are you?”

I don't reply.  Although my heart is beating out of control, I can't show that I'm terrified.

He chuckles.  “Not talking today, hmm?  You must be petrified. It does make sense, after all.  I slayed your dear lover…”

“It does make sense, doesn't it?” I pipe up, startling myself.  “But I'm not scared. You're nothing but a greedy old man, and Lorand escaped you before, so are you really all that mighty?”

Morden smirks.  “Lorand perished!  I watched the poison end him!”

He's correct… almost.  I'm about to reply that Lorand actually evaded him twice, but then I realize that he shouldn't know.  If he finds out, he'll go after him a third time, and that won't help anything. So I bite my lip and let tears fill my eyes.  “But you weren't powerful enough to kill him in the first place!”

That hits him.  His coal-colored eyes catch fire, and he shakes.  Enraged, he sneers, “No matter. He's dead now, and since you failed to marry me, I don't need you anymore!  I'm leaving you here to starve to death!”

So that's how I'm supposed to die.  All alone in here with nothing but straw.  Peaceful compared to what Morden’s attempted before.  I guess I should be grateful. “Fine then, I'll die! I'll be with Lorand!”

He winces, just a bit, but he doesn’t want me to see that I'm weakening him.  “At least neither of you will interrupt my plans again!” he spits in my face, then stands back and recollects himself, something I don't believe I've ever seen him do.  “Admit it, Aveline. I've won.”

He does believe it.  And he doesn't expect any sort of attack, rebellion, or escape.  I sigh. “You're right,” I whisper. “This is over. You…”

Morden's too proud to wait for me to finish.  He grins and turns back to the door, his cape swinging around dramatically as he exits.  The door bolts shut. I hear his footsteps strut triumphantly away.

“Lose,” I say quietly, in case any guards are listening.  Still, it fills me with a sense of defiance, preparing for the revolt I know is certain now.  Whether it is all of my friends or only me, something is going to happen. I am going to see Lorand again.  And Morden is going down.