“No, no, no!” Elynore held tightly to her soaked skirts as she ran. Cold rain poured down on her, dripping down her neck and back and freezing her to the bone. Her glass slippers slid on the wet stone. Elynore was thankful for the darkness of night, but there was always the danger of falling off the side of the wall into the moat, or worse, back into the courtyard. Elynore glanced over her shoulder as the guards drew closer. Too close.

They were going to catch her. 

She was wearing a dress, and they could run faster than her. She didn’t have any time or any way to escape. 

She slid to a stop. A tall barrier blocked her way. A man glared at her from in front of it. “Give yourself up, you filthy monster!” 

Now she knew for sure there was only one way of escape. She gritted her teeth, ran to the side of the wall, and flung her legs over the edge. Elynore took a quick breath and pushed off into the darkness. 

As she fell through the air, she felt like her body was an icicle, completely frozen and stiff. 

Her frail body hit the water with a loud splash. Shock pulsed through her body as she sunk down into the icy cold blackness and frantically swam toward the way that she hoped was up. Her head surfaced, and she swam to the shore with relief. She ran as far as she could go and then collapsed against a tree. She couldn’t keep her eyes open a moment longer.

When she woke up she struggled to sit up and then leaned back against the rough bark of the tree.

She had to keep moving before she was found, for she couldn’t have gotten very far.

But for some reason, she couldn’t move. 

Her head fell into her hands and the only sounds that could be heard were her soft sobs and the only movement was her trembling body. She was still wet, never able to dry off from the rain and the plunge in the moat. 

She moaned, her freezing body shaking. “Why can’t I ever make the right decision?” She sobbed to herself. “Now I must suffer the consequences I deserve.”

A twig snapped nearby. Elynore’s head shot up and swiveled around to find the object of the noise. Her heart thumped, and her blood ran cold. Had they finally found her? Had they finally won? She fingered the necklace around her throat. She must not let them find it! Maybe it hadn’t been worth it to injure Father to keep it safe, but she couldn’t go back now.

Footsteps grew nearer, nearer. Elynore squeezed her eyes shut and tried to force her legs to move. 

They didn’t listen. 

Elynore hardly dared to breathe. 

“Hello?” a gentle male voice called.

It was just another one of their tricks to get her to give in, Elynore knew. 

The footsteps got louder until they sounded only inches away. Suddenly a hand touched Elynore’s shoulder. She flinched and prepared herself for the stab of pain and her end.

But it never came.

She looked up into the compassionate face of a man. Her mouth opened to scream but no sound came out.

He crouched down until they were eye level, and Elynore couldn’t peel herself from those eyes. 

She had never seen kindness, and his eyes brimmed and threatened to overflow with it.

“Are you alright, miss?” He asked.

Elynore stared for a few seconds and then slowly shook her head. Silent tears slipped down her numb cheeks and dripped off of her chin. She couldn’t even feel them. 

What was she feeling?

“Now, that won’t do.” The man said kindly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, gently wiping the tears off her face. But he would have been there a while, for each tear was quickly replaced.

“Can you get up?” He asked once he probably realized this. 

“I-I don’t know.” Elynore started at the sound of her own voice. It sounded so loud and worn and different.

She fumbled with her legs, but it was hopeless. 

“Here,” The man reached down, “Let me help.” 

With mostly his strength, Elynore managed to stand up. She placed a hand on her forehead as a wave of dizziness swept over her. She felt lightheaded, and didn’t even care if this man was going to bring her to her enemies. Just a few minutes with such kindness and carefulness was worth it all, even if it wasn’t real.

A few seconds later the dizziness passed, and she leaned on him as they slowly walked into the forest. 

As they walked, the man spoke words of encouragement at her progress. “I’m taking you to my cabin, although I see now by your dress that  I am unworthy of your presence.” 

Elynore could hear the question in his voice, and decided then to trust him. 

“I’m unworthy now, kind sir.” She said sadly.

“Nonsense, my dear. No offense of course.” He added quickly.

“No, it’s true.” Elynore stumbled, but the man held her up. “I sinned,” She continued, “and am far unworthy to be with you. For you are so kind, and I am guilty of so much.”

The man looked into her eyes. “I don’t believe that.” He said slowly. “Unless you were enticed.”

Elynore was amazed at the man’s awareness. “Yes,” she said simply. 

They walked on in silence for a few minutes, and then the man introduced himself as Raylan. Soon Elynore could see a tiny cabin ahead. She walked on with renewed strength; warmth her chief motivation. The thought of being dry seemed like a dream, but after minutes by a warm fire and wrapped in a blanket, it was what Elynore felt.

There was a new light in her eyes, a spark of life and hope. Raylan prepared tea on a tin stove and soon offered it to Elynore, then sat himself down on the floor near her feet. 

“I want you to know I will do anything to keep you safe.” He said gallantly. “I couldn’t bear to see you captured.”

“Thank you.” Elynore laughed softly. “I think this is the last place I’ll be looked for.” She fingered the necklace at her throat. “I must keep this necklace safe at all costs. There are mysteries about it, and if it’s given into the wrong hands…”

“I won’t tell a soul.” 

“Thank you, Raylan, for everything. You saved my life!”

“It was an honor.”

“So you are alright now?” Raylan asked, looking up at her, a slight smile on his lips. 

“Yes.” Elynore replied, and meant it. All was right in the world.