Dusk came and went. Again there was no sign on the horizon. Nothing to spark even a bit of hope was seen or or even imagined. Leaning back with a heavy heart she looked at the cracked ceiling. It has been three full days since she last saw a sign from her lover, three full days since the beacon was lit by him.
He said he would come for me.
Horrible thoughts of something happening to him began to flood her. She closed her eyes tight and clenched her jaw, swallowing them down. She cannot worry, she cannot unravel, not now.
Just as she was beginning to feel composed, the wooden window slid open and a tray containing her dinner was slid in. She quickly scrambled up to try to see who was on duty today but as soon as she neared the window was slammed closed. She slapped the door. This is her own doing. She was too friendly with the first guard, the one with kind eyes. She hoped he would take pity on her and he did. He is probably dismembered already lying in the pile of bodies on the square. This is if he was lucky. If he was was unlucky he is in the dungeons “awaiting” trial for treason. Something has happened to him since the next guard that was given the position to be her keeper had neither kind eyes nor any other kind parts.
Not knowing what happened to kind eyes made her feel sick, and she tried to squeeze those thoughts back down, she couldn’t eat. She paced instead.
She can’t take anymore chances. They would never hurt her but everytime she tried something someone else would suffer for it and they would suffer twice as much. Once for their transgression and once for hers. They wanted her well and able so that they can marry her to the new King that the counsel had chosen, one that they could control.
Well, that would be the plan for maybe a few more months, until the true prince growing inside her could not be concealed any longer. Once he showed himself, there would be no question she would be killed.
She peered out the window once again just incase the beacon had been lit, there was nothing. She must get the message to him. It was her last hope. He must know that they are fighting not only for them to be together but now with a prince, the people will rise for us, for Him. Kind eyes had vanished before she could ask him if he had done this favor for her. She knew who was still loyal and if the message was passed to them it will get to her beloved. If they stopped him and knew what news he was carrying she surely would be dead by now. But it has been three dusks since she last saw the beacon lit.
She was about to unravel again, the short breaths coming back slowly suffocating her. She stumbled backwards hands reaching for the solid wall, she slid down and hugged her knees close, the cool stone on her back calming her.
She was breathing normally now. Minutes passed. Calm enough now to eat and keep down her supper she pulled the tray onto her lap. Just as she dipped the stale bread in the cooled and congealed broth the light that crept through the crack on the bottom of the door was obscured for a second, just enough for her to freeze.
No one ever came at this time. Her heart quickened and all her nerve endings were tingling. This is it she thought. They know. They killed him. They got the message before it got to the ones it was meant for. They cannot let her live, they cannot let an heir live.
She gripped the tray, it was the only weapon available to her, and it was a poor one at that but she would not go easily. She thought of her strong, proud mother. She would put up a fight too. She was slowly rising to move to the blind side of the door. She waited, tray raised.
Ready to attack she waited but the door did not open. A note was pushed through under the slim opening under the door.
Hanna stood there mouth agape. In an instant she dropped the tray, grabbed the note and unfolded it in the only light in the room strong enough to allow her to read. She unfolded the note smoothed it on the stone floor right under the crack in the door. There were only a few words scribbled on the paper.
Do not eat, poisoned. Jump out window now!
She closed her fist around the note. Confused she looked at the food, had she taken a bite? No. Thank goodness. She made her way to the window. She couldn't make out anything except the blackness. She stood on the windows edge, her skirt lapping in the wind. It was a long way down. She knew how to swim but wasn’t a strong swimmer. Her and her sister Beth would play in the lake near the summer cottage as children.
She knew the words were written by her beloved. She trusted. She knew she didn’t have much time. She knew they would be coming to collect her body and if they found her alive and well, they would have force fed the poisoned broth. She lept as far from the ledge as she could to avoid any rocks that must be close to the tower just as she heard hurried footsteps.
All she could hear was her skirt flapping in the wind, she knew which way was down but couldn’t see anything. The icy water caught her and pulled her in. All was quiet, she flailed her limbs until she felt she was headed toward the surface. She emerged gasping for a breath just to be slapped this way and that, she tried to breath when she could. She saw a light and swam as best she could towards it. She knew, it had to be him.
She was getting closer. She would try to wave, scream out but she sank below the water each time she raised her arms to wave for their attention, her mouth filling with salty ice water when she attempted to yell to those on the boat.
She would just have to try to make her way towards the light. It was getting closer but the effort seemed tremendous for such little gain. They must have seen her splash into the sea but the darkness was not helpful to anyone. She was grateful that the guards on the tower could not see her but they could see the light. Just as she thought that, the light was put out. Her limbs tiring from the effort and the cold seeping into her bones was slowing her, she was getting heavier and was sure that she could not sustain the effort longer, but she did and tried to use her voice so the boat could find her. Just as she was trying to get her head above the water to yell, strong arms grabbed her forearms and pulled. Pulled her wet sopping tired body onto the boat.
A gruff voice said, “Get her warm. He will have our heads if we bring her back alive but only just so.”
Heavy rugs and padded blankets were thrown on top of her. A few minutes passed. He was not on the ship but they were taking her to him. That thought alone calmed her, the warmth coming back to her and the sound of men methodically rowing lulled her into sleep.
