Snippet #2733072

Father was dead. It was all she could think as she ran through the thick forest of Merian. Large sentinel trees hid the sun or the moon as she tried her very hardest to stay quiet. She could not be captured, that was what her father wanted, when he sent her off with guards, Enzo, a tall man with a shock of red hair, and Milo, a slightly short man with wide shoulders and a jolly grin. They'd taken the Golden Princess off, hoping to get her to the nearest port to their allies in Orina but the invader's army was too vast. They'd taken Kirrel making it next to impossible for them to get around unseen. Enzo and Milo had fallen after a battle with Orcs, beastly half man half demon things. They'd managed to give her enough time to run ahead but she was now hopelessly lost. She didn't know how to navigate these woods, and she couldn't hope for the Fae to help her, they would much rather be left out of such a fight. She stopped, catching her breath trying to right herself. Her father once had taken her in the woods with him and his party on a hunt and taught her that if she were ever lost she could right herself by keeping the sun on her left but that was impossible with the thickness of the tree's canopy. She ran her hand over her olive colored forehead, slick with sweat. "Father...What do I do?" Grief tightened her chest. She had to keep moving, so she did, trying to silence the sobs that escaped her throat. She had to find the port, get to Orina, with the help of their king, a friend of her father's she'd be safe and maybe, must maybe they could defeat this Shadow King and-
"Prinnncceeesss," Something hissed behind. Clara's back stiffened with start but only for a moment as she looked down found a large fallen branch and heaved. It didn't budge. She tugged narder before large hands grabbed her by the shoulders and pressing her against itself. She screamed, fighting like a beast from the Darklands but too no avail. She bite the arm of the creature, an orc with pale skin, white as fresh snow, that was covered in blood and other things and it howled. She thought it was in pain but no, it was a howl of laughter. "Goooodd trrry, Prriimnnceesss." It said before something hard hit her, and darkness took her.

When she awoke next, she was in her chambers, dressed in the black and gold of her people, she frowned. She couldn't believe it, it was all a dream. She sat up slowly, her head swam and it all came rushing back to her. No, it wasn't a dream, a nightmare perhaps but one that was very real. The kingdom was taken, her father was dead and now, she was a prisoner of this Shadow King.

The door to her chambers opened a girl, not a Merian girl, approached her. Her too large eyes widened and she ducked back out. She was an elf that girl, she realized and before long too orc guards came in grabbing her by the arms, while she fought and flailed before she stood before Shadow King, seated on her father's throne. Her throne, she realized darkly, her father's only heir. She glared daggers at this man...no, demon who ruined her life. She struggled against the hands of the Orcs, not that should would or could do anything to this invader but still, she wanted to. She took this time to appraise him. He looked like an other man and even had the audacity to be handsome with his cool eyes, sharp features and long dark hair. "That does not belong to you," She said, glad her voice was as strong as it was.