7 The Festival

It's been a week and no sign of Erevan. I felt my heart drop a the thought. I couldn't bare the thought of knowing I was the cause of his death.

"Isabelle!"

I jumped at the sound of my name and quickly looked behind me seeing Carter look at me. He always tried talking to me since I've been here. He's Mary's fiancé and has been saving up for the marriage by doing all he can. He has a soft kind of blond hair and a bit of a stubble covering his sharp cheeks. Mary was lucky to have him.

"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. The festival is today. Would you like to go?"

"Festival? What festival?"

"Around the start of fall we have a festival to welcome the change of the seasons and the great harvest we had of berries. Our village is known for its berries so its a big thing."

"Oh. Sure. I'll go."

He smiled and and I could tell he was really pleased with my answer.

"Great! It starts in an hour. I'll let the others know you're coming."

He ran off and I went back to looking out the window and thinking. I've enjoyed my stay here but I can't stay any longer. I need to know why I'm here and the king is my best bet. I hate to say it but if Erevan is really dead then I have to move on.

The festival had started and I decided to go with the others. The middle of the village where the tavern is had decorations all over the place with poles of ribbons everywhere. There were flowers of all kinds and all kinds of booths with different things to buy. It was a wonderful sight. There were kids running around and men cheering with their drinks and women with their best dresses on.

"This is amazing," I whispered to myself. I'd never seen something like it. I mean, yes, back home I went to some parties but this was different. Carter turned around to face me and grabbed my hands.

"Come, dance with me Isabelle!"

"I-I don't know how."

"It's easy! Just follow my lead."

He pulled me into the group and we started dancing. I had no idea what I was doing but I soon got the hang of it. I was having so much fun. I had no thought or care in the world. I was just there, in that moment. Carter started to spin me and pulled me close to him, dipping me a bit leaning in. I saw Mary in the distance with a pained face and I realized the position I was in. I quickly got up and straighten my dress and played with my hair as I walked off. He followed after me.

"Isabelle, where are you going?"

"We shouldn't be doing this."

"Doing what? It was just a dance," he said with a little laugh out of breath like me from how we were dancing.

I turned to face him.

"Mary is your fiancé. Whatever you may be thinking I want you to put all thoughts away."

"You're overthinking this."

I stopped myself from arguing any more and looked at him.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"Are you alright? Something has been on your mind these past few days, I could see it."

He walked toward me and grabbed my waste and leaned down a bit, our faces too close for comfort.

"Mary doesn't mean anything to me. You on the other hand are something else."

I tried pushing him off and cleared my throat.

"You don't even know me. I think you're taking things a little too far Carter."

"Just one kiss..."

Before I could say anything there was a scream from the festival. I pushed Carter off and ran toward it. When I got there I had to push through a few people only to see someone on the ground covered in blood.

"Erevan!" I screamed. I ran to him and fell to my knees and held him. He was covered in dirt and blood but I could tell he was still breathing. I looked at the people around me and only saw fear. I was confused.

"Why are you guys just standing there? He's hurt! Help me!"

"You know this elf?"

I looked over seeing Carter look at me with disgust in his eyes.

"Yes, he's the one who found me in the forest."

There was a collective gasp in the crown and I felt anxious sitting there with Erevan in my arms. People started to whisper.

"You're from the forest?"

"Yes I said that. Now help me!"

"Kill the elf!" yelled some random man in the crowd.

"What?! No!"

"Kill her too! She's defending him!" yelled a woman in the crowd. Carter started to etch away from me. I searched the crown for someone I knew and met Mary's face. She looked pleased.

A man with a large stick came toward us and I hunched over Erevan with my eyes shut tight when I was met by another collective gasp and then a scream. I quickly looked seeing a large wall of vines like when I met Erevan surrounding us.

There was silence.

"She's a witch!"

I felt tears fall from my eyes and it got hard to breath. That's when I felt Erevan move under me. He cough and tried getting up.

"You idiot..." was all he said before coughing more.

The villagers were yelling and screaming. Out of nowhere I heard a horse cry and could tell it was Ebony. It made the towns people scatter and I got up carrying Erevan as best I could. I put him onto Ebony and got on myself. Immediately she started running off and I held on.

I looked back. I could see Carter standing there with pain on his face. I didn't dwell on it though and faced forward.

We got to the house I was staying at and I almost ran into George.

"George!" I yelled as I jumped off of Ebony loosing my balance.

"Good heavens my dear! You're covered in blood! What happened?"

"There's no time! My friend, he's hurt."

George looked over and noticed his ears. He looked back at me and sighed.

"Did the others see?"

"Yes. They want to kill us. They called me a witch!"

"I'm sorry, there's not much I can do. You can't stay here."

I felt more tears fall. Erevan groaned and tried sitting up.

"Stop! You're hurt."

"You're an idiot..." he coughed out and I started to get irritated.

"Yes I get that! You already said that."

"They're humans. They don't exactly like my kind."

"What?"

He didn't answer back and seemed to have fallen back unconscious.

"You're from the forest, right?"

I looked up at George and nodded my head.

"I always knew something was up with that place. Every year a group of capital soldiers would come and stay at our village claiming they were going to clear the forest out for us. But I was always confused why the kind would send his personal soldiers out for that. Then I met you."

"Wait, do you know why I'm here?"

I asked him quickly hoping I could find something out but he just slowly shook his head. Then I could hear the other villagers yelling as if they were approaching the house.

"Miss you have to go!" George yelled as he helped he up and started pushing me out the door.

"But-"

"Leave!"

I didn't bother to say anymore and got back on Ebony and she started to run off again. I looked at Erevan and felt a strange feeling. I was glad he was alive but I didn't know for how long. And I couldn't stay here and help him. I looked back confirming my last statement.

What am I supposed to do?