Chapter 14: Ariana's Hope

Ariana woke to the soft morning light streaming through the large windows of her room in Aldwyn, the home of Lady Elara and Lord Garen. The warmth of the sunlight did little to dispel the cold ache in her chest. Every morning for the past two years, she had awoken with the same dull pain, a constant reminder of her missing brother, Kaelen.

As she stretched and got out of bed, she glanced at the small, worn-out wooden horse on her nightstand, a keepsake from her childhood. It was the last thing Kaelen had carved for her before they were taken. Her fingers traced the intricate details, a fleeting connection to the brother she refused to believe was gone.

Downstairs, the household was already bustling with activity. Lady Elara was in the parlor, discussing matters of the estate with her husband, Lord Garen. Sir Tristan, the knight who had rescued Ariana from the slave market, was sharpening his sword by the fireplace. He had become a mentor and protector to her, filling the void left by her lost family.

"Good morning, Ariana," Lady Elara greeted with a warm smile as Ariana entered the room. "Did you sleep well?"

"Good morning, my lady. I did, thank you," Ariana replied politely, though the fatigue in her eyes betrayed her words.

Lord Garen looked up from his papers, his expression a mix of concern and paternal affection. "We've received some news this morning. There's been unrest in a nearby city."

Ariana's heart quickened. Any news of unrest or conflict always sparked a glimmer of hope in her. "Unrest? What kind of unrest?"

"Fighting pits," Sir Tristan said, his voice grave. "There was a significant disturbance. It seems one of the fighters managed to escape, causing chaos."

Ariana's pulse raced. She knew it was a long shot, but any mention of escapes or fights stirred something deep within her. "Do we know who escaped?"

"No names," Sir Tristan replied, shaking his head. "But it's rare for anyone to escape from those pits. It takes extraordinary strength and resilience."

Ariana's eyes met Lady Elara's, who gave her a sympathetic look. "Ariana, we've been searching for Kaelen for two years. We've found nothing. It's time to accept that he might be gone."

Ariana clenched her fists, the wooden horse digging into her palm. "I can't believe that. I won't. Kaelen is out there. I know it."

Sir Tristan placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hope is a powerful thing, Ariana. But you must also prepare yourself for the possibility that he may never come back."

Ariana nodded, though her heart refused to accept it. She knew Kaelen was alive. She could feel it. And she would continue to hold onto that hope, no matter what anyone said.

...

The day passed in a blur of routine and lingering thoughts of her brother. As evening fell, Ariana found herself on the balcony, staring out at the horizon. The sky was painted with hues of orange and pink, a stark contrast to the turmoil in her heart.

"Thinking of him again?" Sir Tristan's voice broke through her reverie.

Ariana turned to see him standing in the doorway, his expression soft. "Always," she admitted.

He joined her on the balcony, the cool evening breeze ruffling his hair. "You know, you're stronger than you think. Kaelen would be proud of you."

"Thank you, Sir Tristan," she said quietly. "I just wish I knew where he was. Or if he's even still alive."

"We'll keep looking," he promised. "As long as there's hope, we'll keep looking."

Ariana nodded, drawing strength from his words. She would never stop searching, never stop hoping. For now, that hope was all she had.