Chapter 17: Annalise

She stirred to the sensation of being on horse back and she quickly realized she was in someone's arms. She blinked her eyes a few times. "Jameson..." but when she looked up she didn't recognize the man who was holding her. Panic struck as she struggled to get free and since she caught him by surprise she was able to jump from the horse. She hit the ground hard before quickly getting up but the man had jumped down as well grabbing her by her arm. "Unhand me! And I demand to know what you've done with Jameson!"

"Your belovedgeneral is there." He said pointing to a horse coming down the path.

She looked at the rider but it wasn't Jameson and just as she was about to yell she caught sight of him walking behind the horse, his hands bound by a long rope. "Jameson!"

She tried to move to him but the man tightened his grip on her arm. "Now princess, you best behave or I'll be forced to hurt him."

She glared at the man. "Unhand me, you monster." He laughed letting her go and she ran to Jameson who practically collapsed when they stopped moving. He had a huge gash over his eye and dried blood down his face and in his hair. "Jameson..."

He smiled at her. "Annalise, you're awake. It's been three days I was beginning to worry."

"I'm fine... but you look terrible." She put her hands to his forehead and a moment later a warm light flowed from them healing his wound. "That should help some." She panted.

"You've just awaken, you shouldn't use that much magic."

"I refuse to leave you injured. Never again." She said reaching out to touch his check.

"How sweet, you healed his wounds."

The man laughed walking toward her.

"Give me your water skin, now." She demand.

"As if I would."

"You best, or I'll see to it you get nothing when we reach the crown city!" She said standing.

"As if you could."

"I know my uncle is only paying for my safe return to the city. And I'll tell him you and your men took advantage of me."

"You bitch, you wouldn't dare!"

She looked straight into his eyes. "I would... and if you think Alion will believe you over me, try your luck."

He pulled his water skin from his waist handing it to her before walking away grumbling. She brought it instantly to Jameson lips helping him drink it down. Once he finished he laughed. "You never cease to amaze me."

"I... will do anything for you." She sighed. "I know that wasn't very princessly of me."

He shook his head. "You used what you had. You'll get no judgement from me."

She took his arms and placed them over her head so she could help him stand and then walked him to a large rock where she sat him down. "Do you need anything else?"

He shook his head. "You're eyes open is all that I need."

She leaned in and kissed him. "I love you. I will do what I can."

"Just take care of yourself... I will come up with a way to get us away from them."

She nodded. "I will. You do the same."

The man walked over grabbing her wrist. "Back on the horse."

"Now that I've awoken I won't ride with you."

"You don't have a choice."

"It's inappropriate to have a man's hands on me."

He groaned. "I should have made sure you didn't wake until we reached the city."

"Perhaps you should have." She said jamming her hands on her hips. "I shall walk."

He groaned. "Do as you please. But know we're watching you."

He stormed away and Jameson laughed. "You are so incredibly stubborn."

She smiled. "I didn't want him holding me..."

He smiled. "You'll get no complaints from me. I hated seeing you in his arms."

She grabbed his bound hands. "Jameson..."

"Let's go!" The man said pulling hard on the rope that bound him causing him to jerk knocking Annalise to the ground.

She bite her lip to keep from crying as blood dripped from the stone filled cuts on her hands. "You bastard!" Jameson yelled.

"She shouldn't have been in the way."

Jameson lunged forward but Annalise grabbed his shirt stopping him. "I am all right."

"Annalise, you're bleeding."

"I can heal this... I'll just need someone to remove the rocks."

Jameson glared at the man. "You heard her, get someone to help!"

He shook his head, "you're almost not worth the trouble." He then turned walking to the other five men with them.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" He asked sitting next to her.

She smiled. "Of course. I just hope I can fight with my hands bleeding."

His eyes widened. "What are you saying?"

"This is our chance. I still won't use my magic though so I am going to be relying on you."

He laughed. "Cut free my hands and I'll do the rest."

She nodded as a thin man with a scarred face approached her. He kneeled down grabbing her hands. "This is going to hurt." He then began picking rocks from her palms with rough hands.

He as he dropped her left hand to start cleaning her right she punched him in the jaw and pulled his sword from its sheath. She used his confusion to cut Jameson's hands free. Jameson then punched the man harder knocking him unconscious. "Impressive." He smiled at her.

She shook her hand. "That... actually hurt, quite a lot."

He laughed. "Yes, Princess, punching people usually does hurt." He took the man's sword from her before handing her a dagger he pulled form the man's boot. "This is just for self defense, understood?" She nodded and he stood charging towards the other four men. He got the drop on them and nailed one in the back of the head with the pommel of his sword knocking him unconscious. The other three drew their swords as Annalise moved closer to them. Jameson batted away their attacks planting his boot in one man's chest and then he punched another knocking him to the ground.

The leader steeped forward. "The rumors about you are true, General. You're impressive in deed... but I need the bounty from the princess to feed the villagers."

Annalise stepped forward. "My uncle cannot provided for the village, he has nothing of his own and he'll have less once he's driven from the palace. But I will be queen soon, and I want to do right by Morea!"

"I believe you, Princess... but how many will starve before you're crowned. I have to take you in."

Jameson stepped before her. "Then I have no choice." He raised his sword. "I am sorry." He lunged forward and his blade crashed against the man's pushing him back. The man wasn't without skill but one on one he was no match for Jameson. After a few strikes Jameson slammed his pommel into the side of the man's head dropping him unconscious. "Come here, Annalise"

She nodded moving to him and he grabbed her hands sticking them into the cold stream. The frigid water felt amazing before he pulled her hands out gently pulling the remains stones from the cuts. "Thank you."

He smiled gently. "You can heal them now." She nodded as she closed her eyes focusing on the warm light that engulfed her hands. Once it vanished he took hold of her hands starring at her palms. "I will never get over how incredible you are. Not even the faintest mark remains."

She laughed. "Thank you. That's not even the most impressive thing I can do. I know a spell that will take away the pain of any wound... but it doesn't actually heal the wound so if allowed to push on the person might hurt themselves worse, so I don't often use it."

He grabbed her waist dropping her in the saddle of one of the horses. "That is incredible. I don't know to many healers who can do that." She nodded smiling. "Come, were still two days out."