Chapter 18

Alina awoke to the sound of pounding at the door. She sat up and saw Lyle creeping to the door. Lyle grabbed the handle and opened the door slightly. "What do you want?"

"We are the Royal Guard of the kingdom Blisteria. We have been sent here to bring you to Blisteria.We will cause you no harm."

Lyle looked back at Alina and she nodded. Lyle opened the door all the way and let the men in. Alina stood up and greeted them.

"How did you find us? We've been in so many places." Alina questioned.

The guard in the front walked up to Alina and said, "I can track very well, Alina Marano."

"How do you know my name?"

The guard lifted off his helmet to reveal a man with features like Alina's.

"Father! I thought we would never find you!" Alina exclaimed. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her father smiled and hugged her back.

"Now Alina, who is this?" Her father said.

"This is Lyle. I met him the day our castle burned down. He lost his home too." Alina said. She walked over to Lyle and grabbed his hand. Lyle looked at her and smiled.Her father looked at them and chuckled.

"You better be taking good care of her Lyle."

Lyle laughed and put his arm around Alina's shoulders. "Now you two need to get your stuff. We are expected in Blisteria soon."

Alina and Lyle stood outside the castle gates of Blisteria. Alina's father opened the gates. They walked inside and led them to the castle entrance. The doors opened to a beautiful main hall decorated in reds and blacks. Alina stood amazed. Her father led them to the throne room.

On the throne sat a man of old age. He looked as Alina and the others entered. "Welcome to Blisteria. I will have my servent show you to your rooms. And get you some new clothes."

Two women ran into the room and led Alina and Lyle to their rooms.

Alina was rushed into a room that was decorated beautifully. She was pushed to the center of the room and stripped of her clothes. The servant grabbed a light blue dress out of the wardrobe and helped Alina into it. Alina wasn't used to wearing dresses any more. She walked out in the hallway and spotted Lyle at the other end. He had on actual nice clothes. He saw her and smiled. He walked over.

"Well you look nice Alina. I dont think I've actually seen you in a dress in a long time."

"Well, Lyle. I've never seen you in nice clothes. You look really nice."

Lyle chuckled and grabbed Alina's hand, "Lets go for a walk."

They walked around the castle and found a nice indoor garden with a skylight. They found a bench and sat down. Alina laid her head on Lyle's shoulder. He smiled and ran his hand through her hair. Alina blushed. They sat there till supper time.

The dining hall had a long table but only four sat there. There was enough food to feed a family of five for at least two days. Alina and Lyle ate a fulfilling meal and were stuffed afterwards.

They went back to their rooms and slept the night away.

Alina tossed and turned. Another nightmare came. In front of her was the entrance of a small castle made of dark stone. Suddenly she was inside the castle. She was in what seemed to be the throne room. She looked around and saw something that she dreaded. She saw Lyle fighting and losing. The man he was fighting had him on the ground. The man lifted his sword and stabbed it through Lyle's chest. Alina gasped and started to cry. She overheard the man say, " Well, that's that. Pathetic. He was weak."

Alina stood there. The she heard a yell. "Markabe, I will make you pay!"

Alina saw herself run into the room with her wand. She bent down as she ran and pulled Lyle's sword from his hands. She ran to the man, now know as Markabe, and swung the sword. She hit Markabe in the side and started throwing spells at him. Alina didn't recognize those spells. She watched as Markabe swung his sword.

Alina sat up awake and sweating. She hopped out of her bed and ran to Lyle's room.

She ran to his bed and shook him awake. "Alina, what is it. Are you okay!?"

Alina had tears streaming down her face again. She hugged Lyle and put her head on his shoulder. Lyle was confused but but his arms around her. "Alina, what happened. Talk to me."

" I had another nightmare. Not as bad as the first. But it might have been a vision. We were in the Woods of Night in the small castle. You were fighting this man, I think his name as Markabe. He had you on the floor. He took his sword and stabbed it through your chest. A minute later I ran in with my wand and started to fight with your sword. I was using spells I don't even know. I was fighting out of anger. What if that happens. It can't, I won't let it!"

Alina was sobbing. Her tears rolled down Lyle's back. Lyle patted her back and brushed his hand through her hair one last time, " I guess I will have to be careful then, won't I?"

Alina lifted her head and looked at him. Lyle wiped the tears of her face and placed his lips on her forehead. Alina blushed. She put her head back on his chest and asked, "Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Sure, get on the bed."

Alina slept that night with Lyle. She slept more peacefully there with Lyle.

The next morning Alina and Lyle were sitting in the dining hall enjoying breakfast with Alina's father. The meal was simple bit delicious. The day ahead was quiet.