Fainting

Nanny Hildegarde and Dixie boarded the less extravagant carriage. Bonnie carefully laid her sister down before slamming the door shut.

Hildegarde placed Dixie's head on her lap. She was still trying to understand the strange symbol and light from earlier. It had healed Lady Felicia! How? Was that what holy magic looked like? She had never seen such a thing before. Regardless, she was relieved.

While searching for clues near the trees where the arrow had come from, Bonnie suddenly wondered if it was a good idea for her to not accompany her sister and nanny to the Del Montague estate.

She did not know exactly who had attacked them. The Pope was her primary candidate, but she also suspected some one else.

What if there were rats planted within the city watchmen? Was this how they knew where they would be? Had they been tailed from the moment they entered the city? What if there was another attack from some of the guards amongst the entourage.

Realizing her folly, she quickly got a horse and took off after them. Reaching them in another 10 minutes, she breathed a sign of relief. Some of the knights greeted her sudden entry with a nod of their heads. The carriage was completely surrounded as they made their way through the city and into the Del Montague lands.

Night had befallen, so thankfully there were not too many gawkers. As they left the cobbled streets and entered the dirt path that cut through a lush forest which led to the Del Montague manor, they picked up their pace.

"Halt! Identify yourself!"

Bonnie pulled the reins of her mount and turned around. She could see that a young man riding solo had approached them. Three knights had arrows pointed at him as he carefully made his way forward. 

"Please don't shoot me! I work for the Del Montague family. I got separated during the ambush. I am Gustave, their coachman." The young lad raised both his hands once he was closer.

Bonnie raised her hand. "Lower your weapons, I recognize him. Come here, Gustave."

The young man rode forward. "Lord Alexander, I am so relieved to see that both you and Lady Felicia survived!"

"Let's keep moving!" Bonnie commanded before addressing Gustave. "Where have you been all this time?"

"I beg forgiveness for my cowardice, but I feared I would be slaughtered so I ran and hid."

Some of the knights snickered

"That's fine, but why did it take you so long to join us?"

Gustave lowered his head. "I did not know when it would be safe to come up. I kept hesitating until it got dark. That's when I knew I must come out, regardless."

"Did you see how they surrounded us? How did the attack begin?"

"They came from everywhere, my lord! They must have already been there waiting."

Bonnie wiped the sweat off her chin. "And when did you flee?"

"It was shorty after you joined the fray, young master. You fought most valiantly, I truly admire you---"

"Which direction did you run off to and did they give any reason as to why they attacked us?" Bonnie got impatient.

"No, my lord. None. They simply started killing us. We were completely unprepared." Gustave replied in a sullen tone.

"You didn't answer my first question." 

Gustave's eyes widened. "Oh, I ran towards the trees!"

"Did you spot anyone hidden or see any foot prints when you were hiding out there?"

"No, my lord."

"Very well, that would be all. Go ride up ahead."

Gustave bowed and did as instructed.

Bonnie rubbed her aching forehead. She was exhausted. The earlier exertion was winding down full force on her now. Alex did not have the endurance he needed to be a knight. He was the Grand Duke's heir. He trained in fighting for sport. And though he was very good, he had never utilized his skills in real world conflicts. This was the first time.

I'll have to train even harder from now on. I can't rely on short bursts of strength. I'm a Guardian, not Popeye!

They rode in silence for another half hour before they spotted some of the Del Montague knights approaching them. There were 15 in total and riding hard.

"Halt!" The Captain commanded.

Bonnie quickly rode to the front. The family knights immediately recognized Alex, their eyes widening at his appearance. The Duke's heir was always impeccably dressed. They had never seen him look such a mess!

"Lord Alexander, are you hurt? What of Lady Feli---"

"I'm completely fine. Have you brought the physician?"

"Yes, I am here as well, Young Master." The physician stepped down from his horse.

"Go to the carriage and examine my sister. She lost a lot of blood and has been unconscious for over an hour."

The physician bowed and did as he was told.

"Have you taken care of the bodies of our men?" Bonnie asked.

"Yes, the deceased have been tended to and sent back to their families. The Duke is quite frantic and threatened to have us all hanged if we did not bring you back to the estate as quickly as possible!" 

"Then let's go! But watch the carriage. I fear we may be attacked again. They tried very hard to enter Hildegarde's home and attack Felicia!"

Bonnie rode in front as they rushed to the estate, the night wind causing her to shiver. She squinted her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

Five minutes later, the large Del Montague manor came into view. The guards stationed opened the gates once they heard Alex's voice. There were a lot of knights running about. Maids and servants came flooding out at the return of the Del Montague children. They had all heard of the horrifying incident that had transpired when the city guards showed up earlier with the bodies of the slain knights and both Lord Alexander and Lady Felicia missing.

After riding in, Bonnie leaped off her horse and went to get Dixie. She opened the carriage door to see that both the physician and Nanny Hildegarde looked puzzled.

"What is the matter? Why hasn't she woken up?

"I do not know, my lord. Her vitals are stable and I sense nothing wrong. This deep sleep appears to be from fatigue. I believe she will wake up in a few hours."

Bonnie nearly snapped at the man for not rousing her sister. Instead, she bit her lip and nodded. More tears flowed out of her eyes.

"It will be alright, Master Alexander. Your sister will be fine. Have faith in the Goddess's magic." Hildegarde assured him in a gentle voice. 

Bonnie pulled her sister into her arms and carried her princess style into the manor. The voices of the servants mixed into a blur. She didn't know what they were saying.

And she didn't register anything happening around her until she saw the Duke. Helena and Tyren were standing next to him. 

Like the servants, Roelle was shocked at the sight of his son standing shirtless covered in blood and holding an unconscious and equally bloody Felicia in his arms. 

For a brief moment, he was taken back to the horrifying moment his wife's dead body was presented to him. His blood chilled as he suspected the worst.

Tyren and Helena were speechless.

"Alex, what's... what's wrong with----Alex! Felicia!"

"Fath---" Bonnie's response cut off as the fatigue, stress and anxiety she had been trying so hard to keep at bay overwhelmed her. She lost her balance and crumpled to the ground.

The sound of foot steps and the feel of many hands were the last things she sensed before succumbing to the darkness.