My eyes feel heavy, but I fight the sleepiness and urge them open.

Warm lights greet my eyes as I glance around my surroundings.

I am in a small bed, loaded with warm fur blankets.

Elegant furniture and plush rugs spot the small room.

Paintings of flowers and castles hang on the crimson red wallpaper walls.

I rise up, but pause.

The nausea creeps up my throat from the pit of my stomach; realization suddenly hits that yesterday was real.

A mirror in the opposite wall reflects my pale, bruised skin.

I’m sore all over, with scratches a small cuts spotting my cold skin.

Tears fill my eyes at the memory of yesterday:

_It was a cold morning, so I went out to help my father split wood. Everything was quiet, still; almost too peaceful. Smoke was rising from my house’s chimney. I could smell Mother cooking up eggs and potatoes. And then the screaming began. _

_People in the village ran and screamed that the King’s soldiers had arrived to show them what it would be like if we did not pay our expenses. _

_Many of us were near death with the increased expenses. _

_I rushed to Father and we gathered Mother and my brother, Seth. _

_We ran to the woods, but arrows were flying behind us. One struck Father. I screamed. _

_A soldier came behind me, but I fought back. Then another came, and thrust a fist in my face, I fell. _

_Smoke and blood filled my nose, screams sounded around. _

_I lied in the cold mud, slowly drifting away. _

_A tall, muscular figure, with familiar dark eyes and hair picked me up and then I fell into darkness._

I shake my head of the memory and attempt to get out of bed, but the door of the room opens and the man that picked me from near-death enters the room.

I freeze.

“Elena, you must rest. You had a hard morning yesterday,” the man says in his deep voice.

I stare at him, trying to figure out his familiar face. And then it clicks.

“Davian,” I gasp.

He smiles.

I jump out of bed and rush to him.

I clasp my arms around him in a hug.

“Davian! You’re back!” I shout. Joy filled me as I looked upon my dear friend who left for a merchant assembly a year and a half ago.

He certainly had grown up more; gained inches in height and muscle.

His face fell at the sight of my bruised cheek.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you sooner, Elena.”

I shake my head. “You saved me, Davian.”

Then the burning question that has been resting on my tongue bursts, “Do you where my family is? Is my father safe?”

A soft smile rises from Davian’s lips.

“Come.” He signals to the hallway.

I follow him down to the kitchen, where the smell of breakfast simmers.

I hear my mother and Seth arguing over how to properly eat eggs.

And the I hear my father’s laugh.

I burst into the room and almost cry with complete joy.

Everyone rushed towards me and we all hug.

Everyone is okay.

“Oh Elena!” My mother cries, hugging me.

I smile at my family and then turn back to to lip “thank you” to Davian.

He nods his head with a smile.