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.