"I am just a damsel, does he have to sound so scary?' Ellen complained mentally. She shook her head and started riding her horse along with the other. She knew it will take some time to win the trust of the prince's men. It warmed her heart that there were also men in Avalo that did not wish her husband death.
Jeffrey ordered One to lead while he stayed with the princess. He heard what One had said to the princess so he wanted him to lead so that Ellen would feel more at ease. He did not scold him for saying such things to the princess because he knew it was necessary.
The prince was not someone to trust a person just because of their words. The crown prince preferred to have a stronghold over those he trusts like the Twenty. Any one of them that dared to betray him would end up dead in the most horrible way possible.
The prince had given him one task alone when he left and that was to protect his wife and Jeffery was willing to do just that. This is why he stayed beside Ellen. Not that he did not trust the other men to do so. but he was faster than them all that means he was the best man for the job.
As they ride along he became more at ease knowing the princess was fine. He realized that the palace would not have been such a safe place for her with all the snakes around. Especially now that she was an enemy to General Thompson.
Ellen having the Queen's support means victory but Knowing the kind of man General Thompson was, Jeffery was almost a hundred percent certain that he would try to do something dirty to save his daughter. Moreover, he was a friend to the king and the king was not fond of the crown prince. Considering all these he concluded that Ellen's life would be in serious danger while he was gone so it was best for her to journey with them.
They kept riding for hours as fast as they could to get to the prince within the shortest possible time. Princess Ellen became tired but she did not dare voice it out. She knew the men would complain that she was dragging them backwards. Besides they did not have the luxury of time and she was scared that if she delayed the prince may end up dead before they got to him.
Then his men will blame her for slowing them down and kill her. She was not ready to die yet, let alone in the worst way possible. So she kept riding no matter how tired her body was feeling. She made a mental picture of being chased and so she was riding the fastest she could since her life depended on the prince's survival.
She was not aware that her little action made her earn the respect of a few men among the twenty. These men did not believe she would ride that long without saying she was tired and needed to rest.
They were all impressed by her. A lot of princesses could not ride a horse since they were usually carried around with carriage. Even those that rode one could not run on a horse the way Ellen was currently trying her best to keep up with them. They knew of a few ladies that would already feel nauseous and throw up a couple of time. Some could not even control a horse on their own and would have to ride with someone else.
They were impressed and grateful that she did not slow them down. Jeffrey was one of those men. The previous day he learned about her sharp tongue, Earlier she had wowed him with her scheming mind, and now watching her show strength, she has managed to convince him that she was the best wife for the prince.
When they got into Samor, Jeffery asked One to lead the men over to the prince while he asked the princess to rest a while.
" I am fine," Ellen immediately rejected the arrangement but Jeffery insisted.
"No, your highness, you need to rest. At this rate you might faint when you get to the prince," Jeffery argued.
The other men agreed with Jefferey's plans, while they paused to make this arrangement, they drank a bit of water to regain some energy knowing that they were heading for war and it was best to be bodily prepared before they arrived at the scene. Moreover, they needed to go before her and ensure it was safe before she arrived. Not that they cared about her but she was going to be treating the prince so they needed her safe.
Ellen wanted to insist that she was not tired but Jeffery noticed and could not risk his head. He knew that the prince would be in a foul mood and his neck might lose its head if the princess appeared before the prince tired.
Ellen seeing that Jeffery would not listen to her stopped. moreover, Her body was beginning to hurt and he knew she was barely moving forward. She rested for the shortest time possible before getting back on her feet.
" I have rested enough," Prince Ellen told Jeffery who shook his head but got up anyway. He knew they could not lose much time and he was grateful that Ellen understood that and was not being much of a burden not that he would have complained if she was.
Jeffery helped Ellen to mount her horse first before settling on his. He prayed in his heart that the prince was alright and in his right frame of mind.
Jeffery had instructed one to let him know once he arrived at the battlefield and things were too out of hand for Ellen's present.
So not receiving any message from One, when he was certain they would have arrived at the Battlefield gave him a little hope that things were under control.
They continue their ride and soon they were at the boundaries where the battle was fought. Nothing could have prepared them for the sight that welcomed them. It all happened like a show waiting to play out at their arrival.
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