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Adeline stared down off the balcony for a few heartbeats more her breaths trembling as she looked for any sign of life... she was only met with the silence... still... cold... lifeless... she went and ate her dinner without much of a peep as she thought about the last things he'd said to her... the only hope she had was a sliver... so she watched as her brother and so-called future husband drink wine and exchange stories... to say the least she wasn't amused at all in the slightest... she got up and went upstairs to pack after she'd eaten her fill. After all she wanted was thrown into a bag she quietly snuck down to the garden... her head and her heart conflicted... was she strong enough to handle the heartbreak if he wasn't there? No... after a fall like that how could he be there? She thought stopping at the doors that led out to the garden... her hand on the door handle as she looked through the stained glass doors her vision blocked by the glass... all the plants and trees were jumbled blurry messes as they glowed underneath the moonlight... she hesitated before opening the door her bag in hand as she went to a bench and sat... she guessed she'd wait here... either until he showed up... or until she was dragged away by force. |
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Gale’s breath came in ragged gasps as he settled into the heavy branches of the willow. The leaves rustled softly around him, an eerie contrast to the pounding in his chest. He pressed his back against the trunk, willing his body to stop shaking, but the pain was relentless. His knees felt like jelly, and every time he shifted, the sharp ache in his side flared up, reminding him of the fall. He clenched his jaw and forced himself to focus, to calm his mind. The sounds of pursuit were fading, but the adrenaline still pulsed through his veins. He couldn’t afford to relax—not yet. Not until Adeline arrived. His eyes flicked to the edge of the garden, scanning for any sign of movement. The moonlight bathed the landscape in a silvery sheen, but it offered little comfort. Every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every rustling leaf a whisper of danger. Adeline had to be close. She had to be. He trusted her. She knew the plan, knew what needed to be done, but trusting wasn’t enough when the seconds felt like hours, when the air itself seemed thick with the weight of the unknown. His thoughts kept circling back to what would happen if she didn’t make it in time—if the guards found him before she did. His hand tightened around the rough bark of the tree, a steadying motion, a tether to reality. No, he couldn’t think like that. He wouldn’t. He had made it this far, and he was not about to let fear take him down now. Gale forced himself to breathe slower, to quiet the panic rising in his chest. He stared at the empty path leading out of the garden, his mind racing with possibilities. What if they’d already caught up to her? What if— But then,he saw her. Gale jumped down,groaning and dragging his leg behind him as he limped over to Adeline. "Adeline?Please,I need to escape.Get back to my family,back to Jillian." He finishes with a mutter. "Back to the life I had,back to my future wife,you know,how life should be.Normal.Now,tell me,how do I escape?" |
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Adeline jumped to his voice a breath of relief leaving her as she went and hugged him gently "I thought-" she broke off when he started talking "Jillian? Who the hell is Jillian?" She asked taking a step backward her eyes narrowing at him her fists balling "What do you mean I-" she paused putting the pieces together "You weren't joking? You come from royalty?" She asked him "I- I don't understand..." She stuttered. |
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"Woah wait a minute,what do you mean I come from royalty?" He says,taking steps back,eyes wide. "Jillian is my girlfriend,the most wonderful person i've ever met.Your tied with her,though.You thought nothing,it never crossed your mind." Gale explained,voice stern. "Please im running out of time what do you mean im royal?Frick..." He cursed,pacing. |
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Adeline huffed "Nevermind..." She said before she turned away "You're no better than the other overdressed assholes that call themselves princes..." She retorted "You got what you wanted..." She told him grabbing her bag "You can find your own way out." She said balling her fists as she headed off back insde slamming the door and locking it behind her heading off upstairs. |
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"Adeline,Adeline!" He stopped,listening.Guards,and they were close by aswell. "Good job Gale.Made some girl think you were a thing and now you're about to die!" He finishes,looking at the guards and immediatly crumbling,eyes wide with terror as he ran,one way or another,he would run until he could'nt. With one goal and one plan in mind,Gale did'nt know where to go. All he knew? He would'nt stop running until he was free. |
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Adeline went up and packed a few extra things before she headed back downstairs to where her brother and her future husband were finishing off another glass of wine "Ah! My beautiful bride..." the iron prince purred as he stood wobbling toward her "Come love..." he said wrapping an arm around her... Adeline shrunk from his touch... before she straightened up... she felt hollow and cold... the arms that once held her... the arms that she would have dropped everything and ran away with... gone... now she was left to a man whom she had never met before now who wanted to do God only knows what to... she assumed she'd have their first heir within the year... as of right now? She didn't care as she got into the carriage ignoring the frantic shouting of guards and their clanking footsteps. |
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"Get away from me!" Gale roared,running faster as he saw a carriage,Adeline walking into it.Time slowed,him watching as she easily hopped in,the other man after her.Gale slowed,watching at how easily she went in.No fighting,no shouting,just coperation.A guard threw a dagger at Gale,it lodging its way into his shoulder.He roared,trying to rip it out but getting surrounded instead.He had pulled it out.The blade gleemed as it shined with his blood.A guard launched forward,making his way onto Gale's back and attempting to knock him down.More guards joined in until Gale had been beaten enough to not fight back.They shackled him,forcing him up and away.The look of terror returned.Fear riding over Gale.He looked back over at Adeline,and for a second,his eyes held hope,but it was quickly washed over with fear.A punch landed its way onto Gale's face,him wincing and continuing to walk,not other option. |
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Hearing the pained howls of the man she thought she loved and loved her in return brought tears to her eyes... but she didn't let them fall. She ignored them best she could as the carriage rolled out of the gates of the castle shed called her home. When Gale was brought to him Andre looked him over nodding in approval before he stood his arms behind his back "What to do with you now...?" He asked "Perhaps I should send you with Adeline and her husband as a sort of gift to the king no?" He asked. |
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"Do it." He croaked,wincing as he craned his head to look at Andre. "You made a mistake,you know.Sending her off with a man whos most likely as old as this castle with a young woman.How would you like to marry a pile of dust as you wife?" He said,a crooked grin forming on his face. Your royal. The words echoed in his mind as a thought surged to his brain. "Do It.Do it.Go ahead.Slam me into a cell or something and ship me across the country.You'll be doing me a favor,getting rid of the guards here who can't predict a kick." He pauses,buckling over the guard infront of him.A punch from another guard being dodged and another being caught in Gale's fist. "Seriously need some more training not gonna lie,in big groups yes,their pretty good.By themselves,meh,could steal candy from a baby and thats it." Gale said smugly,not caring. |
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High Winds and Drifting Snow
