Tujuheim, 180

My diary! What a lucky day it is today!

Sometime later, Caerwyn dashed by the door which I hid behind with giants chasing after him. Somehow, he had escaped!

After they all ran by the door, I found courage enough to nervously step out from my hiding place and follow after Caerwyn and the entourage chasing him. I followed far enough behind that they would not see me, but close enough that I would not lose them.

I followed them down many halls until I was too tired to go any further and had to take refuge in a shadow cast by a pillar to my right.

“Princess, it’s me!”

I jumped in fear but was nearly in tears with relief when I saw it was only Caerwyn who was already taking refuge in the shadows and who I nearly bumped into. I nearly threw my arms around him, but I remembered his rule, and I refrained.

“You’re alright! Thank the gods!” I exclaimed. “How did you escape?”

“It matters not at the moment! Let us make haste! The entrance is just around the corner!” Caerwyn told me cheerfully.

To think I was so close to freedom!

I took a right with Caerwyn down the hall and saw, in the distance, two gigantic double doors that were slightly ajar--just enough for a tiny moth and human to fit through!

Caerwyn dashed through the opening first with me following closely behind.

I was awash with the blaze of the beautiful sun for the first time in years along with all the smells and sounds of the outside world. I fell to my knees when the breeze hit my face and my ivory fur along with rustling the leaves in the nearby trees.

And the sky, my diary! The diamond blue sky was dotted with white clouds which the brilliant sun was partially hiding behind and set the world ablaze with beauty.

“I have taken all this for granted…!” I wiped my tearful eyes.

“We must go, Princess!” Caerwyn interrupted my revelry.

Caerwyn had a piebald and brown horse stationed in the shade of the grove to our left with a young man standing next to the brown horse. The young man looked to be about fifteen-years-old and had red hair and blue eyes.

Moths never rode horses… We had wings. What a trying experience this would be.

Caerwyn mounted the piebald horse and the young man next to the brown horse turned to me and said, “hello, milady. My name is Terry, and I’m a squire of the templar knights. I haven’t taken my final vows yet, so you may touch me. Hop on the back of the horse, please.”

Suddenly, the horse looked very tall. I gulped audibly.

“Come on, Princess. If you escaped the castle, you can mount a horse! Just put your foot in the stirrup there and swing behind Terry!” Caerwyn encouraged me.

I gulped and stepped in the stirrup. Terry grabbed my hand and helped me up. “Hold on tight, milady.”

I wrapped my arms around Terry’s torso and he followed Caerwyn’s piebald as he set his horse to running.

I closed my eyes out of fear and let the two knights take me wherever they may--until I opened my eyes and saw we were heading away from my home kingdom of Nui.

“Sir Knight! We are heading away from my kingdom! We must head the opposite direction!” I yelled over the sound of the wind in my ears.

Caerwyn didn’t look me in the eye as he yelled over the trampling of the horses, “it would be better for you to come with us!”

“What in the world are you talking about, Sir Knight? I wish to be with my family! Do not abscond with me!” I said angrily—although I admit I was rather flattered that he wanted to kidnap me♡!--I was stunned that such a gentleman should wish to take me away from my family!

Caerwyn halted his horse altogether and Terry followed suite.

He looked down and avoided my gaze as he took a deep breath. His face was thoughtful and consternated.

“Princess…”

My heart dropped. “What…?

“Your kingdom… Your people—all of them—they’re gone.”

I felt dizzy—my heart was thumping—I nearly fell off the horse. I took a deep breath with tears in my eyes. “Gone?”

“They’re—dead. I’m sorry, Princess.” Caerwyn told me sympathetically.

I sniffled bitterly. “You lie! This is some kind of human trick! If they are dead, show me! Take me to my kingdom and let me see for myself! Otherwise I will assume you are ransoming me to my father!”

Caerwyn turned to me and told me fiercely, “Princess, your kingdom is rubble! Humans have taken it over! If you go there, you will surely be killed!”

I shook my head in disbelief. “I shall walk on foot if you will not take me!”

“What he says is true, Princess. You must come seek refuge in our temple.” Terry insisted.

“I will not! Take me home, you dastards! Take me home now!” I demanded.

Caerwyn dismounted and walked firmly over to Terry’s horse. He placed his hands on either side of mine and stared me down determinedly. “Princess, you must listen to me. You will die if you go to your kingdom. Humans hate you; they will kill you. You must believe me when I tell you that all moth kingdoms and peoples are gone, but for the ones humans keep as slaves—there is nowhere for you to go but with me. Please, do not be foolish. Do not throw your life away.”

“And why should you even care? You hate me as much as they do, don’t you? My father warned me about you humans! How can I ever trust that you aren’t tricking and trapping me?” I tried to dismount, but I lost my footing and fell on the soft grass.

Caerwyn was at my side. “Princess, please… I know you have no reason to trust me. But believe me when I say I harbor no ill will toward you or moths in general. In fact, I very much like your spunk. What would it take to get you to believe me?”

I looked him in the eyes intently, but I had no answer for him. I had to be shown.

He sighed and unsheathed his blade. He handed it to me. “If I am lying, you may strike me down.”