Unable to move, she dragged herself just a few feet away from the palace, her hand trailing through the muddy, wet sand before finally reaching outside the palace wall.
Amira looked back and heard footsteps on her trail. Supporting herself with the wall, she began running again, not minding the pain in her abdomen or her sprained feet she ran.
"She bites back the cry, her lips bleeding from her biting.
As she fled through the dense forest, her legs grew unsteady and her remaining strength began to fade. Each step she took sent Amira careening down the slope of the forest until she finally succumbed to unconsciousness.
Ichabod searched around the forest for Amira he heard the scream of a woman and finally came to a stop in front of a lady torn to pieces by a wild boar.
He examined her breaths and realized that she had passed away; tragically, she was also carrying a child. Her countenance was so altered that he could scarcely recognize her. The likelihood of coming across another expectant woman besides Amira seemed extremely low.
He carried her back with him to the palace.
The townspeople yelled in victory as their men were finally back from war; Zyran rode on his horse with just one thing in mind: to see his wife again. He hadn't been informed of what was going on.
The king paced back and front after the news of Amira's death had reached his ears.
The king's booming voice echoed through the stone walls. "What do you mean she had escaped from prison? How could you be so careless to leave the door open?" His anger was palpable.
"Please calm down, Your Majesty. It isn't healthy for you to be so stressed," his loyal servant interjected.
"How can I not be stressed, Zyran? What will I tell him?" The king's distress was evident.
"The truth, Father. Heaven has been merciful enough to take Amira from the face of the earth," Katia said softly.
"Father, this why I told you not to take serious measures; Zyran would be furious. Amira shouldn't have died; how had she escaped from prison? How is it even possible the gate was left open without a guard? Novalie said in tears.
She looked at Amira's body, which was lying on the floor covered in white clothes outside the courtroom.
The officials murmured amongst themselves.
Freya, who had just arrived to welcome Zyran, the rest met the atmosphere to be mournful.
She spotted Nora standing at the corner, her tear-streaked face searching for Amira in vain.
Approaching a passing maid, she inquired, "What's happening?"
The maid, her eyes brimming with tears, bowed her head. "Her Highness, she's no longer with us," she managed to say before another wave of sobs overtook her.
"What... What do you mean?" Freya asked, bewildered.
"Princess Amira has passed," the maid clarified.
"What???" Freya's voice trembled as she struggled to comprehend the news.
"That can't be true," Freya muttered, shaking her head unsteadily. She was halfway through her denial when Ezekiel arrived, catching her in his arms as she faltered.
Looking up at Ezekiel, Freya attempted to speak, but words failed her.
"Breathe, Freya," Ezekiel urged gently.
Freya's gaze met Zyran's as he entered with Ezekiel.
"What do you mean, she's gone?" Zyran's cold voice reverberated through the mournful crowd, sending shivers of fear through them all.
Freya's sobs filled the room as she uttered.
"It's not true she was so alive. Just two weeks ago, we were discussing what to name your child." Before she could continue, Zyran's icy voice cut her off, causing her to shudder to her core.
"Child? Can someone explain what's going on here?!" Zyran's booming voice made everyone step back in surprise.
Freya sought comfort in Ezekiel's embrace, both of them still reeling from the shock.
The royal family hurriedly exited the courtroom upon hearing Zyran's furious voice echoing through the building.
"Zyran, please, calm down," Lady Miranda implored, her words nearly cut off by Zyran's next outburst.
"I promise you all, if you don't provide me with an explanation, I will bathe everyone present with their blood," Zyran snared between gritted teeth.
Zyran's gaze shifted from the body shrouded in white fabric on the ground to fixate menacingly on the king.