Eleanor arrived in the strange village in the early hours of the morning with the help of the map. It wasn't so hard locating it, since she has studied a lot of maps unlike other maidens. Her body felt numb from tiredness and her eyes felt so heavy, her throat sour. She travelled the entire night, only stopping to rest for a few minutes.
She walked into the village, making sure the horse was following behind. "Excuse me." She walked to the first woman she saw. "I'm looking for Sophia." She spoke when the woman turned to her, a look of confusion on her face.
"And who are you?" She asked in a stern voice.
"Ermm.. I.." Gods! She didn't prepare for this. "I'm her long distance.... Niece.." She lied, keeping her eyes on the woman.
She stared at her for a few seconds, like trying to see if she was lying. "Sophia never said she had relations, but just keep walking down there and ask anyone you see, they'd show you her house." She pointed her hand down the road.
Eleanor only nodded and muttered a thank you and continued walking. Her feets were wobbling and her eyes were blurry. She barely understood what the woman said but she kept walking anyway. After a few more directions from people and little interrogations she stood before a small house staring at the brown door. She looked around to see if there was somewhere she could tie the horse to, luckily she found one.
She walked up to the door a few seconds later, knocking twice on it. She moved back when she heard movements in the house. She rubbed her palm together when she heard the doorknob click.
The door went open and a woman, probably in her late fifties, poked her head outside.
"Good morning ma'am, I.." Eleanor suddenly forgot what to say. "Nikolai sent me here, he...he."
"Nikolai." She walked out of the house, her eyes held confusion. "What is your name?" She asked in a soft voice, her voice laced with concern as she stared intently at her.
"Eleanor... Eleanor Roberts."
"You look tired, come inside. Come on." She held her arm, gently pulling her into the house.
"Here." She handed her a cup of water, which she gulped down immediately while sitting on a chair.
"Thank you." She muttered, handing the empty cup back to her. She heaved out a heavy sigh of relief, feeling a bit refreshed.
"I've known these brothers for a very long time." She began, as she sat opposite her. "Luciano.. Nikolai and... the other one, ermm.. Eagan, yes. I remember them well." A smile flashed on her face after she successfully mentioned their names.
"Eagan?" Eleanor brows rose in confusion. She immediately realised she had no idea he was dead.
"Yeah, the first child. A very gentle soul." She placed her hand on her chest and closed her eyes, heaving out a small sigh.
"Ermm.. Eagan's dead." The look of shock was really evident on her face.
"What?" Disbelief coursed through her face, and she let out repeated short breaths. "Is that why you're here?" She asked, tilting her head.
"Well.. no." Eleanor replied, looking down at her hands. "Something else happened."
Sophia stared at her for a few seconds before asking. "What is it?"
Eleanor rubbed her palm together, heaved out a deep breath and began narrating everything to her, not even leaving a single detail out of it.
The older woman looked quite shocked after Eleanor narrated the whole incident to her. Her face mirrored disbelief and she went silent for a few minutes.
"Oh my god, a lot has definitely happened and I had no idea??" She placed her hands on her jaw, looking like she was thinking this through. "Oh dear gods..." She rubbed her palm on her face, heaving out a heavy sigh. "I should let you rest, you must be so tired." Well, that was true, her eyes were so heavy and she could use a lot of sleep right now.
She stood up and led her to a room, quite small but still okay and convenient. "This would be your room now, there's an adjoining bathroom already. If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me."
"Thank you Madam Sophia."
Her brows rose amusedly and she let out short chuckles. "I'll prefer it if you just call me Sophia." She said with a warm smile.
"Okay Sophia." Eleanor's voice came out quite hoarse, much to her embarrassment
"Oh, I almost forgot clothes!" She placed her hand on her head, chuckling. "There are some dresses in the wardrobe I'm sure would be your size, they are nice trust me. When you have your bath you can go through to see which one you'd like."
"Okay..." Eleanor drawled, looking back at the small wardrobe at the corner of the room. "Thank you so much Sophia."
"Sure, I better leave you now." She flashed her warm smile before walking out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Eleanor breathed out a heavy sigh, her eyes watering from so much tiredness, as much as she wanted to plop down on the bed and sleep off, she knew also needed to have her bath, she could feel her legs dirty and even her skin sweaty. She pulled her clothes, keeping them in a basket and walked into the bathroom, having her bath as fast as she could. Eleanor walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later, feeling a bit refreshed and renewed with strength. She went straight to the wardrobe, pulling it open. Curiosity piqued in her when she saw so many dresses in the wardrobe, pretty dresses to be precise. Why would the old woman have so many beautiful clothes? Maybe she has a daughter, probably her age. But she never mentioned her while speaking. Eleanor looked around the room, confirming that it was owned by someone her age because of the decorations. Shaking her head she looked back into the wardrobe and quickly dressed up.
She plopped down on the bed with a small sigh, pulling the duvet over her. It didn't take long before she felt sleep slowly enveloping her. Her mind suddenly wandered to Cordenia, what was happening now? How are her people doing? Several sighs escaped her lips as she drowned into different thoughts, but the only thing lingering on her mind was Luciano. Did he survive it?
*
*
Helen came to the Prince's room as usual, to clean it up. She couldn't let anyone else do it as she didn't want anyone close to him and also it was the queen's orders. She glanced at the unconscious man, laying on the bed. She heaved out a deep sigh and continued what she was doing. She muttered a few prayers under lips, hoping he'd get better, not for the sake of his parents but for the people of Narva. She knows if anything happens to him, the king would kill the rest of them. And Eleanor? It wouldn't be nice to the ears that the only person you love so dearly is gone. No, she wouldn't wish that on anyone.
Helen froze when she heard small movements in the room,she looked around, thinking someone might've sneaked on her without her knowing. She looked back at the brush in her hands ready to resume sweeping when she felt movements coming from her right side. She snapped her head to the bed, her eyes widening in shock, when she saw him, Luciano, struggling to sit on the bed.