oday was the day. The guests had arrived, the preparations made and all that was left was the execution. Not literally. The plans was, once Wick was captured, they’d transport him to the Capital to face judgement from the King. Serenity was very concerned about this decision. She feared that Wick had spent some time among the Kings men and had his claws in there too but she couldn’t prove it. Even Robert admitted that if that were the case, they would just have to do their best to protect their lands and people. The King likely wouldn’t listen.

Handing Wick over to the King made sense if he really were a foreign spy and saboteur, but he wasn’t. He was a moderne man who should be held to modern justice, but even that was inadequate because Wick was also a being with the supernatural ability to jump through space and time. Serenity doubted they would even be able to hold him when they finally captured him. But she had a plan, of sorts.

It had been a busy week, or sennight as the locals said. Serenity had spent a great deal of time helping Evelyn sew gold thread ornamentation into the forest green gown for the celebration. It had ended up looking absolutely beautiful. When they needed a break, they would either sit together to share refreshments or walk down to the training yard to watch the practice. There were far fewer people about due to the Kings orders and Serenity found it much easier to find the time and space to practice her sword work. If helped keep and tight feeling in her abdomen at bay.

She had also found herself taking quick jumps to look for Wick when she could sleep. She was on her own ever since Robert adopted Osgar and gave him a room of his own so it was a lot easier to leave undetected. Still, she never found a way to track Wick through space and time. Occasionally, she find soft echoes like spider silk against her skin which she thought may have indicated that someone had travelled there recently but it was impossible to tell. Maybe she was imagining it.

So here they were. The engagement celebration was due to start in minutes and Serenity had just finished getting Evelyn into her dress. “Are you ready? It’s a happy day for you Evelyn.”

The young woman just beamed. A knock on the door reveal Lord Roger ready to escort his daughter to the head table. Serenity followed closely behind. As they enters the great hall, the feast was a sight to see. The men had hunted a wild boar and is sat proudly at the head table, smelling delicious. The many tables groaned under all the food that sat on them and Serenity didn’t know where to look. There would be plenty of left overs for the local villagers at the need of the day.

And to the celebration began, a day of happiness but underneath, everyone felt the tension of an ending to the recent trouble. This celebration not only represented the solidification of the peace treaty but also the removal of a threat that had shadows them for months, if not longer. There were toasts to the Lords and the happiness of the couple and long winding ballads of hero’s who journey to fight their foes and finally claim their proxies. The Normans love their epic hero’s with a dash of romance. At one point, Wick got up and recited a Saxon love poem full of sweet words...

Beloved

Grief is for the one who must wait in longing for their beloved

Thus,Treasure adored one, have I waited for thee

In grief. Neither the joy of horses nor treasure

Nor riches nor mead, can compare to thy presence

For, people long most for a loved one

Love, let this be a glimpse of what lies in the cavern of my heart

A token of affection for thee, Elf-shining.

Dearest and sweetest of my soul, Light of my eyes

Sweetest sunbeam, woman of radiant beauty

Let me know if thy heart feels the same.

Never wonder if I am in earnest for I am seized with longing

Let not any man prevent us when hearts align

Clever in thought, and with the beauty of an elf

Save me from further grief, for then even by death

We shall not be parted my darling.

Finally, as the afternoon wore on, the tables were cleared and the dancing began. Throughout the day, Serenity had kept an eye on Robert and some of the men among the crowd tasked with looking for Wick. The longer they went without finding him, the more tense she became. Could he have somehow become aware of the plan or was he just not taking the bait? She been careful to be seen but never alone almost every night, almost as a tint to Wick. She hoped being within reach but unattainable would have made him desperate. Desperate enough to come here today.

Robert pulled her from her meandering thoughts when he appeared close to her. “Care to dance My Lady?” Serenity took his hand with a smile and they joined a group just forming. Like the language and customs, the dancing seemed to just come to her. It may not look well practiced but she knew all the steps. In this dance, the partners changed every set so soon, she and Robert were separated. They circled the room as they danced and changed partners, again and again and Serenity glanced out the door as the passed. The sun was bright though fairly low in the sky. It was a beautiful afternoon. She changed partners again and looked to see if she knew him, and froze.

Wick took advantage of her surprise and swept her out of the hall doors. Too late, Serenity recovered from the shock as she felt the familiar darkness try to engulf her and Wick initiated a jump. He could taker her anywhere or anywhen but Serenity had thought of that. She rapidly focused on the celebration feast and jumped her self. Pain spiked in her chest as the two jumps fought each other, each trying to overwhelm their adversary and pull them to their own jump. The pain built and built but Serenity held on until she felt the darkness that was slightly foreign to her slip.

Wick and Serenity slumped against the castle wall but the hall door, tired and feeling the pain slowly ebb. She had done it, she had kept him here and now but Serenity had not time to celebrate as a fist slammed into her temple. She reeled from the pain and felt herself lift over a shoulder, then jolting pain in her head and footstep ran and bumped her around. She tried to struggle but the blow had left her dizzy and sick. She saw stairs beneath her so Wick must be running up to the curtain wall. That made no sense, he had nowhere to go. Thinking seemed slow and difficult for Serenity and she couldn’t figure out what to do.

It felt like ages but could only have been minutes, it was hard to tell how long they’re been in the jump darkness, when finally a shout came. They had notice she was missing. She locked onto that and again tried to release herself from Wick when suddenly she was falling. A gasp escaped her as she looked up to see the wall getting taller. He throw he over the wall! Serenity flailed and caught a glimpse of Wick close to her before she as engulfed in... straw. No wait, that was hay. How the hell had he been able to leave a hay cart by the wall? The patrols should have seen this.

Slightly winded from the landing, Serenity realised she was able to think a little clearer when the pains made themselves know in her chest, her temple and her backside. She ached but Wick would let her catch a breath. Her pulled rope from somewhere and tied her wrist together then dragged her out of the hay cart and began to run for the trees. She tried to resist and delay him, even managing to trip him by hooking his ankle taking them both down but she just got and and slung her over his shoulder again. She heard the big gate in the castle walls screech and looked up, waiting. If they could see her before they reached the tree line, she had a chance of them finding her. Come on, come on. The gate was in the east wall and Wick had thrown her off the south. They’d have to-

There! She caught a glimpse of knights on horse back. They spotted Wicks fleeing figure and let out a shout. Serenity smiled then lost sight of them as they reached the tress. Wick must have known this place well because he took a path at an odd angle to the tree line and move nimbly. They came to a slightly clear area though it couldn’t be call a clearing and lay her down, breathing hard, never taking his eyes off her.

Serenity took stock. She needed to delay him and give the others time to catch up and find them, a difficult time consuming task in the woods. She wasn’t sure how large the forest was but already, she was lost. If she escaped, she wasn’t sure she could find her way out and her head was splitting. Wick had hit her hard. She sat on the ground watching her captor as he stared intently back. They were at a stand off. If he tried to jump her away, she could stop him. They were stuck here for now and both of them were feeling the pain. So what to do? She continued to watch and listened for anyone approaching. Wick was quickly regaining her breath and Serenity knew soon they would move off again.

Serenity saw Wicks p eyes narrow. He was staring at her bound hands and suddenly, his eyes widened and his face flushed with rage. He lunged at her and Serenity raised her arms to protect her head in case he struck ether again but instead, she felt him jerk up her bound hands and rip the ring from her finger. Her finger stung from his rough handling but she didn’t really care, she was more concerned about losing Roberts ring. She watched helplessly as Wick flung it away and it became lost in the undergrowth. She couldn’t see it and was still searching when Wick turned on her and gripped her arms, tugging her to her feet and pushing his face close to hers.

"You are nobody's but mine you understand? MINE!"

Her arms hurt from his grip and she refused to answer him. She was her own person and belong to nobody. She decided who was in her life and Wick could do nothing to change that. He began to ramble.

“No one can touch you. Nobody can touch my Angel… not even me. Only the shadows. They’re yours, they can be with you. Only the shadows. But I want to touch you. My Angel.”

Serenity frowned and really looked at Wick. The rage seemed to have left him and he looked oddly hollow and child like despite his strong build. He looked... broken. He rested his forehead on hers, his breathing deep. Serenity realised that she had known this man for a long time and something was wrong, beyond wrong. What could she say to him? Someone who was once a friend who seemed to be lost in a nightmare. She felt sad that it had come to this and scared that this would be her one day. Is this what jumping did you a person.

She was saved from having to find the right words to pacify him when they both heard the sounds of horses in pursuit. Wick almost growled in frustration. He swung away from the noise still gripping one of her arms, and dragged her off onto some unknown path through the trees. She was tired and the terrains was already difficult, she didn’t have the strength to hinder him much more, though her weaving gait was hinder acne enough. As she was pulled long, the sound of horses receded and another rose to take its place. It sounded like… water. Rushing water…