Playlist: Einaudi–Experience

As Maya galloped away with the horse, she couldn't stop staring at Dexter's receding figure which kept growing smaller by the second, tears leaving her eyes. A few soldiers had accompanied them with their horses, cutting away from the large army.

"I have to get back." She screamed tearfully at Geoffrey, struggling against him. The latter only gripped her tighter, sprinting the horse faster.

"We have to get you to a safe space your majesty, please, bear with us until then." Geoffrey muttered as they journeyed through the bare faced trees.

They'd only met for a few seconds and now they had to separate again. What if he never back? Appalled by the thought, Maya cried even harder. Never ridden a horse before, Maya found the whole experience jarring. It added aches to her already sore body, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never relax on the sprinting beast.

All of a sudden, a rain of arrows descended on them. Geoffrey quickly fished out a shield, effectively covering her from the onslaught. The others did the same as well although their horses couldn't escape the it. A few tumbled down with their horses, getting hurt. Geoffrey effectively jumped down from his horse with the queen and started to run away with her. The rest of the soldiers charged forward to their attackers

"Where are you going?" Nicholas furious voice boomed ahead of her and Maya froze, goosebumps breaking out on her skin. Geoffrey paused, drawing out his sword. Setting Maya on the ground, he glanced around him. They had been surrounded. Placing Maya at his back, he charged forward, cutting down the enemies that approached him.

"Your majesty, run!" Geoffrey screamed at her when he saw an opening. Maya stared at them for a while before running into the forest, lost for what to do. As she ran, tears streamed out of her eyes, making it impossible for her to see, so she kept tumbling down as her legs kept getting caught by tree roots. Still she picked herself up and kept running, never looking back.

Just when she was about to drop from exhaustion, someone hit her causing them to tumble to the ground. An enemy soldier had caught up with her! Maya opened her mouth to scream but nothing came out, she could only gape at the person over him, squirming. Her heart pounding in her chest.

Grabbing a fistful of sand, she threw it into the bastard's helmet and scrambled away from him. He grabbed her legs, drawing her back to him. Maya screamed. Frantic, she searched for a stone and found it. Snatching it, she tried to hurl at the soldier but he smacked her hands, making the stone fall off. He drew out his sword and Maya saw her life flashing before her eyes.

Till he was hit in the head by an arrow. His sword clattered to the ground and he fell face down. Maya could only lie there, frozen. She heard approaching footsteps and looked up to see Geoffrey covered in blood, heaving out breaths. He pushed the dead soldier away from her and looked at her.

"Are you alright, Your majesty?"

Maya could only gaze at him, still in shock.

"We have to go. Reinforcements are on their way." He helped her up and tried to urge to her to run when a sharp pang of pain slashed through her. She gripped her stomach, doubling over in pain.

"Your majesty?" Geoffrey breathed out, alarmed. But Maya couldn't hear him past the pain that was filling her body. She fell to the ground, still clutching her stomach.

"My stomach, it hurts!" She groaned, sounding agonized. Geoffery just stared at her. Torn on what to do. That's when she felt it, Something warm and sticky, trickling down between her thighs. She was bleeding. The pain worsened and she began crying. She had her periods before but they were never this painful. Never this painful. What is wrong with her?

Geoffrey swiftly carried her and began to run. She paled in his arms, her body growing cold. "You can't die on me. His majesty will have my head on a spike." Geoffery muttered underneath his breath as he ran. Maya only curled to herself, crying painfully.

The world soon became blurry and it didn't take long for her to pass out.

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When Maya woke up, it was already dark out. She blinked wearily, distinctly noting she was in another tent, a well furnished one. Closing her eyes against the throbbing headache assaulting her. She took in several deep breaths and tried to move. The attendant in the tent saw her stir and quickly stood up. "Your majesty!" She gasped in surprise before rushing to her. "Are you alright? You're awake!" She cried out, relief filling her voice.

Maya could only stare at her, when she tried to speak, her mouth produced no sounds. The woman saw it and quickly brought her a cup of water, which Maya collected from her and drained the contents into her stomach. Returning the cup back to her, she cleaned her mouth. She still felt so exhausted.

"What happened?" She finally asked, exhausted.

"You fainted your majesty, but luckily you were brought to safety. You were also bleeding very badly as well." The attendant added.

When Maya heard that, she snapped her head up to look at her. "I was bleeding?"

"Yes. But it has been treated and you're fine now." The woman hastily responded.

"What about Dexter– I mean, his majesty?"

"He's yet to arrive your majesty, but reports have it that they've successfully conquered the enemy! He should be back by tomorrow morning at most."

"We're not closer to the palace are we?"

"We're very close, we just had to stop here because your life was in great danger. Once you get better, we'll return to the palace. I'll bring in some soup, so your majesty try to rest."

The attendant exited the room, and Maya laid back on the makeshift bed, taking in a deep breath. She had been bleeding very badly when they did this. She glanced down at her clothes and saw they had been changed. Her abdomen still hurt. She'd never felt anything like this. She'd had cramps before but they had never been this severe.

The attendant soon arrived with a bowl of steaming soup. She set it in front of her and started to feed her. Too exhausted to protest, she allowed herself to be fed. She managed to eat it halfway before announcing she was full. The attendant promptly cleared the plates and settled her to the bed.

Exhaustion soon swamped her and she fell into a listless sleep.

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Dexter arrived at the emergency camp they had set for Maya, his heart pounding in his chest. Covered in blood, sweat and dirt, he rode through the words, seeing the flickering lights overhead draw nearer. His soldiers had managed to subdue to enemy and they continued chasing them till they submit but he couldn't continue the chase with them, so he just left orders for the rest of the traitors to be captured and he turned around.Despite his exhaustion, he had spurred his horse on and arrived at the campsite by dawn.

He clenched his teeth when he remembered the state he had seem her. He had almost blacked out when he saw Maya in the midst and it had taken all the self control in him to not launch into an attack there and then.

"Where is she?" He asked the first soldier he saw running towards him, once he arrived at the site.

The latter bowed and pointed at the biggest tent overhead. "She's over there your majesty." He said, trailing behind the king. He had already dismounted from his horse and striding towards the tent.

"How is she?"

"She's asleep but she's fine now. She was bleeding profusely when she arrived."

Dexter faltered in his steps as he pinned the soldier a glare. "Bleeding?"

The soldier stiffened, taken aback by the look on the king's face.

The soldier didn't get the chance to answer as Dexter rushed ahead, leaving him standing in shock. Dexter stormed inside before remembering he was covered in blood. He immediately removed his armor, leaving only his sweat soaked tunic before walking inside.

Maya laid on the cot that was prepared for her, sleeping soundly. The attendant beside her stood to her feet when she saw the king, bowing immediately. "Your majesty." She greeted in a low voice.

Dexter stared at Maya's pale face before directing his gaze to the attendant who flinched, stiffening.

"How is she?" He muttered in a deliriously low tone.

"Uh, she's severely dehydrated and malnourished. Her strength is depleted as well. But she'll be fine once she gets proper rest."

"What about her pregnancy?"

"W-well, when she was brought here, she was bleeding really badly. We did everything we could to stop it before running tests on her once again..." She trailed off.

"And...?"

"Um, although the test proved she was indeed pregnant, she already had a miscarriage, so she's no longer pregnant."

Miscarriage. Dexter's brain reeled to a stop. Something inside of him died at the mention of those words and he could do nothing but stare, the tension rolling off him in waves. He noted Maya stirring and his eyes narrowed.

"Get out!" He growled underneath his breath,and the attendant practically ran out of the tent.

Maya opened her eyes and her gaze landed on Dexter's horrified ones. She's alive and well but... Miscarriage? The air around them tensed as they looked at each other, silence between them was heavy with questions. Maya was the first to speak.

"I heard the two of you talk." Maya began quietly. "She mentioned miscarriage. Was I pregnant?"

Dexter paled at the question. Pursing his lips, he diverted his gaze, a muscle ticking in his jaw. Maya saw the reaction and grew tensed.

"Dexter, I asked a question. Was I pregnant?" She asked again, her voice shaking at the end. Dexter ran his hand thorough his hair, clenching his teeth. After what seemed like an eternity, Dexter finally replied.

"Yes. You were." He gritted out.

"What?" The softly spoken word drove Dexter to the very edge and he closed his eyes, biting back a groan. "That couldn't be possible. You knew?"

"I-i was going to tell you. After I had confirmed if it was true, I was going to tell you. Before all of this happened."

Maya stared at him in disbelief before realization began to dawn on her face. "No..." Maya whispered, one hand going to her belly. Slowly shaking her head, she stared at him with pain filled eyes. "I was pregnant with our child? We were going to be a bigger family?"

Tears filled his eyes at the words that came out of Maya's mouth. Maya clutched her stomach, curling into herself. It didn't take long for him to begin to hear sobs.

"I'm sorry..." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he had a chance to stop them. He slowly made his way to her. Drawing her into embrace, he held her thin body that had slept begun shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry." He repeated again and she sobbed even louder.

As they held each other, they let the grief of loosing an unborn child wash over them, pulling them into unknown depths of despair.

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