It's past mid night
Only moments before did they decide to infiltrate the castle, and forged a plan. The thief has promised him a way in, but afterwards Mari would be on his own.
As the both of them got near the castle Mari sneaked to the eastern castle walls and the thief stood behind .
Mari-" Are you not coming."
Thief-"You go ahead there will be guards on top of the walls
Mari- "How do we get past the guards then?"
Thief-"Dont you bother about it, i will handle them, toss the rope with the hook attached to it at the walls on my signal .
Mari-" What will the signal be?"
Thief-"You will know"
Mari walked towards the castle walls he successfully managed to get to it without being noticed he was sweating feverishly. His palms to his feet they were all sweaty. He took out the hook and the rope, then proceeded to tie the hook to one end of the rope. As he did and tested the strength of the knot with his sweaty hands it slipped from his hand and dropped to the floor
/klang/
The sound of the metal clattering against the stone pathway outside the castle walls made him even more nervous. It was no loud noise but in the silence of night even the sound of a creaking wooden board could be heard by the guards.
Above him he heard the sound of the guards boots, they were coming in to check. He was certain he could get caught. The thought of it froze him he hurried to the face of the walls and stuck himself to the walls like a gecko. He exhaled as hard as he could and squeezed himself against the walls.
/Bang/
A really big noise similar to that of the central towers bell ringing came out of nowhere from the west side . The sound of the guards running to the west side put him at ease. That's when he realized it was the distraction. The thief didn't abandon him and run away, for a moment he doubted his trust in the thief.
Without a moments hesitation he swirled the rope to the top of the wall and climbed up. As he did he heard the sound of the thief getting to him.
"Climb fast and pull up the rope"
Mari climbed as fast as he could and before pulling up the rope, he paused and looked for him. The thief clamped on the rope and tugged on it. Mari using all his strength pulled him up. Once they both were on the top of the wall now the challenge was to climb down it took some time for Mari but the thief slid down effortlessly.
As they got down and ran to the castle, through the moonlight they saw the guards return. They managed to get back right on time. Mari looked at the majestic castle eagerly searching for the south block. The thief gestured him to leave. Before they parted
Mari-" What is your name?"
Furious the thief slammed Mari to the castle and said
"Our business is over and I dont know you and you dont know me."
The thief ran to the east block and faded away in the night.
"Now I am alone"
Mari said to himself and he hurried to the south block he spotted the castle doors and above it the very balcony Mea stood last night he paused
"In no time! I will save you, in no time"
He ventured in to the building. As he looked he realized he walked into the castles armory. Above which he heard sounds of a woman crying. He went up slowly and then there he saw her. He saw Mea.
Their she was ever so beatifull. But the tears which had welled up in her eyes broke Mari's heart.
Mea slowly lifted up her head, she saw a tall man standing in front of her. Slowly her expression changed from sadness to fear.
Mari realized that Mea was scared and rushed in to close her mouth to not make her scream and slowly she fainted.
Mari was heartbroken that thier first encounter was so terrifying for her. He laid her down on the hay nearby and waited for her to wake up. As she laid there he saw how beautiful she was . Her skin as white as snow and her hair golden in colour. Her beauty would captivate any man.
Moments pass by and hearing a sound from the nearby cell Mea would wake up. Quickly Mari clasped his hands on her lips
Mari-" Please dont panic, i came to save you"
Mari saw as her eyes widened and tears started flowing like beads of pearls. As Mari thought of a different aproach to calm her down.
Mea lunged at Mari and tied her arms around him and hugged him and started wailing, but it was in joy. A sense of hope and safety filled her mind, for she heard the same voice from yesterday. The very voice of whom which saved her from her foolishness.
"I was afraid, i thought I would die. But then, god told me that you will arrive, that his angel will arrive."
Mari was happy that she no longer was afraid of him. But they will have to wait before they could enjoy this meeting . For this place was not safe any longer, the guards might notice something unusual and come searching for whatever that got in. And if they were caught both of them would loose everything.
Commotion from outside made it through the balcony to both of their ears. Mari went to see what was going on outside, and as he looked from the balcony he saw the guards rushing here and there. They have noticed that someone has made in
"Search every where and find the intruder."
If they dont move away from here they could get caught. Hearing the sound of the frantically passing guards Mari decided to move to the central block and then wait out the search. But as they descended from the stairs to reach the connection bridge between the tower and the main block they were spotted by the palace guards
" The intruder is at the armory"
This is bad within minutes they will be surrounded by armed guards and both will be thrown in to the prison. He held Mea's hand tight and ran to the connection bridge and then as the guards closed in he lifted Mea into his arms and jumped down to the Royal horse stable beneath them. They crashed down through the roof and landed on one of the horses, thankfully none suffered any major harm but the alarmed horse sprinted out of the stable neighing as loud as it could. It startled all the horses sending them into a frenzy. The untied horses all ran out straight into the approaching guards breaking their formation and causing commotion and noise buying them just enough time to take cover in the darkness.
Using the commotion to thier advantage Mari and mea sneaked up to the altar where the gods and their idols were placed. Inside there was no one, but its only a matter of time before the guards barge in here as well.
And thats when it came to Mari's mind
< there Is a couple of chambers in the entire castle no guard would dare to enter, the throne , the treasury and the queen's chamber. They can't go to the throne room for it is always guarded by the palace guards, not the treasury either for it is vaulted down. That left only one place>
"The queen's chamber. That's where we will hide. Come"
As they moved out of the altar he knew that similar to the other's it was also guarded, but it was the closest and the most survivable of all.
" The queen is a kind lady she will help us. At the least not get killed."
They managed to get to the queen's chamber and opened the door and as they got in Mari said to Mea
"Let's hope for the best. Do not worry If she won't let us go, i will get you out alive "
They hid in a corner hoping for the best and Mea praying to the gods and Mari tightly clenching his fist on to the amulet in his neck.
Will they survive see in next chapter.