Chapter CV: Pallor
Isabella’s journey stretched over a grueling month, her body aching from the relentless travel and her heart heavy with doubt. Each night, as her son wept for his father, the pain of her decision gnawed at her, making her question if fleeing had been a grave mistake. The roads were treacherous, and the discomfort seemed unending. Despair threatened to consume her as days blurred into nights. Yet, she pressed on, driven by a fierce determination.
During their grueling travel, Isabella abruptly halted her horse and dismounted with visible difficulty. She leaned against the nearest tree and called out for Alicent. Alicent quickly dismounted from the horse she was sharing with Clara and rushed to her side.
“Please, take Ikkar,” Isabella said weakly, handing the baby, secured in an improvised fabric carrier, over to Alicent.
Alicent carefully took Ikkar from Isabella, who then doubled over and began to vomit. Alicent, concerned, asked, “Isabella, are you alright?”
Isabella wiped her mouth and nodded weakly, “Yes, I’m fine.”
Clara, noticing Isabella was distressed and throwing up, came over, her own worry evident. “What’s going on? Are you alright, my queen?”
Alicent’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Isabella. “Isabella… Is it possible that you’re…?”
Isabella nodded, her expression pained. “Yes, it is.”
Clara, seeing Isabella’s distress, asked urgently, “What’s going on? What’s possible?”
Isabella hesitated, her heart aching with the weight of her revelation. With a pained expression, she finally said, “I’m… I’m pregnant.”
Clara’s eyes widened further. “Pregnant? How… Did you know this before we left?”
Isabella shook her head, her face filled with regret. “No, I didn’t realize… I believe I didn’t want to think about this. With everything that happened with the king and Dara… I think I missed my period and didn’t even notice… I need to go back.”
Clara’s concern deepened. “We can’t go back now, my queen. We’ve been traveling for nearly a month. We’re one week away from Pallor, ten days if we slow down.”
Isabella’s voice trembled with desperation. “I can’t continue like this. I need to go back…”
Alicent stepped closer, her tone firm and serious. “If we go back now, there’s a very remote chance the king might spare you. But for me… I’ll face execution for helping you escape.”
Clara, trying to stay pragmatic, said, “We have no choice but to press on. We’ve come too far to turn back now. We’re almost there.”
With a deep breath, Isabella steeled herself. “Alright,” she said with resolve, “let’s keep going.”
Finally, after 42 harrowing days, Isabella and her small party emerged from the dense forest to behold the towering Stone Keep of Pallor. This ancient fortress was the last bastion of Allendor, defiant against the Dragon King’s conquest. As she gazed upon the keep’s formidable walls, a surge of hope mingled with her exhaustion, reminding her that they had reached the refuge she had clung to through all the trials of their escape.
The bridge to the Stone Keep was slowly lowered with a groan of ancient chains, and a half-dozen armed guards approached, their eyes narrowing as they assessed the newcomers. One of them, clad in a finely embroidered tunic, stepped forward and demanded, "Who are you?"
Clara, with a determined grace, removed her hood, revealing her face. "I am Lady Clara of the Stone Keep, daughter of Lord Pallor."
The guard's gaze shifted to Isabella and Alicent, and Clara continued, "And this is your Queen, Her Royal Majesty, Isabella of Allendor."
The guards' eyes widened in disbelief as Isabella unveiled her auburn hair by removing her scarf. Shock rippled through them, and they promptly knelt in reverence.
Clara advanced onto the bridge, her steps purposeful and commanding. She gestured for Isabella and Alicent to follow her. "Summon my father immediately," she instructed one of the guards.
As Isabella walked past the kneeling guards, she felt a profound mix of emotions—an overwhelming sense of being both revered and vulnerable. Her heart ached with a bittersweet blend of relief and apprehension, the weight of her journey and the uncertainty of her future pressing down upon her as she stepped into the unknown sanctuary of the Stone Keep.
Isabella walked through the massive iron doors of the keep, which creaked open before them. The grand hall of Lord Pallor's court was far from luxurious, its stark simplicity contrasting sharply with the opulence of the Dragon King’s palace. Her heart raced as her eyes took in the huge Allendorian flags adorning the walls, and a tear of pure emotion slipped down her cheek.
A tall man, his hair streaked with gray, stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Isabella in stunned disbelief. He sank to one knee before her, his voice reverent as he said, "My queen." Isabella’s breath caught as she recognized him—Lord Pallor, her father’s old ally.
Isabella, her voice trembling with emotion, said to Lord Pallor, "It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lord Pallor."
As members of the court began to gather, their murmurs hushed into a respectful silence, each one wondering if this truly was the queen. Lord Pallor rose from his knee, his eyes alight with reverence and relief. "I have prayed for this day," he said, "Our queen has truly returned."
Clutching Ikkar tightly in her arms, Isabella spoke with pride, "Allow me to introduce my son, Prince Ikkar." Lord Pallor’s eyes softened as he addressed the little boy, who gazed back with wide, bright eyes. "Your Highness," he said warmly.
Isabella then turned to Alicent. "This is Lady Alicent, my son’s nursemaid and my most loyal companion."
Lord Pallor nodded graciously. "Be most welcome, Lady Alicent." He then embraced his daughter, Clara, his voice filled with emotion. "I am thankful you are all safe. You must be tired and hungry. Please, follow me. And welcome home, my queen."
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