The Resistance

The morning was cold and gray as I woke, groggy and disoriented. The cave was dim, the steady rainfall outside muffled the daylight, creating a chill that seeped into my bones. The air smelled of wet earth and moss, heavy with moisture. I pulled the thin blanket tighter around me, trying to ward off the draft. Then, my gaze shifted to James.

He lay beside me, pale and covered in a sheen of sweat. His breathing was deeper now, more regular, and though the fever that had ravaged him the night before had lessened, the worry gnawing at my thoughts had not. His skin still radiated heat, a reminder of how close we’d come to losing him.

Carefully, I slipped the blanket off my shoulders and draped it over James, tucking it around him with as much care as I could manage. It was threadbare and worn, hardly enough to shield him from the cold, but it was all we had. I sat there for a moment, watching his chest rise and fall, my heart tightening with every shallow breath he took.

The rhythmic patter of rain on the rocks filled the silence, a constant reminder of the urgency pressing down on us. We could not afford to stay much longer, not with the danger closing in. I knew we had to move, despite the drizzle that continued outside. The cold had set in, but I steeled myself to wake James. Just as I turned to gather our things, a hand clamped over my mouth, stifling the scream that rose in my throat. Panic shot through me. My heart pounded as I struggled against the grip, fear and instinct surging. Before I could react further, a voice whispered against my ear, low, calm, urgent.


"Shh, princess, you will give us away."

The unfamiliarity of the voice startled me, enough that I froze. My breaths came fast and shallow against the stranger's palm. Slowly, the hand withdrew, allowing me to turn and face them. Two figures stepped from the shadows; their faces grim but not hostile. A woman with sharp eyes and a hood pulled low over her brow regarded me closely. Her gaze flicked to James, then back to me.

"We are here to help," she said quietly.

I stared at them, stunned. Whoever they were, they had found us, and they seemed to know more than I did about our situation. The man who had silenced me nodded; his expression serious.

“There is not much time,” he said.
“We need to leave.”
“Now.”

I knelt beside James, my hands trembling as I brushed a damp lock of hair from his forehead. His skin had cooled, though he still looked fragile. I hesitated. Waking him felt cruel, but we had no choice. Placing my hand gently on his shoulder, I shook him softly.



“James,” I whispered, leaning close to his ear.
“James, wake up.”

At first, there was no response. His breathing was uneven, and his body was still too weak. My pulse quickened, and I shook him again, harder this time. Finally, his eyelids fluttered open, revealing hazel eyes clouded with exhaustion and confusion.

“Isabella?”

His voice was raspy, barely more than a whisper, but the recognition in his gaze was enough to steady me.

“It is me,” I said softly.
“We are not alone, James.”
“There are people here who say they are here to help.”

James blinked, trying to focus on his surroundings. In the faint light, he saw the two figures standing a few paces away. His brow furrowed as he studied them, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

“No it cannot be,” he muttered, struggling to push himself up on his elbow.

I glanced between James and the strangers, confused.

“Do you know them?”

The man stepped forward, a faint smile crossing his lips.

“It has been a long time, James.”
“We were not sure you would remember us.”

James stared at him, and slowly, recognition dawned on his face.

“Rowan… Lila…”

He shook his head, disbelief turning to shock.

“By the gods, it is you.”

Rowan clasped James’ arm, a gesture of camaraderie that felt like a reunion.

“It is good to see you again,” he said, his voice steady.
“Even under these circumstances.”



Lila moved closer, her stern expression softening as she regarded James.

“We have been tracking you since you left Blackthorn’s ship,” she said.
“We wanted to reach you before they did.”

James shook his head, still stunned.

“I thought you were both dead,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
“We managed to stay under the radar,” Rowan explained, his tone grim.
“We could not disappear.”
“Not with everything that was at stake.”

Lila turned to me then, her eyes meeting mine with an understanding look.

“You are wondering who we are and why we are here,” she said gently.
“The truth is, we are part of a resistance.”
“A group that has been fighting in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike back.”

My mind raced, trying to make sense of it all.

“A resistance?”

I echoed, frowning.

“Against who?”

Rowan exchanged a glance with Lila before answering.

“Against the tyrants who took everything from you.”
“Everything from all of us,” he said.
“We have been gathering allies, building resources, waiting for the right moment to fight back.”

James exhaled sharply, the weight of Rowan’s words settling over him.

“You have been fighting all this time,” he whispered, a mix of awe and guilt in his voice.
“I have just been running.”
“No,” Lila interrupted firmly.
“You have been surviving.”
“That is exactly what we need.”
“Survivors who know the truth, who can help us rally others.”

James looked at her, his expression conflicted.

“What now?”
“What do we do?”

Rowan’s gaze shifted to me.

“First, we get James back on his feet,” he said.
“Then we regroup.”
“After that, we strike back.”
“We take back what is yours, Princess.”

The thought of reclaiming my throne, after so long spent in hiding and fear, sent a shiver through me. Rowan’s conviction was unshakeable.

“There is a place not far from here,” Rowan continued.
“An old castle, abandoned for years, but still standing.”
“It is hidden, safe.”
“We have made it our base.”
“It is not much, but it is enough.”
“The people are scared, but they are ready to fight.”
“With you leading them, they will rally.”

James, still listening intently, nodded in agreement.

“They will follow you, Isabella,” he said, his voice stronger.
“With the resistance behind us, we stand a chance.”

I met Rowan and Lila’s eyes.

“Then we make our stand there,” I said.
“We take back what is ours.”

Rowan smiled, and Lila’s rare grin mirrored his.

“It is time to reclaim your throne, Princess,” she said.
“For good.”

With a deep breath, I stood. The throne that had been stolen from me was within reach once again, and this time, I would not stop until it was mine. The rain lightened and the first sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon. We prepared to move out.