“No! Papa!” Lilyanna screamed. She stretched her arms out as if there’s a force in the air that could help her.
“No! Please! Take anything!” The father chased after them.
Nicholas and the two knights looked at the scene in shock. ‘How can this be happening? Is this what all lords do?’ The three men were thinking exact same thing.
The old farmer plunged himself at the stranger who was taking his daughter away, hoping that would stop him. With a groan of pain and disbelief, the older man fell to his knees. His tunic turned red as he touched the wound on his chest.
“Papa!” Lilyanna struggled free and rushed to her father’s side.
“I’m so sorry...” Were her father’s last words.
“What have I done!” the servant whispered.
“If I were you, I would scatter! You have taken the thing that’s most valuable in this household. Your lord should be pleased! Now leave!” Sir Scott’s command made the man flee from the scene.
“Look, I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Nicholas.” Somewhere deep in his heart, was an urge to protecting this female in front of him. A tender feeling overwhelmed him as Lilyanna gazed straight into his blue eyes, as if trying to read his thoughts.
“Lilyanna.” She smiled weakly as a single tear rolled down her face like the morning dew on a beautiful flower.
“I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Ever again! Please come with me so I can take you somewhere safe.” Nicholas reached out his hand. Slowly, yet trustingly, she grabbed it and held on to it tightly.
“What’s that on your arm? It looks like a lily!” Sir Scott spotted the scar on her shoulder. Lilyanna gasped as she tried to cover her bare arm.
“It’s okay!” Nicholas comforted. He then took off his coat and wrapped her in it gently.
“It’s something I had since I was born.” Lilyanna answered Sir Scott’s question in a voice slightly above whisper.
“Let’s get going.” Sir Thomas suggested as he brought forth the horses that he found from the carriage. There were four in total.
Without thinking, Nicholas pulled Lilyanna on one of the horses with him even though she insisted that she could ride a horse. “I don’t want to you to get hurt.” Nicholas said as he inhaled the fresh scent of her hair, clean and mixed with hint of lily.