The evening itself moved along rather smoothly, easy conversation, good food and pleasant company. 
To Eilis is was as if she had been blessed with a little part of heaven. Something she dared not dream she would ever get to experience. 
Having retired early, the day had been rather exhausting after all she had thanked Lord and Lady Venray for the lovely meal and for allowing them to stay in their home before excusing herself.
She had also bowed to the mighty Uilles thanking him for his words of wisdom before Arn had offered to escort her to her room.
Whilst she intended to decline his offer, not wanting to pull him away from the conversation he seemed to be having with Lord Uilles. She knew he would not accept it and Uilles would otherwise scold him for not offering his service in the first place.
She chuckled as she thought about the many rules of etiquette that seemed so…unnecessary and restrictive.
As she turned her head as she glanced towards the window, its curtains half drawn so she could still gaze at the star filled sky. 
She felt her eyelids grow heavier and the bed was ridiculously comfortable. It wouldn’t be long and she would slip away into dreamland. Here she had everything she had ever wanted. A small measure of peace. 
She was somewhere safe, protected and watched over by her own knight, she thought with a smile. 
He had looked quite handsome, she recalled with a soft smile as a blush tinted her cheeks.
Arn. Her burning flame.  
Undoubtedly the men downstairs would be talking about the war, compare swords or something of the like, there would be enough for them to discuss and worry over. 
Practically half asleep, she was dozing off further when all of a sudden a shadow crossed in front of her window. 
It happened so quickly that Eilis had thought it had to have been some bird at first, before her mind and reasoning started nagging her about it and forced her up to go over to take a look.
As she stepped out of bed and away from the comfort of her sheets, she mentally chastised herself for being paranoid.
She had crossed many, many miles. Plus, she was far into Belisian territory, no one would presume to look for her in such a place as the Grand Estate of the Venrays.
Reaching the window she gazed outside and seeing nothing but an empty street she yawned satisfied. 
“See…silly…there’s nothing there.” She told herself. 
As she moved over to the other curtain to close it, suddenly a rock crashed through the window. 
It flew right past her face freezing Eilis up. Not being able to do anything but stand and watch when mere seconds later another figure followed in its wake.
Crashing intentionally into Eilis and forcing her to the floor.
Sitting on top of her, holding her down, sat a dark haired woman bearing a most satisfied grin.
“Well hello there little Pumpkin. Play time is over. Time to come home.” She said as she pressed something against Eilis’s mouth. 
Her eyes widened in fear when she realized what it was. 
A gag. 
More effective than the old sewing one’s mouth shut trick the woman had effectively silenced Eilis, making her unable to call out.
But that wasn’t what terrified Eilis, she now noticed that the long black hair seemed to have a mind of its own. 
As the woman stood up, she felt it wrap around her and casually lift her up as if she weighed nothing.
“Oh don’t look at me like that, be glad I don’t drain you Pumpkin.” The woman spoke rather bored as she rolled her eyes at Eilis’s expressions. 
“You had your little fun, seems like your little escape was worth it.” She said as she looked around appraisingly. “It won’t matter though, when the army advances this here will all be taken over.... or blasted to pieces. Let's just say I so hope for the second one…” She said sadistically.
"Oh I can't wait until we get home and I get to play around with you pumpkin. I will carve you up." She said as she smiled widely at Eilis, but the smile was hardly reassuring and more terrifying as it reminded Eilis of that of a hungry tiger.