Chapter 150: At the Back Gate
Elin felt like she was in a haze. She was kind of aware of what was happening, though she wouldn't be able to explain what it was that she saw or did. She recognized when they were moving through the hallways, when they stopped, and when she was allowed to rest near an open window. She couldn't say why she felt to exhausted, but she did know that's what it was.
She had climbed through the window that she had been sitting next to and crossed a field that was by it before she started to really feel her stamina failing. They were standing before something that her mind wasn't allowing her to identify, even though she was sure she should know what it is and was wondering if she'd just drop where she stood or if she'd go down slower somehow, when she felt someone tap her shoulder. She looked at them feeling like it was taking a monumental effort to focus her mind enough to be sure what she was seeing, not that she had any idea who she was looking at when something was placed in her hand. She looked at it, unsure what to do about it.
"Go ahead, drink it. You look like you need it," a kind masculine voice said.
Elin didn't know what else to do about it, so she opened it and swallowed a mouthful. She didn't plan on drinking all of it, as she had no idea exactly what it was. However, as she felt the liquid slide down her throat, her mind cleared. She felt strength return to her limbs and she didn't feel like she was just barely awake.
She looked back at the man who'd handed it to her and smiled. A moment later she realized that it was the king who had given her to bottle. Her eyes went wide in surprise, and bowed her head to him, unsure if she shouldn't do anything else, especially given the circumstances and the position she was in. She stood up on her own, taking her weight off of Elmo, who she was now aware had been helping her move around.
"Thank you, your majesty," Elin whispered, respectfully as Elmo stepped away, giving them some privacy to talk.
"I had to help you for what you've been able to do already," he replied quietly, making Elin blush. She didn't expect that he'd have noticed anything she had done. "Besides, I'm sure you're going to need it to complete whatever challenge you have going on."
Elin felt like he'd hit her in the face out of the blue with how shocked she felt at his statement. "How...?" Elin trailed off, unsure how much she should say with all the people around them.
The king held up his hand. "Don't worry about that. I just recognized you're from somewhere I'm familiar with, so I know a few things at least," the king answered Elin's unspoken question calmly. "If you survive the night, we'll talk more. Right now I have my son to get to safety. Though, I'll send help as soon as I'm able to."