Somewhere in a small lonely house in the kingdom of Miranor.
"I feel so lonely...
I wish you were here...
I cannot do this anymore..."
Ysolde couldn't sleep that night. Her insomnia had become a regular pain, this was just another one of the sleepless nights, but something was different.
Previously that day,
"Oh, poor Ysolde!" sneered Gerard and his men. "Look how pale you have become! You really need a man in your life to take care of you!".
"Now that you have lost all your beauty you ought to feel blessed that Lord Gerard still wants to take you in as his Lady." yelled one of the men.
Ysolde pretends to not pay attention to any of the remarks being hurled at her. But deep inside she recalls how there was someone who had shielded her from these crooks.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts someone grabs her wrist forcefully. It was none other than Gerard.
Gerard was a wicked bandit who lived off of riches he and his men had taken forcefully from the weaker folks of their neighbourhood. He spends most of his time intoxicated and fooling around with different women. He had laid eyes on Ysolde since a long time but did not approach her as she already had a partner. Gerard was someone who did not want to be known as someone who covets others' property.
Now that her saviour is gone it was the perfect opportunity for him to have the trophy he always wanted to achieve.
"Oh, my sweet Ysolde...", sighed Gerard as he firmly holds her wrist, "You really look like you need the love of some strong man. I am aware that you have been with some other man until recently but I am willing to take you in. However,", Gerard grabs Ysolde's waist pulling her closer to him, "You have to show me how capable your body is".
The men start laughing obnoxiously while Ysolde had frozen in place with fear. She had no strength to fight against him.
The memories of that man flow in her head again.
"Do not be afraid of such crooks Ysolde. As long as you have me, I would never let anyone hurt you."
'Promise?'
"Promise."
A knight passing by witnesses the scene and makes the men leave her alone.
After making sure Ysolde had no wounds the knight scolded her, "Lady you need to protect yourself better. You were not even yelling for help. What were you thinking? If I did not happen to take this route God forbid you would have been in serious trouble".
Ysolde could not look at him. She was ashamed for being so weak and fragile.
"I am sorry", said she with tears rolling down her eyes.
The knight was taken aback as she starts crying. Upon seeing her clearly, he realised he had seen her before. She used to be a singer at the market square along with another gentleman playing a violin. Everyone used to be mesmerized by the couple's performance. They believed the couple could have achieved more if that incident had not taken place.
The knight realised why the girl was in such a condition.
He drops her off at her home and asked her to stay string before taking his leave.
Ysolde lies down on her bed. She tries to sleep but the previous incidents were haunting her.
"I feel so lonely...
I wish you were here...
I cannot do this anymore..."
She cries. Tears soaking through her pillow. She recalls she had someone who used to wipe away her tears.
She cried for hours, then, something snapped within her.
She walks through the desolate place until she reaches a bridge.
"I cannot live like this anymore
I am sorry"
With these thoughts she was ready to throw herself in the icy deep waters when someone grabs her shoulders from behind and whispers in her ears.
"He Is Alive".
Ysolde freezes in her place.
"Alive? He is alive?
How? How is it possible?
Was that person fooling with me?
He is alive?.....
He is alive!"
She turns around to see but the person was already gone far. An hour went by as she searched for him. However, there was not a single soul in the streets.
She returns home and lies down again. This time she felt warm and thrilled, like a new path has opened up for her. She closes her eyes and falls asleep.