A few days after the Diet of Worms, Luther and his companion leave the city of Worms in a horse-drawn carriage. The coach goes through the woods, escaping the warriors who ride tireless, black warhorses; they are not far away.
Shadows pass by the coach. “OH JESUS! They are here!” the companion screams.
Luther hears the driver stopping the horses. Shortly after, the coach comes to a full stop. The shivering companion shrinks away. His face blanched, he covers his mouth to stop the sound of his teeth chattering. Luther does not blame his craven reaction. Even Luther himself is no longer tranquil; who would be in the last moments before facing death?
There are a few moments of silence; the calm before the storm. Luther can hear nothing but his own heavy breathing. Hearing the sound of crunching leaves, Luther knows that one of the warriors is approaching. He manages to pull himself together and cautiously peeks outside the window, where he sees the reflection of light from a warrior’s metal footwear. Luther flinches after he looks up and sees the warrior’s sword. The companion cannot control himself anymore and hugs Luther from the back. Eyes dilated, Luther no longer can breathe.
The door breaks open with a sudden pull. “AAAAAH,” the companion screams in a girly voice.
Luther senses the weight of the warrior’s gaze on him. Taking a deep breath, Luther gathers the courage to look up at the warrior, who seems to be a high-ranking officer. To Luther’s surprise, he kneels and says: “The soldiers of Prince Frederick III, Elector of Saxony are at your service. We are here to safely escort you to Wartburg castle before Emperor Charles’s soldiers catch you.”
Luther takes a relaxed breath, and his companion bursts into tears—tears of happiness.