"I really don't think
that-"
"Please, Miss Victoria, this
is your night. And I don't think that your father would approve of his
daughter, the princess of our kingdom, showing up late, and in rags!"
"Oh Nana, these aren't rags.
These are my gardening clothes."
"Call them what you will, they are still not fit for a
princess to be wearing to the ball being thrown in her honor."
"Oh, I really don't care. And
what is the whole point of this ball anyways?"
"Why, to announce the
engagement to Prince Starnty."
"What! I never agreed to
this! I'm not particularly fond of him, and he's so uptight and political about
everything!"
"Miss, you're growing up and
it's now time for you to wed. Besides our relationship with the Kingdom of
Startnty will prosper. And you should be thinking about your country, not just
yourself." And with that the cat called Nana walked out of the room.
Victoria lay back on her bed and heaved a sigh.
"Oh, I try to think of my
country, but it's awful hard to sometimes! Goodness, Prince Startnty, of all of
them that came! Well, I have only an hour before the ball, might as well sneak
out and enjoy my last free time before I have to become a nice and proper
queen." She stood up on her hind legs and stretched. Victoria looked at
herself in the mirror. She was a beautiful young queen, just barely over a year
old. Her pure white fur sparkled in the light from the kerosene lamps. She was quite a sight to see, her fur
against her dress. The dress she wore was a fine crimson silk adorned with gold
and silver beadwork and such. She again looked in the mirror. *Ahh, there we go
all nice and proper. Goodness I hate it
when I look like this! Oh well, anything to please father* She started to walk
out of the door, when she heard a shout from behind.
"Victoria! Victoria! Come to
your window! Quick!"
Victoria rushed to her window and
looked down at the owner of the voice, one she knew quite well.
"What is it Jemima?"
Yes, it was Jemima, a handmaiden to a Lady in the castle. She and Victoria had
been best friends ever since they had discovered each other when each were
still kittens.
"Oh, Vicki I just heard the
news! That is so wonderful! A prince as handsome as Starnty! You are so
lucky!"
"Jemima, he's such a bore!
All he ever does is sit and work. Never has any fun! What kind of a mate is
that?!"
"Oh, I didn't realize that,
but you have to admit he is a dashing young tom isn't he."
"He's the same as every other
one that came when they heard that my father was offering my paw in
marriage."
"Oh, well I think he's dreamy."
"Jemi, dear, you can have
him. If there was anyway I could change places with you, I certainly
would"
"Ha! That's what I was going
to say."
"Oh, Jemi, how I really wish
that we could. I really do."
"Well, I was going to ask you
if you wanted to come down, but it's to late now, I don't you to be late."
"Oh, Jemi, I have time!"
And Victoria started to climb down the vines that covered the wall next to her
window.
"Vicki! No! You'll get into
trouble again!"
"Oh, pish-posh! I'll be back
before they know I'm gone," Victoria said as she jumped the last few feet
to the ground. "Let's go to that old tree out in the garden."
"Are you sure that you want
to do this?"
"Jemima, this is my last
night of freedom-"
"No, the wedding won't be for
a while."
"No, it won't, but my
training starts, and I have to learn about the country. Dare I say it; I also
have to start spending time with Starnty. So I want to spend my last night with
my best friend. Now, stop worrying and come on."
***
"I've always loved this
tree." Jemima said thoughtfully looking up at Victoria who was up on a
branch. Jemima jumped up to sit by her. "What are you thinking
about?"
"How, I'm really going to
miss this, being free to climb a tree, to…to do what I want to do. Oh, Jemima
I'm tired of this whole princess thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, I guess."
"It's time to go back, the
ball will be starting soon."
"Yes, I know," Victoria
said looking up at the moon. "I wish there was a way that I could just get
away from this…. wait Jemima that's it!"
"What's it Vicki?"
"I'm going to run away!"
"What?"
"Jemi, I've always wondered
what it would be like to be out there in the world. To be completely
free."
"Vicki, you can't!"
"Oh, yes I can!"
"Vicki I-"
"There is nothing that you
can do to change my mind. Now, I've quickly got to go pack."
"So do I," Jemima said.
"What? You're coming with
me?"
"Of course I am! Now, meet
here when you are finished." Jemima replied.
"This is going to be
great!" The two cats ran off. Both were excited about their plans, but
both a little scared too.
***
Jemima reached the tree and sat
down to wait for Victoria. *I wonder where we'll go….if we even go at all*
Jemima thought to herself. She had tried to convince herself that maybe
Victoria would change her mind and they wouldn't run away…then again she knew
Victoria and how stubborn she could be. Jemima giggled as she thought of her
friend. If Victoria said she was going
to leave she probably would, or at least she would try. She had never liked to
be told what to do. She had grown up telling others and only listening to her
father. Yes, her father was her weak point. She had told Jemima how much she
tried to please him, *yet here she is running away from what he wants for
her…maybe I'll bring that up and this running away idea will be gone from her
mind*
"Jemima!"
She looked up to see Victoria
running towards her. She had changed into one of her plainer gowns and had a
rucksack in her paws.
"What?"
"Ready to go?"
"Yes, I am….but are you sure that
you want to do this?"
"Jemi, we've already been over
this, I don't want to marry that stuffy old tom and my father won't change his
mind…not with his evil wife of his telling him that it is for the best."
"But, Vicki maybe it is for the best, and the Queen isn't all that bad-"
"What?! She hates me! That is why she wants me to marry that prince, so she
will be rid of me!"
"Vicki, I know you don't like her, but she's your mother now." Jemima realized she shouldn't have said that
when Vicki turned around her eyes afire.
"She is not my mother, nor will
she ever be. No one, NO ONE, will ever replace my mother." Tears started to
well up in her eyes. "My mother was good and gracious, every thing a Queen
should be. Not some power-hungry, egotistical, little snit!"
Jemima just looked at her. "I'm sorry Vicki."
"I'm leaving. I don't care what
you say or what you think!" She took off running down the path to the palace
gates.
Jemima sighed and took off after
her.
***
"Sir, if you could please let me
pass."
"My dear Princess, whatever is the
need? Your father the King, told us to keep the gates closed until the arrival
of the guests." The guard replied.
"I just need to go to the floral
to by a few flowers for my fur. I do want to look my best for my lovely
prince."
"Well, I suppose if it's only to
the floral, but I will accompany you there my lady."
"Oh, there is no need for that. I
shall be gone no more than a few short moments, and the floral is just right
over there," She pointed to a small shop just down the path. "You shall be able
to see me clearly. Now if you will allow me to pass it will make my
preparations for tonight much easier. I won't be quite so rushed"
"Alright you Grace, but only for a few moments." The guard opened the gates and
let her pass.
"Oh yes, and my servant should
be coming along just behind me." Vicki called back. Jemima walked past the
guard and smiled. "I shall not be returning until tomorrow, Arden. Tonight is
my night off and I am going to see a friend of mine, Amara, and I shall be
staying there.
"Yes, Jemima. I shall see you
tomorrow."
She smiled once more and trotted
to catch up with Victoria.
***
Victoria and Jemima hurried down
the path. "We'll need to move faster than this if we want to be far enough away
before they realize that I'm missing."
Jemima smiled and walked a little
faster. Vicki had convinced a young queen in the floral to trade clothing and
go back to the castle in her place. She had also managed to convince this queen
to deliver a message to her father. Vicki knew that it would be quite a while
before the King would see her. Vicki had also given the girl a note to give to
her father, but only if she were in dire trouble. This queen, both Vicki and
Jemima thought would fool Arden, the guard, she was of similar stature and her
fur was almost completely white except for a few red splotches on her back,
shoulders, and paws. All of which were easily covered with clothing and a
bouquet of flowers. Vicki had thanked the queen dearly. The two runaways then
took off into the night. Thus, the journey begins.
