A Twisted Fate

Suitors came again the night I left. I didn't see why they took that much interest in me then. It's not like they would gain much by marrying me, a second born princess of a small and poor kingdom. It didn't seem worth the trouble. Anyway my father had arranged a marriage for me. I was to wed a fifty-year-old king of some distant country and hope he died soon so father could have his money. (That was my fathers plan not mine.)

My mother died giving birth to my youngest brother and sister. She was the most beautiful woman ever. Father was heartbroken after her passing three years ago. Mother was fifteen years younger than father, but they were madly in love. They had a total of six children including me. The first was my oldest brother, Stephan. He was 21 when I left and was preparing to take over the kingdom when father joined mother in death. My oldest sister, Andrea, was next. She was 19, three years my senior. But she ran off a year before I left with the love to her life, because father didn't approve of their marriage. (Secretly I was jealous of her.) I, Daria, was next. Then my younger sister, Alysa, who was ten, and still too young to do much more than play in the nursery. Finally, the twins, Rachel and Edmond, were born. They were three years old.

My family was disastrous at that time. After Andrea left, Stephan locked himself in his study, reading his books. Father distrusted all of us after that and he was always yelling. Alysa got to a point where she said almost nothing. And the twins were always crying because of the pandemonium.

Had I gone down to supper that night years ago my father would have found something to yell at me about. It was all so stressful I could hardly deal with it. Most people think being a princess would be great, but the truth is after a while you can get sick of it. That is what happened to me. That was the night I got fed up, the night I ran away. It was easy enough to get out of there. Using the servant halls was the easiest way out, and no one goes down them after dark.

At about ten o'clock I started packing my bags. My personal maid was the only one who knew I was going. She was the one who helped me pack. She also brought me a week's worth of food from the kitchen. I hoped that was enough to last me until I got to the next town. The farmer's son, who had been my friend for years, taught me how to stay out of sight from the road and what signs to look for, for animals or robbers. Ogres were the only things I would have to worry about, but most of them live in forests father south then here. I could avoid them. I took enough money and jewelry to sell to last me a while. Then I left at about midnight while everyone was asleep.

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Before I left I kissed my younger sisters and brother goodnight. I wished them all luck and hoped I could see them again some day but at that time I needed to say good-bye.

The servant's hallways were quiet. They were asleep too. I knew no one would stop me then. I slipped out of the castle undetected. No walls surround our castle because it was thought no one would attack something this small. The woods surrounding the castle would be a disadvantage to us so father built a tower that rises high over them and you can see if there is anyone there. I still think that was a bad idea because some years the trees are so thick you can't see through them. By the end of the night I needed to get to the big tree about two miles east of the castle. That gave me about six hours to get there. There was a hole in that tree that only people who know what to look for can find, so it was an ideal hiding spot to rest in. The noises of the forest were soothing. The crickets chirped, an owl hooted to my left. I could here the wind blowing through the trees. These sounds alone were enough to reassure me that I would be okay.

I turned left slightly at a bush thinking that it was the halfway marker to the tree and suddenly I didn't know where I was. In the daytime it would take me less then an hour to get there but here in the dark everything looks the same. Ten minutes later I returned to the correct trail, relived I could still find it. I ran into a bush and got pricked by a thorn. I let out a sigh. This is the halfway point. It was getting close to dawn. I could tell by the way the animals were starting to awaken. The tree can't be too far from here, I thought. There was a brush on my shoulder and I jumped. There it was, the tree. I found the whole and smoothly got in. Finally I could sleep.

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"Well, what have we got here?" a voice said partially awakening me. "A pretty little girl. Don't worry miss. I won't hurt you. You just rest now." I drifted back into the realm of unconsciousness.

AN: I rewrote this chapter so hopefully now it makes more sense.