Disclaimer: I don't own Goose Girl... but i guess you probably already know that... :D
Chapter 2:
Bam! Bam! Bam! Alex awoke with a start. Remembering everything that happened, she jumped off her bed and pushed aside the chest at the foot of her bed. She pulled open the trap door.
"Malinda!" cried Alex, jumping back. A dark, frizzy, red head emerged from the underground tunnels.
"Crown Princess, quick, you've slept through the afternoon and through the mornin'. It's almost noon!" said Minda. She clambered out of the hole and ran to Alex's closet. Malinda was one of the kitchen maids and she always wore her hair in a long braid down her back.
"Quick!" she said, tossing a red crimson dress at Alex. "Put this on while I pack your bag." She ran to the trap door again and pulled out a pair of brown trousers and a shirt. Stuffing them in a shoulder bag a long with an apple and some dried meat strips, she waited for Alex to emerge from behind the screen. When Alex came out from behind the screen, Malinda stared at Alex with her piercing green eyes. She gave a nod of approval and picked up the pack, scrambling back into the trap door with the shoulder bag. Alex, mouthed a thank you and shut the door behind Malinda. She pushed the chest back over and fixed her dress in front of the long mirror. Her favorite color was red and this was her favorite dress. Most of her clothes were green or brown. Earthly colors made her feel safe and at home, but something about the color red entranced Alex. After pulling up her dark curls up with several pins, Alex hurried out of her room to the stables. When she got there, her sweet horse was ready with her pack. She stroked the mare as she mounted. She gave her a swift kick and they galloped to the main gate where Kelv was waiting for her.
He sighed. "I thought you said noon. You're late."
"Yes, I know. I am sorry I am late, Kelv. I fell asleep and lost track of time. Malinda came to me room and told me it was already noon. I—"
"It's alright," said Kelv. He kicked his horse and they galloped through the main gate to the same old, abandoned shack.
As they ran, they were unaware of a man, at the window. The house near by was a small fruit stand and the man inside watched as the stable boy galloped away with the crown princess. He signaled to a large man in the room. He nodded and left silently. The mysterious man turned back to the window and watched the pair gallop into the woods and out of sight.
"I bet you five coppers I'll get there first." Kelv laughed at the offer. Alex raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid that a mere girl will beat you?" she asked smirking.
Kelv scoffed. "No. Who said you are going to beat me?"
"Ok. Ready set go!" yelled Alex. She kicked off and bolted through the trees with Kelv right behind her. Kelv gained the lead with his brown stallion, but Alex's faithful black mare passed Kelv and reached the shack first. She jumped off her horse, grabbing her pack and raced to the back room. She quickly changed and stuffed the dress into the pack. She walked out just as Kelv arrived.
"What took you so long?" said Alex, resting a hand on her hip. "Go on. Pay up!" Kelv searched desperately in his pockets and drew out three copper coins.
"This is all I have, Alex. I-I don't know what to do… I-I can…" Alex laughed. She closed his hand into a fist with the coins inside. "I was joking," she said. She pulled her long sling from the pack and wrapped it around her waist like a belt. She pulled out her short sling and put it into her pocket. When they were young, Kelv's father had taught Alex and Kelv how to use the sling. She put the pack back on the horse and mounted like Kelv, one leg on each side of the horse. She kicked off to the clearing. She pulled both her legs to one side and jumped off into a bush. Her horse kept running. She had rehearsed this so many times that her horse knew to keep running, stop, and come back to her after a few moments. Kelv rode right by and Alex had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.
A huge arm wrapped around her body, pinning her arms to her side and a massive, meaty hand covered Alex's mouth, stifling her scream. Alex struggled and fought back. She bit hit hand and kicked him in his soft spot. The man dropped his hand from her mouth, but her hands remained pinned.
"Kelv! Help!" screamed Alex with as much breath as she could muster. The hand slammed back over her mouth, but the damage was done. Kelv had heard her and charged back to the clearing. Three men with swords came out of the bushes and started swinging at Kelv on his horse. The flat side of one of the swords hit the horse's front leg and Kelv was thrown from his horse. He lay on the ground, unmoving. There were a total of four men there. Alex searched for away out.
We help you— She struggled harder, desperately trying to get out of the man's cobra like grip— What you want? a voice asked. Alex froze when she realized the voice had been in her head and not out loud.
What? she thought.
Help. We give help. How help? asked the voice again.
I do not know, do anything! Something! Help Kelv, get this man away from me! screamed Alex in her own mind since her mouth was still covered. She renewed her struggling, but the grip just tightened. Suddenly, roots shot up from the ground and encircled the two men near Kelv. The other man charged at the roots and a branch swooped down and smacked him and he doubled over. The roots tripped the man holding Alex as he backed up, away from his comrades. Alex fell back with the man, but scrambled away. She broke into a dead run. However, the man had already regained his feet and soon caught her by her braid. Alex let out a shrill scream. She fell backwards onto the ground with the force of the pull. Alex lay still on the ground, whimpering. Her scull felt numb with the knives constantly pricking and cutting her scull. The large man picked Alex up and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He carried her back to the clearing. He threw her to the ground and she glared up at him. She listened for the voice again, but it was gone. He reached down and pulled her short sling from her pocket. He took out his knife and sliced the sling cleanly in two. She sat up, reaching for her lost sling, but the man kicked her back down.
"Alex!" Alex looked up to see two men restraining Kelv. "Release her! By the order of the Crown Prince release her!" yelled Kelv at the men.
"Oh ho ho! A prince, eh?" The other men laughed.
"And not just any prince. Crown Prince." The men laughed.
"You don't look like a prince," said the large man who had retrieved Alex.
"I changed so I would be able to escape the palace easily. Now, you will release us now or you will feel the wrath of the king of Kel," Kelv lied smoothly, hoping he sounded braver than he felt.
"Oo," harassed one of the men holding Kelv. "I am so afraid."
"Silence!" yelled the large man. "If you are the Crown Prince, who is this piece of dirt?" asked the large man. Alex lowered her head and her eyes. He dug his foot into Alex's side and she grimaced in pain.
"Stop that!" yelled Kelv, struggling. The other men laughed. "She is a servant of mine. She came into the forest and I was curious to see what she was doing."
"So where are your guards then, oh mighty Crown Prince?" sneered the man holding him into his ear.
Kelv pulled away from the man. "Like I've already said, I wanted to get away," he snapped at the man. Alex was surprised at how well Kelv could lie. He did not sound afraid and Alex could feel courage building inside her. But Kelv had told the men she was his servant, so she kept her eyes lowered, playing the part.
"I cannot release you both. As you well may know, we are thieves, and I believe the Crown Prince will fetch quite a sum as a ransom." Alex stood up and opened her mouth to speak, but the large man interrupted. "Go! Before I change my mind." Alex started longingly at Kelv. She couldn't just leave him.
"Go," he whispered. He gave Alex a reassuring smile, but as she turned her back he felt a lump come up his throat and his stomach twisted with fear. She walked away with her head bowed, but her body poised. As soon as she knew she was out of sight she climbed a tree near by. She eased out her long sling and weighed a stone in her palm. The smoothness of the stone gave her some ease and steadied her shaking hand.
"Come on Alex," whispered Alex to herself. "Do it for Kelv. Come on, you can do it." She aimed and let the rock fly. With a crack, the rock hit its target. One of the four men fell. Unfortunately, it was not one of the men holding Kelv. The large man turned to where his comrade had fallen. Bewildered, he swooped around, looking for what or who had taken the life of the man lying at his feet. Alex covered her mouth with a hand to muffle the gasp that would reveal her location. She had killed a man. She had only meant to stun him, not kill. The large man pulled Kelv by the collar of his shirt close to his face. Kelv held his breath from the noxious gas coming from the large man's mouth.
"If we find that little bitch, there will be no saving her this time," he whispered fiercely. He spun Kelv around and bound his hands. Kelv was thrown to the base of a tree and the large man roughly bound his feet. "Stand guard!" he barked at one of the men. He was tall and skinny with a mat of blond hair. He nodded. "You!" he roared at the remaining man. "You go that way and I will search in this direction. Find the girl and bring her back," he said spinning around. "Alive," he added. As the men walked out of sight, the man standing guard started to pace around the clearing, tense. Alex climbed from tree to tree delicately feeling the branches with her foot to see if they would hold. After some time, Alex was directly behind the tree where Kelv was sitting. Silently she climbed down to a low branch and checked to see if the coast was clear. After hearing no footsteps for some time, she eased herself down into the bushes surrounding the tree. As quietly as she could, she crept up behind Kelv. Quickly, she placed her hand over his mouth. He struggled, but after seeing her, stopped.
"Shh!" whispered Alex in his ear. When he stopped struggling, she removed her hands and worked on his bonds.
"What are you doing?" he hissed through his teeth.
"Saving your life," she whispered back.
"Shut up!" yelled the man standing guard. Alex quickly hid herself behind Kelv and tried to take shallow breaths, but her heart was beating so loud she doubted the breathing would help. "Who are you talking to?" asked the man on guard. Kelv could see his hands were shaking.
"Myself, since you bastards refuse to release me," Kelv snapped at the robber. A smile crept at Alex's face. He was such a good liar, she thought to herself. The man turned and continued to watch for his friends. Alex eased her sling and took a stone from Kelv's belt, setting it in the pouch. Alex took a deep breath, spun around, and let the rock fly at the man pacing. It struck true. The man crumbled forwards to the ground. Alex quickly finished untying Kelv and they bolted away towards the city, not even bothering to stop at the shack. Her lungs screamed for air, but she would live, she just wanted as much distance between her and the men. She pumped her legs until they gave away. But by then they had already run through the city gates and were hidden in an alleyway, panting.
"Come on, let's go." Alex took Kelv's hand and led him through the city. When they reached the palace walls, Kelv stopped her.
"Wait! You're not wearing a dress. You can't just walk in there. We have to go back to the shack and get a dress."
"No." Alex stared at Kelv, and he look away first. "I won't risk getting you caught again. You're the 'Crown Prince' remember? They'll be looking for you. And they won't spare me either. Plus, it'll only take them a few moments to realize you were lying." Kelv sighed, but realized that Alex spoke the truth. They would just have to sneak into the palace through the underground tunnel system. They walked to the palace wall and walked along it until they reached the merchant's door. They slipped in and ran for the kitchen. They went into the flour closet and closed the door. Kelv reached behind one of the sacs and pulled out a candle and flint. He lit the candle and gave it to Alex. She held it aloft while Kelv moved the flour bags. A trap door was revealed and they clambered through it. Alex led the way. They reached the first spiral staircase and then the second. Finally, they reached the trapdoor leading into Alex's room.
"We won't be able to get through. My chest is on top of the door to hide it. We'll have to use another one near by. The hallway perhaps?" Alex whispered.
"Alright. But I'll go first to check if there is anyone there." Alex nodded and they walked to the next door. Alex let Kelv pass and he pushed it open. Alex watched him work, his muscles flexing with the weight of the door. He gently slid the door opened and peeked through.
"Alright let's go." He pushed it completely open and climbed up. Alex waited for him to offer his hand to help her.
"What's the hold up Alex?" he asked peering into the dark.
"Nothing," said Alex, pulling herself up through the hole.
Kelv sighed, annoyed. "Why can't you just say when you're angry? Is this something they teach you? It's confusing."
Alex stopped and turned to face Kelv. "Well, if you must know, usually, a gentleman offers a lady a hand when she is in need of assistance. Such as just a moment ago."
"I am no gentleman. And right now, you're not a lady," he said gesturing to her outfit. Alex opened her mouth to argue, but found she could not. She walked to her room with Kelv right behind her.
"You better change," said Kelv closing the door behind him. He walked over to her chest and pushed it aside. "I'll see you later," he said. Alex walked over to her closet and pulled out an indigo blue silk slip along with stockings, a corset, petticoats and a simple white gown. She tossed them on to her bed and stared at Kelv. He looked at her confused and suddenly caught the hint.
"Oh! Right. Sorry," he said, scrambling into the hole. He pulled the door closed behind him, yelling "Bye!"
"Bye," said Alex smirking. She pushed the chest back over the trap door and walked over to her bed. She slipped all her undergarments on followed by the white gown and the indigo slip. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," called Alex.
"Crown Princess, your father requests an audience with you. Oh, an' you migh' wan' to dress up. You 'ave a visitor as well," said the maid at the door. "Shall I fetch someone to assist you?"
"No. No, but tell me, who is this visitor?" asked Alex as she walked over to her chest.
"I don't know Crown Princess, I warn't told. But I do know he just arrived this mornin'," said the maid.
"Very well," Alex said as she pulled out a yellow dyed gown. She removed the slip and slid the gown over her head. The maid walked up to her and did up the lacings tightly in the back. Alex placed a hand on her ribs, fearing they might burst with another pull. She walked to the mirror and washed her face in the basin. Alex slid her hair up into a bejeweled net and decided against it. She let her hair flow loosely down and placed the circlet around her head instead. She walked out with the maid close behind. When she reached the grand hall the soldier on guard announced her presence.
"Crown Princess Alexia de Lione of Kel!" he bellowed for the entire throne room and grand hall to hear.
"Daughter!" said the king happily. Alex didn't know which was more surprizing, the fact that he was smiling while looking at her or that she had been face to face with death just moments before. "Come come!" he boomed again, "I have someone to introduce to you." Alex stepped forward to her father and saw a figure in the shadow cast by the throne. "I would like you to mean, you new fiancée."