Chapter 2

He saw the riches. The few I had left anyway. His face turned to confusion. Oh my goodness, I thought. He is going to leave, and then where will I be. I need to rest somewhere.

"What are you doing with all of this! Did you steal it or is it yours?" He asked, a mix of excitement and question in his face.

I had a feeling that if I answered steal, he would have been fine. But if I answered in the truth, he would figure out who I was, what with the crown and all. Ah, choices- any way I put it, he would recognize me at one point. Once I was clean, anyway.

"It's mine." I said.

"Then that would mean…" he said.

"Yeah…I am Princess Matilda," I said.

"WHAT. You're kidding. Then that would mean." he said. I saw it on his face. He realized I was the jerk he met two years ago, one of the last subjects to see me before I "left the country". "That can't be true. You're too nice. You saved my life, you couldn't be that scum I met two years ago," he stammered.

"I am not. You changed my life. It was because of you I went into hiding. But it didn't happen the way you think it did," I said. I told him the story.

"Wow."

"Listen, I want to see where you live, I really do. But you can't tell a soul who I am. Not one, not even family. I want them to like or hate me for me, not for Princess Matilda. Do you understand? They will find out in time, I promise. Just don't tell. Okay? I have been desperate for years for someone to like me for me," I said.

He looked like he was toying with the idea. "Fine. But to get across the river, you have to have a stick fight with someone. Can you do that?" Wulf finally said.

"Of course I can. I can take a good-hearted competition. But don't even tell them I am a girl. They will know after the fight. I want this person to really fight. Tell them I don't speak. Okay?" I said.

"Sure"

We were off. He told me where to lead the horse. We went threw the woods tell we came to a river. Silence. Then the people came out. There was screaming everywhere. They all thought I was part of the army. I had not thought of that. Okay, I was going to have to think things through more often, otherwise I'd be dead by morning. Wulf scrambled off of the horse and let out a piercing whistle.

"Stop it! This guy just saved my life. Fought off 9 of the sheriff's soldiers at once. He doesn't speak to anyone but me. He wants to get on our land. You can trust him. But I told him how it works, and he is cool with it. Come out here Connor.

They all looked questioning, but they trusted the boy. Connor came out with two large sticks, and he tossed me one. Connor was the spitting image of Wulf, just older. Wulf had picked his older brother. About my age, slightly taller than me, but still eye level. Shaggy brown hair, and a cool stare.

"Let's hope you don't fight like a girl!" he said. Wulf could hardly keep from laughing. Oh its on, I thought, ready for anything, even in this muck rapid like river. We started to fight. He got me on the head after we had both taken a couple good beatings, and I went under. Everyone laughed then fell silent, thinking I had drowned. I grabbed Connor by the legs and came up for air. He went under. I held him up and he kept yelling he couldn't swim.

"Do you yield?" I said in a scratchy voice.

"Yes, yes, yes!" He yelled.

"Then stand up!" I said again in a weird voice. I took off my helmet. "Now what was it that you said. Something like 'I hope you don't fight like a girl'. I do believe that if I had fought like a man, it wouldn't have worked out so well for me! Don't you?"

Pure shock. Wulf started howling with laughter. "Did you know about this?" Connor asked his brother.

"Yeah. It's true to. She is an awesome fighter and really good with a bow and arrow," he said. I started to laugh along with everyone else at the camp. He just looked dumb founded, but not to upset. We walked to their camp.

"What is your name?" said the leader, whose name was John, the father of Connor and Wulf.

"Melissa. Melissa Gonthrove." I said, hoping my face wouldn't give me away. It was my real name. kinda.

"Well nice to meet you," he said.

A guy about the age of 18 looked at me funny. I wondered why.

"That's Will. He is a little shaken, don't mind him," Connor said, reading my mind. Oh, I thought. That's weird. Oh well… I smiled at Connor.