Thanks for my reviews. I appreciate it and I will try to continue.

Don't own Princess Bride book or movie. Wish I did (I could use the money).

(Excuse any mistakes)

Chapter 4

Next day, back at the castle….

"Let me out!" I scream but it was no use. I had been doing that for the past six days and it had gotten me nowhere. I was still locked up in my own room, secured by guards day and night. "Let me out!"

"Would you stop screaming?" one of the guards called back through the closed door.

"Oh, is this bothering you? Here's an idea! How about you let me out and I'll stop screaming."

"Sorry princess, Humperdinks orders."

"Fine then." And I continued to scream but after a while it didn't seem to bother them any more so I stopped.

This was the eve of my wedding. Usually a bride would be more excited, more thrilled. And here I was trapped in my own room trying not to cry with no success.

"Miss, it's me. Nettie. Can I come in?"

"Sure since I can't come out." The guards had been letting Nettie in for the past six days even though they weren't suppose to.

Nettie came in with the same expression she had had for the six days. Her face read "I have no idea on how to get you out of this." I was starting to hate that expression.

"How are you holding up?" she asked with great sincerity.

"How would you be holding if you were about to marry the most despised man of all Florin?"

"I couldn't possibly imagine. I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry? You have nothing to be sorry about. You didn't leave me here and then run off on my white horses."

"You have got to forgive your sister for what she did."

"I'm not sure I want to."

"You must and who knows maybe she is on her way back right now."

Maybe. I hope she is. "But even if she was on her way it would be too late. I've been instructed that the wedding would take place in the morning to minimize disruptions."

"I see." Nettie says losing hope along with me.

"I guess I'll have to except the inevitable. I just have to be Queen Blossom, wife to King Humperdink. Is it just me or does that same sound awful."

Nettie didn't have the heart to tell me the truth, but it was written all over her face once again. "You know," she whispers, "You never told me what Benjy said."

"Benjy, believe it or not, was a huge help. I know where Buttercup is headed. She is going to Jatonia and she is supposed to be there in just a few days. I already figured that all I have to do is flee to Devons and take a ship to Jatonia. It was a rather simple plan."

"Then why aren't you following it through?"

"I could. If there was a way to get past those guards." I whisper in an even lower tone. I didn't want them to hear me.

"Maybe there is a way." Nettie suggests, "I've been thinking for a while and I think I found a way you could escape. It's a little crazy though."

"Who cares if it's crazy? How would I escape?" I question. She was building up my hope.

"Tonight." She says lowering her voice in the softest whisper. "Just be packed and ready to go."

"But how?" I repeat again. I hate it when Nettie does this. Her mind swiftly moves ahead and she leaves me in the dust.

Nettie whispers the plan in my ear.

"How will that work?"

"It'll work. Trust me." Nettie says. She sounded completely sure of herself. I wasn't confident at all. It seemed too simple to work. But who was I to complain? I had no plan and I would take whatever I could get.

"Just be ready." Nettie repeats.

"Alright."

Nettie leaves my side on the bed and heads for the door, but before she goes she turns to me and gives me a sweet smile. "No worries. Okay?"

I nod and she out the door.

No worries? Yeah, right. How am I not to worry?

Much later that night…

Knock, knock, knock!

I open the door and it's Nettie, the two guards that are posted at my door, and a familiar young man. They tug along something tall covered with a green blanket on a rolling crate.

"May we come in Princess Blossom?" one of the guards asks.

I move out of the way as they pull the crate in.

"We hate to disturb you Princess," the second guard says, "But this was at the request of the Prince. He wanted to bring you your wedding dress for one more fitting before the big day tomorrow."

I roll my eyes. "Oh alright." I say, "Leave me with my maid servant and I'll try it on."

The guards leave and the familiar man leaves as well before I can question where I have seen him before.

Nettie removes the green trapping blanket from the crate revealing the most hideous thing I have ever seen. My wedding dress. My wedding dress on a tall mannequin.

"I can't believe I came this close to getting married in that ugly dress to that grotesque man." I comment touching the rough material.

"Well you're not completely safe just yet. First, we have to sneak you out." Nettie remarks. She looks at the dress along with me.

"I think what makes it worse is that it's a faint green color."

"It's Prince Humperdink's favorite color." Nettie explains.

"I know that, but it's no color for a wedding dress. At least Buttercup got white."

"Would you stop worrying about that and worry about the situation at hand?"

"It would have made me look fat too." I mention.

The dress was very slender and tight at the top, but at my hips it flared out. It looked like a dome or a bell that rings from the church's tower. And to make it worse the dress was completely stiff at that.

"My mother, God rest her soul, would turn in her grave if I had to walk down the aisle looking like this."

"She won't if you hurry." Nettie says roughly. I can hear a little frustration in her voice. Here she was saving me, something that could easily get her in trouble with the Humperdink, and I wasn't helping out at all.

"I'm sorry Nettie. I'm ready."

"Are you sure? You can never come back you know."

"I'm positive. I never unpacked from the first time I tried to escape."

"Perfect. I think we are ready to go."

I nod.

"Let's go."

"Oh, wait Nettie."

"What is it?"

"I was just curious. Who was that young man? The one that helped with the crate just now."

"Already thinking other fellows? You haven't even escaped from Humperdink yet." Nettie says, half jokingly.

"No, it's not like that. I just… I think I have seen him somewhere before."

"His name is Gabriel. I don't you've seen him before. He's a well-known Shepard. He's going to help us out of this mess."

"He was willing to help me? I don't even know him."

"He's a family friend of mine. He was willing to help. Now no more questions. Let's just go before the guards get suspect something."

I follow through with the plan. I climb under the bell-shaped wedding dress, completely hiding my little bag and myself. Nettie covers the dress with the blanket and opens the door.

"Gabriel, could you help me with this?" I hear her voice say.

I feel the crate being tugged away slowly. I hear a click and a slam. I assume Nettie must have locked and shut the door to my bedroom.

"Is everything alright?" one of the guards asked.

"What took so long?" asked the other.

"Everything is alright. The gown fits like a glove. I was just helping her to bed. Tomorrow is her wedding day. She needs a lot of rest."

The stupid guards whisper, "Oh."

"So if I were you I'd be quiet. You wouldn't want to wake her up. You know how hostile brides can be before the wedding day."

"Ain't that the truth." one of the guards said, "My wife near killed everybody before our wedding day."

"Then you know I speak the truth." Nettie says. "Don't disturb her. Good night."

I feel myself being wheeled away.

"Do you need any help?" one of the guards asks.

"No we got it. Just remain quiet."

I can feel myself being wheeled away as fast as possible.

"Are you alright, Princess?" I hear a male voice whisper. It must have been Gabriel.

"I'm perfect thanks to you two." I whisper back.

"Don't you worry. We'll get you out of here in no time."

I try my best to relax. It isn't long before I am wheeled to a deserted wing of the palace, Buttercup's old wing to be specific. We duck into a room where I change my clothes. I was to be disguised as a maid. With a scarf covering my hair and my head down, I was ready to go.

Gabriel went ahead of us. He met us outside with his cart and horse. I was hidden in the cart, covered with a blanket. Gabriel and Nettie sat up front. The road was bumpy and the cart rocked from side to side. Even though I was cramped in an awkward position under the blanket I couldn't help but take one last peek at the old palace. A place I was determined never to see again.

Everything was going rather smoothly until a clap of the thunder rang in our ears and lightning flashed as a warning to us all. It started to pour down on us hard.

"Gabriel!" I hear Nettie shout over the rain and thunder, "You took the wrong road! I told you to take the left one. We need to get to the Twisted Gallows! Tonight!"

"Are you crazy!" Gabriel insists, "With all this rain! You'll both catch your death by tomorrow morning!"

"Then where are you taking us!" She demanded.

"To my place. It'll be safer there."

"You can't!" I scream from under the blanket, unsure if they could hear me. "This would put you in danger also! We couldn't do that to you!"

"I promised Nettie's mother I would look after her! I keep my promises! Don't worry about me! Humperdink would have to think twice before messing with me!"

I didn't like the change of plans but I admired Gabriel self-confidence. In the end neither Nettie nor I had any say so in this matter. This was Gabriel's cart and he was the driver. So we would go where we were told.

The rain showed no mercy. It continued to hit us like small pebbles. And finally I feel the buggy coming to a stop.

"Are you alright?" Gabriel calls.

I know that he is talking to me, but I can't answer. My teeth were violently chattering together and I couldn't make them stop.

"Princess?" he calls again.

I still can't answer.

The blanket is violently ripped from over me. I uncurl out of my little ball.

"Are you okay?" Nettie asks.

I nod a little, but I don't think they caught it.

Gabriel lifts me out of the cart. "You're okay now. The palace is some miles away and first thing in the morning, I'll take you to the Twisted Gallows if you wish."

I try to walk but my legs collapse. I had been in the ball position for hours and my legs were weary.

"Blossom!" Nettie shouts as I crash to the ground in a mud puddle.

Gabriel picks me up and carries me in his arms. "It's alright. I got her. Nettie get her bag and follow me."

As Gabriel carries me to a little cottage I look up at him. I notice his features. Nettie was mistaken; I had to have seen him before from somewhere.

We enter the cottage and there are a few candles lit.

"Ma!" Gabriel calls, "We made it!"

A woman comes running down the stairs at full speed. Worry and fright was plastered all over her face.

"Oh, I'm so glad! I was praying that you would make it through the storm. Are you alright Gab?"

"Yes, Ma."

"And you Nettie dear? Your mother must be worried sick."

"I'm fine ma'am."

The woman takes a look at me in Gabriel's arms.

"And you Princess. How are you?"

I still can't answer.

Gabriel replies for me. "I think she's a bit under the weather."

"Oh dear!" the woman doesn't waste any time. "Nettie, be a angel and bring me some pillows and blankets."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Son! Son, come quick! We have a situation here!"

At first I couldn't understand why she was yelling. Her son was in front of her. But when I hear foot steps coming from up stairs I figure she must have another son.

The young man comes down the stairs in a hurry. "Yes, mother. What's wrong?" He stops when he sees me.

"Princess Blossom." Gabriel says, making proper introductions, "This is my younger brother, Michael."

I look into Michael's green eyes and now it all makes since. He worked at the palace and I met at Benjy's place. Why didn't see it before? They looked so much alike.

Michael comes closer and gives me a charming smile. "Princess, it's good to see you again."