Rebekah stood still for a moment once the passage door had closed behind her. It was one thing to say she wanted freedom and to come and go as she pleased and to visit the village like an ordinary girl, but to actually do it...
She took a deep breath and stepped away from the wall. She half-expected to hear the panicked shouts of her guards, but instead there was silence. A huge smile broke out onto her face as she scrambled through the hedge dividing the castle wall from the village lane.
As she stepped onto the lane that would lead directly to the village, she paused. If she turned right, her steps would take her into the village. If she turned left, she would head into the woods.
She gazed wistfully towards the forest and for a moment, was temped to pursue her adventures in there. But although she was a princess, and a very sheltered one at that, she wasn't a complete fool. She had to be back in time for the ball tonight and if she got lost in the woods, or couldn't find -
Never mind, she thought. Now that she had found the secret passage, there would be other opportunities to head into the woods. For today, she would explore the village.
She turned to the right and headed down the lane, eager to explore the village she had lived in her entire life, but had never seen outside of a royal entourage.
The sun shone brightly and there wasn't a cloud in the sky as the princess made her way to the village. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw a group of dwarves coming towards her down the lane, carrying shovels and pick-axes. They smiled politely and called out, "Good morning."
She smiled timidly as they passed and her own greeting was little more than a whisper. One of them winked outrageously at her as he passed, causing her to go into a fit of giggles.
As her confidence grew, she smiled more freely and called out a polite "good morning" to one or two who passed her, including including a girl who could be her twin, wearing a gorgeous red cloak. Rebekah immediately decided she would order a red cloak of her own once she returned to the castle.
As the village came into sight, she realized that the lane was becoming more crowded with men and women on their way to the village shops.
Rebekah stood in wonder for a moment, drinking in the sight. Small children were playing the in village square, running around the fountain. She had never been this close to real people before - her eye was drawn to a group of giggling girls her own age as they converged on the dressmaker's shop and went inside. Rebekah heard snippets of their conversation; they were excited about tonight's ball and getting ready with last minute alterations, or to buy a bit of ribbon or lace to make their gown perfect for the evening.
Sigh - the ball, she thought. How all the girls in the village were looking forward to it. Normally she would too - she loved a good party. But she was dreading the tonight's ball. Her father had determined that she was old enough to get married and had proceeded to make arrangements to find her the most worthy royal suitor in all the realm. He intended to announce her betrothal tonight.
He never once asked his daughter her feelings on the matter.
