Chapter twenty one:
There where now only a few days left before King Jason came to Darling's home and she was terrified that if her brothers didn't come to rescue her soon then she would have to spend time with King Jason. The mere thought of him being anywhere near her and being able to touch her made Darling's skin crawl and nausea sweep over her.
With her mind so full of fear about King Jason's visit, it was unsurprising that Darling was unable to sleep on this night. So Darling sat staring out of her window without seeing the view, she was in fact so lost in thought that she didn't notice the door to her room quietly open and her brothers slip into her room.
When Dexter placed a hand onto his twin's shoulder, she gasped, gave a start of surprise and quickly turned to face him. "Dexter…" Darling said in a shocked whisper, even as her eyes took in his sensible travel clothes and her mind realised this had to be the rescue that she had been hoping for.
"Hey little sis. Daring and I are here to get you out of here." Dexter told her with a gentle smile.
Joy filled Darling's eyes, she got to her feet, she hugged her twin and then her older brother. "Thank you! I am so glad you both came to get me out of here."
"When we heard what our parent's where planning we couldn't stand by and do nothing." Dexter told her in a very serious voice which was edged with the concern he had felt for Darling.
"We don't have much time let's go." Daring said in an urgent voice, as he moved quickly across the room to the door and checked the corridor outside.
With a nod of understanding for Daring Darling quickly pulled the back pack out of its hiding place before explaining to her brothers who were regarding her with wide eyes and shocked expressions on their faces. "I'd made an escape bag just in case I got the chance to run away. There is no way I am ever marrying King Jason."
"I can't say I blame you for that…King Jason doesn't have the best of reputations." Daring said diplomatically, blushing slightly as he thought about the various horrible rumours, he had heard about King Jason over the years.
"Come on we ned to go!" Dexter said to them in a soft urgent voice.
As they stepped out into the hallway Darling recognised Anne one of the castle maids who had become her friend over the year standing in the hallway outside her room keeping watch for her brothers. She smiled at the sigh of Darling, then wordlessly gestured them away down the hallway away from Darling's room and towards the servant's quarters.
Quickly but quietly the siblings made their way through the castle towards the servant's quarters, their hearts where beating heard they were all terrified that their parents would catch them before they could escape the castle. The siblings all let out sighs of relief when they made it to the servants quarters they were met there by Helen one of the kitchen maids. Hastily Helen guided them through this part of the castle to the backdoor of the castle, she handed them each a bag of food, then Helen let them out of the servants door and said softly to the siblings. "Good luck to you all."
"Thank you." Darling told her gratefully before heading for the stables with her brothers.
They got their horses ready, before using one of the side gates out of the castle, the siblings where careful to make sure the gate was secured behind them so that no one would guess which gate they had left from and therefore give their parents a clue as to which way they had gone.
Together with Darling leading the way towards the boarder of their kingdom they set off into the darkness of the forest which grew on that side of the castle. Dexter and Daring where both hoping they would be able to make it to the neighbouring kingdom before their parent's caught up to them.
The three siblings travelled for most of the night, eventually though they had to stop to rest the horses and themselves. Dexter, Daring and Darling made sure that they made a camp which would be well hidden from anyone who might be searching for them. This was to be the way that the three siblings would make each of their camps during the rest of their journey.
Knowing the last thing they needed to do was give their mother and father any clues to the where they were going the siblings where carefully to avoid going into any of the settlements on their way and instead they foraged from the forest and caught their own game or fish. They also made sure to travel at night when there was less chance of them being spotted by anyone who happened to be in the forest.
On their third day on the road Darling addressed her brothers. "I want to cut my hair and change into more masculine looking clothing."
Dexter to be honest was not to surprised by his sisters words, if they were seen looking like three princes traveling together wouldn't raise much comment in a land of fairy tales and it would also help to confuse those their parents would send after them. "I think that is a wise idea."
Daring looked at him with wide eyed shock. "Dexter how can you encourage her!"
Dexter quickly addressed Daring in a sensible voice. "Think about it Daring, if we look like three princes no one will look further than that, they will all think we are brother's out looking for our princesses. It's going to be easier for Darling to move around and a girl hiding in a man's guise is something that happens in fairy tales on and off which should help our cause."
Sure enough when Daring took the time to think about this idea he could also see how Darling looking like a prince would be advantageous to them. "Your right it is a good idea. I can cut your hair with my sword it will be a little untidy but if you tie it back it shouldn't notice so much."
"I brought some clothes with me which should make me look more male." Darling told them lifting up her back pack.
Daring gestured her over, once Darling was sat in front of him, he carefully cut off her hair and then tied it back with a piece of leather. "There your done. One question what are we going to call you?"
"Good question…It has to start with a D like both of you or I would be out of place with you both." Darling said thoughtfully.
After a moments thought Dexter spoke up. "What about Dauntless?"
Darling contemplated the name her twin had suggested, it felt right to her and so Darling gave him a nod of approval. "I like it."
"Dauntless…Yes that suites you." Daring said in agreement as he smiled at her.
"I'll go get changed." Darling said walking off into the forest.
When she returned to the clearing a short while later Darling now wore simple navy blue trousers, with a matching jacket, under this was a white shirt. She looked now like a young prince, Darling also looked enough like her brother's that no one would think that this was a she rather than a he.
Daring gave her a nod. "Yeah looks good, you look like a younger prince and that would explain why we are all traveling together, we want to make sure we keep each other safe until we find our fairy tales"
"Agreed." Dexter said with a smile for his sister.
Darling smiled back at them. "I am glad you both think I will pass as a prince."
Daring spoke to Darling again. "As we ride Dexter and I shall teach you how to behave more like a prince to."
"I think that would be a good idea." Darling said in agreement, before adding. "It's no good my looking like a prince if I can't act like one too."
So it was that as they rode along Dexter and Daring took time to give her all the information they could and showed Darling how to behave in a more male way.
They had been on the road for a week when Daring came hurrying into their camp and said to the other's in a voice full of worry. "I've seen some of the royal trackers not far from here, which means that it will take them long to find us. We need to split up, it will hopefully give Darling enough time to make it to the boarder, we aren't that far away from it now after all."
Dexter and Darling nodded with agreement to his words. Together the three of them quickly broke up their camp, quickly the siblings shared a hug and Dexter addressed his twin. "Hopefully we will see you soon. I am sure I speak for both myself and Daring when I tell you that whatever happens to us, we want you to know that what ever price we pay will be worth it for you to be free. Never doubt we love you and we will be happy for you."
Daring gave a confirming nod. These words made Darling more grateful then she could say and at the same time extremely sad. "I love you both and be safe" Darling said softly, not knowing when she might see her brothers again Darling hugged them again before mounting her horse and riding away. Darling wished that she could tell her brothers about the story she was involved with, but Darling hadn't wanted to burden them with what she was yet to face.
Darling urged Sir Gallopad through the forest, she could hear horses following her, which made her feel as though her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. Darling knew she couldn't get caught by them now, after all she was so very close to her goal and she also knew that if those perusing her where to catch her then her parents would make sure that she never had another chance to escape until she was safely married to someone they approved of.
As the foliage started to press closer to her Darling had to dismount from Sir Gallopad, she looked up at faithful mount Darling was going to miss him, but she knew that for now at least she had to lose him. "Good bye boy, hopefully I'll see you soon. I need you to go away from here as fast as you can and distract those who are chasing me."
Sir Gallopad neighed in understanding, he dashed off into the forest, while Darling made her way into the undergrowth. Everything around Darling grew darker and closer, panic closed in on her and before she could stop herself Darling was blindly dashing forwards searching for light. As she ran branches hit Darling's face, thorns tore at her clothes, but she paid them no heed and continued to run searching for a way out.
Darkness seemed to be closing in on every side and Darling was convinced she could still hear those her pursuers making her terror increase to a whole knew level. Darling's breath was coming in short sharp ragged gasps now, she hunted the shadows for the way out, but could see none, desperation grasped her and Darling looked again hoping against hope that this time there would be a way out.
Then there it was a small slither of light, not even stopping to think twice about it suddenly be there Darling ran towards that tiny bit of light. She shoved the vegetation to one side, Darling stumbled out into the light and she saw a woman before her. The lady was dressed in a long silver dress, and as she looked up into her face which bore an expression of surprise and horror part of her realised this was Raven. Sudden exhaustion fell down on Darling like a wave crashing on the shore, she only just about managed to say to Raven. "Please help me." Then her body was falling down and darkness was sweeping her consciousness away from her.
Raven rushed forwards as Darling started to fall downwards, she managed to catch hold of her before Darling hit the grass. The weight and momentum of Darling's fall meant that Raven ended up on her knees with Darling pressed against her chest. Raven looked down at Darling in her arms, it was just like the dream she had experienced, it wasn't exactly the same, but then dreams and reality didn't always match up completely. Quickly Raven shoved these thoughts to one side, there was something far more important to focus on than this and this was Darling.
Her poor true love was covered in scratches and bruises, her clothes where cut and torn, her beautiful main of white hair was gone replaced with a short ragged hair. Raven could feel sadness building inside her, seeing Darling in this state she wanted to weep, Raven however knew this wouldn't do Darling any good, so she held back her tears and spoke to Cerise. "Would you mind carrying him inside?"
"No of course not." Cerise assured her, she carefully lifted Darling up, Cerise carried her inside while Raven and the other three ladies followed closely behind her.