Disclaimer: the author doesn't own the characters

No longer a princess

Gwen woke up with only slight headache. The first thing she noticed was she lay on a bed made of down, not straw as she was accustomed to. Looking around her, she picked up only a few hints of light coming through cracks above her. From all the years on the road, she could easily tell the time was day. As her eyes adjusted to the little light, she noticed the room she was in was small and held many other objects, pots and pans, some bags of flour, and so forth. She was only being in the room. Finally her eyes turned back to the lights in the ceiling, at least what she thought was the ceiling. When she realized what was above her was actually a heavy cloth, the entire room bounced causing to pots to clang.

Suddenly, the present came to her. She was in a wagon riding on a very smooth road. Gwen sighed and laid back down. The past came back to her in a swarm. She recalled the boy and the party. She wondered what was happening. What happened doesn't matter. All that matters is that I get back. What about the Dark Riders? They wouldn't just leave me here in the back unguarded. Would they? Well I'm going to try to leave. They may have thought they know all about me and Father, but they're wrong.

She stood up slowly and walked slowly to the end of the carriage. Well, she tried to walk. Now I know why they didn't leave a guard with me. I can't get anywhere with these chains around my ankles. Stumped about this new, and very unwelcome, turn, she sat on one of the barrels. After bouncing on more rocks, Gwen became more and more angry at herself and her situation. She kicked her chains making a loud noise. The entire carriage halted to a stop. Gwen's muscles tensed. Some low muttering was held from the front. She shielded her eyes as someone opened the back curtain.

"Well, it was time to stop anyways." The person called to her much too happily.

"You again." She replied narrowing her eyes when they became used to the light.

"Yes, it's me. Come on out. You've been asleep for... how long was it? Oh yes, about 2 days now. That sleeping potion was very effective, maybe a bit too much. Anyways, it's nearly noon." He cheerfully ushered her out as he undid her chains. Outside she noticed the road was narrow but very even. Surrounding the thin road were so many trees she couldn't see the end of the large wood. After she fully absorbed her surroundings, she noticed that the boy stood too close to her. Quickly, she backed away, right into someone else. This someone else was still robed in black and looked at her with menacing eyes.

"What do you want with me?" she asked ready to run.

"That you will find in time. Also, you are now in the outskirts of Ireland. You don't know these forests. Don't try to run. Besides, one can never tell what lurks in the dark woods of this land." the boy said as he brought some food. She accepted what was handed to her and ate the dry bread in silence, listening to the others talking quietly in a language she didn't understand. Finally they returned to the wagon. Over the next day, she spoke to the boy, though he rarely answered her questions directly. She was able to learn his name was Miguel. He was raised in Spain, though he was English by birth. He never told her why she was taken, only that she and her father had been watched from a long time now. He didn't say much about his own life or the Dark Riders.

The night of next day, they reached a small town. Miguel took her through some dark lanes and eventually to a dark house. She tried to run, but the rope around her wrists and neck were very affective. She was roughly handed over to another robed man, this one in dark blue. With a short farewell and a bright smile, Miguel left.

She was handed from person to person like this for the next few weeks. Each "owner" was less gentle than the last one. Soon she found herself wishing she could see Miguel again. After 4 people, she was brought to Spain. Finally, her last "master" undid her blindfold and pushed her into a room. Unlike her last few rooms, one being the bottom of a boat, this room was very bright, complete with warm bath ready for her. She sighed as she stepped into the warm waters. Though none of the robed ones had hurt her, none of them talked to her. They brought her only enough food and left her alone the rest of the time. None of my questions have been answered. Okay fine. Two of my questions has been. My question about why I've been handed from person to person has been. But that answer is easy- To keep people from tracking me. Also, that guy was able to tell me I'm in Spain. Which isn't good at all. Father will never find me. Her thoughts drifted off and snapped about when the doors opened. A girl, about half Gwen's age, entered.

"Hello. I'm Sofia." the small brunette said as she curtsied. Sofia brought some oils and helped Gwen wash up.

"I didn't expect anyone here to speak English." Gwen stated as she climbed into the bed.

"I'm your lady-in-waiting. But you will need to learn Spanish my lady." Sofia said.

"Lady-in-waiting?" Gwen asked puzzled.

"Yes. Every queen needs one. The king will go crazy if his wife doesn't have a lady-in-waiting." the pre-teen answered giggling. Slowly, Sofia gave Gwen the answers she wanted. So... They want me to be their queen. Queen of the Dark Riders. They must be crazy. Why would they want me? I don't know any of their customs. True, Father taught me well, but they must have another girl to do the job.

"Anyways, the Dark Riders aren't as bad as you think. I grew up in this place. It's just like any life..." Sofia kept going on. At long last Sofia left and Gwen went to bed. According to Sofia, and all she said, the Dark Riders are just like the Merry Men. Still, I need to leave soon. I can't live here, not as a wife to some insane king. And with that last thought, she fell asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Um.............. well that was a long time. sorry I didn't post. Hope you like it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! please review! the button is right there!!!!!!!!!!