Disclaimer: LoK characters and related material belong to Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Interactive.

To Find My Way Home

Chapter Four

Everything seemed too coincidental. My father, in both worlds, was governor of a town. My mother had died only a few months beforehand. And I even had been dating (or courting in this world) the same man. It was just too bizarre. I began to wonder, if I was here in the place of the Danielle Wesley they all knew, then where was the real Danielle Wesley of this world?

"Milady, the party has started and the guests await your appearance," one of the maids interrupted my train of thought. I had remained in my father's study for somewhere around an hour.

"Thank you. Tell my father I shall be there in a moment."

"Yes, milady."

The maid left. I stood up and let out a frustrated sigh. I wasn't sure how this evening would unfold. I had never been to any formal event other than my senior prom, but the formalities of a room filled with teenagers ends with the fancy dresses and tuxedos. High-class etiquette was something I was a complete stranger to.

Well, it was now or never. It took all my confidence to leave the study. In contrast to the quiet, dimly lit little room, I was faced with the vast ballroom, elaborately decorated, fully illuminated, packed with patrons, voices and classical music filling my ears. I could feel fear rise up within me. I didn't realize how large of an event this would turn out to be.

"Danielle! How wonderful of you to have joined us!" my father noticed my arrival almost immediately. His voice had an overjoyed tone, but I could pick up the trace of sarcasm hidden deep within the words. He wasn't thrilled that I was late.

Instantly, my father escorted me throughout the room as he introduced me to some of his colleagues. Nobles and other high-ranking officials he was associated with. Eventually we came to the head table, where the 'guests of honor' sat. This meant myself and Richard, whom took my hand as he led me to my seat. Unexpectedly, he placed a gentle kiss on my hand as I sat down. As I said before, he was too much like a fairy-tale prince.

The time seemed to drag by. The entire party seemed to be just a bunch of snotty rich men gossiping amongst themselves while listening to the most boring music I had ever heard. The music definitely needed a livelier beat. The musicians changed their tunes with the end of one song and the beginning of a new one.

"Lady Danielle, would you care to dance?" Richard inclined. My eyes widened in sudden horror. Why hadn't I realized this before? I was at a formal party, and I didn't know how to dance! To me, ballroom dancing consisted of slowly moving in circles in a sort of hug embrace.

"Um, I think I'd rather not," I sheepishly declined.

"But milady, you are the most talented dancer in the entire citadel! There is no reason for you to be shy! Show off your talents!"

This was exactly why I wasn't going to dance. "Don't you know vanity is one of the seven deadly sins?"

"Danielle, don't be preposterous! It isn't vain if you've spent years perfecting a certain skill! Is it vain for a blacksmith to bestow a preciously crafted sword to his lord as a gift? Is a farmer vain for demonstrating his perfectly bred and trained steed?"

"I suppose not."

"Then come! Let us celebrate this occasion with a dance around the ballroom floor!"

"I- I can't. I- my legs are sore from the long distance I had to travel on foot," I lied. I was beginning to feel guilty for lying to Richard. He had been nothing but super sweet to me since my arrival. But I knew this wasn't right. I had my Rick back home. And Richard had his true Danielle somewhere. I was certain of it.

"Why did you not say so earlier? I feel like such a fool for trying to pressure you like so. Please, forgive me, my love."

"I- I gotta go." I bolted up out of my seat, leaving Richard totally confused at my behavior. I just couldn't take this any longer. I wasn't going to live this lie any more. I wasn't their Danielle. I am Danni. Not Danielle. I ran out of the ballroom and headed towards my bedroom on the second floor.

Once there, I searched the room for my old clothes, the blue jeans and black tank top I had arrived here wearing. I didn't care how out of place I would look wearing them. At least I would feel comfortable. I struggled to get the skintight dress off of me and I had an even harder time with the garter. But eventually, after a little tearing, the restrictive garments came off.

With my true clothes on, I headed out the back of the mansion and ran down the dark streets. Everything looked so different at nighttime. Nothing looked familiar, but following street signs, I was able to find my way towards the entrance of the citadel, only taking a wrong turn twice. Finally, I reached the gateway.

Unfortunately, there was a guard patrolling the area. I knew for certain that he wouldn't let me leave. Luckily, there was a rock about the size of a cantaloupe nearby. When the guard turned his back, I quietly snuck over to the gate, and picked up the rock. I snuck up behind him, and just as he was about to turn back towards me, I brought the rock down on his head. He slumped to the ground, instantly knocked unconscious.

I ran over to the gate, looking for a way to open it. After a moment, I found a lever and pulled it. Success! The gate slowly slid open from left to right. Impatient, I only waited long enough for the gate to have opened enough for me to fit through before I escaped. However, there was still the matter of the drawbridge to contend with. Three guards were patrolling this obstacle. My previous tactics would not work here.

"Milord! There she is!" a voice from behind me called out. I snapped my head back to see Christopher pointing at me, with Richard by his side and three other knights just behind them. The guards protecting the drawbridge were alerted by Christopher's call and thus noticed my presence.

"Lady Danielle! Why have you come this way at this time of night? Why aren't you attending your party?" one of the guards inquired. I didn't bother answering him. Instead, I bolted down the hallway and ran up the stairs into the second story hallway towards one of the watchtowers. Richard and his men followed suit.

Pure fear filled my being at the thought that they might catch me and keep me locked here forever. They were quickly gaining ground. The poor lighting of the dark night sky turned out to betray me, for I was unable to see the end of the hallway until it was too late. On one side were solid stonewalls. On the other were Richard and his men.

"Lady Danielle, what has gotten into you? You are acting irrationally!" Richard called out to me. Sure, call me irrational. But first let me lock YOU in a cage with little hope of escape and see if YOU don't act irrational.

Richard approached me and I pressed myself up against the cold stone behind me. I could see only one other option than to go willingly into Richard's custody. And that answer was to my right. The open watchtower window, fifty feet above the cold waters of the moat below. I inched my way towards freedom.

Richard must have realized my intentions by now. "Danielle, please don't attempt what I think you wish to attempt. The fall could be fatal!"

I'll just take that chance. Just as Richard got within distance to lunge at me, I leapt out the open window and fell down through the darkness into the murky water below. The impact with the water was somewhat painful and the coldness of the water stung at me like pins and needles. After a moment or two, I surfaced the water, catching my breath. I could tell that the swift current had already begun to pull me downstream, for the watchtower was now some distance from me.

Between the waves, I could make out torches moving in my direction along the second story wall. But no matter. They would not catch up with me. As I drifted down stream, I realized that the moat was actually a river, conveniently placed there by nature. Before I knew it, the citadel walls were in the distance and all I could hear was the current of the water. I allowed myself to drift further downstream.

After some time passed, I noticed the water seemed to grow louder. The current seemed to grow stronger as well. I could not see what lie up ahead until I was about five feet from the source. I had allowed myself to drift towards a waterfall! Unable to fight the current, I found myself being swept over the edge.

It was a long drop, but it didn't seem as high as the drop from the citadel. I plunged into the water below. When I surfaced, the falling water from above pelted my head. The current down here was much calmer, and I was able to pull myself to shore. After coughing up a bit of water, I collapsed onto the ground and passed out shortly thereafter.