Next chapter! Woo hoo! Sorry it took so long... I blame school.
Disclaimer: Don't own a stinkin THANG. Setting and most characters belong to the amazing Sherwood Smith. Other characters belong to my sister. Me... well, I own... um... I'll get back to ya on that... maybe I'll think up some character that can be all mine... probably not in this chapter though...
It was with the utmost delight that I leaned back against the trunk of the tall evergreen tree. The bark felt cool against my skin and the grass was soft, a nice change from the warm court cushions. Reaching inside my bag, I withdrew a thick book, a tale I'd nicked from the library earlier that morning. Settling in, I sighed happily as I opened the cover; it had been far too long since that last time I'd stole out of Athanarel to read in the forest.
However, no sooner had I finished the first page, when I heard footsteps in the distance. The steady crunch, crunch, crunch, of boots on the stick and dirt strewn paths I knew were nearby had me up and packed almost at once. I could hear the footsteps coming towards me, at an easy, relaxed pace. Therefore, it was safe to assume that this was not someone coming to look for an errant princess.
Two ideas came to mind; one, was that I could run off, retreating to Athanarel before anyone could suspect I'd been gone. The other was to climb a tree, and see who came. The latter seemed so much more interesting, and it really had been some time since I'd been able to sneak off for some time with nature. Party plans had almost consumed all the time that I wasn't sitting in at Court or receiving my schooling.
So, I stowed my little basket amongst the foliage of a large bush, and scrambled up the branches of my evergreen. I was all sticky with sap by the time I'd climbed up high enough, but that really didn't matter. I was wearing an old work-dress that I'd practically outgrown anyways. Peering through a gap in the branches, I watched, and waited.
For a few minutes, there was nothing, and I began to think that perhaps whoever had been coming had turned around. Impatience setting in, I climbed back down the trunk, being careful to keep my footing on the descent. When I was still several feet up, I grabbed onto a branch in the wrong spot, getting cut across my palm by a piece of jagged bark. My grip on the tree lessened, and I fell the rest of the distance, to land flat on my back in the brush beneath the tree.
All my breath rushed out in a big "whoosh!" I spluttered and choked for a moment before I caught my breath again, and was able to rise back to my feet. It was when I was wiping the dirt from my dress that I heard the voice.
"Who's there?" It was a young voice, from someone who couldn't have been much older than myself. And most definitely male. I stood, frozen in place, as the person approached, and entered my clearing.
He was tall, with waving dark hair and pure blue eyes. He had a strong build, and rich traveling clothes that denoted high stature, probably the son of a visiting duke or count. I watched his eyes go quickly up and down me, no doubt taking me for some sort of country peasant... not that I could blame him, for I must have looked the part!
He opened his mouth to speak to me, but at that moment, I was struck with a rather mischievous urge. I locked eyes with him, my gray with his blue, and gave a slow, deliberate wink. Then I ran.
I'll tell you know, I know the land surrounding Remalna-City better then most people who live out here do. I've been having my little excursions into it since I could walk –before, even, when mother used to carry me around on walks- and I know it as well as I know my own palace. Every path, every tree, every root, rock and hill is embedded in my mind, which is a rather useful thing when you're running through an area, especially a forest. I could hear the fellow behind me stumble every so often as he gave chase, and I couldn't suppress a slight laugh. Despite the fact that I was one, I loved giving noble-born a hard time. Something about it... it had always fascinated me and my cousin, Amiri. The two of us were closer than close, and whenever she'd visit me at Athanarel, or I her at her home in Tlanth, we would spend our days pulling jokes and gags. It was more fun in Remalna-City though, for there were more of the stuffy upper-class to poke fun at here. But Tlanth had its own appeal, one less centered on fun, and more around nature. Mother's always telling me that I must have inherited her love for the mountainous terrain, and a fascination and respect for the Hill Folk that inhibit Tlanth's woods. But now I'm getting off track.
I ran through the woods, and the stranger followed, showing some skill or another at the fact that he had yet to take a serious fall. I smiled as I reached my destination at last.
To appearances, it looked as if I had come to the edge of a huge cliff, but I knew it was not so. I had actually arrived at a piece of land that dropped ten or so feet down onto a ledge, then after the ledge, rolled gradually down into a valley. The ledge happened to turn into a sort of round-about path to Remalna-City, and it was the way I usually came into the forest. It was also where I had left my horse, waiting on the path below. Of course, the stranger did not know any of that. Unless he was familiar with the area –and I doubted he was- it would look like I was standing a mere couple steps from the edge of a deep cliff. This was a spot where Amiri and I had scared several people near to the death, with the same gag I was about to pull once again on the boy.
I waited for him for only a few moments before he caught up. I wiped my face clear of any emotion as he inclined his head slightly, catching his breath, then returned his attentions to me.
"Really, miss, what was all that about?" His voice sounded tired, more so than his manner let on. I didn't answer, only blinked several times, and took a step backwards. Then another, followed by another. I was only two steps away from the edge now.
"Miss, be careful! There's a cliff, right behind you!" He took a step forward, as I took one backwards. I was at the edge now. We both froze, and I looked very carefully at him, still keeping my face blank as a board. Then I winked again, allowing a corner of my mouth to curl in a smile. And then I jumped.
My horse had experienced this prank time and time again, so she was not even close to being startled when I landed hard on her. The boy, however, was a different story. He yelled out, and I heard his footsteps running to the edge, but by the time he got there, I had already kicked my horse to motion, and we were galloping down the wide ledge, a wide smile etched across my face.
I couldn't wait for Amiri and my aunt and uncle to arrive from Tlanth, as they were expected to tonight. Amiri would be so proud of how well I'd performed the joke!
Woot woot! There is was, four pages!!! Ta da!!! Hope u liked it.. next chapter- Amiri's arrival! Hehe, that should be a fun one to write. ;-D
Anyways, hoped you liked it, and that you will review! Reviews make my world go round! So spin me, will ya?
*Nikki* (aka, Jesse'sQuerida)