Author's Notes: Hello everyone sorry it took me so long i have been so busy running around like a loon. i went to dreamworld the other day :) and i have been working. I am not going to reply to reviews tonight, but i will say thank you to everyone who reviewed and i love reading your thoughts. so on with the chapter and dont own any thing so dont sue me.

When Christine awoke, she was alone in a small hut, her hands were tied behind her back and she was lying on a pile of straw, the only thing in the room besides the door and a small window letting some light in. He head was throbbing and it took her a moment to remember what happened.

Riding home, the man jumping out, being pulled off her horse, struggling then blackness.

Christine took a deep breathe to calm herself. Ok Christine first things first, your dagger. Christine sat up and began shifting her self backwards to sit on her hands before shifting further backwards so her hands were under he legs. She untangled herself and reached for her dagger, sending a silent thank you up to the lord when she found it still there.

But before she could bring it out to cut her self loose the door was thrown open and two men entered. One Christine recognised it was the man from the road. The other looked a few years younger and was currently sneering at her.

"Ahh, the lass is awake" The older of the two said

"Let's, finish the job and go collect our money"

"Who hired you" Christine asked coldly. Thinking she already knew the answer "it was my mother, wasn't it"

"Well I don't see the point in lying, yes she did. Paid us handsomely to do it too"

"Great, so you are going to kill me?"

"Your mother wants your money, and she can only get it if you are dead"

"She will be a suspect"

"We are bandits. We will be sure to leave our mark" Christine was suddenly very afraid.

Derek found Phoenix, Christine's horse prancing on the main road with no Christine insight.

There was scuff marks on the road, Christine was in trouble.

Derek then noticed the foot prints leading off in the bush. Slowing gripping his sword Derek began to follow them.

Christine sat there watching the two men. I am going to die… Was all she would think, she wasn't afraid of death, she was afraid of all the things that she would never get to do. Get married, have Children, grow old with the one she loved. Derek…. She would never see him again either. And all she said before she left was "I wont be more than two hours".

There was then a knock at the door then Christine's mother strolled in.

"You" Christine growled, surprised how she didn't sound afraid at all

"Yes, me… I came to see if they had finished the job, and to say goodbye"

Christine snorted "You don't give a damn about me"

"Your right, I am saying goodbye to bad news, a thorn in my side" Her mother smiled a twisted smile, Christine just shook her head

"You're a sad, sad person mother. Just because my father loved me more after you pushed him away-

"You stole him"

"That is a lie and you know it, He left everything to me and that made you sour because he knew you would squander it"

"It is rightfully mine"

"No Mother, it is rightfully mine, it's just too bad that you won't see a penny of it"

"What are you talking about?"

"The will I had made up, on Derek's suggestion, leaving everything to Derek, Mandy and the other servants" Christine hoped her mother wouldn't see through her bluff

"You would take care of servants before your own family"

"Yes mother I would, I guess I did grow up to be like you after all" Christine said venomously "You took my life and my inheritance, and your finally getting what you deserve, nothing" Christine laughed as cruelly as she could "Your penniless and you might still be caught for the murder that you masterminded, truly mother I have to hand it to you, you dug yourself a grave and now your even burying yourself"

Her mother swiftly walked forward and slapped her; Christine fell sideways from the sheer force of it. But she refused to cry out.

Her mother than turned and strolled from the room motioning to her two captors to follow her out, Christine quickly moved and removed the dagger from her boot, swiftly cutting the ropes that bound her.

Standing up she walked over to the door and opening it a crack, the three of them were standing right outside the door having some sort of argument.

"We want our payment now, lady or we shall let her go"

"You will finish the job, and then get your payment"

"After what that lassie told us, we want our money. Or maybe it would be better to ransom the girl and get our money that way"

"You won't get a cent for her, I am her only family"

"But she was on her way back to the palace; maybe there is someone there that will pay to have her back safe and sound"

Christine didn't listen to any more but closed the door quietly and moved over to the window. It was just above her head. She checked it, it opened. She sent another silent thank you to the lord. She opened it up fully and using her hands she pulled herself up and somehow swung her self head first out the window and on the hard ground, jarring her shoulder.

Just as Christine stood up there was a yell from inside, she stood up and bolted in to the forest. She could hear the two men behind her, closing in fast because they had longer legs.

Dodging trees, roots, branches and bushes Christine ran. I have to hide…

Christine saw her opportunity and took it, quickly jumped in to some shrubbery, thankful she had decided to wear green today. She ducked so she was out of sight.

Christine heard the two men still charging after her. Lying still and controlling her breathing she heard the two men, thankfully ran straight past her hiding place.

Christine lay in the shrub for a few more moments more, ignoring the throbbing in her shoulder till the sound of their feet head faded away. As quietly as she could, Christine rose and started back the way she came. She had no idea where she was. So starting back where she began seemed like a good idea, but only if she moved quickly so she was gone before the two men went back.

She had been walked a few minutes, keeping an ear out for any movement when suddenly someone grabbed her from behind. Covering her mouth so she couldn't scream….

Ok one more chapter to go everyone, i will ne loading the next chapter within the next few days if everything goes well.

so please R&R

Emma Riddle