Chapter 4
Since Lord and Lady Crompton left with the carriage, Hugo and I set off on horseback to the palace. There wasn't any carriages left that were available for hire and besides I didn't want Esme or Hugo to bear the expense of paying for it. I had learnt how to ride side-saddle and did so. Hugo was dressed smartly as well so he could accommodate me to the entrance. My heart was pounding as we finally arrived. As predicted no-one showed much interest in us as we made our way into the hall and was announced by the announcer.
The coronation ceremony went smoothly and I felt very proud when prince Nagit stepped up and received the crown. He gave a moving speech and looked every bit like a king. I knew he would be a good king. I stood up with the rest of the crowd and clapped and cheered. I noticed Esmerelda and Princess Odette in the front and my heart ached.
Then everyone filed out to the reception hall. Hugo passed me a mask. It would be a masked event and would help me move around without being recognised by Esmerelda. It quickly got dark and music started playing. People were dancing. I joined the dancing so that I could get closer to Nagit. I wanted to see him one last time before I go. Eventually I got a turn to dance with Nagit. We bowed our heads slightly to each other and started dancing. I didn't say anything as we danced. He seemed bored. My heart was aching very much to see him like this and not being able to talk like we used to. I sighed when the dance came to an end. Women were swarming around Nagit, and then Odette pushed through.
"Sorry ladies, but I'd like a dance with my future husband thank you!" she said in a shrill voice. I looked at Nagit and noticed that he didn't look happy, his eyes and mouth didn't smile behind the mask.
I then accidently stepped on another person's foot as the women were pushing me to make way for Odette.
"Oh, I am terribly sorry!" I quickly apologised. This had interrupted the dance that was about to start and more people were looking to see what happened.
"Carli?" I heard a voice and instinctively looked up, right into Nagit's eyes. He stared back at me in disbelief. At the same time I noticed Esmerelda nodding to someone and knew my life was in danger. I quickly turned and fled. I shouldn't have stayed for the dance... I heard Nagit call out my name again, but kept running. Tears streamed down my face. Goodbye, Nagit. This may be the last time I'll ever see you again...
Just outside the hall Hugo met up with me and we fled through a side entrance to avoid the guards. There was a lot of commotion going on now. Esmerelda had no doubt ordered that I be captured. I heard men shouting and footsteps closing in on us. I stepped into some mud and one of my shoes came off.
"Just leave it!" Hugo said and pulled on my hand. Just as we were about to mount our horses we were confronted by three guards.
"Go Cari!" Hugo ordered as he readied himself to fend them off.
"Hugo! I can't leave without you!" I shouted in reply.
"You have to, just go!" he yelled and slapped my horse hard on the rump. It set off running wildly and charged out the gate. I heard Hugo yell again and the clang of metal on metal in the distance. I was being bounced around on the horse because I had not seated myself properly and focussed on staying on. The dress was hampering my movement significantly. I could not get hold of the reigns without risking falling off. I noticed that I've gone into the woods where Nagit and I sometimes rode, in the opposite direction of the main route that led to my family's estate. Eventually the horse slowed and I managed to grab the reigns. Then I heard more riders coming. I spurred the horse on to go deeper into the woods. It set off on a slow gallop. I looked behind and could see a rider closing in on me. I didn't realise that a low tree branch was coming up ahead and as a looked forward again I got swiped off the horse. I fell hard and lost consciousness.
I woke up in a cell. I had been given basic medical care and had some bandages around my shoulder and arm. My whole body hurt. My mother's dress was torn and had dry mud on it. It made me cry to see it like this. Just then the cell-keeper opened the door to my cell and told me that the king wanted to see me.
