Chapter 2 – The Escape
The King heard footsteps hastily approaching. The footsteps stopped abruptly, just short of the large oak doors outside his Chambers. There was a moment of hesitation before the King heard a sharp knock. "Come in," the King commanded.
The Captain walked in carrying his helmet under his left arm. The Captain's face was downtrodden as he bowed his head out of respect for his Monarch. The King had seen this expression on the Captain's face before.
The men had a long and complex history. The Captain had joined the Royal Guard as an eager 18-year-old with a strong sense of duty. He admired the young Sovereign and had always felt immense loyalty to the Crown. The Captain started out as an officer and quickly moved up the ranks. He was not a learned man but he worked hard and felt pride and purpose in his vocation. But now, two decades later, the Captain was tired and had become disillusioned.
The Captain could pinpoint the moment it all had crumbled. He was only a corporal at the time but he had been patrolling the perimeter of the castle. He had just walked past the King's balcony when tragedy struck, when he failed to prevent this catastrophe.
That was the night it all changed. That was the night the Captain disappointed his King and misfortune befell the Kingdom. It was the night the Captain began to toil under this heavy burden. It was the night she became The Lost Princess.
The King did not blame his men. He placed the fault squarely on his own broad shoulders. But the King was grief-stricken and grew distant. The relationship with his men suffered. The relationship between the King and his Captain was never the same.
And so, once again the Captain found himself failing his Monarch. It was with a heavy heart that the Captain made the announcement: "Your Majesty, he has escaped."
The King's face betrayed no emotion but he abruptly dismissed the Captain. The King needed a moment in private to collect his thoughts, to process this information. The Captain bowed and immediately retreated from the King's presence.
There were 394 inmates in the Royal Prison but the King knew who the Captain spoke of. No doubt, like the crime, the escape must have been brazen. Still, the King felt conflicted.
The King was a benevolent ruler. During the 22 years of his reign, the Kingdom had witnessed few executions. Condemning a man to his death was not something the King took lightly. Yet, he had signed the Thief's death warrant without hesitation in a moment of great indignation. The King now reflected upon his actions and carefully assessed the sad situation. The Crown had been restored but its proprietor still remained missing.
The King let out a heavy sigh, "Oh well. Perhaps it is all for the best." Condemning the Thief to his death, would not have returned his Lost Princess.
AN 1: Initially, I intended this story to be standalone chapter. I wanted to explore the parallel between Flynn and Gothel's crimes. In a way, they were both thieves who stole something from the King. The result was the preceding chapter. After I wrote it, I realized there was not much there by way of analysis or much of a story. It felt like an introduction instead of a drabble so I've decided to add a second chapter.
James Birdsong, Susan Friedman, Jane McAvoy - thank you for leaving a review for Chapter 1. I hope you will continue to follow the story now that it has been extended.
AN 2: I may write one more chapter but I'll have to sketch it out first before I know for certain.