3. The Great Escape

A/N: So for anyone reading this, here is chapter 3. It would be awesome if you could review because currently I have no idea anyone is actually reading this.

I won't keep you waiting any longer.

I didn't have to be told twice.

'I wasn't a coward. I was thrown off by the situation perhaps, but if I'd known it would help I would have stayed to fight whatever it was I was being told to run from I would have stayed.

However these men were sent to help me, and part of that was to sustain my life. Clearly, they thought that my best chance of survival was to run, and not doing as I was told could put us all in danger.

I also had a strong sense of fear, and felt the need to survive. It is human nature to put yourself before everyone else.

I was generous enough to at least save someone else's' life, though.

I jumped onto Falada, and pulled on Arae behind me, before galloping off at full speed.

'Thankyou, Mubdi!' I called, but it was probably lost in the breeze.

'Why did you do that?' Arae asked, sounding astounded.

'You're my friend. I want you to live, and I need you.' I suppose the latter sounded a bit selfish, but it was true. If there was one thing I was, it was honest.

'I thank you, your majesty, but in future you should preserve your own life, rather than taking the time to save me too.'

'I can't do that, you're my friend. And, following that line, any friend of mine should call me by my proper name. I am Ani.'

'You are Princess Anidori, but if you insist…'

Her voice trailed off.

'I do,' I said, smiling at her.

We travelled for quite a while, both of us riding on Falada's back. Any means of danger had seemed to have disappeared a long time ago.

There was a time when Falada seemed to pick up something behind him, and he galloped faster accordingly.

'What is it? What's wrong?' I asked him.

'Ogres are following us. We need to outrun them because with their persuasion if we face them we shall have no chance'

I knew he was right so whenever he reacted like that I encouraged him to hurry.

I couldn't speak to him very much, though, because it would discourage Arae. I didn't want to lose the only friend I had left.

We galloped for the remainder of the day. Falada was amazing, he held out for an amazing length of time. But by nightfall I was struggling to keep myself sliding off, and I was sure Arae was having the same difficulties behind me. I waited for as long as I could, and I am proud to say that I was not the one who gave up first.

'We haven't heard from the ogres in a long time. I'm sure if they had chosen to keep up the pursuit thay would have caught up to us by now. I think we should take a rest.'

Unfortunately, I was the week one in Arae's eyes.

'Falada seems tired. I think we should rest now. Surely anyone chasing us would have attacked by now. I think that we are safe.'

She nodded slightly in agreement, but we were both too tired to make any conversation. If we were feeling tired, I could only imagine how drained Falada must have been feeling. I guess that while he was physically exhausted, Arae and I had suffered more emotionally. But whatever the case was, all three of us were asleep before we could give it a second thought.

We weren't awake until quite late the next day, and by then I was unbearably hungry. We had taken no food with us, but I was sure there would have to be something around. My thirst was more of a problem. I was so badly dehydrated that I was worried I wouldn't have the energy to find food.

If I found water, I did have my golden cup. It was now my sole possession, but it would mean that I didn't have to lie on the ground and drink like a commoner.

The chances of water were very low though. I hoped finding food would be easier.

I left a note on the ground for Arae; I hoped that the wind wouldn't blow it away. Stick in dirt notes don't last very long

On my lonesome ramblings, I started planning our future. Of course I had thought about it the day before, but altogether I was to consumed by fear to consider any realistic possibilities.

I figured that we would be heading in the direction of Ayorthaia, because the horses had been at the front of our camp, and our path while escaping was vaguely straight.

At first I had hoped we could stop at a town and ask for help, but I soon realised that would be impossible. To the villagers, we would seem like a pair of lunatics trying to annoy people, or even attack the town. I figured it would be safer to avoid any villages we may come across.

I eventually found us some food (a dozen overripe blackberries and a mushed up apple apiece) and so made my way back to where we had been resting.

After eating this amazing breakfast, we got up and made got on our way once more.

As there was no immediate danger this time, we set off at a much slower pace, meandering carelessly. Sometimes one of us would get an adrenaline rush and try to travel faster, but we soon realised that we just weren't motivated enough for the time being.

I think we all realised we would have to steadily canter to make it to Ontio Castle alive, but no-one had the energy. The thing was that our trip had suddenly changed from a scenic ride to a battle for our lives, and we weren't going to survive another four weeks. It would have to be two weeks at a maximum. If we were lucky, it could be one and a half.

Even sleeping time would have to be reduced by three or four hours.

But for today we mostly kept our speed to a trot, occasionally slowing down to a walk. During those slower times, we would give Falada a rest by hopping off and plodding along silently.

I don't think it was till early evening that we really started hurrying. We were, at that time, no where near a suitable resting place, and we wanted to find one quickly.

With the blanket of dark falling upon us came the conscious realisation (before it had just been a thought lingering in the back of our minds) that it was our life on the line. We well and truly had to hurry up to survive.

Along the way we did eat a bit more, but breakfast had remained the greatest meal of our day. I could only hope that our share of food would be at least equal the next day.

After yet another restless nights sleep, we got up and started faithfully plodding along. We chose to search for food while riding, and after feasting we did get up to a galloping speed. It wasn't full-on, but it was fast.

It was still early morning on the third day of our escape that I started to feel sick and dizzy, probably from dehydration.

At first I threw up, but then I felt much better.

For a while.

I started hallucinating, seeing water everywhere, and hearing my mother's voice in the back of my mind. Soon that voice was overpowered by another, stronger sound, a kind of gurgling, trickling sound.

But that wasn't my imagination.

It was water.

A/N I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Pleas remember that reviews are always more than welcome, and if anyone has any ideas it would be great.