Anywhere But Here

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So, on with the story…

I couldn't have been happier. This was water – the one thing that I really needed to survive to survive at the moment.

I was terribly thirsty, but I also knew that I couldn't drink too much at once.

I turned to Arae.

'It's water!'

'I know.' That was strange. It didn't seem right, sort of as though she was trying to sound happy but failing. My smile faltered.

'Well, here is a cup.'

'Yes, Anidori, I know, Anidori.'

I frowned. I didn't think I had been doing anything wrong. Perhaps she was just feeling short-tempered. I know I was.

'Well, do you wish to fill it? You can drink a bit, ad I'll have the rest. Only a bit, mind you.' I didn't want to get ill, and I didn't want her to get well either. I wasn't fully sure what the water would do to us, it was just a vague memory I had.

I wasn't sure Arae was acting as she was, but she seemed fine after I had said that. Maybe she was unsure that she would get any water.

She jumped off Falada, grabbed my golden cup and drank from it. She drank one mouthful, then another, then another. Before I knew it, she was refilling it. She kept on drinking, until I was sure she must be in danger.

'No, stop!' I shouted, but she took no heed of my warning.

After what seemed to be a year, she picked up the cup and put it in Falada's saddlebag. I felt that it was my turn on him, but decided not to say anything.

I glared at her. This was the first time I felt any negative feeling towards her.

'You shouldn't have done that.'

'I can do what I like.' By now, I was annoyed. It seemed that she was annoyed at me too. I had yet to figure out why.

'Ummm, you forgot to give the cup to me.'

'No, Anidori, I didn't forget.'

I was puzzled. I looked around, seeing if she had accidently left on the ground by the river bank.

No.

'Ummm, I don't see it.' I was being cautious, trying not to be offensive, but I couldn't help but be annoyed.

'If you are thirsty,' she said, 'get off your horse yourself, and lie down near the water and drink. I won't be your servant.'

My jaw dropped. I was the princess of Pu, and was to marry the Prince of Ayorthaia. I shouldn't be treated like scum. I had just saved this girls life, and this was how she was repaying me.

There was nothing I could do, however, but get to the ground and drink. It was that or death.

I sat as delicately as I could, and leaned over the clear, blue water. It was beautiful except for the fact that I had to drink from it the way I was. I closed my eyes, opened my eyes and drank.

I quickly forgot my own orders and drank us much as I could, as quickly as I could, feeling forever ashamed of what I was doing.

As I drank in the last mouthful I was permitting myself to, the handkerchief tucked into my bodice spoke to me.

'If this your mother knew, her heart would break in two.'

I couldn't help but agree. I thought I could go back to my mother, but made myself forget it again quickly.

I didn't know anything about where I was going, except that I would have to go back the way I came. Even if I did end up on the right road, the ogres that were at one stage pursuing us may have been there.

Besides, the only river in Ayorthaia I knew of that wasn't heavily affected by drought lead right to Ontio, where I was to wed the Prince.

So I figured it would be easier to continue.

Arae was probably just having a rough day anyway. I decided to forgive and forget as best I could. I went to her, asked if I could ride Falada, she agreed and we set out again.

We talked easily and freely, though at times there seemed to be something tugging on her mind. We discussed weather, which boy from the palace in Kyrria she liked, what we wished we were eating right now, and everything in between.

The topic of survival didn't come up, except for me commenting that we should be following the river, which she rightfully omitted as evident.

During the times we were too exhausted to talk, I thought about my marriage. I wasn't sure if I wanted to marry a complete stranger – well, I knew I didn't.

All I knew about him was that his name was Hiram, son to Princess Hana and Prince Oscar, who was son of King Ijori and Queen Aza. The Prince was 18, and had one sister who was my age.

Not much to know about your future husband.

So altogether I wished that I could be back home in my mother's arms, like the small child that I used to be.

But since I did have to carry out this wedding, I wanted to do it well, meaning that I wanted to survive long enough to be married.

I wondered if the prince would be handsome, charming or kind. I hoped he didn't take advantage of his people like my father sometimes did.

'It is my turn on Falada now,' Arae said, and I let her on. She was probably right.

We rested briefly that night, and the following day we followed the same system – galloping in the morning, sharing Falada when he tired, and resting at midday before galloping again whenever he felt able.

During the break, I asked Arae, less patiently this time, to fill my cup.

She replied, somewhat haughtily that if I wanted a drink I would have to get it myself.

I felt impatient and annoyed, but I drank from the river once more.

Once again, my handkerchief spoke to me.

'If this your mother knew, her heart would break in two.'

I took it out, purely for memories. This was all I had, this and Falada. I had no friends, and no other possessions. Not even my cup.

But, as always happens in dire times, calamity struck. The handkerchief, the one my mother gave me for protection, slipped from my hands.

Perhaps, if I had recovered myself in time, I would have been able to pick it up. Perhaps not. I would never know.

But what I did know was that I was now unprotected.

I got up, turned around and saw Arae back on Falada. She must have drunk quickly.

I realised that she knew I was unprotected, too. I think it must have been the glint in her eyes that told me.

I went to her and asked to get on Falada, but she refused.

'You can walk the rest of the way. You aren't worthy of this horse.'

I turned to Falada.

'Please, don't go.'

And Falada didn't.

This was the first time of the trip I was genuinely pleased. Odd moment to choose.

At least, I was genuinely pleased until I saw what Arae was doing. She pulled out a small knife of which I had had no knowledge, and started cutting across his back.

I shouted at Falada to obey Arae's every command, and he galloped off without giving him a second thought

Although I had told him to go, it hurt me that he went so easily. I told myself that that was how Mubdi must have felt when I ran from him.

I smiled then, because I realised that history had a way of repeating itself.

I sighed, hoping that history wouldn't repeat itself, and started my long journey along following the river.

How was that? Too long? Too short? Too boring? Too fast?

I'll only know if you review so…