Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: Hope you all enjoy.
Escape
Z quietly went into Syd's room; no one was there of course. Syd should be downstairs in one of the classrooms which was why Z had to be quick. She closed the door and went over to her sister's trunk that stood by the far wall; Syd would put things in it when they were younger, things she didn't want anyone else to know about…except Z. There was a false bottom and Z and Syd used to put notes in there when they couldn't always talk. She quickly opened it and put her letter in, Syd would find it eventually.
She headed out of Syd's room and then made her way downstairs to where she knew their Father would be. And sure enough he was sitting in his study looking over a parchment for something or another. "Father."
He looked up, "Ah Elizabeth. Are you going on your ride now?"
"Yes. Thank you so much. Where is Syd?"
"I believe it's time for her to be in one of her lessons."
"Thank you." Z turned to leave and then paused and looked back at her Father, "Father."
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you as well my daughter. Are you well?"
Z gave him a small smile, "Yes, don't worry about me alright?"
"Elizabeth,"
Before he could continue Z spoke up again, "Bye."
"Enjoy your ride."
Z turned and headed towards the classroom that the girls usually would be taught in. Quickly she opened the door only to be faced with nothing. No one was there. How odd. Z really wanted to see Syd before she took off. Her sister wouldn't like it if Z didn't see her before she left.
Thinking through all the possibilities that of where Syd could be she decided to check out the stables, surely she had gone there.
Z entered the stables and looked around; her sister wasn't there and all the horses were accounted for. The young princess pursed her lips, Syd had to be somewhere. She was not going to go off without talking to Syd and making some peace with her first. Where in the world was Syd?
After checking some of the other places that Syd was usually at Z quickly went back into the castle to her Father's study. "Father, I can't find Syd." She quickly stated before realizing there was another person in there. Juneston. He was older with gray hair that made him look, distinguished. He was a strong, determined man. Z thought he was a horrible person, and Syd…well Syd was terrified of him. Z couldn't blame her though, with the way he looked at people sometimes…
"Elizabeth, Elizabeth."
Z was brought back by her father calling her name, "What?"
"You can't find Sydney?"
"No."
"Is she not in her lesson?"
"No."
"The stables?"
"No, look Father, I have looked everywhere, she's gone." Z felt herself beginning to panic, she had to calm down.
"Princess Sydney is missing?" Juneston asked.
"It appears that way." The two princesses' Father stated.
As Z's Father stood up Juneston spoke again, "I wouldn't alert people Your Highness."
"What?"
"Why?" Z found herself asking.
The Duke of Juneston merely looked at Z and then turned back to her Father, "Because if everyone knows that she is gone a few things will happen. One, everyone would be looking for her, including thieves and murderers, I'm sure you would not like that. And second, if King Antony were to hear he would wish the wedding to be canceled, no one wants a flighty princess."
"Syd is not flightly." Z said taking a step closer to the older man.
He shrugged, "I was merely stating what they would see it as. If you wish…well I could look for her. It would stay within this circle and she still would be looked upon in quite good grace."
The King pursed his lips as he thought; after a few minutes he spoke up, "Yes I will agree with this. You're look for her then Juneston, please find her."
"I shall begin at once."
The older man turned and hurriedly left with Z glaring at him. Her Father spoke up, "Elizabeth, stop."
"I have to go, I'll see you later." Z quickly left the room.
As she walked down the hall she saw Juneston up ahead. Z moved off to the side and watched as he quickly looked back before continuing. What was he up to? Z slowly followed him through the different hallways until he moved to the door by the stables. Still curious and distrustful Z waited to see where he went to.
Juneston moved around the stable towards the woods. There was nothing back there. In fact that led to the Dying Woods, somewhere no one went. Everyone who did never came back. Why would Juneston be looking in the Dying Woods? After looking around her and making sure no one was there she quickly made her way towards the stable. She quietly made her way around to the side of the barn and peeked around the corner, there was nothing.
Z felt a cold feeling run through her body. What if she had missed him; lost him? What was he up to? She didn't know, but know she knew that she needed to. He had most obviously gone into the woods. A woods that not even her and Syd had gone into.
"Princess Elizabeth?"
Z turned around and found herself face to face with a stable boy, "Yes?"
"Were you here to ride a horse?"
"Did you see anyone come by here?"
"Just now Your Highness."
"Who was it?"
"His Lordship Juneston Your Highness."
"I told you that you don't have to call me that. Z is just fine."
"Yes, Prince—"
"Okay, okay. Thanks. Go back to what you were doing, I'll be fine. I'm just…I'm going to walk today."
"As you wish."
Z waited until he was back in the stables before she moved to the woods. Juneston had gone in here she was sure of it. Quickly she moved through the trees calmly weaving her way in and out of the trees. Every now and then she would pause behind a bigger tree and listen.
After about ten minutes she paused and instead of just the birds singing or the rustle of the wind Z heard voices. Her heart accelerated a bit and she quietly and slowly moved forward. The brunette princess finally was able to see who belonged to those voices. It was a group of soldiers, all standing outside a small cottage.
Just then she watched as Juneston walked up to the cottage.
"Has she realized?"
"No sir, she doesn't recognize Tomas."
"She's only seen him once." He nodded and looked around, "Good, the foolish king believes that I will go and find her, and so I will…after a time. And when I do, I will receive a kingly reward." He chuckled at that. Then he looked up and down at all the men, "Alright, make sure she doesn't leave because that would ruin everything." They all nodded and Juneston turned and left.
Z waited until he went back into the woods before she began moving around towards the back of the cottage. The men were still just standing around and talking. Once she got to the other side of the cottage she saw that there was a window there; she made her way silently towards it and peaked in.
Syd was there!
What was she doing there? Her arms were folded and she did not look happy. Z peaked around the cabin and saw that the men were still there talking, ignoring everything else around them.
"Syd!" She whispered urgently.
Her sister looked around a few times before staring at the front door again. After rolling her eyes Z whispered her name a few more times before Syd's eyes settled on the back window. Her eyes went wide and she glanced at the front door before moving over to the window.
"What are you doing here?"
Z shook her head, "I should be asking you that. What's going on?"
"Well you see…"
"Wait. Before you go into that, are they holding you captive?"
"Yes," Syd folded her arms again, "it's really rude."
"Climb out the window and we'll leave alright?"
"What?"
"Unless you want to stay in here, climb out the window!"
"Alright."
Syd moved forward and Z grabbed her arms and pulled. Slowly, and awkwardly Syd was pulled out of the cottage and fell onto her older sister. The two remained quiet as they both quietly breathed in slow breathes.
"Come on, let's use those horses over there." Z pointed at the group that was up near the soldiers by the woods.
Syd frowned, "Let's just leave."
"Look at how many soldiers there are, they were told to not let you leave, so we're going to have to use the horses alright?"
"Fine."
The two sisters quickly moved to the horses. Once there Z quietly untied two of the horses reins and handed one to her sister. Just as they were walking to the woods there was a shout, "Hey!" Frozen the two sisters slowly turned around to see all the men glaring at them ready to pounce.