Here is the next chapter! Enjoy!
Lilly hardly slept that night, and in the early hours of the morning, came up with a daring plan; escape from the window! She searched the tower, not daring to go into Gothel's room, for fear of waking her, looking for anything she could use. A rope, a ladder, anything! Finally her eyes settled on the long length of brown hair that had been left on the tower floor for eight years. She picked it up, shuddering at the thought that it was real human hair, and opened the window. The sun wasn't even peeking over the horizon, as she tied the hair to something, and let one end fall to the ground. She gulped, realising just how high up she was.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered. With Rose tucked under her arm, she stood in the window, and gripping the hair. She wrapped her legs around it, squeezed her eyes shut, and slid down, reaching the bottom with a small thud.
"That wasn't so bad," she squeaked to Rose, but she shook violently, and staggered the first few metres to freedom. When she came to the forest, she realised she had no idea where to go.
"I know the way to the clearing," she said. "But from there, I don't know how to get home." She looked down at her doll for guidance, but painted eyes just stared blankly at her, and painted lips gave no answer. Lilly sighed. "Guess I'd better start walking."
When she made it to the clearing, she stood in the middle of it for several minutes, trying to get her bearings, when someone crashed through the bushes. Lilly gasped, and turned to face two of the scariest men she had ever seen. Both looking exactly the same, with red hair, and one with an eye patch, and matching scowls, Lilly stood frozen on the spot, unable to move. These were none other than the Stabbington Brothers.
"That's the baby Princess!" one of them shouted, when he noticed Lilly. "Get her! We'll kidnap her for ransom." Both brothers leapt at Lilly, who jumped out of the way, scrambled to her feet, and began to run; she didn't know where – she didn't care. She just wanted to get away from those brutes.
Finally she found a place to hide; a small cave in a rock. She squeezed inside, and watched, terrified, as the Stabbingtons ran by. After several minutes she crawled out, and got a look at her surroundings.
"Never seen this place before," she muttered. She walked along, her pace quickening at each step, until she was running again. What else could she do? She kept running until she bumped right into someone, knocking both her and the Someone back. The Someone also dropped the load it was carrying, and growled in frustration.
"I'm so sorry!" Lilly cried, not bothering to get up, assuming it was yet another person who wanted to hurt her.
"No worries," the Someone said. Lilly looked up to see a boy, probably about two years older than herself, standing over her. She stood up, wiping her eyes. He was a whole head taller than her, with rusty red hair, and blue eyes. He smiled. "They're just apples," he added.
"Who are you?" Lilly asked.
"I'm Matthew," the boy replied, picking up his apples, and putting them back in the paper bag. "And you are?"
"Princess Lillian Fitzherbert," Lilly replied, used to introducing herself in that way.
"I thought you looked royalty," Matthew replied calmly. Lilly wasn't used to this reaction; normally people would bow down until they were almost shorter than herself, and humbly say 'My apologies, your Highness,' or, 'It is an honour to meet you, your Highness.' Instead, Matthew continued gathering the dropped fruit, and when he had finished, grinned brightly at Lilly who couldn't help but smile back.
"You have a nice smile," he said, used to stating his honest opinion. Lilly only smiled bigger at the compliment. She had often been told she had a nice smile, or beautiful eyes, or adorable freckles on her dainty little nose, but when this common little boy said it, it felt like it meant more.
"You do, too," she replied. "Do you know how to get to the castle?"
"Nope," was the simple answer. Lilly frowned.
"Then, can you take me to your house?"
"Sure." He handed her an apple. "You look hungry."
"I am," Lilly admitted, and was about to take a bite, when she stopped. "Where did you get these?"
"I… uh…"
"You stole them, didn't you?" Lilly asked disapproval on her face.
"No, but I didn't buy them either."
"Then where did you get them?"
"I picked them off the apple tree in my front yard."
"Oh, okay then." Lilly smiled again, and took a big bite.
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