Realization flashed over her eyes before fury took over and she shot straight up, the chair clattered against the stone floor, "No you can't be serious. Me?! You're offering him me? What could he possibly want with me?"
As she rapidly fired out the questions, she found the answers for herself, piecing it all together from the looks she was receiving from everyone.
"You're sending me away, and not just away, you're marrying me off to a man I don't even know, that I don't even love? How could you? I won't do this. I won't. I refuse, this is barbaric, and you know it."
She pointed an accusatory finger at her father, but it was Rachel that answered, "Charlie, please be real, love is a fictitious daydream, one we don't have the luxury of being concerned with—"
She ignored her mother, "he's the same age as you, old enough to be my father…doesn't that concern you in the least bit or do you not even care?"
Miles winced when he reached out for her and she flinched away as though she had been burned, "of course I care. Believe me this isn't easy for me either, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do and if we had another option I would exhaust it, but we don't kid. You know the facts, tell me, in all your lessons with Lord Aaron, have either of you come up with a better solution?"
Her shoulders slumped in defeat, it was true, they hadn't, but that didn't mean the only possible solution was to marry her off.
"And you wouldn't be marrying Bass, I would NEVER agree to that. You'll be marrying his son Connor, who I'm told is nothing like his father."
Charlie had no idea what to make of that statement because she had little knowledge of King Sebastian besides the tidbits she gathered from stories told to her as a child by Miles when her mother wasn't around.
When she said nothing and moments had slipped away, Miles tried one more time to reach out for her, letting out a sigh of breath when she didn't recoil. Pulling her into his chest, he wrapped his arms around her and lovingly stroked her hair, resting his cheek against her temple. After seconds passed she responded and burrowed herself further into his warm embrace.
He pulled back, enough to look at her teary eyes, brushing away the tears that had fallen, "I'm so sorry that I failed you both as a father and as your king."
Adamantly shaking her head, she tried to smile, but it turned out as grimace, "you didn't fail me as either, this isn't your fault. You're right, we have to do what is best for the kingdom and the people. You always tell me that we all have a role to play, and while I am grief stricken, I understand. It makes sense—"
"But it doesn't make it any less painful," he finished her sentence as she nodded in agreement. Falling into his embrace once more, she held the tears at bay as she looked to see Danny was doing the same. Rachel on the other hand remained with a blank expression; Lord Aaron had more of an emotional range than she did.
"When do I have to leave?"
Her small, mumbled voice broke his heart into more pieces than he thought possible, "in two days time. He wanted you to come tomorrow night, but I advised him that the journey would take quite some time, and I didn't feel safe with you traveling at night."
Mutely nodding, she pulled back once again, "Alright."
Turning to exit the Great Hall, she pivoted around once more, "I don't think I feel up to eating tonight, I'm going to retire to my chambers for the evening."
Miles nodded, not trusting his own voice to say anything as he watched her slowly leave.
Putting his head in his hands once again he was met with the constant nagging of Rachel's voice in his ear, "you pinned all of that on me as if it were me only making the choice. This is just as hard on me you know. You're the king, it's high time you—"
Slamming his fist on the table, Miles glared at her, "I told her the truth, if you are feeling guilty, it's only because there's something to feel guilty for. You're right about one thing, I am the king, and I'm commanding you to either be silent or leave…now."
With a firm tone, he left no room for further argument, directing his gaze at something other than her sullen face. It was a bit harsh, but he just wanted to silence her for a bit anyway.
Charlie made her request known to Nora that she was retiring for the night and dismissed her ladies as well, claiming that she wanted to be alone, which was the truth.
Part of the truth anyway. She was also hoping that after a few hours of feigning sleep, she would be able to sneak away from the castle and head into the village for one more night before she was sent away.
The light that once filled her room was slowly fading away until she was only left in darkness, the only light now coming from the glow of the crescent moon in the sky.
As much as she loved the sunbeam and how it felt against her skin, she had always been more of a night owl. She loved to see the glowing stars and the radiance of the moon was magical and breathtaking.
Nighttime was also when she could shed her princess image and become, whoever it is she wanted to be, of course that was only on the nights she escaped into town. Even in town though, she was never truly as alone as she wanted to be.
Getting rid of the death trap she was forced into, she threw on her training garments, tucking her hair back into the hood of her cape, wiping away all existence of her identity as both royalty, and as a female.
The ever constant growing trellises on the wall outside her window made for a perfect escape from the confines of her chambers without being seen. She had perfected the art of climbing both up and down until now she could do it with her eyes closed. This was obviously not the first time she left the castle unaccompanied, but it would no doubt be the last time.
Landing softly on the ground, she pressed herself up against the stonewall, crouching down as she went around the backside of the castle where the forest was spread out for her beck and call.
The forest offered a canopy, shielding her, and a darkness that engulfed her, both ensuring that she wouldn't be seen.
The first time she trekked through the forest she had been a bit afraid, the forest itself may have been a bit spooky, but the real danger lied in climbing down the rocky terrain without falling to your death.
Built on higher ground, the only safe exit to leave the castle was through the fixed bridge, and down the constructed path. Every other means of escaping was hazardous, but that's what motivated her to continue on until she came to the exit, opening the town up before her. One didn't have to fear the danger always lurking around the corner, what one had to be fearful of was not becoming the monster themselves. There was never a time Charlie worried about what was in the forest, truthfully, she was always worried about becoming the forest; dark, enclosed, a shadow that invoked fear from people instead of awe and excitement.
Usually opting for a more direct path, she instead choose a scenic route, taking in the smell of the trees, the sounds of the forest wildlife scurrying about their business, for what she perceived to be the last time. Careful to enjoy the scenery, she also had to remember her footing and impelled herself down the steep mountain, huffing when she got to the end. Some paths were steeper than others, and of course the trail that offered more beautiful views was one, she would definitely take a different way back up.
Dumping her out at the bottom end of town, Charlie could see the glow of candles perched in windowsills, as she got closer.
There were other, more plentiful cities she could've escaped to, but it was more likely that she would be spotted and recognized in flourishing cities. Towns and villages were smaller, homier, and while people were very suspicious of newcomers, they also revealed in having new people in their town.
By passing all of the merchant shops and marketplaces, where she had often heard about bartering and exchanging occurring, she continued her course to the same place she went every time she visited. A place where, upon the first time, no one had questioned her about who she was, or why she was here.
That was the place she would get the change of a lifetime, an even bigger change than being married off to an unknown man in an unknown kingdom.
Sitting in the far right corner on a wooden bench, it took no time for the same man to approach her as he did every night she showed up there, "starting to think you had deserted us."
He laughed, but Charlie didn't answer, her voice would've given her away and he was used to the silence from her.
Back to business, he cleared his throat, "there's a man, Merek, who has been going around, intimidating local shopkeeps and pillaging towns. My cousin down in Derbyshire just informed me that he was leaving their town and headed for this one next."
At that, Charlie's ears perked up. Sitting straight on the bench, the man could see her interest as he howled laughter, "that got your attention. Right, he left a fortnight ago, by my calculations, that should place him in town tonight at the latest. He's said to stand six feet in height, and is distinguishable by his long amber colored mane, matching the growing hair on his face. Word around town is that he's planned to plunder Brom's Tavern—"
Immediately standing up, she turned her back on him, eyes seeking out the exit before he grabbed her elbow, not try to force her to turn around, but simply to place a payment in her hands.
As always she shook her head and tossed it back on the table, but that didn't stop him from trying, just as he did every time. Sighing he picked it back up and put it in his pocket, "may we meet again…Midnight Assassin."
The same closing she heard him utter every time, somehow weighed heavy on her heart tonight, due to the fact that it was unlikely they would meet again, ever.
Still she pushed that aside and left. Paying no attention to the looks and gazes she received from people, she glided by, cape flowing about in the night's breeze as she progressed to Brom's Tavern.
She knew the town fairly well by now, and everyone knew Brom's Tavern. It was a very well kept tavern, filled with laughter and merriment at all hours of the day, tonight however, there was no joy to be heard nor seen. Charlie was sure word about Merek's visit was the reason.
Charlie took the narrow cobblestone alleyway, leading to the back of the tavern, fleeting quickly in order to avoid being spotted. The back was the only logical way for him to enter, Charlie thought as she flattened herself against the stone. She would give it less than an hour, and if all was quiet, she would return back to the castle.
The sound of boots clabbering against the cobblestone awoken Charlie's senses, as she moved to shield herself further into the shadows of the night. Before her stood a man she had never seen before, which based on the man's description, had to be Merek.
Quietly pulling out the sword tucked at her side, she watched his every movement, getting a feel for her opponent just like Nora always advised if there was time to do so.
Once she had addressed him, and he began advancing towards the door of the tavern, she stepped out of the shadows, the moonlight highlighting the olive green of her cape.
When he didn't immediately notice her, she took advantage of his lack of awareness, as she ambushed him. Catching him by surprise, his foot got caught on the cobblestone as he landed with a thud, drawing his sword over his head in defense.
He was quite a large man when compared to Charlie's petite frame, so he was easily able to shove her off and regain his footing, forgetting the tavern for a moment as he circled her. She was little, but she never let that be her weakness, instead she used it to evade his every advancement.
His sloppy form got the best of him in the end, allowing Charlie the opportunity to swing her sword forcefully, cutting his arm and making him drop his own weapon. Clattering to the ground, she kicked it away, never taking her eyes off of him as he pleaded on his knees for his life, "please, have mercy on me. I was just stealing for my family. We haven't gotten any food left, and we have a young child on the way. My wife is withering away."
She would've felt sympathy and pity for this man's struggles had she not been warned about his ability to spin a lie faster than a spider could spin a web.
Instead she feigned sympathy, lowering her weapon an inch until the passion and anger returned to his eyes and he stood up, intending to charge at her. She anticipated his attack and met him halfway, plunging the sword into his chest, as the blood rushed to his mouth evoking a gurgling sound from him.
Shoving his body from her sword, she wiped the blood on his garments, leaning down to whisper, "mercy comes to those who deserve it."
Hearing the door of the back exit opening, she fled, faster than she had ever fled before, not stopping until she was safe in the comfort of her forest. Even then the adrenaline pumping through her veins propelled her forward, as her legs almost gave out in exhaustion.
There was no real reason as to why she was running. She was almost positive that she would be considered a hero and revered for the deed, but that would also mean them learning her secret identity and she couldn't risk that. Especially not now.
She tucked the clean sword back at her side, making sure the coast was clear before she climbed back up the overgrown vine trellises, slipping back into her room as though nothing had changed, and seemingly it hadn't.
The room was exactly as she left it, the only thing that changed was her, and she had come back a different person.
This wasn't something she intended to do, and it definitely wasn't something she intended to do more than once, but fate had other plans.
She had come to the same town for a few nights in a row when she could get away easier, each time returning to the same tavern. One night when merriment got too out of hand, a brawl broke out within the tavern and exploded into the street. Charlie kept quiet as it erupted, fearing for her life at the time, but after she saw the person was nothing more than a lousy drunk she was no longer afraid but enraged.
She followed to where the scuffle continued in front of the abbey near the edge of town and intervened on behalf of the victim, beating the guy to a pulp. A couple of days later she was approached by a man claiming he saw what she did, how she stepped in and handled the debacle, and wanted to know if she was interested in interceding more often when she was in town. The enforcer of the town was not up to par for the people's standards so things had been slowly escalating in town to the point where they had no hope. They were desperate. So desperate that the man was begging Charlie, a woman, to help, although he had no knowledge that she was a woman. He only knew that she was very odd and never spoke nor showed her face.
Mercenary and assassin left a bitter taste in her mouth, and if asked she would never own up to either title, but essentially that's what she was. A vigilant that never accepted any of the offered money, but was always happy to assist a town in eliminating scum.
Placing the sword back under her bed, she slipped off the garments, donning her nightwear as she slipped into her bed and easily fell into a deep slumber, regardless of the impending doom that was upon her.