Chapter 9: Please Stay

Hours of silence had passed. Ilene wanted to make sure no one would awaken when she stole a bow, arrows, and knives from the armory. She's stolen before, and had never given it a second thought. But, this time was different; this family was kind to her. The past few weeks she didn't have to worry about fighting for her life, and surviving. She felt safe, and she didn't know how to deal with that. She needed to get out and do something before insanity set in.

The door creaks as she slowly opens the healing quarters to sneak out. She looks both ways, takes a deep breath, and then begins to sneak down the hall. She was had snuck into castles before, fought off men over three times her size, and she was nervous of sneaking out of the Castle of Dumbroch.

She slowly creeps down the hall towards the weapon quarters. Halfway down the hall she accidently trips on the hem of her dress, and and bangs into a small cabinet against the wall. The noise echoes through the halls. Moments pass as she stands perfectly still in the shadows, she silently curses at her dress. She hates dresses and never will understand why women are required to wear them.

She stands in the darkness holding her breath, wait form someone to come bounding down the halls and find her. Moments pass by and no one comes. Slowly Ilene creeps out of the shadows and breathes a sigh of relief while she heads down the hall to the armory.

She enters the armory and quietly closes the door. She turns to see a bounty in front of her. Bows, quivers, knives, swords, axes; she was in heaven. She was about to take a look around when she heard snoring. In the corner there was a guard sleeping, his helmet was over his eyes, and his mustache just peeking out of the crook of the helmet.

Ilene smiled to herself and thought "That guard is asking for someone to come and cut that corner off in his sleep."

She quickly scans the room and spots the perfect bow. She slowly picks it up; it's not like the other big warrior bows, it's smaller, with a gentle curve. She quickly grabs a quiver full of arrows and a knife and sneaks out of the armory, and off the castle grounds. Little did she know that she had a little red headed girl watching her every move.

…

A few weeks had passed since that night. Ilene would go out every night and practice. She found a hiding spot for her bow and arrows under some stones in the floor of the healing quarters. Night time training, and wandering became her favorite part of the day.

One day she was crushing herbs in the healing quarters, and the door squeaked open. Little Merida came bounding in and ran up to the table.

"Good Mornin' Princess" Ilene stated

"What are ye makin?" the princess asked

"Some herbal tea for the king" She begins to walk to the fire where a kettle simmering "I believe soon yer father will start walking."

After a moment of silence Merida asked "Can you shoot a bow?"

Ilene paused before pouring the hot water "Aye, I can."

"Are ye good?"

Ilene doesn't answer as she finishes pouring the tea.

After moments of agonizing silence Merida blurts out "I see ye sneak out almost every night."

"Not many can catch me Princess" Ilene said wiping her hands on a rag "Ye have good senses, like a warrior."

"Are ye a warrior?"

Ilene paused then sat down on the ground and motioned Merida to come to her. Merida quickly came and sat down next to Ilene.

"Can ye keep a secret?" Merida nods "Aye, I am."

Merida's eyes seemed to burn with excitement. "Teach me!"

"Now Princess I.."

Merida interrupts "Merida, call me Merida"

Ilene sighs "Can ye give me a night to think about it."

Merida nods again. "Good" Ilene states "Now go on. I've got chores to do."

Merida gives Ilene an unexpected hug. Ilene was not use to these feelings of comfort, and dare she say love. Whenever she got comfortable things were taken away.

As Merida bounded out of the room, Ilene thought to herself. "I have to leave tonight."

….

The moonlight danced over the Highland grass. The halls were dead quiet, and Ilene knew it was time to leave. She left the bow and quiver in the healing quarters, knowing that she couldn't steal from a family who had taken such good care of her. However she did grab a bag full of apples and bread that she slung around her shoulder. She crept down the halls like she always did. She felt sick, in the pit of her stomach she felt guilty for the first time in her life. The king still hadn't fully recovered, the queen had been so kind to her, and the princess, the little girl who reminded Ilene so much of herself and became almost like a friend to her. She was abandoning it all, she was scared, and she didn't know how to handle all these feelings.

The door was just ahead of her, she slowly crept toward it. She reached for the handle.

"And where do you think yer off to young lady."

Ilene whipped around to see the queen standing on top of the stairs.

"I was uh, heading out for a walk me lady queen." Ilene stated

Elinor headed down the stairs with poise and grace. "Is that so?" she walked up to Ilene took the bag off Ilene's shoulder and opened it revealing the hidden food "Ye know, it is not right to lie."

Ilene stared at the ground. She felt less intimidated when she was faced with big drunken burly men. She was expecting some sort of severe punishment. A few moments passed as Ilene stared at the cold stones on the floor. Then, unexcitingly she felt a gentle hand lift up her chin as the queen directed her face to look the queen in the eyes. She didn't see anger, she saw something different.

"Were ye leavin?" the queen asked

"Yes my lady."

The queen paused for a moment, sighed then said "Well, that is yer choice then isn't it."

Ilene shifted her feet, not knowing what to say.

"Thank you" the queen stated

"Fer wat?" Ilene asked

"I would be a widow if ye hadn't of been there fer my husband. Ye saved his life," she paused for a momeng "and my daughter seems to adore ye. She can never stop talkin about ye, and I have grown fond of ye as well."

Ilene opened her mouth wanting to say something but couldn't find the right words.

"I shall not force ye to stay." The queen stated "However," she grabs Ilenes hands "I am asking ye too."

For a moment, Ilene was stunned. For a moment she didn't know what to do. She hadn't felt happy for a long time, and now she wasn't afraid to grasp it.

"Please stay." Said the queen

Ilene looked the queen in the eyes, smiled, and said "I'll stay."