Becoming Queen: A War of Two Kingdoms

Time to Leave, Princess

    Rosalina was pacing back and forth in her room as the setting sun shined through her window. Her heart was racing in excitement and fear. What exactly did the prince want from her? It's not like the two of them could wed, she was just a lowly commoner. Did he intend to go against his father and marry her anyways? She let out a sigh as she sat on her bed, she doubted it had anything to with that.

    Unconsciously, she lifted her hand to her lips, her fingertips brushed them lightly as she remembered the kiss from the day before. What had he been thinking when he did that? Sighing again she looked out the window. Soon night would fall completely across the land. When the castle became silent would be the time she had to head to the prince's chambers. She watched, waiting for complete dark.

    It felt like it had been forever, but it was finally quiet throughout the entire castle. Grabbing the lantern off her little table, she slipped on her soft little shoes that the prince made sure she was supplied with. It had been a whole new experience for the past week working as the prince's maid, besides the extra attention he gave her. He had made sure she was supplied with new clothes, shoes, a decent room and bed. She felt like she was finally being treated like a person.

    Rosalina opened her door and quickly an old hand was covering her mouth to stifle the startled scream that escaped her lips. It was Lenora. Panic suddenly filled Rosalina. Did she know about her and Marcellus? Did she come to stop her? Her eyes darted back and forth trying to read the old woman's expression as she shushed her.

    "Come, Little Lady. It's time for you to go. Follow me," she said in hushed whispers. She had a lantern of her own, but it's light was more muted than her own. "Douse your lantern and leave it. You won't need it."

    Rosalina doused her lantern and placed it back on the little table in her room. She was so confused on what was going on. "Madam Lenora, what is going on? Why are you here?" She had to ask. This was so sudden that she just could barely wrap her head around it.

    Lenora shushed her again by placing her bony index finger over Rosalina's lips. "Shhhh, your questions will all be answered later. First, I have to get you out of here. Put this on." She handed over a dark colored cloak and waved her hand insisting that she hurry it up. She put the cloak on, and Lenora pulled the hood up over her head to hide her bright red hair that, thankfully, was pulled back into a long braid.

    Without another word, Lenora grabbed the girl's hand and started moving through the castle corridors. This was not the way towards the prince's room, no, this was the way towards the throne room. This woman knew all the guards schedules, and avoided them easily. Hiding down dark hallways and covering the lantern so that they wouldn't be seen.

    A guard came dangerously close to them, but Lenora kept her arm over Rosalina, holding her pressed against the wall while the guard walked by. She couldn't help but hold her breath in fear and anticipation for the guard to finish turning the corner. When he was finally out of sight, Lenora signaled her to continue following quietly.

    Rosalina was starting to feel a little dizzy because she was breathing so shallowly from the crippling fear she was starting to feel. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, she feared it may burst right out, or the loud beating would give them away, but once again another guard went right by while they hid again. This was agonizing. She was beginning to be thankful she had been caught before trying to sneak to the prince's chambers. She would have been caught for sure.

    They finally reached the service entrance to the throne room. Lenora pushed the small door open quietly and hurried in, pulling Rosalina in quickly before shutting the door. The room was completely empty at the moment, aside from the two of them being there. Without wasting anytime, Lenora quickly moved across the room to the wall behind the thrones. There, she moved aside the tapestry and pressed a stone in. A soft clicking sound was heard just before a section of the wall moved back and slid to the side, opening up a small doorway.

    "Come quickly." Lenora was still speaking in hushed tones, so Rosalina simply nodded her head and entered the small dark and damp pathway in the walls. When they were both in, Lenora pulled a lever and the door closed once more. "This is a hidden escape passage for the royal family. We are using it to get you out, Little Lady." She turned a knob on the lantern and the fire grew brighter to illuminate the passageway.

    Little Lady... Lenora had called her that for as long as she could remember, but she didn't know why. "Where am I going, we who?" Rosalina stopped, she needed some answers.

    Lenora sighed and turned around to face her. "Little Lady, you are going home. Back to your parents. You have been a prisoner here, that's why you weren't allowed to leave the castle gates. Prince Dorian is the one who I am helping to get you back home. We must go, he is waiting for us," she sounded close to pleading at the end. It gave Rosalina a sense of urgency.

    If she was a prisoner here, then who was she really? Wait? Did she say Prince Dorian? The oldest prince who disappeared years ago. She vaguely remembered him and how kind he was. She also remembered the very loud argument he and the king had just before he went missing. It was something about a princess being mistreated. After that he vanished. Some servants speculated that the king had killed him because he was angry that his son argued with him.

    She was so lost in her inner thoughts that she didn't even realize they had made it to the end of the passage. The cool night air hit her face as Lenora opened the door by pulling a lever.

    As soon as the door slid open, Dorian's head shot up and looked at who it was. He recognized Lenora immediately, even though she had aged a bit since the last time he had seen the old maid. He couldn't really see the girl with her underneath the cloak, until a quick breeze blew her hood off. She was dazzling as her soft pale skin glowed in the moonlight. She quickly pulled her hood back up before he could see more of her facial features.

    "It's time to leave, Princess Rosalina," his voice was deep and quiet as he reached out his hand to her. Lenora pushed her forward and helped her up into the saddle behind Dorian. She still didn't understand what was going on. "Hold on, we'll be riding quickly to make it back to your escort." He turned to Lenora, "Thank you. You will be rewarded for your efforts."

    Lenora shrugged her shoulders as if she wasn't worried about it. "Go, hurry. Before they know she's gone." With that she went back in to the hidden passage and shut the door.

    Dorian turned the horse and kicked it into a canter. Rosalina wrapped her arms around him tightly trying not to fall. The rush of wind past their faces knocked her hood off once more, her braid whipped behind them as they rushed towards the woods. He could feel her shaking behind him, he couldn't tell if she was frightened or cold. It was honestly a little bit of both.