A Midnight Flight
1012 Words
Mary watched intently, her eyes wide with concern, as I cautiously uncovered the dish. The silver lid clinked against the plate, revealing a steaming hot meal.
The sight of herbed lamb chops with roasted potatoes greeted me, and my stomach growled loudly, betraying my hunger.
With a deep sigh, I warily took a spoonful and brought it to my lips. The warmth of the food spread through my fingers, and the aroma tantalized my taste buds.
Mary took a step forward, her eyes fixed on me, her face pale. Isabel watched in anticipation, her hands clasped together.
I took a small bite from my spoon, the flavors exploding on my tongue. The lamb was tender, the herbs infused perfectly.
A second passed. Two. Five. Ten. Fifteen.
And I wasn't coughing and holding my throat painfully.
Isabel's tense expression softened, her lips curving upward into a warm, reassuring smile. "See?" she said, her voice infused with a soothing calmness. "Completely safe."
Mary's tension eased, replaced by relief.
I took another bite, savoring the flavors, letting the warmth spread through my chilled body.
"Come, Mary. Join me. You must be famished too," I said, signalling her forward.
"She can join you if she wants, but then, her dinner is at the servants quarters. After you're done with your food, she'd have to follow me there," Isabel says, her tone gentle and calm.
I nodded slowly and glanced at Mary. I nudged at her and she replied me with a warm smile. I know bringing her here wouldn't make her be treated differently than she was treated back at my father's palace, but still I was glad that I get to see a face of someone dear to me in this strange place. Mary was more than just a personal maid to me she's my friend too.
"Come, Mary," I invited, beckoning her forward with a gentle wave of my hand. "Join me. You must be famished too." My eyes met hers, and I sensed her hesitation.
Isabel intervened, her tone gentle and calm. "She can join you if she wants, but then, her dinner is at the servants' quarters. After you're done with your food, she'd have to follow me there." Her words were laced with a hint of apology.
I nodded slowly, considering Isabel's words. My gaze drifted back to Mary, and I nudged her encouragingly.
Mary's face brightened with a warm smile, and she stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.
As she sat beside me, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me. Bringing Mary here wouldn't change her status, but it meant the world to have her by my side in this foreboding place.
Mary was more than just my personal maid; she was my confidante, my friend. We had shared countless moments, laughter, and tears together. In this strange, treacherous world, her presence was a beacon of hope.
Isabel smiled softly, seeming to understand the bond between us. "Take your time, Princess. Enjoy your meal together."
As we began to eat, the tension eased, replaced by the warmth of friendship and the fleeting sense of normalcy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As the darkness enveloped the palace, I lay awake, watching Mary sleep beside me. Her gentle breathing was a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. After finishing our meal, Isabel had escorted Mary to the servants' quarters for dinner. Mary returned an hour later, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
Now, as I gazed at her peaceful face, my heart swelled with emotion. I knew I had to escape, but leaving Mary behind would be agonizing.
I carefully threw off the covers, trying not to disturb Mary. My movements were deliberate, calculated to avoid any noise. This escape wasn't planned, so I didn't bother grabbing a few things.
With a deep, fortifying breath, I grasped the cold metal handle and quietly turned it, wincing as the door's hinges creaked softly, the faint sound echoing through the stillness like a whispered secret.
As I slipped out into the corridor, the chill of the cold stone floor beneath my bare feet sent a shiver up my spine. The darkness seemed to swallow me whole, and I felt tiny against the palace's imposing labyrinthine passageways, which stretched before me like a dark, serpentine beast waiting to devour me.
My senses heightened, I moved swiftly, my heart pounding in my chest. The flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the walls, making me feel like a phantom gliding through the darkness.
Every step echoed through the silence, punctuated only by the occasional distant howl of a wolf, its mournful cry filling me with a sense of foreboding.
I descended the grand staircase, the marble steps gleaming like moonlit waterfalls, each tread echoing with the weight of history.
The palace's ornate architecture blurred around me – intricate tapestries depicting forgotten battles, suits of armor standing sentinel, and gilded mirrors reflecting the flickering torchlight.
In the long gallery, the portraits of forgotten kings and queens watched me with cold, dead eyes, their faces seeming to hold secrets and stories of centuries past.
Finally, I pushed through a heavy door, its hinges groaning in protest, and the night air enveloped me like a shroud, heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves.
Stepping into the open space, I lifted my face to the sky, the moon shining brightly above, casting an ethereal glow over the palace gardens.
The sky was a deep shade of indigo, studded with stars twinkling like diamonds scattered across the velvet expanse.
In the distance, a lone wolf howled, its haunting cry echoing through the stillness, sending another shiver down my spine.
Before me lay the palace gardens, a maze of twisting paths, shadowy hedges, and moonlit fountains beckoning me toward freedom.
Yet, the darkness hid unknown dangers, and I steeled myself for the journey ahead, my heart pounding with anticipation.
As I stood there, drinking in the cool night air, a figure emerged from the shadows behind me.
"Leaving so soon, Princess?" a low, velvety voice asked behind me, chilling my very bones.
- Writer
