Hunted

First Impression

"Quickly! We must hurry!" I could Marian yell. This must end. Though, today, the King said I had a VERY important message to deliver. "Come on!" screamed Marian. "Alright! I'm coming!" I yelled back begrudgingly. Marian is my best friend, but she always has to be at least an hour early, and I really should consider going to work by myself. Plus, she's a maid. What in the world would she want to make her clean for an extra hour without pay? My job is the best, riding horses through meadows and forests, taking in all the beauty and the thrill that someone might try to kill me so I don't deliver a message. My job is beautiful, exciting, and dangerous. "Fiona!! Let's go, now!" Marian yelled, stomping down the stairs. I quickly pulled on my jerkin and a pair of riding pants. Marian walked in holding my pair of muddy boots. "The King sent a letter that you had to be at the castle an hour early. Let's go!" she said. Her face was red, and I've never seen her this mad. "The King?! What time is it?!" I asked frantically putting on my boots. "Near 4 a.m. We'll nearly make it. Quickly!" she said while she rushed out of the room. 

I followed quickly behind her. Running through my kitchen I grabbed a few apples and rushed out the door. It was early enough to still feel the chill in the air, and I could see the dew on the ground. I wonder what he needs this early. I raced into my small stable and quickly put the saddle on my favorite, and fastest, horse, Gryffi. I raced to the back of the stable and the main road. Mary was waiting on her horse. "I'm going. Are you?" Marian asked angrily. "Yeah..." I grumbled back. I jumped onto Gryffi and we headed off onto the main road.

Thirty minutes had passed and we were just arriving at the castle. "Almost didn't make it," grumbled one of the butlers. Horiele is always taking pleasure in watching me fail. He thinks I have too much fun at work and we should all suffer his unhappiness. "Yeah, well we did. Didn't we?" I countered. He didn't say anything back so I assume he admitted he was defeated. Horiele just turned around muttering to himself about rules and regulations. 

I ride my horse around the edge of the castle to the stable. I must hurry. I don't want the King to choose someone else. I jump off the horse and hand the reins to the stable boy, Kamerion. Kamerion has always been one of my closest friends. He's always been a jokester, that's why he wasn't knighted. Though he is good with a sword. "I'm not your servant!" he calls after me. "King needs to see me. But I owe you!" I yell back. I turn and smile at him while running. I didn't see where I was going so I tripped. My hands hit the ground and slipped. I was covered in mud. It must have rained last night. Behind me, I could hear the laughing fit of Kamerion. "I think the King will mistake you as a pig! Better watch out, I hear they're having pork for supper!" Kamerion yells and already begins to laugh at his own joke. That Kamerion Lause isn't even FUNNY. I push myself up and try to wipe as much mud off as possible. 

I'm half running up the steps of the throne room. The palace never fails to amaze me even though I work here. Every time, I gaze at the ornate ceilings lined with gold in the shapes of leaves. I've never actually been in the presence of the King, so I'm REALLY nervous. Especially since I'm covered in mud. "I bet Horiele is going to love this," I mumble to myself. Why are there so many stairs? Finally, I make it to the top and I see the massive doors. "Name?" asks Horiele. I bet he's enjoying this. I can see the smile he's trying to hide. "Fiona," I respond. "Full name," he says. I glare at him as I say, "Seavan." Horiele has the guards open the door, I try to look ahead, but I can feel the guards and servants staring. Why did I have to fall today?? I keep my head up and I look straight ahead. The throne is amazing, but the King looks ancient. The prince next to him on the other hand... I could stare at him for hours. He has chestnut-colored hair, and bright green eyes that make you feel like everything is going to be okay, but I know not to get involved with boys, Kamerion kind of ruined my desire to, so I quickly look away. I walk forward and turn my head to look at the walls. There are mirrors EVERYWHERE. Showing my mud-ruined self. I look in one and see my face. Surprisingly, there is only one streak of mud there. When I realize the mud is still wet, I turn around and see the trail of mud I left behind. I wince knowing that Marian will have to clean it up. Of course, she is already there doing it. She looks up at me and I catch her eye. She glares at me and frankly, I don't blame her. "Sorry," I mouth back to her. 

"Miss Fiona Seavan," announces Horiele.  I turned and smile. Not a "happy to be here" smile, more of an "I'm sincerely sorry I ruined your carpet" smile. "Splendid," says the king in a booming voice. It's like he doesn't even notice the mud. "I'd like to speak with you alone," he says. As soon as he said those words, every single servant was gone in five seconds. I look at him. I feel like a tiny mouse cornered by a gigantic cat. I think he can tell I'm timid. "Tea?" he asks. Seriously? That's what he asks? Does he want me to spill it on myself? "No thank you, Your Highness," I respond with a wavering voice. My nerves are going crazy. What if he thinks I'm ill-suited for the job because I can't speak to him? "This is Prince Turner. he will be joining you on your journey along with your friend, that maid. What is her name?" he says. He seems so calm like this message doesn't matter. "M-Marian," I say cautiously. I didn't know the King was watching Marian and me... I try to put more confidence in my speaking. "What is this message, Your Majesty?" I politely ask. "I have to show you something first. Go get your friend. I think you will find her nearby," the King says once again in his booming voice.