The Shadow In My Light

Chapter 3

"I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples."

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I reach the palace finally, out of breath, I continue running towards my room. I get to the hallway leading to my room and see my father waiting angrily for me, I slowly walk up to him, my heart is pounding so hard from the running and the anxiety creeping up on me. 

He looks at me "Where have you been Delilah!" he yells at me "I'm sorry father, I just went to the market, I didn't do anything bad I promise" I lower my eyes to the floor and my hand joins in front of me, I can feel how much of a coward I am.

I hate that feeling. The feeling where I can feel bold and confident to speak up and yet no words come out, where my body submits without a thought, where I am a coward and a weakling.

"I don't care. You're grounded, no painting, no reading, no garden, no sewing, nothing. You will stay in your room until I say so. I had my guards searching for you! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH MORE I COULD'VE HAVE DONE INSTEAD OF SEARCHING FOR YOU!" He continues "WELL? DO YOU?!" he screams, I flinch at his words.

"No, I don't" I finally feel my cowardness fading into anger. "You know what. Why don't you just let me go?! Why do you care?! You don't talk to me. You don't do anything with me. You. Don't. Care. So don't make it seem like you do!" I lift my eyes to meet his, "I've had enough of this! I WANT TO GO TO THE MARKET FREELY! I WANT TO MEET PEOPLE! I WANT TO EXPERIENCE THINGS! WHY DON'T YOU SEE THAT!" I scream back at him, his face is shocked. It switches from shocked to angry 

"Go. To. Your. Room." he says calmly, his jaw clenches like he's fighting his anger. I don't look back at him when I enter my room and slam the door.

Now that you are all caught up, let us continue to the present now.

Present:

I grab a bag and fill it with whatever clothing, mostly pants, and blouses, I just grab whatever. I start climbing down the vine latter I made with Matt.

As I'm climbing down I hear my door open, and I reach the ground.

"My lady!" the servent yells as I run away, I'm breathing hard, my lungs barely taking any air in, my chest is heaving, so much pressure too much, I can't breathe. I finally reach the forest, My gown is dragging along the dirt floor, I trip and fall but I get back up "I have to get out of here" I breathe. "Stop right now!" says a guard. I look behind me to see about a handful of guards running after me "Crap, why do I have to be so slow!" I stagger forward, a branch snagged on the end of my gown causing it to tear, I catch myself before I fall again. I keep running, when I look back to see that the number of guards has doubled, my heart is pounding drowning away the sound of the leaves crunching under my feet. My feet are burning I feel the splinters from all the branches I stepped on digging deep into my heels, the palms of my hands are sweating, my dress is torn up and my hair is a mess, I don't care, I keep going, I refuse to stay.

I keep running until I notice a waterfall, behind it, a small cave. I run into water that's at the bottom, and finally, reach the waterfall and hide in it.

"Where'd she go?" a guard yells out 

"I think she went that way," a familiar voice says, my eyes widen, I know that voice, it's Luke's voice.

"thank you, villager, if you see her again, alert the authorities. Move out!" The guard tells the rest.

My breathing starts to slow, I part the water with my hands and I see Luke looking straight at me, I gasp and fall back on my butt in surprise. The water parts again, and he walks in. 

"You mind telling me what that was all about?" he asks 

"you-" I pause "you didn't tell them I'm here," I say shocked 

"I might if you don't explain yourself" he sits down next to me 

"My name is Delilah Florence Varisa, Princess of Verix" I state now fixing myself so I'm not still in an awkward position.

His face doesn't show any emotion, we sit there for a good 2 minutes in silence

 "Please say something," I say, my hands start fidgeting with my dress.

"I-" he sounds stunned "My name is Luke Williams, Prince of Alillias" he announces finally.

My mouth drops, "If you're a prince... then why are you dressed as a villager!" I exclaim

"I just wanted to explore" he puts a hand behind his neck, "I was supposed to go to the palace after this" 

"I- how do I even respond to this," I ask "Hey can I ask a quick question?" he asks I nod.

"why do you have a different accent? Like it almost sounds estuary" he questions

"I was raised by my handmaids, I guess I picked up their accent- WAIT your a prince! Why are we talking about my accent?!" I change the subject 

"oh my god." I realize something "what?" he asks

I bring my hand up to my mouth "I can't go back. " I start panicking "he won't take me back, he'll throw me on the streets. I don't have any money. I don't have any food. I don't, I can't, I-" he grabs my hands "Delilah your shaking," he says

I look at my hands and see that I am shaking, bad. My breathing quickens, I look away from him "It's ok, don't worry, you'll be fine." he keeps one hand on my hands and brings the other one to my face, he moves my head to where I'm looking directly at him. He soothingly brushes my cheek "You're staying with me" he declared "what?" I ask quietly 

"I said you're staying with me" he repeats "but you don't know me" I mumble.

"then I will get to know you, c'mon let's go back to my carriage before we get a cold" he smiles and gets up. He reaches his hand out to help me up, I take it and get up with him. I wince when I realize my ankle is twisted, I almost fall back down but he catches me "My ankle" I breathe.

"Ok," he says before he picks me up bridal style "I guess you really are a princess" he laughs, I smack his chest playfully "Shut up" I laugh with him.

We make it to his carriage and he gently puts me inside, "where are we going?" I ask "To Alillias." he replies.