The Runaway Princess

~Chapter 16~

When I wake up something feels different, not mentally but physically.

I look to my left and control myself to not cry out in surprise. We both must've fallen asleep last night. I stand up and decide to change. Before I change I wash my face to wake me up. I look at my wardrobe and get into a lilac dress and a pair of purple shoes. When I exit my wardrobe I find Nicholas rubbing his eyes and brushing his hand through his hair.

"Sorry, I think I fell asleep on you last night." I say as I try to find a brush. I find one and start pulling it through my hair.

"I actually think I went to sleep first. It was a long ride to here." I nod and when I'm satisfied with my hair I plait it over my right shoulder.

"Oh well, I think we should head downstairs. If you want i can grab some of Anthony's clothes for you." He nods and I enter Anthony's room after I leave mine.

Empty.

I rummage through his wardrobe and find a decent outfit. I go back to Nicholas and hand it to him. "Come downstairs when you're done." He nods and I close the door.

When I reach the dining room I find Anthony sitting in his usual spot. "Shouldn't you be sitting there?" I point to my father's seat.

He shakes his head. "it doesn't feel right. Besides, I haven't been made King formally yet." I nod and sit next to him.

"What's going to happen to us?" He asks, even though he already knows the answer I respond. "Well, you're going to become King, you'll find a wife and rule over the Kingdom just like our father did." He looks at me and that's when I notice the tears in his eyes.

"What if I can't be like him?" His voice quavers as he speaks. "You'll be fine. We were raised by a great man."

He nods and blinks his tears away.

Thomas enters the room and looks at us sympathetically.

Nicholas enters slightly but looks wary. I gesture for him to sit opposite me and next to Thomas.

"Why is he here?" Anthony whispers to me. I slam my hands on the table making the three of them jump. "Nicholas is a nice person, you know that. All of us were close friends. Its his father's fault not his. His father lied to everyone, even his own son. It is not his fault so you two,"I gesture between Anthony and Thomas, "better stop being rude because it was all his father. I want all of us to go back to how we used to be, friends." With that I stand up and leave the room.

I go to the only person I can think of.

George.

I enter the workshop and find him reading again. "What are you reading?" I try to look at the cover of the book but he hides it.

"Oh, Alexia, I'm sorry about_" "Its okay, you didn't kill any of them." I shut my eyes as I say the word 'kill'.

I sit next to him on his bed. I see the book slightly and decide to distract him with conversation, just like with King Neil. Except I'm not going to throw a knife at his face.

"Where were you yesterday?" I ask. "I was fighting near the back of the palace." I nod and slowly move my hand towards the book.

I wrap my fingers around its cover and pull fast. He gasps and tries to grab it back. I grab a nearby sword and point it to him as I read the cover.

"Knights and noblemen." I say in a confused way. I look at him and lower the sword. "Why are you reading this? George do you want to be a knight?" He looks away and somehow looks more interested in his bed sheets.

I sigh and throw the book on his bed. I put the sword away and grab his hands. "You are a better swordsman than most knights." He looks at me and his eyes tell me he wants me to keep talking. "I will talk to Anthony as soon as everything is officially organised to consider making you a knight." As soon as the words leave my lips he smiles. "Really?" I nod. He hugs me.

"Thank you so much Alexia." I laugh as he unwraps his arms. "That's okay, you deserve it anyway."

~~~

Queen Amanda is standing in front of the three guys. I walk up next to Thomas. "Oh Alexia, just in time. We're going to invite other royals to Anthony's induction. We'll be gone for a few days." I nod. "Are we all staying here alone?" Thomas asks. "Yes, Alexia, make sure that these boys don't do anything they'll regret." I nod and look at the other three. "I'm going to go get ready." Queen Amanda leaves the room.

"How come you're in charge? I'm older than you." Thomas says. I cross my arms over my chest. "Because I'm more responsible and trustworthy, that's why." I answer. He turns to Nicholas, "We're both older, why can't we be in charge?" Nicholas shrugs, he doesn't look as worked up about it as Thomas. At least they're talking to each other.

After they leave I decide to use my time to train. I get changed then grab icicle and various daggers. When I get downstairs Anthony looks confused at my change of clothing. "I'm going to go train. Bye" i leave him but when I push through the doors he follows.

I hear more than one pair of feet walking. I ignore them and walk through the maze and I only turn around when we are near the clearing. "This is where I train. I hear the familiar sound of a sword against wood. I watch as Shane repeatedly hits the wooden dummy. "You're getting better very fast." I say.

"And you're early as well." He nods. "I've been here for about an hour." I realise the beads of sweat on his forehead.

"That'd good. How about daggers?" I ask. He nods and goes to the edge to collect his sheath. I look at the other three. Anthony and Nicholas look surprised and Thomas has a mix of emotions showing. I sit next to Nicholas as I watch Shane set up the targets.

"Put one up there." I point to a large branch that is behind an array of smaller branches. He nods and tries to put it up. "You teach him?" I turn to Nicholas and nod. I throw the daggers at one of the targets for Shane to use. When I relax I look at Nicholas. "What?" I ask. He shakes his head. "You're one of a kind." He says. I smile and watch Shane.

"Exhale as you throw it." I instruct. He nods and the daggers stick to the target repeatedly. After a few minutes I tell him to sit next to me.

"You're doing good." He smiles and lays down. "My arms hurt." He says. He closes his eyes and I decide to let him rest.

"Alexia?" I lean forward to look at Anthony. "Why are you training him?" "Because he's helped me before. He's also my friend." He opens his mouth again but I glare at him. He snaps his mouth shut.

I hear footsteps and instinctively pick up my sword and remove it from its sheath. I do this all while standing up and walking towards the noise. I see Kat there with a shocked expression, I lower my sword and apologise. "Sorry, I've been a bit wary of people in the woods ever since..." I trail off and Kat's face softens. "I'm sorry about your parents." She says, "but Shane needs to get home now." i nod and shake Shane's shoulder. 

"I promise to practise later." He says groggily. "Its okay, you did enough, just get home." He stands and walks with Kat back home. 

I wish I never mentioned the fight, I feel sick now. Memories flash through my mind, my father giving me icicle, my mother reprimanding me for not brushing my hair, Anthony and Thomas teasing me when I was younger, the skinny knight, my helmet getting pulled off my head, King Neil, my father's cold lifeless body. 

Past memories of my family as a whole keep invading my thoughts. 

They're gone, and they're never coming back.

It gets hard for me to breathe, the hyperventilating starts. I lean on a nearby tree as my legs start to feel weak.

"Alexia? What's wrong?" Even if I could answer, I wouldn't know what to say. 

Then everything goes sideways and then, nothing.