The Returning- The Land of Stories book 7

Chapter 3- The Runaway

That evening, Jack, Goldilocks, Wren, and Hero arrived back at the Western Palace along with the other representatives. It had been a long day, but Wren wasn't tired. She was planning to sneak out of the palace to watch the sunset. As soon as the carriage stopped, Wren jumped out and was the first one inside. But before the could get through the entrance hall to the staircase, she was stopped.

"Wren! Come back here!" Wren considered pretending she hadn't heard her mother, but there was no getting out of this. 

"Yes?" Wren asked, turning.

"We still have a council meeting to discuss our options." Goldilocks said.

"I'm not even on the stupid council! Why do I have to be there?" Wren groaned. She had had just about enough.

"It would send the wrong message if you weren't there. And don't shout." Goldilocks crossed her arms.

"But there's something I want to do." Wren said, trying honesty.

"No! This has gone far enough, Wren. I know you don't like palace life, but things have changed. Nothing ever stays the way you want it to. Now we have an image to uphold-" 

"I don't care!" Wren cut her off. Jack stepped forward.

"Your mother is right. This has to stop." he said.

"It doesn't! When I was young, you told me that we can choose our own destinies. That's what I want to do now! I don't want to be controlled by rules and regulations my whole life!" Wren decided that now was the time to reveal a secret of hers. She tugged on her dress, and it pulled away, revealing a shirt and leggings underneath. Wren balled up the dress. "This is what I think of this family." She threw the dress into the nearest fireplace and ran down the hall toward the stables. Wren heard her parents calling after her, but she didn't care. She was done with her life as a royal, and if Goldilocks, Jack and Hero weren't, then she was done with them, too. She reached the stables and ran down the rows until she found Warrior's stall. She grabbed her sword from a hook hanging next to the stall door and strapped it onto her waist. She opened the stall door, jumped up on Warrior, and rode out of the stables. She only looked back once. Wren decided to head south, toward the Black Forest. They rode for hours. Wren knew as soon as she was in the Black Forest. The trees became thick, and the intertwining branches created a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. She stayed along the edge of the woods where the sky was still visible. Not too long later, a cottage came into sight. It was very familiar. It was where she had been born, and it was where she visited often as a child. It had been years since she had been back. Wren dismounted and left Warrior out front to graze. She walked up to the front door and knocked. After a moment, the door opened and Hagetta appeared.

"Wren?" Hagetta asked. "What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" Wren opened her mouth to explain, but no words came out. Instead, she found tears coming to her eyes. Hagetta led Wren inside. "Wren, what happened?" she asked.

"I ran away." Wren said, beginning to cry. "I was so fed up with the royal life that I just left. Everything has changed and I just want things to be how they used to be. Hero at least understands how I feel, but my parents have changed so much. I feel like I don't even know them anymore and I miss the people they were before. The only thing I know is that I can never go back there!" Hagetta pulled Wren into a hug. 

"Listen, I know you're feeling overwhelmed right now. I think you just need some time to think. You can stay here for now. Why don't you try and get some sleep?" Hagetta said. Wren nodded and wiped her eyes. Hagetta led Wren to her usual bed, and Wren was asleep within minutes.

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The next morning, Wren decided to go on an early morning ride. She was riding along the outskirts of the Black Forest when she heard voices. She suddenly remembered the strange girl from the ball last night. Wren had overheard their discussion about running away to find the threat. Wren suddenly felt like making a sporadic decision. She urged Warrior forward and toward the voices.