Hazel's Royal Plight

Chapter 6

Coco slowed down to a soft walk we had just done a mad dash out of the castle gates. A rush we both enjoyed after being kept inside for 3 very long rainy days. I was not sure who was more excited for a morning ride, me or Coco.

Coco was nothing want he seemed. He he a beautiful red-brown Clydesdale. The day he was born he lost his mother. The stable hands were busy with the other animals there was no time for him. So I took him under my wing. I became his mother at the age of 10. For 3 years we have became the best of friends.

Then my mother died. Coco escaped the stables that morning. He ran through the courtyard and almost made it to my room. He broke 4 wooden carts, hurt 15 men, scared 12 women and set fire to the front doors. There are still burn marks on them. Coco was coming to my side, like I did for him the day he lost his mother.

Robert was the one who brought me to him. That night it was also who Robert would seek him to my rooms where we would sit by the fire and I would cry. I was 13 when my mother passed. It was a long hard week, but Coco got me threw it all. On the 4the day of crying it was him who put me on his back and he slowly walked down the stairs and out of the castle doors. He then RAN!!

I had only my night clothes on at the time, but the wind and fresh air was what I needed the most. Coco knew it. I rode him bareback for the first time that day. I loved how it felt and never put a saddle on him again. I smiled at the memories we had riding through the fields of azaleas.

Today I was in riding slacks with a blouse. Something a stable hand would wear, but more feminine. I also has a sack with a book, apples, bread, and some cheese hidden in. I was not planning on returning home for at least a few hours. Coco was taking me to our favourite place. After the vast fields of azaleas there was a forest. A short walk through the trees was a small creek. Next to that was a patch of grass where we would sit, read, eat or sleep! I loved how peaceful this little place became our, it was our secret place. It use to belong to mother and me, but after she passed it became Coco's and mine.

When we arrived at it was anything but peaceful. There were tons of animals. I had never seen so many in this place at once.

"Hello?" I called out. They didn't move or flinch as we came through the clearing of trees. They all looked at us. Then they clustered together. "You look like an ugly rug." I said laughing to myself. "I wonder what are you all doing here. Not here to drink at once? Oh well I don't mind sharing."

I slid off Coco to place myself on the ground. Then the animals started to scurry. I stayed still afraid to frighten any of them. I counted, five warthogs, seven bunnies, thirteen squirrels, three skunks , six frogs, eight robbins, and one lizard. "You know what Coco with a coat like that I could hide any where. No one would approach me for fear of what kind of animal I am. It's a nice disguise."

I sat on the grass and open up my sack. I pulled out my book and tossed Coco his apple. I settled against a tree with my book ready to enjoy a story. Then Coco got playful. He rolled on his back and then pranced through the creek. My book was tossed aside as I joined him in the creek.

***
"Princess Hazel you are soaked to the bone" said Pearl as she helped me peel my wet clothes off. "What have you been doing?"

"I went for a ride. We got caught in the rain, " It was true after Coco and I were dry from playing in the stream, a storm rolled in. Our few hours of sunshine turned into a gray gloomy summer storm. Coco decided to trot us home. He took his time enjoying the rain as it fell. It started as a light sprinkle then it turned into a hard downpour. I could not see more than a foot in front of me.

"That horse will be the death you." scolded Pearl. She then helped me into the warm bath. The heat seeped into my skin making me feel sleepy and warm. The scent of vanilla filled my lungs.

"Who is taking care of Coco?" I suddenly remembered. Robert had pulled me in as soon as I entered the courtyard. I didn't not get too dry Coco off, give him his blanket or his oats.

"The stable hands are." shaped Pearl. She did not like Coco, or that I wore slacks and no saddle to ride him. I sighted. "I will return soon with something warm and dry."

As Pearl scurried off I giggled to myself. She looked like the animals at the creek. Ruby then walked in moments later with towels and a warmer dress." What is so funny Hazel?"

"I was out at my spot by the creek and saw these animals by the water. Then they scurried away, Pearl looked just like them." I said as she scrubbed my back and washed my hair. Ruby smiled with me.

"I hope you don't mind, but I told John about you, Coco and the rain. He is overseeing Cooc's needs as we speak now." said Ruby. "I know how much Coco means to you. Everyone needs a best animals friend."

"Thank you." I said with a sincere expression. "You are truly my favorite."

"Oh!" gasped Ruby, "Princess Hazel!!!" she teases. Holding up a towel I stepped out of the bath and into the warm cloth. Ruby then left me to dress myself. A few moments later I was dress and in front of the fireplace.

"So wait let me get this straight," said Ruby sipping her hot chocolate. Emerald brought up some dinner with hot chocolate. I was then telling Ruby and Emerald about today's strange adventure. "You saw warthogs, bunnies,squirrels, skunks, frogs, robbins, and a lizard, by the stream?"

I nodded.

"What were they doing there?" asked Emerald.

"I don't know. They sort of clustered together into this very hideous rug or fur coat." I answered. "I mean if one wanted to run away their skins would be perfect to hide under." I laugh at the thought.

Suddenly Ruby sat straight up. "Hazel!! You are not thinking of running away from your marriage to your father are you?"

"That would be a good idea" said Emerald. "There is no way on earth I would want to marry me dad. Grose!!" she said like it was something she wanted to get off her chest for the last 2 months. Ruby and I exchange looks, "What?!"

"That is what we are doing." I answered. Ruby and I then filled Emerald in on our plan. She agreed with all of it. "These hazelnuts are magical. They will hold the 3 dresses I asked father for. I just need something to run away in now."

" What about that animal coat you saw by the creek?" asked Emerald. "You said yourself no one would approach you with that coat on."

"What a crazy and wonder idea!" I said. My 3rd wish is for a rug or coat made of forest furs!"

"The uglier the better." said Ruby. "Skunks, deer, warthog, and maybe a few squirrels to go with it."

"But deer? It's that a little too beautiful." said Emerald.

"True , but you have to add a little beauty to confuse King Leopold. We can make him suspicious." Ruby pointed out. "we should add rabbit to the list too. Put it on the inside. That way you have something soft to sleep on."

I just sat there with my cocoa, while my maids worked out the last details of my final wish. They made it a cloak, with rabbit fur on the inside, squirrel tails for the hood and warthog, squirrel, and birds on the outside. It was going to look hideous, and according to them my father would only think it was a fur cloak with feathers.

********AN**********
Thank you for reading.

PixyDust5