A Kingdom to Resurrect

Chapter 4

A/N: So JK. I apologize for the inconsistency.  I didn't stop writing this story but trust me. I  was on the urge to. I locked myself in the story making mode and thought of new ideas to implant into the story. One of the few reasons I chose to drop the story was the time period. I wasn't sure if this story took place in the past or the present but now I have decided the present. It was meant to be a fantasy kingdom story but I guess it is too late. Let's see where it goes and I hope you continue reading this despite the false alarm. Here we go again~

The crack of noise like thunder split into the room, ripping apart the veil of intimacy. I snapped my head toward the direction of the noise but once I recognized the intruders, I darted my eyes to the Prince's chest. My stomach churned with embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry, Your Highness. The guards heard something and we thought the assassins came back. I - Please continue as if we never interrupted." Earla's rambled in alarm.

Boots and heels shuffled across the floor in an desperate attempt to escape.

"Stay." His voice interrupted. "The incident may have scared Your Princess. Stay with her until she feels better." And with a sigh, he said, "I'm returning to my room."

The Prince turned and left, leaving a trail of clicks in his path. The rest of guards followed suit, leaving only Earla and I to ourselves. My whole body failed function in its state of ice. Not a single coherent thought ran through my head but a scramble words and phrases flew around in the empty void, fleeing from my reach.

My legs crumbled like castles of sand beneath me and I slumped to ground. My vision blurred because cascades of tears flowed silently from my eyes. I closed them, groping for my foundation in the silence of the darkness.

Once I pried them open, Earla was speaking. "Your Highness. Hello? Can you tell me what is going on? I walked in here and you were there with His Highness the Prince. I thought there was something going on between you but you had a look of fear of your face. Truly terrified."

I shook my head and with shaky legs I stood up with Earla's help. I clutched the cloak closer to my body. A shiver still ran up and down my spine.

"I need air." I looked frantically about the room. "I'm going outside."

I ran as fast as I could. Where I was going it didn't matter. I knew that as long as I was moving, reaching outside was possible.

I paused just a few seconds in the hall to look at the leaving party. Having heard footsteps leave from the room, he had turned around to investigate the noise. Surprise flashed across his face. Tears budded in the corners of my eyes so I sniffed to keep them at bay. Leaving no room for empathy, I spun on my heel to run in the other direction.

Although I wanted to deny my curiosity, it was there. I was waiting for him, wondering if he would come running after me like any fairy tale. I shook my head. Those dreams were for little girls who had a choice and freedom to believe all the fantasies they wanted because their decisions did not have consequences. 

So I continued sprinting with my cloak whipping wildly behind me and not a care for my safety or of others. The grey stone arches soared above my head sooner than I expected. A grin spread across my lips. I was almost there.

After a sharp right, the gates to the forest and the city beyond lied right in front of me and the night sky and cool breeze enveloped me in its embrace. Although I was outside, I couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough. "Get me a horse." I commanded as loudly as I could to one of the guards standing watch by the gate.

My arrival had shocked them from their nice doze. Rubbing their eyes, they bowed and straightened their posture at the sight of royalty. "But it is far too late for night excursions, Your Highness. I'm afraid we have to decline."