Crown of two hearts

Chapter Four: The Great Escape

The castle was unusually quiet that night. The torches lining the walls flickered dimly, their light casting long shadows that stretched across the stone floors. Elizabeth moved through the darkened corridors, her heart pounding with every step. She had dressed in the plainest clothes she could find, a simple brown cloak that hid her face and identity. Tonight, she was not the princess of Eldoria. Tonight, she was just a girl trying to flee from a life she couldn't bear.

She made her way to the kitchens first, where Mara had instructed her to wait. The servants had already retired for the night, and the massive room was empty, save for the lingering scent of fresh bread and the occasional crackle from the dying hearth fire. Elizabeth slipped inside, keeping to the shadows, her eyes scanning for any sign of movement.

A soft rustle caught her attention, and she turned to see Mara emerging from a small side door, carrying a large sack over her shoulder. Her hair was tucked under a plain scarf, and she wore a simple dress, the kind all the servant girls wore. But even in this guise, she was the most beautiful thing Elizabeth had ever seen.

"Mara," Elizabeth whispered, relief flooding her voice.

Mara set the sack down gently and crossed the room in quick, silent steps. She reached out, taking Elizabeth's hands in hers, her eyes searching the princess's face. "Are you ready?" she asked softly.

Elizabeth nodded, squeezing Mara's hands tightly. "I'm ready."

Mara offered her a small, reassuring smile. "The horses are in the stable, as we planned. I managed to get us some food and a few supplies. It's not much, but it should be enough to get us to the border."

Elizabeth glanced at the sack, her heart swelling with gratitude and love. Mara had thought of everything, while she had been paralyzed by the enormity of what they were about to do. But now, standing here with Mara's hands in hers, she felt a surge of determination. They could do this. They had to.

"Let's go," Elizabeth said, her voice steady.

Together, they moved through the castle, sticking to the back corridors and servant passages. Elizabeth had never ventured into these parts of the castle before—these hidden pathways and narrow stairwells that the servants used to move unseen and unheard. But Mara knew them all, guiding her with the ease of someone who had spent her entire life in the shadows of the palace.

They reached the stables without incident. The stable hand Mara had mentioned was waiting for them, a young man with nervous eyes and a hurried manner. He glanced around to make sure they were alone before leading them to two horses, already saddled and ready.

"These should get you to the border," he whispered, handing Mara the reins. "But you have to move quickly. If they find you're gone..."

"We'll be long gone by then," Mara assured him, her voice calm and confident. "Thank you, Tomas. We owe you."

The young man nodded, his eyes lingering on Elizabeth for a moment. He had probably guessed who she was, but he said nothing. Just turned and disappeared into the shadows of the stable.

Mara helped Elizabeth up onto her horse before mounting her own. They glanced at each other one last time, a silent promise passing between them. No matter what happened next, they would face it together.

"Ready?" Mara asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elizabeth nodded, gripping the reins tightly. "Ready."

With that, they urged their horses into a swift trot, heading toward the open gates at the far end of the castle grounds. The guards at the gates were lax, half asleep in their posts. The gates were kept open during the night for the messengers and travelers that came and went at all hours, and tonight, that would be their salvation.

They passed through the gates without incident, the horses' hooves making barely a sound on the cobblestones. Once they were clear of the castle walls, Mara spurred her horse into a gallop, and Elizabeth followed suit, the wind whipping through her hair as they sped into the night.

The kingdom of Eldoria stretched out before them, dark and silent under the moonlight. The road ahead was long, and they had to put as much distance between themselves and the castle as possible before dawn. But for the first time in her life, Elizabeth felt a glimmer of hope. She was free. They were free.

---

Hours passed as they rode through the night, the stars their only guide. Elizabeth's body ached from the unfamiliar strain of riding for so long, but she didn't dare slow down. Not until they were far from the castle, far from the life she had left behind.

Finally, as the first hints of dawn began to color the sky, Mara led them off the road and into a dense forest. The trees closed in around them, offering cover and a much-needed respite from the open road. They rode deeper into the woods until they found a small clearing by a stream, hidden from view.

Mara dismounted first, quickly tying the horses to a nearby tree. She turned to Elizabeth, her eyes filled with concern. "We can rest here for a bit," she said gently. "Just until the horses are ready to go again."

Elizabeth nodded, sliding off her horse with a groan. Every muscle in her body protested, but she forced herself to stay on her feet. They had to be strong. They couldn't afford to be weak now.

Mara led her to a fallen log near the stream and helped her sit down. "Here," she said, pulling a water flask from her sack. "Drink."

Elizabeth took the flask gratefully, taking small sips of the cool water. The forest around them was quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant call of a bird. It was peaceful, almost serene, and for a moment, Elizabeth allowed herself to breathe.

"We did it," she whispered, the reality of their escape finally sinking in. "We actually did it."

Mara knelt beside her, her eyes shining with a mixture of relief and excitement. "Yes, we did. But we're not safe yet. We have to keep moving."

Elizabeth nodded, knowing she was right. The king would realize she was gone by now, and when he did, he would send men after them. They had to keep moving, had to stay ahead of the search parties. But at least they had this moment, this fleeting moment of victory.

Mara leaned in closer, her hand gently cupping Elizabeth's cheek. "No matter what happens," she said softly, "I'm glad we're doing this. Together."

Elizabeth's heart swelled with emotion, and she leaned into Mara's touch. "I love you," she whispered, the words spilling out before she could stop them. "I love you, Mara."

Mara's eyes softened, and a smile tugged at her lips. "I love you too, Eliza. More than anything."

They held each other's gaze for a long moment, the world around them fading away. It didn't matter that they were fugitives now, that they were running from the only life Elizabeth had ever known. All that mattered was that they were together, and that they had chosen this path for themselves.

"Come on," Mara said finally, breaking the spell. "We should get moving."

Elizabeth nodded, feeling a renewed strength in her limbs as she stood. They had a long journey ahead, but with Mara by her side, she knew they could face anything.

Together, they mounted their horses once more and rode into the forest, the dawn light guiding their way. Behind them lay the life they had left, and ahead, the uncertain path of freedom.

But for the first time, Elizabeth felt truly alive.