Separated

Part VI: Fredrick

Despite my fearful excitement from the night before, I still woke up around nine in the morning. I enthusiastically put together my materials for such an event: a notepad, pen, and cloak for disguise if needed.

Should I bring a rope?

I looked at the Border. It was too massive to be succeeded in length by any rope in this kingdom. I settled with having my sword in its sheath and its belt wrapped around my waist, just in case.

Three knocks came from outside the bedroom door.

"Prince Fredrick, your father wishes to speak with you as soon as you're available," the all-too-familiar voice of Gerard said from outside.

"I will be right out," I replied, changing into a simple blue suit with black pants. I didn't bother to decorate it with medals or tassels; I didn't want to stand out. I left my bedroom, hoping this conversation would not last too long. I went into the dining hall, where my father was sitting in the far seat, facing me.

"Fredrick!" he shouted gleefully, his voice echoing off of the walls and tall ceilings. "There you are! I have something to tell you!"

I strolled over to the seat next to his and sat down. "What is it, Father?"

"I've decided to change

"Hey, Prince Fredrick! Where're you going?"

I froze in my footsteps. The man that was selling the potato sack named after me was looking straight at me with a curious look.

"I am...trying to visit my...sick uncle!"

"Why did you come from the hedge? Did you fall out of your window whilst trying to visit him?"

"Umm...yes!" I said, seizing that opportunity for an excuse.

He looked doubtful, but he put on a compassionate face and said,

"Well, tell your poor uncle that I said feel better soon!"

"I will. Umm...thank you very much."

I walked toward the Border, letting out a sigh of relief. That was a close one.
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I ran toward the edge of town, my eyes fixed on the expansive cobblestone wall. What lay between me and the Border next was horrifying.

Poor commoners roamed the abandoned streets, staying in old, weathered houses. They wore torn, dirty cloths and scavenged from withering bushes. Cows were kept in rotting fenceposts. I pulled my cloak over my head more so as to conceal my identity. I felt their eyes on me, but I tried my best to ignore them and carry on.

When I finally made it to the Border, I touched it to find pure cold rush down my already-numb spine. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a tiny creature, with six legs and huge, colorful wings. It flew away over the wall.

"If only I could fly like you. Fortunately, I plan on getting over this structure."

I pulled out the rope I brought and looked up. The rope was far too short to go over the enormous wall. It was significantly bigger up close. As I looked down the side of the Border, something caught my eye. It was a small hole, with the midday sun providing just enough light to see through it. I tried to look through it, but I couldn't make out anything on the other side. I tried to look for more, and then I remembered the giant mouse with long ears I saw on the balcony. I looked for any possible holes that could've been dug by it. I searched and searched, but to no avail.

Just when I was about to give up, I heard hissing coming from directly behind me. I turned around slowly to find myself face-to-face with a venomous snake. I knew about these kinds of snakes. If they bit you, you could die in twenty minutes without medical help. There was no one around for a mile. The snake stared at me, making sure I wasn't moving. I took a step back, considering whether to run for my life. It slithered towards me, its yellow fangs bared. I backed up more, and more, until I felt the cold Border brush across my back. I heard a click, and I spotted a hidden staircase that wasn't there before. I slid across the wall, staying away as far as possible from the snake. I lost my footing, and I tumbled down the cold steps.
♦♦♦
I stood up and found myself in utter darkness. The staircase had closed above me, and there was no visible way out. I jumped when I saw a faint light and some kind of human-like thing rolled down some kind of other staircase that was across from me and a very high-pitched scream coming from it, growing louder. It stopped when it was about ten meters away. The staircase disappeared, and I saw the outline of the figure and the sound of shuffling feet. It looked around, clearly confused. After a couple minutes, it seemed to notice me and backed away, slowly. I walked toward it, but it backed away faster. Finally it spoke:

"Who are you, I mean, what are you? I'm not s-scared of you," it said in a high voice.

I couldn't help but chuckle at its comment.

"Are you sure about that?" I replied. "I am a prince. And you are?"

It was silent, for a moment. "A princess."

"Really?" I challenged. Was that even a real title? It sounded too close to mine. The strange person (it seemed like) must have twisted my title in some way and made it sound believable...well, it tried.

"Yes!" it said defiantly. "Maybe you're the fake!" it accused.

I laughed. "Me, a fake!"

"...Yes!"

This person, if that's what it was, seemed too silly for its own good. I almost felt bad for it.

"What's your name?" I asked in mock curiosity.

"Princess Rosaline II, Princess of the North, whatever that means. What about you?" it asked irritably.

"Prince Fredrick III, Prince of the South." I replied flatly.

A silence fell upon the expansive room. As my eyes adjusted more and more to the darkness, I saw the faint outline of the walls, which I realized were dirt-caked. As I looked around the room, I saw an enormous structure on the ceiling that looked like the thick, entangling roots of a tree.

"What are you, I mean really?" it asked.

Who does this person think it is? I already said I was a prince. Then it hit me.

"I am a male," I answered. "And you?"

"A female."

I knew it! Some of the books I found hidden throughout the castle consisted of females. They were very similar to us, but they had a different body build and different habits.

"Can I see you?"

I wasn't sure how it could be able to see me and why it had to ask for my permission, but I heard something like wood strike against the hard ground and a spark appear in from of me. As the spark died away, the female tried again and again until she (I think that's what they were) created a fire. She held it up to me and gasped. I stood still as I realized her resemblance to me. She had the same shade of hair and eye color as I did. She also had broadened eyelashes and a more...feminine look. She was breathtaking, overall. All we could do was stare at each other in silence.
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