The Forbidden Princess [Paused]

Chapter 21: We Break In Again (Jesse's POV)

What did I just agree to do?

Oh that's right. I agreed to death.

What was I thinking? I can't beat Arthur in a duel. But I needed to win Charlotte. I needed for her to be mine.

This wasn't suppose to happen anyways. We were suppose to head to the castle together and take the king down together.

Now, Liv is gone so it's only Caiden and I. But now because of my stupid mistakes it's just me.

Arthur had his men set up a ring of rocks for us to duel in, about as big as a couple covered wagons to fit in.

We both decided to not allow any weapons inside the ring, only our fists.

We both got in fighting stancesthen Charlotte said, "Go!" and we went at each other, punches and kicks flying.

I don't remember much of the fight, because I was kicked in the head a couple minutes in.

I woke up to Caiden splashing cold water all over my face. I sat up as fast as I could which was a bad idea; my head was pounding and I was dizzy. I tried to look around as best as I could and didn't see Charlotte, Arthur, or any one else besides Caiden.

"Caiden, where's Charlotte?"

He didn't answer me. He just stared at the trees, the sky, and the ground.

I spoke up again, staring him in the eyes sternly. "Caiden. What happened after Arthur won?"

Caiden took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Jesse-I tried to stop them but they got away."

I grabbed Caiden's shirt collar and scowled at him. "Why couldn't you, Caiden?! You had a bow and a bundle of arrows! You could have shot them all and saved Charlotte!"

Caiden looked horrified. Then he looked as angry as I was. Then he closed his eyes and calmed down. "Look," he said. "I'm sorry about Charlotte. I know how bad you want to be with her. I get it. I feel the same away about Liv. We will get her back. We know where they are headed, Jesse. We can meet them there."

I tried to be as calm as I could. "How long ago did they leave?"

"About half an hour ago."

"Let's go then."

~~~

We started off sprinting. Then running. Then it was more of a trot. Then it was a walk. We had to be close to them by now. If not close to them, at least close to the castle.

I turned to look at Caiden as we continued to lumber through the woods. "Caiden?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for blowing up at you. It was completely wrong of me to-"

"Hey," he cut me off. "It's fine. I understand. If I was in your shoes I would be just as upset and probably take it out on whoever was closest."

"Really?"

Caiden nodded. "Really."

"Thanks, Caid."

"What are friends for?" he smiled. "And look, we made it."

I looked up to see the castle wall staring me in the face. The same wall that we entered before with Charlotte.

"I know a way in," I said. "Follow me."

We searched all around the base for the hole that we had already dug before. I finally found it after ten minutes of searching. It was filled in but I could still tell it was our hole. I began to dig, throwing dirt in all directions behind me like a dog would dig up a bone.