Arranged

Chapter 2

She had to get out, run away. She couldn’t marry that, that man. A man she had never met nonetheless. She grabbed a small bag, a little things, she had to travel light to get away fast. She only packed the necessities. She dressed in pants and a shirt, which she normally only used during sword practice, and attached her sword belt with her own hand-crafted sword, a beautiful silver one with designs of her family emblem etched into it with her name. Finally she threw on her silver cloak to hide all the things on her. She opened her doors just slightly to check and see for the guards, as she suspected they where asleep. She had always loved her guards, they had always treated her well, but they could never stay awake during the night, it had never been their strong suit. She slowly started to open her doors, Arnold, one of the guards, had always been a light sleeper and she had to be careful if she was to get past him. Elizibeth opened the door, but for all her luck she couldn’t keep the darn thing from creaking when she opened it. Arnold started to yawn, and rub his eyes, and in quick thinking all Elizibeth could think to do was grab his sword. He woke up quicker with that, and stared at Elizibeth in shock.

“Elizibeth, what are yyy… what are you doing?” But he stopped short when Elizibeth shoved his own sword in his face. I’m sorry Arnold, but I have to get away from here.” And with that she hit on the top of his head with the flat side of the sword, knocking him out cold. She truly felt sorry, and knew that they would be punished, probably in the stocks or cleaning out the stables, but she knew they would forgive her. She dropped his sword and carried on silently and swiftly. She knew all the ways to get around the guards in the castle so she could avoid many of them, but not all. When she came to an exit close to the stables, she found some guards. They spotted her before she had time to think of what to do.

“You highness,” one of them called while both of them curtsied, “is there anything that we can do for you?”

“Yes,” she replied, putting every ounce of royalty arrogance, and I can do anything I want in her tone, “I wish to take a stroll outside, my father and I have had an argument and I wish to get some air.”

The guards looked at each other unsure before replying, “Your Highness I did hear about that but I don’t think the king would appreciate us letting you out at such a late hour, but if you wish we can go and ask him?”

“Yes that’s a great idea!” she replied sarcastically, “Shall you be the one to wake him up or shall I do the honors? I mean really gentleman all I wish to do is take a walk for ten minutes top. Is that really too much to ask? And if you have such a big problem with it then I shall see too it to make your life hell. Is that quite understood?”

“Well,” the same one stuttered, overwhelmed, “I guess it wouldn’t be too much trouble to let you out for ten minutes.”

“Very well,” she replied pushing past the guards. She headed to the stables and went to the last stall before she found her horse, munching on some hay.

“Hello Ace,” she murmured stroking his face, he was a beautiful bay and white Appaloosa, and her partner in crime since she was little. He moved his head up and down, almost in acknowledgement, “Ace we are going to go on a little journey how does that sound?” She didn’t bother to saddle up she figured if it was going to be a long journey, then Ace didn’t need the extra weight, she just put on his bridle, and hopped on bare-backed. And with that Elizibeth took off full force heading for the only way to get out of their kingdom, a bridge that crossed the moat that surrounded them. All she needed to do is get past those guards and she would be well on her way to a new life. She didn’t stop when they came into view just kept going, as long as they didn’t pull up the bridge then she would fine. She watched however, in dismay as one of the guards did start to pull it up, slowly but surely. She kept going however, at full speed. The guards were yelling at her now telling her to stop, and halt, but she didn’t listen. The bridge was getting higher, but it didn’t worry her, yet, Ace was a good jumper. She ran straight at the guards and they scrambled to get out of her way. She raced to the end of the bridge and Ace took a leap across the open water, and made it, two of his back hooves hanging of into the moat. But they were safe now. She raced off into the cover of the woods, and there her journey began.

            When they had rode far enough into the woods to where she didn’t think her father’s men could find them she pulled Ace to a stop to rest. They had stopped in a meadow of some sort with a small pond; otherwise it was surrounded by trees, the perfect little spot to stay for the night. He was breathing hard and heavy, from all the distance he had made it, in such little time. She took of his bridle off and laid it in the grass, she knew he wouldn’t wonder off, and Ace started to graze. She settled into a little spot and decided that she didn’t need a fire for the night and soon she fell into a peaceful sleep.

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“YOUR MAJESTIES!” Arnold, Elizabeth’s guard, barged into the King and Queens chambers without any warning, and guards ran in after him. Two of the guards grabbed him, and held his arms, preventing him from getting any closer to the King and Queen.

“What is the meaning of this?” The king yelled obviously furious, it was still the middle of the night.

“Elizabethhas run away!”Arnold shouted before any of the guards could reply.

“What?!” The King cried, and with a wave of his hand the guards immediately released Arnold.

“Yes your Majesty,  I’m so sorry but Elizabeth came out not to long ago, and pointed a sword at me and told me she was sorry but she had to leave and then she just bashed me on the head and knocked me out, and I, I just didn’t know what to do she’s never done anything like that before.” His words came out rushed and as incoherent babble, and all in one breath he was obviously upset.

“Guards! Send out a search party, my daughter must be found!” and then with a point of the finger to Arnold, “And take him and whoever else let her pass down to the dungeons, I’ll deal with them later, but they better hope to God that my daughter is found!”

**SNEAK PEAK NEXT CHAPTER** (The next chap she will be captured by slave dealers)

“Wake up, beautiful,” Elizabeth woke up with a start and a menacing smile in her face. She was terrified