The Boondocks~Medieval Times

2) The Reluctant Leave

~•~

"You three WHAT?!"

Huey and Riley flinched at the high pitch of their Grandfather's voice. They had gotten back by seven, after sunset, and that was a problem. Huey hadn't thought of a good excuse for them being late, so he told him the first thing that came to mind; the truth.

He hadn't had the time to tell Riley and Caesar what happened, but they were surprised that he wasn't caught. They sprinted down the royal trail and back to the merchant town, Caesar parted and went back to his parents, and the two brothers made their way back to their grandfather.

Boy did they regret it.

"Please tell me you two are joking!" Grandfather hollered. He was an old dark skin man with half his grey hair on his head.

The boys looked at him.

"Oh no!" Their grandfather leaned on the table made of poor quality wood, burying his head in his hands. "If she finds you..."

"But, Grandfather. I doubt she'll look, otherwise she wouldn't have let us go," Huey said, all knowingly.

"We have to flee, boys."

Riley frowned at him. "Flee?! For what purpose? Flee and go where? We have no money! We have no place to go!"

"Boys, we are going. We tell no one nothing."

"So what...we just pick up and leave?" Huey frowned deeply at him. "Grandfather--"

"That's final."

Huey sighed.

~•~

"Jazmine, why had you trampled the flowers?" Cairo asked the princess. That evening, they sat on one of the many benches in the garden, just watching the sky. They spent many nights doing that. The Kingdom had a head knight, in charge of controlling the army, and the King Thomson's personal servant.

Cairo was his son. The family had been taken into the royal castle so his father would stay close to the family. He and Jazmine grew up together. She hadn't seen it, but he fancied her. Who didn't?

Jazmine sighed. The tiara on her head was a heavy burden at times, but she was never allowed to take it off. "I saw a rat," she answered, dully. "It scared me." She couldn't tell Cairo, he was loyal to his father, and a snitch. She knew her best friend alright.

She thought of the boy she saw earlier. What surprised her the most was his hair. It was almost bigger than hers. His eyes reminded her of chestnuts, and his skin was dirty, but flawless. I hope he comes back again. He would tell me stories, perhaps even show me the outside.

She really didn't know why she let him escape. Oh wait. She did. They'd kill him. She hated it. The rules, the restrictions.

Why couldn't she leave the castle and take strolls alone? Why couldn't she have friends on the outside? Why did she have to be carried like a helpless child? She was a child, but not a helpless one.

Cairo squinted at her, she was too deep in thought to notice, or care. He didn't believe her. "If you say so," he said, looking at the stars again. "Jazmine, let us take a walk."

Jazmine's eyes lit up. "Outside?'

"What? No. In the garden, silly."

Jazmine frowned. "Oh. Of course..."

"You understand, do you not? You are kept in here to keep safe. It is a dangerous world out there, princess."

Princess.

The name made her gag.

"If it is dangerous, then why let my people dally there?" She demanded. "Why not bring them in? Protect them the way I am? What makes them any different? Because they are not of royal blood?"

Cairo blinked at her. "Where does this nonsense come from, Jazmine? You were fine before."

"I was too young before, Cairo!" Jazmine sighed, standing up and straightening the front of her dress. "Goodnight."

"Jaz--"

"I said goodnight." Jazmine spun on her heel and walked under the archway, the way back into the castle.

Above them, at a higher window, the king and queen were watching the two. Sarah frowned when she saw Jazmine storm into the castle, leaving a miserable Cairo. Her hair was blonde, up to the top of her shoulders, and her eyes were blue. The man next to her had the same skin as Huey, sharing brown eyes. "Are you sure about this, Thomson?" She asked, watching Cairo kick the bench. "Jazmine is only ten years of age; we have plenty more time to choose a suitor."

"Sarah, my love, can you not see it?" Thomson beamed. "Cairo was raised with Jazmine. They have known eachother for years. He is the perfect suitor for our little girl. He will protect her..."

Sarah sighed. "I see it from your perspective, but...will she be happy?"

Jazmine hadn't known that her suitor had to be chosen yet. It was law. If royal parents were still alive, they had the right to choose their child's suitor. If the parents died before making a choice, then it was compulsory for the child to marry another royal. Thomson wanted to pick while Jazmine was still young, just in case something happened to them.

Better someone of their choice then someone she hadn't met before.

Thomson kissed the back of her hand and pulled her by the shoulders. "She will be as happy as we were."

~•~

The next morning...

Riley mumbled curses under his breath as he threw his sack over his shoulder. They hadn't had much to take. His grandfather carried his own belongings. Huey walked into the room with his own. "Grandfather, I really think you are being paranoid."

"Shush, boy. Let us leave."

It was still dark out. The three traped out of their little cottage and on the dirty roads, towards the darker forest. Grandfather is a coward, Huey thought. He looked on the positive side.

Perhaps there was something waiting for him outside Crestwood? Something more exciting? A better life?

He sighed. Only one way to find out. He looked back at the town, then his eyes locked on the tall castle in the horizon. A lot came to mind. His best friend. His duties. The princess...

Well, he thought. At least my last day was an exciting one.

~•~