~Reign~

2.

Running through the garden, I hear his pounding footsteps not far behind me. My heart speeds up until I reach the tree.

'Ha! I win, Charles,' i laughed as he eventually caught up to me.

'Only because you cheated,' he complained. 'We're not supposed to go into my fathers room under any circumstances, you know that.'

'Ah, yes, but the passage way where the girl was helped me,' I smiled catching my breath.

'What girl?'

'Clarissa,' I stated.

I smiled at the memory of us as young children before walking around the garden, observing each aspect of it.

"You've been here for days and still haven't said hi. I'm quite offended," a voice spoke behind me.

"Bash!" I yelled, practically jumping in his arms. "It's good to see you, although i wish it were under better conditions."

"As do I, but still, you're here, safe. That's all that matters," he answered pulling away.

Before we could continue, a servant came and handed me a letter. Smiling, I took it from her and excused myself from Bash so I could read it.

Once I finished, I was crying and immediately ran to the throne room to talk to Francis. As I ran in, unnoticed he was meeting with some gentlemen but excused them once he saw my face.

"What's happened?" He questioned coming to my side at once.

"I must go home. Please Francis, it's my father he's incredibly sick and my mother is worried I'll miss his passing," I explained as his face softened.

"I'm afraid you can't go. Not yet," he whispered earning a look of disbelief from me.

"And why not?!" I demanded moving from him.

"The roads are not safe, filled with your enemies."

"Where are my guards, then? They can surely protect me."

"They are still out there, trying to keep you safe in the castle-"

"No! You left them out there to protect yourself! Do not lie to me," I yelled.

After I said that, a few others walked in concerned about the yelling.

"My dear, what is going on?" Catherine asked.

"Your son won't let me go home. Where my father is on his deathbed and I'll have to have a coronation to take his place. That's what's going on," I replied glaring at Francis.

Not wanting to hear anymore, I stormed to my bedroom and began packing, completely throwing the kings orders out the window. In the middle of it, someone knocked on the door.

Wiping away my tears, I opened the door to see Charles standing there. He looked at me with a sorrowful look on his face.

I only walked away, leaving the door open to allow him to walk in behind me. He closed the door and remained quiet as I sped up the process.

"He said you couldn't leave," Charles said walking beside up to stand beside me.

"I suppose I'm ignoring him," was my reply as I placed another item in my bag.

Charles grabbed my wrists in order to make me stop and I only stared at him in disbelief.

"Listen to me. I know of a way to convince him to let you go."

"Which is?" I questioned.

"Threaten your alliance with us. He wouldn't under any circumstance want to lose the alliance with Bulgaria. Then say you'll take our guards and someone from court so then he has an insurance policy of you coming back."

"What if it doesn't work?"

"It will. I promise."

I smiled gratefully and began to head back to the throne room just as Charles said he would send some servants to finish packing for me.

My heart began racing as I thought of Charles' plan. Perhaps he just wants me to leave and never return? That must be his plan. It doesn't matter now. All I want is to go home and see my father.

"I'm sorry about ear-"

"If you don't allow me to go home, then you are keeping me here hostage," I began interrupting Francis. "And by keeping me hostage, you are threatening your alliance with my country. I do not think that is wise."

"Listen-"

"I'm not finished. If you send me with your guards and someone from court as a reassurance of me coming back. If you don't accept this deal, you will lose this alliance, I promise you."

"Katerina, you must listen to me. The roads are not safe. You could die," he tried reasoning.

"I could die just from standing here, Francis! Allow me to go home at once!" I whisper-yelled at the man.

"As long as I am allowed to choose the person from court to join you."

"Deal."

About an hour later, my things were in the carriage, guards prepared to head out and people in court surrounded for a farewell. Francis decided more than one person should go with me, so both Catherine and Charles were joining me on the way back.

Luckily, I had Leith as one of the guards coming to Bulgaria so hopefully everything goes well. The carriage left quickly and we were on our way back to my home.

After a couple hours, we stopped, concerning me as well as Catherine. Ignoring her and Charles, I step outside to see the driver dead and half of the guards missing.

"No! Leith!" I called out as the rest of the guards kept watch and surrounded the carriage. They tried to put me back in but I fought them. "No, please. Where is he? Find Leith. I beg of you."

"We will your highness, but for your protection, you must get back into the carriage," they replied.

"No-"

"Oh for gods sake, Katerina, come back into the carriage," Catherine said pulling me in.

Once I was in, the curtains were shut and everything went silent. Catherine grabbed a dagger she had tucked away in her boot as Charles looked around nervously.

"If worse comes to worse, you each must take a weapon and continue on towards your castle, do you understand?" Catherine questioned.

"What about you mother?" Charles asked.

"I will be a distraction in order to protect you both."

"What? No. That cannot be the only option," Charles demanded.

"It is. Now get ready to go," she whispered as footsteps came fast towards the carriage.

"Now I understand why they named me after you," I smiled slightly. "For your bravery."

She smiled back and opened a trap door on the bottom of the carriage and motioned for us to exit. We do so, grab some nearby weapons off of fallen soldiers and begin to run.