Dandelions

chapter 3

Mara's POV

I run my tongue over my lips to make them wet as we run through route our legs choose. My fist under Habeeba's tight grip. "Come soon princess" she adds in each turn.

"Ouch my shoe" I cry as my left foot touches the uneven ground barely.

"Shhh princess, Ow ya Rab, did it break the heel? It's ok, remove the other one as well" Habeeba takes a temporary pause to pull my right shoe off.

"Wha...what are you doing Habeeba, why do you throw my sandals? "I cry seeing her throwing it at the opposite direction.

"Keep your voice down princess"

"Are you joking? I can't run with the bare feet" I pull my wrist off her grip losing my temper "It's hurting you know".

"You better wear this"

"But..." I look at her pitifully as she pushes her leather shoe with her toes towards me.

"Princess we run for our lives. Don't waste your time, just hurry up" she commands wandering her head restlessly here and there.

"Oh ya Rab, have you lost your ring princess?" Habeeba's brows rise as she locks my right wrist under her grip once again

"Ring..." guilt starts to invade me seeing the empty tall finger of my right hand.

"Princess, why were you so careless, don't you know the chain on your neck and ring on your hand are signs of your royal family. Each queen and each princess of the kingdom must have them. What if it goes to a wrong hand?" I look away being unable to stand against her accusing gaze.

"But.."

"It's ok, I will explain them. Keep your chain safe. Let's run"

My worry on my ring starts to disturb me as I follow Habeeba. It didn't grab my attention other than on the day I wore it first, two years ago, on my sixteenth birthday. But now I start to feel its value. Most of the times, the value of something is known only when we lose it. Not only the thing which could be bought with money, but also the things like love, care, friendship and bonds which money can never buy. The ring doesn't cost me for the sapphire, emerald or the ruby on it but it is a symbol of our royal family. An emblem to say that I'm a princess though being a princess had never pleased me.

We run and run for minutes not understanding when and where this will come to an end. I didn't see anyone following or chasing us so far, yet I didn't want to stop either, because we don't run for a competition, but for life.

"OUCH!" I cry once again as my left feet bumps a popping root. "It hurts" I say pulling my hand from Habeeba's grip once again.

"Ow princess it bleeds" she says after a second, kneeling down.

"The root. It knocked" I say making the nearest root my seat.

"Bear it princess! A princess has a lot more to be bore. We have to move as fast as we can to somewhere safer." Habeeba hisses while wiping oozing blood from the corner of her shawl. "Only if I could find some herbs" she says letting her eyes to wander.

"Habeeba, what is that?" I drives her attention off "Is it a bag? Yes it is" I add seeing habeeba moving towards the black color sheep fur bag with a big white dot in the middle and a brown fur belt.

"Do we have time to explore the bag Habeeba?" I ask sarcastically seeing her looking strangely at the bag. "Habeeba don't open it"

Habeeba opens the bag neglecting my words where she grabs a leather water bag. She drinks and signs from her head to drink it still having the water in her mouth. The water was sweeter than anything else for the dying thirst I was having. I take one more sip wondering why does Habeeba dig the bag.