Eradicated

Chapter 1- Josephine- The Journey

I stumbled through the gargantuan forest, every part of me hurting. I longed for sleep, longed for a bed at my back, and most importantly, longed for food. My stomach grumbled in protest. I blushed and quickly looked around, just to make sure no one had heard its loud complaining. I made a mental note that I needed to get food quickly or my stomach would never shut up. I looked ahead, her Royal Highness was sitting atop her horse, back straight, head high, and posture perfect. I glanced at her husband, in the carriage.

"Lazy brute." I muttered to no one but myself. I looked at the sky. It was getting darker, a glassy haze of blue and opal. We would be needing to make camp soon. I cracked my back and kept moving. I looked around, hoping to see the Princess. She was also in the carriage. She gave me a pitiful glance and smiled. She had been my only friend for a long time. I was completely sure that her father was telling her another lesson that she would be forced to endure. Her hair was brown, long, and smooth. I envied it. Mine was plain. Black and always in my way.

"Ms. Josephine?" A snotty voice asked me. I turned to see the large adviser sitting with great difficulty on his horse. I pitied the horse. He had a solemn expression and long orange sideburns running down his face. He wore all brown besides his white shirt under his vest.

"Yes?" I responded, looking into his dull eyes. "I must remind you to keep up." With that, he trotted away on his horse. It was true. I had gotten slower and slower. I sped up, running towards the front. I went closer to the other servants. I spotted Mila, the oldest. Not even she, at her old age, had been given a horse. I frowned.

"Something troubles you?" She asked. I shook my head, hiding away my annoyed expression. "Do you know when we make camp?" I questioned, looking at the horses. They wanted sleep as much as we did, all elegant breeds with long manes and perfect posture.

"Soon I believe, the guards are getting tired." She said, tiredness creeping into her own voice. She sighed quietly. I tried to keep my shoulders back, matching the Queen's position. She always insisted she lead the way, she loved the outdoors. Me, being a simple Maid of the Princess, had no authority whatsoever. I looked around. The trees seemed to close in on me, making me feel small.

Our party halted. "We make camp now!" the commander yelled. His mustache reminded me of a squiggly worm. Something wasn't right. He said it too loud. His body language told me he was worried and frightened. He made gestures to his men silently. A code for danger. I had to get to the princess. My footsteps were quick, everyone stood, waiting for instructions. I pushed past a group of workers, then past the richer folk. The Adviser gave me a glare. The carriage was closer. I took another step. One more, it was at arms reach.

A singular arrow whizzed past my head, hitting the wood of the carriage, less than five inches from me. Figures dressed in green and black sprung from the woods. I slammed open the carriage door, grabbed the Princesses arm, and pulled her to the ground, behind the carriage. Horses panicked, men jumped to fight, but we were surprised and caught by what seemed to be surprise, and many of the weapons were in the storage cart.

We both screamed as a man fell right by us, blood coming from his chest near an arrow that pierced him. I snatched his sword from his hand and stood, the dead man before me had no need of it. The Princess, Jolena, crumpled on the ground from fear. I grabbed her arm.

"We have to get you out of here." I told her. I only had one shot. I pulled her towards the horses. We ran, arrows hitting the men around us. She began to scream but I grabbed her arm. An arrow grazed my cheek, I cried out but kept going. I had to get her safe. My plain brown dress seemed to getting arenaceous as I ran, and I panted heavily. I ran to two horses. She mounted one and I the other. The sword I carried felt heavy as it sat against me, but I had to keep it.

I urged the horse forward, whipping the reins, Jolena at my side. We rode for about an hour. We both had a consistant fear of someone following us, the battle we left still there, and what we saw, haunting us. The road was unfamiliar, the trees strange. We didn't speak. Jolena cried silently, no sobs, just tears pouring down her face.

I had reason to cry. In fact, I should cry. But I have never cried in my life. I think it is a weakness to cry. It shows your worst. I didn't cry when my father beat me, when my mother left and never returned, and I didn't cry when I watched my father get hung for thievery. I didn't cry when a boy I had liked crushed my heart nor did I cry when I learned that my mother left me to my fathers wraith when she had an affair. Tears had never fallen from my eyes, only when I yawned, or my eyes were watery did tears come. But that was very seldom.

"Lena?" I asked after some time had passed. She stared up at me. Her once happy expression had dissipated, leaving a cold scared girl.

"Listen, there must be a town around, I have a couple coins and then we can stay a night, get rest, then go on to the castle, to meet your future husband." She nodded without emotion. Originally, we were going to Hesdarin, a large kingdom for her betrothal. She had never met this man, and she wasn't thrilled. Still, she would do anything to serve her kingdom, including marry a stranger. I would never do that myself.

She nodded quickly and turned her eyes back to the road. I knew not where we were nor what was going on. The sun was fading. I gulped, no sun meant danger.

"What time do you suppose it is?" Jolena asked. "8 I think." I responded, brushing my hair out of my face. The horse exausted, I was drowsy, and she was tired. I breathed deeply, wanting sleep more than ever.

"Do you think that they made it?" Lena asked me. "Yes." I weakly said. But we both knew that was a lie.