The Midwinter Royal Runaway

Chapter 1

The frost rose, forbidding and brutal, and it was as if it had been waiting for her. Tiny white flakes fell and fell and fell. It didn't seem to have an end, but she was thankful for the cover. Otherwise, with the moon as bright as it was tonight, she would stick out like a needle in a haystack. Imagine her, the princess of the people of Locust, running away.

Her hands grazed the bark of the many trees she flew past to get as far as possible in one night. After about half an hour, the heiress sat down on the forest floor. Her body crunched sticks under her and rested my head on the trunk of a snag. Layla glanced up at the thicket in which she had decided to camp for the night. It was quite peaceful, seeing as though the only noise was the chirping of the crickets, the soft thumping of her heart, and the shivers that shook her body. Her light green eyes fluttered shut, and she soon found herself trapped in a world of dreams.

When she woke the next day, she realized she had overslept. A sharp spike of fear caused her to turn her head in all directions. Upon recognizing no life plagued the forest other than her self and the crickets that seemed to swarm the area, her chest fell, releasing the sigh she was holding. It would be extremely unsafe for her now that she had left the castle. Leaving meant she was an enemy of the throne, leaving her younger sister to take the crown and responsibility.

Angie. During all the thrill of her escape, she had forgotten her sister. Forgotten to hug her, leave a note, say goodbye. She would never see her again in her life. Go an entire lifetime without seeing the mischievous grin on the girl's pale after capturing, as she always said, Layla's cream-colored dress again.

A small smile soon appeared on her face. Layla liked that. She would relish the fact that she had any joy. Standing, she pulled her cloak over her shoulders, trudging farther into the forest. Unkown of what was to come.

"Nana. Nana. What does relish mean?" Tugging on the older woman's shoulder was the small boy.

"Timothy, what do I always say about interruptions?" Nana stared at him, not scolding but not exactly letting him off the hook.

"Well," he started looking away," you said not to. But I didn't know what it means." He added in a rush, turning to his sister, who was nodding in agreement.

"Yeah. And what is a snag?" She was nodding hard enough to the point that her brown pigtails seemed to be flying everywhere.

"How about this? Any word you don't know, you can write down." She handed them ink, a quill, and some parchment. After cautioning them, she thought to herself. Wondering if it was like this every time she told a story and why they were just now bringing them to her attention. Children. She shook her head before asking if they were ready again.

Continuing the story, she remembered back before opening her mouth to speak.

It was a hard few hours that came. It had started snowing again. In a way, it was a good thing because it covered her footprints. On the other hand, she had no protection from the cold. Just a thin coat covered her long-sleeved shirt and trousers. She had almost run away in her nightgown, but then remembered the snow and instead brought the easiest thing to travel in.

"One of the reasons hair is so important is the fact that it brings warmth. If you are ever alone in the cold, make sure your hair is covering your neck. It will help you conserve body heat."

Layla stopped walking and whipped her head around, trying to find the source of the voice. She couldn't seem to find anyone else and tried to pinpoint whose voice it was. She soon realized it was that of her former teacher, Mr. Emoslo.

Layla was unsure of why she remembered her mentor's words but was thankful. Unraveling her braid, she patted down her chocolate brown hair, making sure to cover the neck.

Soon night fell once again. Leaning against a tree, she pulled out her journal, quill, and ink that she had shoved the bag she had brought. It was the one thing she had brought with her that had some importance to her. As she was pulling her cloak on in her room, there it was. It was just sitting there on her bed, and she couldn't bring herself to leave it. Opening the page and dipping the tip of the quill into the liquid, she thought of how she was going to explain everything.

She began with a few simple words. Preparing for anyone going to read her story, she said hello and wrote some of the day's events. Closing the book and putting everything back into the small bag, she noticed something in her lap that must have fallen from the notebook.

Dear Layla,

Hello. You are in the hall right now, walking with Father. I know it will be a while before you read this. I know what you are going to do. I am aware of your plans to run away.

You didn't know that, did you? Let me explain how I know.

Ever since Father arranged the marriage between you and Prince Christopher of the Sparrows, well, you haven't exactly been the same. I could always see such dread and anguish in your eyes. The pressure on you and the shift in your emotions made it clear to me what you planned to do.

It is a bit strange, isn't it? I, for one, never understood why the countries all had such unusual names like Locust and Sparrow. Now, when there is an arranged marriage between the two nations, the party which bears the name of the prey runs off?

Goodbye.

With all the hope and love in the world,

Angelica.

Layla's fingers grazed the curves of her sister's handwriting, eventually resting upon the teardrop that discolored the page. She delicately placed the message back in her backpack and looked up, blinking. She tried to forget it, but in the end, accepted the fact that her mind would eventually land back upon the words in the letter.

Trying to shake herself out of her thoughts, Layla stood, determined to get farther during the night. Half an hour later, she paused in front of a stone ledge. It seemed firm enough. She would stop here for the night. Then she would find fresh food. Making up her mind, she tried her best to let go of her thoughts as she drifted to sleep.

Hey guys. This chapter is really bad but I am kind of in a writers block. On all of my stories. I might post one of my other stories. Sorry If you guys hate this story. I do too but whatever.

Peace out y'all.