Her Portrait

"Try Me"

Back in her room, Arianthe knew she had to run away; it was the only thing she could think of to do. She would sneak out, get Heloise her horse and never be seen again. Yes, that's the only thing she could do. She'd better start packing right away, if only she had a suitcase.
Pacing her room, she glanced out the window and saw that the sun was already very high in the sky which meant most of the day was already lost. Grey clouds were sinking so the sun was almost submerged and the tall mountains were nowhere to be seen.
Arianthe desperately hoped it would not rain as it always seems to rain when one has planned an outing, or in this case an escape mission.
She was interrupted by a knock at the door and on opening it she was met by the grim face of a familiar knight.
"Sir Denver!" exclaimed the princess - surprised but not unhappy.
But a moment later his gloved hand was clamped over her mouth and he walked her backwards into the room, shushing her as he did so.
"What are you doing?" Demanded Arianthe in an angry whisper.
"I couldn't risk getting caught, technically we are not supposed to be talking," he explained before she had time to ask "because they know how I feel about you and they know I'd tell you anything if you were in danger."
Arianthe paused.
"...how you feel about me?" she questioned, tilting her head to the side in puzzlement.
Sir Denver blushed.
"You're my Princess, I have a duty of care to protect you." He said - a little too quickly. "But there's no time for this I only have a few minutes; listen, you need to get away from here. They're planning to do something terrible."
"What?"
"I cannot tell you exactly but it's bad, I'll help you to escape just trust me."
Arianthe stared into his deep brown eyes, the familiar twinkle was gone and she saw at once that he was telling the truth. Dragging herself away from those eyes she nodded.
"Alright, when are we leaving?"
Sir Denver shook his head.
"I can't come with you," he said "this is something you must do alone."
The girl was about to protest but she stopped, what was the point?
"Has any of this got to do with the talking portrait under the castle?" She said finally.
Denver gaped in astonishment.
"How do you know about that?" He cried - a little too loudly.
"I met her a few weeks ago, what has she got to do with any of this?"
An unreadable look flashed across the knight's face before he sighed and said,
"I wish I could tell you everything, Arianthe, but I just can't."
Arianthe took his hand in hers and stroked it.
"Try me."