The King's Mistress

Chapter 4

The idea of getting out was simpler than the action of getting out of there. First I had to wait till Leo was asleep. I slipped past him easily. The main matter was fooling the guards to let me out this was going to take bribery to get me past this one.
It was getting late and I had just started to pack what I needed for my escape. I slipped through my door and walked quietly down the hall. I passed Leo's door and went toward the kitchen grabbing anything I could carry in my bag. I pulled out my necklace plucking one of the larger gems off. I went toward the guard who immediately stopped me. I explained that I had an important issue that needed to be taken care of. I handed him the gem.
"Please sir, I will pay you" I said.
The guard took it and acted as if I wasn't there as I passed.
I walked until I got close to the stable. I grabbed a horse and dashed into the darkness. The night was cold but my heart raced warming me as the horse took me further and further away. I past through trees and bushes not caring how far the horse was taking me. I grew tried and leaned down laying may head on the horses neck. The horse walk a fast walk but not slow enough or fast enough to bounce.
The horse stopped to grazed a little before dawn that was when I began to slide sideways of the horse. I felt arms tug me as I began to fall. I landed in two strong arms which carried me.
I open my eyes weakly to see a young handsome man looking down at me. I closed my eyes and drifted off again.

I woke in a strange cabin. I looked around to notice I was in a bed near a large fireplace. I sit up to find the young man sitting at a wooden table.
"Where am I" I asked.
"Your in my cabin" the man said.
"I'm sorry I should leave" I said.
"No no stay you were injured when I found you you should rest." The man said.
"Oh" I said as I touched my face to find scratches and cuts.
The tree limbs had scratched my face and arms.
"I'm Eric" the man said.
"I'm Mai" I said.
"Why were you out at night asleep on a horse?" He asked.
" I ran away" I said.
"From where?" Eric asked
"The castle of King Leo The Great" I said.
"You aren't a thief are you?" Eric asked.
"No...I ran away because I hated the way I was treated by the King. I use to be his mistress till he started to well ...find his obsession with other women" I said.
Eric listened to my story as I told him the whole ordeal.
"You can stay here" Eric said after I was finished.
"Thank you but I would be intruding." I said.
"Nonsense it's just me I don't have anyone else to take care of" Eric said.
"Thank you" I said.
I looked down at my dirty dress and gave it a swift dust only to find it stained.
"I have something you can wear" Eric said going into a room.
He came out with a dress.
"My wife died a few years ago but I don't think she would mind you wearing them" he said.
I smile and take the dress sheepishly.
I go into a bedroom to change. When I was done I went out to tend the yard for Eric.
I wanted to help in anyway possible. I cleaned the cabin and gathered the vegetables. I worked to show Eric my gratitude toward him for allowing me to stay with him.
I had to admit I was use to cabins but I had grown spoiled to the castle life. I missed Leo but he had those awful women to keep him company. I remember when he loved me with such burning passion which faded after he found more beautiful women but why did I get the luxury to stay in the castle with him?
I was jealous of those sick women all because they had Leo's attention and I was in my chamber alone when Leo was suppose to love me and be my king. I hated how he shared himself with those women letting them hold him and love him through the night. I felt broken like a child's toy that has been thrown toward the corner of the room. I was kept but never touched.