A Court of Light and Darkness

Three: Freesia

         It had been hours since Freesia's father had thrown her back into her room after dinner. He didn't say anything about Mor but Freesia knew he wasn't happy about their reunion. She laid on her bed now, dressed in a two piece night gown with fuzzy socks. She was always cold now. Even though the room was a warm temperature, she still dressed in long pants and thick material.

She wasn't underneath the covers as she laid, spread out, on the bed. The smell that lingered on the blankets brought back too many memories that caused her to rip the sheets off the mattress and shove them into the furthest corner from her. So she laid there, staring at the ceiling, shivering at the internal cold that was embedded into her skin now, as tears ran down the side of her face.

I am alive. I am here. I am alive.

Freesia had started chanting in her head, her breathing staggered, as her heart rate increased. She couldn't go back to that place. Not again. She would die down there, all alone, in the dark. She had to get out before her father came for her again. She had to fight.

He thought that he broke her. That all those years down in the dark made her weak. What he did not know was that from being down there in the dark, by herself, Freesia grew stronger then she ever had before. As the time passed, slowly, her tears came less, her sobs more quiet. Sadness turned into anger, and that anger grew into fire. She was ready to fight, to win. She just had to find a way to do it without getting killed.

An idea sprang into her mind as she remembered the sentry stationed outside her door. The tall man had tried to look intimidating as Freesia and her father had walked past. But she could smell the hatred seeping from him towards her father, could see it in his eyes. He would let her pass with some persuasion.

With that she sprang up from the mattress, quickly yanking on some pants she had found in her dresser and a white t-shirt with a leather jacket over it. Freesia didn't think much on what she was putting on, other than how much easier it would be to run in it then in a dress. But it did cross her mind on how familiar the material was. Like she had worn it before.

Right as her hand hit the shining doorknob, realization hit her in the face, causing her to spin in place to scan over the room once more. She looked over every little detail within the four walls as memories started to slam back into her head. All the decorations from her childhood were gone, but Freesia's realization was correct. The room she stood in now, was her room from before she was locked up. That explained the clothing, since Freesia trained often with the Captain of the Autumn armies. Of course her father never knew of it, but Freesia's mother always pushed her to be skilled in every aspect.

If Freesia got her hands on a weapon, a dagger or better yet a bow and arrow, she would be able to get out of the Autumn Court with no problem. But where would she find a weapon? Freesia didn't think about that now as she reached for the door knob once more, collecting herself and thinking up what she would say to the sentry. 

She walked out, already in character for the show she was about to put on. Her breathing increased and she forced tears to start sliding down her cheeks, making her chin wobble. She stumbled up to the sentry, grabbing the wall for support and bumping into the male so he would catch her. She started mumbling, acting as if she couldn't catch her breath.

"Miss. Miss, are you alright?" The males hand was wrapped around Freesia's arm hard enough to leave a bruise as she grabbed at his uniform.

"I need to go outside! Please. Please, my balcony door is locked and I just need some fresh air. Can you please just take me to the gardens?" Freesia went down to her knees, making her breath even more ragged as she grabbed her throat like there was something blocking the airflow.