Charades

Chapter 3

     My eyes were glued to the mirror in front of me. It was a tall mirror, framed with gold and my reflection was one of a young woman. A woman who was exhausted. Her black hair messy, her red gown hugging her curves gently. It was the day of the ball and I so badly wished I could avoid it. I so badly wanted to hide in my room and pretend this was all one bad nightmare, but my uncle would never allow that.

     "Princess Amara, are you okay?" Zaha asked.

     I turned to face her. Zaha was holding an enormous white gown in her hands. It looked like a wedding dress, so grand my eyes lingered on it. And when my eyes met Zaha's, I grew surprised by the look of pity she wore.

     "Yes," I said. "I'm fine, Zaha. Just exhausted."

     She nodded and went closer to me. Zaha was only a year younger than me. She had the same black hair and brown eyes as me, but her skin was a lot more pale. Where her skin was a light brown, my skin was a brown that resembled the colour of copper. It was a rich colour, a colour that ran through my family.

     "Are you excited to announce your engagement?" Zaha asked.

     My heart jolted at the mention of an engagement. I nearly forgot what the ball was for. Emir and I were to be engaged and we would be telling the world, and nausea rose in me. As I thought about the man who only cared about money and power, I fought the urge to fall to the ground and scream.

     "No," I confessed. I knew Zaha for so long, ever since I was ten, and the words came out easy. "I'm dreading this ball. I really don't want to be married."

     Zaha's eyes softened. Pity overwhelmed her expression and I pulled my eyes away, ashamed. I was pitiful. Ever since my parents death, I was a mess.

     "I'm so sorry, you don't deserve this," Zaha said. "Is there any way you can escape this? Can you talk to your uncle?"

     "My uncle won't listen," I said. "I don't think there's a way I can escape this. My uncle really wants me to marry Emir and there's nothing that will stop him from making this marriage happen."

     "Then why don't you run?"

     My eyes flew wide at Zaha's suggestion. I gaped at her and she gave a small smile. Wondering if she was joking, I straightened myself up.

     "Run?" I asked. "Where exactly would I run?"

     "Anywhere," Zaha said. "You deserve to be free, princess. If you become engaged to Emir, you will be trapped. So run. Take one of the horses and run away."

     Zaha looked so confident, so sure of her plan that all I could do was gape at her. She was serious and the confidence in her plan was exuding out of her.

     "I... I want to do that," I confessed. "I rather leave behind everything and run. I'm tired of being a princess. I'm tired of this lack of freedom."

     "Then run, Amara," Zaha said. My heart jolted. Zaha never said my name before. "Run and leave this all behind. I know you. I know your heart and you don't want to be forced into a marriage you'll hate."

     I teared up. Zaha's words hit me hard. They sent a wave of reassurance, but also fear. I couldn't imagine running away and leaving behind everything I loved. I grew up in a castle. I rarely left my castle and I had no idea where I would go.

     "I'm scared," I confessed. "I don't know what's out there."

     "Then try this," Zaha said. "Run away. For at least a week or however long you can handle it, run away. And if you can't handle it, come back to the castle."