He sat there, full of longing and a strange feeling that he was missing something. Something big.
A moment of clarity hit him. The dress! Princess Madeline hadn’t been wearing the dress. She had worn it to the tournament but traded with the village girl. She wasn’t the one wearing the dress!
Daniel jumped up, hope filling his heart. “She’s alive!” Daniel said to himself. “She’s alive! There’s still a chance.”
He bolted from the courtyard.
The young boy at the gates handed him back the reins. Other knights called to him, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t stop. He was going to save his love. He kicked his feet hard, urging the horse forward as the gates slammed shut behind him.
Before long, he found himself at the edge of the forest. Something stirred inside him, and he knew he was where he needed to be. He weaved in and out of trees, kicking his horse to go faster and faster, feeling the branches whip across his face, stinging his skin. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore except for finding Madeline.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Madeline smiled. The sun warmed her face and hands, the birds sang hello, and a soft breeze whispered congratulations to her. She had made it. She was free. Madeline opened her eyes and looked around to get her bearings. She could see the hill she had rolled down. It was steep and covered with rocks of varying sizes. She ran her fingers over her ribs and winced; they were still sore. Tall trees shielded her from too much sunlight. The soothing murmur of a nearby river danced in her ears.
Half of her mind focused on the soft noises of the world around her and the other half held back, listening to the remains of the eerie silence the forest had left in her.
Madeline felt vulnerable. Her freedom cost her more than she wanted to admit. She had escaped, but to what? Questions flooded her mind, concerns she wished she had thought about before. But before she could plan her future, she needed to take care of today. That meant food, fire, and someplace safe to sleep.
Her stomach growled in agreement. Pushing off the nagging thoughts, she focused on finding the sweet blackberries and thimbleberries that grew in the brambles.
After hours of foraging for berries, she gave up. She had found enough to satisfy her hunger, with a little left over. Red and purple juice stained the bottom of her apron, matching the scattered bruises along her body. Dark shadows underlined her eyes, and her hair had collected itself in one giant tangle. She was a mess. No one would mistake her for a princess now.
If only Sophia could see her, she thought with a chuckle that quickly soured to regret.
Being full did not solve all her problems. The darkness snuck up on her. The hours of berry picking had left little time for her to make a shelter or fire. Before she could do more than lean some fallen branches over a rock, she could hardly see her hands. Without a fire, the darkness engulfed her.
Darkness seemed to escalate the noises of the forest, driving her further under her sticks, closer to the rocks. She hadn’t noticed the other sounds before. But now that she was alone, the noises of the wilderness, crunching branches, rustling leaves, chirping birds, coos, and scratches, rushed at her.
Her eyes drooped, weary from the long day. The moment they shut, memories of the brutal attack surfaced. She could clearly hear their screams. Shuddering at the thoughts, she tried to remember the last happy experience she remembered: the tournament. She drifted off to sleep.
She awoke the next day, startled. Birds chirped on the branches above her. Sunlight peeked through several holes in her roof where smaller sticks had fallen away. The morning frost had settled over her, dampening her clothes and feet. Her back itched from the dirt that had settled between her dress and skin. With a loud yawn, she stretched and looked around at her new home. The green trees sparkled with drops of dew, the river bubbled in the background, and soft streams of light shone on and around her. She glanced at the base of the tree where she had hidden her extra berries. Nothing remained. She awoke cold, empty-handed, and confused.
She didn’t even have a weapon to protect herself. The dagger, although useful up close, was awkward to handle and did not pose enough of a threat to stop someone, at least not when she used it. She had learned that the hard way.
Looking around the forest, she decided to fix that first. She needed something bigger, something more dangerous. Tying up her tangled mess of hair, she got to work.
The hike to the river was shorter than she had anticipated. Guided by the sound of the waves, she climbed over fallen logs, around rocks, and through soft mud. When she arrived at the river’s edge, it exceeded her expectations. A pathway of rocks crossed it at several points. Gentle waves rolled over and around the natural paths in soft ripples. Kneeling down at the edge, she looked at her reflection and smiled. She hardly recognized herself. Except for her telltale green eyes, she looked like a simple village girl.
The cold water refreshed her as she washed her hands and face. Taking a step back, she glanced over the forest and river.
“Aha!” she exclaimed, running to a large oak tree where a forked branch jutted out from the roots. She knelt, grabbing the stick with all her might, feeling the rocks dig into her knees. Pain raced up her legs from all her bruises, but she kept going. She needed to get the stick free. Falling back when it broke, she cried out sharply. Her face crinkled both from pain and surprise.
She grabbed handfuls of rocks, tossing and weighing each in turn. The discarded rocks skipped the surface of the river with a plunk. Looking through the variety of quartz, river rocks, and gravel, she finally settled on a large chunk of slate. Holding her forked stick in one hand and her stone in the other, she got to work.
Ripping a small strip of her apron, she tied the rock into the forked branches of the stick. Once complete, her staff rivaled a knight’s club. A crude version, certainly, but workable for what she needed.
Her first swings were awkward. The unbalanced weight threw her off, knocking her over and pulling her behind her swing. But slowly she became comfortable and proficient. For a moment, even with the lack of shelter, food, and fire, she felt secure.
That moment didn’t last long. She hiked back to her camp and saw her shelter once more. As she looked at the pile of leaves she had used as a blanket and the sticks that covered her bed, she began to doubt.
Leaning her new club against the tree, she sat down to think. Her fingers struggled with her tangled hair as she turned the ragged mess into a braid. In her mind, she relived previous days.
Her mind spun with images of vivid colors, wondrous cheers, and excitement. She saw the green silk gown her father had given her and the moment of nervousness in his eyes as she twirled around the corner. She also remembered it lying in a heap on her floor, discarded in her act of defiance.
She recalled the ball and the light melody that the musicians had played. The sweet stringing of chords flowed like a river. Couples twirled around the dance floor, oblivious to her tantrums. Honored guests, ignored and mocked by her reaction.
And the tournament, filled with acrobats, knights, mock battles, excitement, and skill. It was an event unlike any other she had seen. She could remember the thumping of horses matching her heartbeat, the thrill she had felt as Sir Daniel moved up the leaderboard, and the warmth of the cheers around her. Painfully, she remembered her long run back to the castle.
All at once, she realized how her own actions had marred the beauty of the memories. How had her stubbornness blocked her from seeing the reasons behind her father’s demands?
Madeline sighed deeply. When it came down to it, she had gotten what she had wanted. On her own, in the forest, she had no one to answer to, no demands to follow, and no life choices made without her consent. Here, she had everything she wanted. Why wasn’t she happy?
Deep in her heart, she knew the answer. And she knew what she had to do. Grabbing her club, she started back toward the river. She didn’t know the way exactly, but she knew the river would lead her to the outskirts of the villa
ge.
The smile on her face melted. In the distance, beneath the soft chirping of the birds, a slow rumble grew. Leaning in to the tree, she heard the galloping of hooves coming closer and closer.
“Someone’s coming,” she said. Holding the club against her chest, feeling the racing of her heart as it throbbed in and out, she waited. Hugging her body against the tree, she closed her eyes and listened as the horse approached her hiding spot.
The rumbling grew to a roar. Her mind raced with images of bandits on horses. She envisioned the burly men who had captured her, the cruel way they had looked at her, and the screams of the village girl. With that image firmly in her mind, she jumped out from behind the tree and swung with all her might.
The club vibrated out of her hands as it connected with the rider. He crashed to the forest floor with a resounding thud.
The thrill of her success disappeared as she looked from the horse to the man. Covered in the red and gold of her kingdom, he looked familiar. She gasped in recognition.
“Sir Daniel,” she said, falling to her knees beside him. “Daniel,” she whispered, moving his hair out of his eyes.
“Princess,” he whispered. “Your eyes…” his voice trailed off to silence.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The sun had begun to set by the time Daniel fully woke up. She had taken them back to her camp. It wasn’t improved from her first attempts, but it provided a feeling of security for her. She knelt at his side, flailing her hands in front of his face.
“Are you all right?” she asked when he opened his eyes.
He grimaced as he sat up, clutching at his chest. “I’m all right, just a little surprised.” He coughed. She jumped back as he reached for her.
“My princess, I’ve been looking all over for you.”
“I didn’t need to be found. I was doing fine on my own,” she said.
“Trust me, I can see you were doing all right on your own,” he laughed, pointing to the blood on his shirt.
His warm smile melted her irritation.
“Here, have some of these,” she offered, holding out a handful of berries she had collected while he slept. “You’ll feel better after this and more sleep.”
“I feel better just being here with you. I couldn’t lose you,” Daniel said, looking into her eyes.
His hands rested in hers as he took some of the berries. This time, she didn’t move away.
The next day they rode toward the castle. The horse knew the way home, and after hours of meandering through the forest, they reached the lowlands. They saw the castle on the horizon, still in the distance but closer than Madeline had thought.
With each step, she watched the landscape change. The gray castle and colorful banners of her home grew bigger and brighter as they drew closer.
She leaned into Daniel’s arms, feeling secure within his embrace. She listened to his stories, laughing about the training practices of the knights and the follies of his youth. The smooth tone of his voice put her at ease.
“You seem familiar to me,” she said, squinting back at him.
“Really?” he smiled.
“Are you sure we haven’t met before?”
His forehead wrinkled as he thought. “You were at my knighting ceremony,” he said.
“Yes, I’m at all of those. Truth be told, they all blend together.” She saw his face fall at her words. “The ceremonies blend together, not the knights,” she assured him, letting her hand linger on his. “I must have met you somewhere. Around the castle, maybe?”
“I suppose, with our duties, we run in and out all day long. I see you all the time.”
“Tell me about it,” she said.
“About seeing you?” Daniel looked at her strangely.
“No,” she laughed. “Tell me about being a knight. Is it every bit as wonderful as I imagine? The tournaments, journeys, adventure… it all seems so exciting.” Her eyes brightened at the romantic notions that had filled her mind since childhood.
He paused to think about it. “Yes and no. There are moments of adventure and moments of triumph, but most of the days are filled with hard work, preparation, and duty.”
She cringed at the word duty. It seemed like something no one could escape.
“Are those brief moments worth it? Worth all the hard work you put into it? Is a moment of adventure worth a month of ceremonies and routine?”
“Absolutely!” he said. “For a moment, they’re worth everything and more. Being a knight is not a dream, but a calling. It’s an honor for me and my family.”
“You have always wanted to be a knight, and I have always wanted an adventure. You achieved your goal…” her voice trailed off.
He touched her chin and looked her in the eyes. “You’ve achieved yours too.”
“It’s not quite the same,” she murmured.
“Well, what did you want?”
She thought about it and looked ahead to the castle, watching the banner become clearer and the red dragon more ominous. “I don’t know exactly. I suppose this escape was to show my father that I’m not a doll. He can’t put me on a shelf to be admired from afar. I want a life to live, to cherish, to love,” she whispered, feeling herself blush.
“You deserve all that and more, Princess. I know he just wants the best for you. I mean, when he thought you were dead—”
“What!” Her stomach flipped.
Daniel’s words rushed together, explaining the events since she had left.
She didn’t wait. Grabbing the reins from Daniel’s hands, she kicked the horse into action. She needed to get home and end this charade. The landscape blurred around her as they rushed to the castle.
Before long, cobblestones sounded beneath the horse’s hooves, and they were inside the main gates. Leaping off the horse, she flew through the courtyard, ignoring the gasps around her. Up and through the main gates, she ran from room to deserted room, looking for her father. Her torn apron twisted around her as she ran through the narrow corridors.
One of her father’s trusted men stood outside the king’s chamber.
“Where’s my father?” she demanded.
“Princess,” the steward’s voice wavered. “Is it you?” Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared at her.
She didn’t have time to soften the surprise or explain. “The king, where is he?” she growled.
The man, still in shock, pointed down the hall. “He’s in your room.”
“Thank you!” she yelled, running back down the hall. She dashed up the stairs and around corners, twisting through the darkened halls until she reached her bedroom. Behind the thick wooden door, she heard his sobs. Her heart broke. Placing her palms on the door, Madeline took a deep breath and blinked to keep tears from rolling down her cheeks.
Knocking softly, she waited. When no one answered, she pushed the door open. Her father sat, hunched over in the chair, contemplating the green dress he had given her for her birthday. His red eyes widened.
“Father,” she whispered, closing the door behind her.
King Theodore looked up at her. His face paled, his chin trembling as if he’d seen a ghost. He dropped the green gown and opened his arms. “Madeline?” he choked.
“Father,” she wept, folding herself into his arms.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
They sat in silence. The tears lasted for a while at the beginning of their reunion, but soon stopped, leaving four bloodshot eyes as evidence.
Her father’s eyes swept over her. “You’re home,” he said, cupping her face in his hands. There was a smile on his face she hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Yes, I’m home. I’m where I belong,” she replied, sighing a little but knowing it was true.
“My dear, you had the kingdom quite worried. Prince Paulsen’s men brought back your dress. What happened?” he asked, with genuine concern.
She wrinkled her nose at the mention of the prince. “That was an unfortunate consequence. I had a few of those, and none that I am
particularly proud of. But I’m home now, and we can forget about the past. I didn’t intend for…”
“You did not intend,” he mused. “What did you intend by disrespecting me, disobeying me, humiliating me in front of the kingdom, and running away?”
“Yes, I made mistakes. I admit that. But so did you,” she countered.
“Well…” he stammered, at a loss for words.
“Yes, you did too. You forgot that, above being a princess, I am your daughter, and I should have more say in my life. Including who and when I marry.” She reached for his hands and looked him in the eyes. “I’m here now, and we can fix this.”
“You’re right. You’re home, and none of that other stuff matters now. The most important thing is that you are home, and safe. Everything else can be forgotten with time and with a ceremony.”
“With a ceremony? Father, surely you are not still thinking about a marriage at a time like this?”
“Now Madeline, I’ve heard what you have to say, but it’s still your duty,” he said, tension crackling in his voice.
“Yes, it’s my duty, but it’s also supposed to be a joy. Just like the happiness you had with mother. I want that for me. Don’t force me to marry someone I don’t want. Let me choose.”
“You would choose?” he asked.
Her mind raced with pictures of all the suitors and the men of the kingdom and settled onto one in her mind. “Yes, Father, I would.”
“Then it’s settled. That’s an arrangement I can live with.” He grasped her hands and pulled her to the chair he had draped the green gown across.
“Do you know why I gave you this dress for your birthday?” he asked. “The first time I met your mother, she wore this. When I saw her enter the room and meet my eyes for the first time, I knew she was meant to be my queen.” King Theodore stopped for a moment to hold back his tears. He smiled at her, his eyes distant. “I wanted you to have that same moment of happiness and love in your life.”
The Escape of Princess Madeline Page 9