The Princess And The Enemy
Chapter 2
The Kingdom of Draevenmoor
In a bustling village square in the capital of King Oliver’s kingdom, Elizabeth is brought in as a prisoner.
Soldiers pull a cart through the muddy streets. Townsfolk pause, whispering. Elizabeth is shoved out, hands bound, face bruised but proud.
Soldier
*mocking*
Your new home, Princess. Hope you enjoy the view.
Elizabeth
*looks around, eyes scanning the crowd*
Why… why bring me here?
Soldier
Orders from the King. Said you’re to live among “your people.”
*laughs*
Though I doubt they’ll welcome you with open arms.
He cuts her binds and shoves her forward. The cart rattles away. Elizabeth stumbles, standing alone in the street. Villagers murmur.
Villager 1
Is that her? The daughter of the fallen king?
Villager 2
Hmph. Royal blood means nothing here. They lived soft while we starved.
Elizabeth
*steps forward, trying to speak*
I never asked for this war. I—my parents… they died protecting peace.
Villager 3
*pulls her son away from Elizabeth*
Peace? That peace never reached our borders.
Villager 2
Go back to your palace—oh, wait. You don’t have one anymore.
Elizabeth stands frozen, trying to hold back tears.
No one offers shelter. No one meets her eyes with kindness. She’s left alone as the crowd disperses.
The sky is streaked with gold and gray.
Elizabeth sits alone on a broken stone bench, shivering. Her gown is torn, and her hands are scraped.
Footsteps approach softly.
Yara
*gentle*
You’ll catch your death out here, child.
Elizabeth looks up to see a woman with streaks of silver in her hair. Her face is worn but kind. She carries a woven basket and wears a long wool cloak.
Elizabeth
*hesitant*
I'm not a child.
Yara
No. You’re not.
*sits beside her, not touching*
But you’re lost. And that makes you no different from the rest of us.
Elizabeth
*eyes narrow*
Do you know who I am?
Yara
Of course. Everyone does. The fallen rose of a broken garden.
*pause*
But I don’t see a princess. I see a girl who hasn’t eaten and hasn’t slept.
Elizabeth
*quietly*
Why are you helping me?
Yara
*smiling faintly*
Because kindness shouldn’t die with kings and queens. Come. My cottage is small, but the hearth is warm.
A small stone cottage deep in the forest. Fire crackles in a tiny hearth. Elizabeth sits by it, wrapped in a threadbare shawl.
Elizabeth
*quietly*
My name is Elizabeth.
Yara
*smiles softly*
Yara.
*places a bowl of stew*
Eat. And rest. Tomorrow, you’ll need strength—not for royal battles, but for the life ahead.
Elizabeth
*softly, tears streaming down her face*
Thank you... Yara..
Yara
You’re welcome. But out here, you’re no princess. Just a girl with a long road to walk.
Elizabeth’s throat tightened, the ache of grief pressing into her bones like frost. But still, she took the spoon. One bite. Then another.
Comments