Prologue

It was cold. Everywhere they ran was a dead end. They have never even been in this forest. Not even to hunt. Not even for a walk. But they had to. They had to run. And never come back. Footsteps can be heard from behind them. They were faster and there were more. Everyone around them needed to protect the one person they are loyal to. The princess.

She was strong and can hold her own sword. But at this moment, it didn’t matter. As long as she is safe everything will be alright. And it has to be. The kingdom has fallen because of the revolution. There was no time to think what and when they did wrong in their rule. It just happened.

“My lady!” Her guards screamed before they all heard groaning and it began. The clashing of swords. People being stabbed and slashed, leaving their bodies on the ground. The princess stopped and grab for her own sword before a hand grabbed her wrist.

“It’s not the time. We need to get you safe.” The guard said, irritatingly calm in this situation.

“My people are dying! I can’t just run!” The princess screamed back.

“I know.” He said. He started dragging her away, his face was twisted in pain seeing the action behind them. Sadness was written all over his face when he said. “But you’re the last heir. We need you alive.”

That only meant one thing, and she felt numb all over. She truly was alone now.

Because of the guards fighting behind them, they were able to run away. They ran as fast as they could to the nearest village to seek shelter for the night. To hide from the people attacking them before a further investigation of what the cause is. The forest seemed endless though. There were no signs of when it’s ending and they started to feel like they were running in circles, but they kept running.

The guards left behind must have all died because they can hear the footsteps of people running again. But they were far enough, and soon they can no longer hear it.

The princess stepped back when she heard her guard screamed. A stray arrow has hit his thigh and he was falling to the ground. In his kneeled position, the princess tried to help him up again only to be pushed away by him.

“Run, my lady.” She didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to be alone. She tried to stay or helped him up, but he kept pushing. The princess was crying and the guard wiped her tears and just smiled up at her. “You have truly grown.”

“Please, don’t leave me.” The princess begged.

The guard only smiled. “Just run.” He said. “I’ll be right behind you.”

She knew he wasn’t going to follow her now. So she stood up. “Promise to find me.” Without looking back, she ran.

The princess stopped running when she no longer heard any footsteps behind her. She walked and walked, every part of her numb when everything ha hit her. She has lost everything.

She saw an old tree, bigger than the others in the middle. The princess walked towards it to rest. Before she could reach it, she felt a pain on her back and fell to the ground. They had caught her. She crawled to the tree as if it would protect her.

“Pathetic.” The person behind her said before stabbing her with the sword. Her body became weak as more blood came out of her and she laid on the ground unable to move.

“Leave her.” A different voice said. “She won’t survive the night. We will pick up her body later when we finish up her duties.”

The person from before scoffed at them. “Who do you think you are ordering my people around like that?”

“I am just following orders, sir.” The voice responded. “I am sorry to have offended you.”

The person said nothing more and she can hear them walk away, leaving her to die.

I can’t die like this. I can’t die now. My people need me.

But then again, for a revolution to happen like this. It’s obvious to everyone that they don’t need them anymore if they think they are better of gone.

If they don’t need me, I can die peacefully.

Her eyes became very heavy, she was no longer able to keep them up. But she had accepted her loss. And there was nothing more she could do. She had accepted death as an old friend as she drifted to sleep with a smile on her face unable to be awoken again.

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