Coalesce: The Escape
Chapter 3

After a bit of rest an initiate had come to inform me of the time. I thanked her and quickly headed back to the castle, climbing into my room through the still open window. I had to do this quite often now. It was a bit of a thrill in my dull life.

“You know,” I say to myself as a thought strikes me. I walk around my room as I think aloud. “I could just leave, pass myself off as a servant for a while perhaps... I would finally be able to go on an adventure. It would be wonderful. I wouldn’t have to deal with all this any more! I always dreamed of being an adventurer... I never actually considered it, though. It looks like it’s now or never.”

I glance around. “Hmm.. stay here, and be miserable. Or, leave, and be free...” I hold out my hands like a set of scales. Just as I was about to make my decision, the lock on the door clicks and the door opens. I mutter something under my breath and drop my arms to my sides. Having nothing better to do, I sit on my bed and feign examining the Prince’s gifts.

“You’re sure up early,” Geoffrey steps inside my room. I stand up again and turn toward the desk next to my window, which was still open, and set the gifts upon the wood surface. He looks at me suspiciously as I stand in front of the window with my hands behind my back.

“I couldn’t sleep,” My hand reaches for the window pane and eases the window back into place and locks it.

“Come away from the window, dear,” He gestures for me to step to the side. Having nothing to hide, I step back towards my bed. It annoyed me that he still treated me like a child. He had been here since I was born. His orange hair was starting to gray with age and his deep blue mage’s robes hung off him in an ill manner. He wore fur boots and always had his hood halfway up his head. His bony face made home look permanently angry. For some reason he always carried a wooden staff with a dragon head carved at the top, the eyes were small ice blue moonstones that looked like small, beautiful pearls. It kind of creeped me out, and it really served no purpose.

“What do you want, Geoffrey?” I look at him and slowly edge toward the bed more. Folding my legs under me I sit, looking up at him, hands in my lap.

“King Phillip wanted to see you as soon as you woke, and you’re awake.”

“So? I don’t want to see him right now.”

“He shuffles forward and looks me in the eyes. “He wants to see you, do not defy him.”

I know he’s right, but I still hate it. Very reluctantly, I get up and follow him out of my room. I don’t follow him any farther due to the painting of my mother. She truly had been beautiful, raven hair, deep blue eyes, a kind smile, many say she was the best Queen Dallek has had in years. She was much like her own mother in looks, but they couldn’t have been more different in personality. Her mother was strict, cold hearted and cruel. My mother was kind, understanding, and helpful, always was.

I missed her. I let out a soft sigh before making my way to the king’s chambers on the other side of the palace. As I walked ,I was thinking. Thinking of the old days, walking along the streets with my parents, never having a care in the world... Now I could barely go a minute alone. I hadn’t seen the streets as a Princess in years and barely saw my own brother. An outcast in my own home, that’s what I’d become. I wished I could just get away from it all. I wished that now more than ever.

I knock on the door and stand nervously waiting. It wasn’t a long wait, the door opens and Phillip steps aside to allow me passage. His chambers were well kept, large, and kind of sad... It reminded me of my parents. My eyes stay fixed on the floor. He leads me to the main subdivision of the room where a small table with a map of the province and small benches sat, empty.

“Sit down,” He waits for me to take a seat on one of the benches and lets out a soft sigh. “I know this is hard for you, I didn’t want you to have to do this. You must understand this, I am doing this for the good of the kingdom. The war... I shall have to leave soon to help the armies. The High King, Aaron, has sent for all the Kingdoms and their armies. Seeing as I have no proper Captain of the Dallek army, I must go myself,” He laces his fingers together, hands resting atop the map as he stares unfaltering at me.

I look at my feet and nod numbly, the war is getting worse, much worse. We all knew it. I suppose it was only a matter of time.

“You must marry so you can rule the kingdom while I am gone. I fear that I will not make it back, I would leave you to rule alone but, it simply doesn’t work that way. Edward isn’t old enough either. If he were, I would let you be as you are. I know I haven’t mentioned the seriousness of the war until now, for that I am sorry.” He reaches towards me but I pull back, looking dumbfounded at him.

“I-I... Why can’t I rule alone? What does the Empire have against a Queen ruling alone? It’s not fair! Leave someone else to rule. Isaac, Geoffrey, someone other than me! I don’t want this. I don’t want any of this. I just want to be free...” I stand up and look at him, slamming my palms onto the table. He seemed hurt by my words, I did feel guilty for it, but regretted nothing. I deserve a say in my own fate.

“That’s just not how it works, you are young and not fit for ruling alone. You are not of age either. Whether you like it or not you will be married!” Philip’s tone rises, matching mine as his eyes harden again. Any sympathy is long gone.

“Fine then, if that’s how it is,” I turn and run down the stairs with tears running down my face. Ignoring his pleas for me to come back. The door shuts with a heavy thud and my footsteps echo across the hall towards the North tower of the castle.

“It’s not fair...” I sink to the floor and bury my head in my hands. “Mother, why can’t you be here still? I need help, I don’t know what to do,” I look up toward the sky and a whistling wind blows around me. The sound was like several voices whispering the same thing over and over again. Each time it grows louder, little by little. It sounded like someone calling for help. An uneasy feeling crept down my spine and spread through my whole body. Slowly, I stand up and look around. I see nothing. Deciding to go back to my room, I climb down the stairs. I needed sleep.

The voices grew louder the closer I got to my room. My body ached from the sound and told me to run the other way, but my brain told me to keep going toward them. Unnerved, I open the doors to my room and glance around, then step in and close the door behind myself. A soft breeze blows around the room.

“That’s odd... I thought I closed the window,” I say slowly while looking toward the window, which was open, but looking around I see nothing out of place. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a shadow move across the room. Again, nothing was there. Strange... I think and walk over to close the window, cautious and careful with every step. As my hands touch the window pane, a hand covers my mouth and I am pulled back against a hard chest.

I try to scream, but nothing comes out. The arms tighten around me as I try to squirm out of my attacker’s grasp.

“Don’t try to call, no one will hear you,” A man’s voice sounds in my ear. I stop my fruitless attempts to free myself and stare out the window, terrified. So badly I wanted to jump out that window and run. Away from him, away from this place. Anywhere but here.

“Listen to me, I know you desire to leave this place. I do not come to stop you, I come to tell you to leave. Not now, but in three days time. Plead with the king to give you more time to choose a suitor. If you do not at least leave by your birthday, terrible things will befall you. Child of Darkness, I warn you now, heed my words. If indeed you leave, I will replace you and give you further information. For now, worry only about leaving and your current contract. Bring the one named Kylon with you. Do not mention this conversation to him,” And with that the room goes dark and I fall limply to the floor. Shuddering as though my body had just been drenched in freezing water, my eyes wide as I stare at the wall.