Mizhka is running as fast as she can. Although she is still worried about Leilah, she knows that there's no turning back now. She keeps on running. She is already far away from the castle. All of a sudden her feet cramps because of too much fatigue. She falls down to the ground. She's in pain. She's tired.
As she lays down on the ground, she sees a shadowy figure coming in. She's reaching for its help. She can't even utter a word anymore. The shadow starts becoming vivid. It's a man. The man is King Silas.
"You can't run away from me, my daughter! I own you. You must obey everything that I say," he says.
"No!!!!" Princes Mizhka screams.
Princess Mizhka opens her eyes. Nobody's there. It must have been a dream. She has fallen asleep for a brief moment. She feels relieved. She continues to lay down as she still needs to regain her strength.
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Back at the castle, two guards are carrying Leilah by her arms. They bring them to the king who is currently seated on his throne. Aztec is beside him. Prince Merick is at one corner of the room with Ethan by his side, while Prince Zidane is at the other corner together with Ulrich.
"Your Majesty, we saw this maid in the forest when we were seeking for Princess Mizhka," the first guard exclaims.
"We suspect that she might have something to do with Princess Mizhka's disappearance," says the second guard.
King Silas looks at her furiously and asks, "What do you say? Is there any truth with what they are telling?"
Leilah just keeps her head down and doesn't utter a word. This angers King Silas, and slaps her hard.
"Answer my question, you fool!" he bellows.
But Leilah is still not responding. He slaps her once more, yet she still doesn't give any single word.
"Bring her to the dungeon, tomorrow she gets beheaded," King Silas orders the guards.
The queen enters the room and shouts, "Stop! She is innocent!"
King Silas looks at Queen Arida and asks, "What makes you say that?"
"It was me who ordered this young maid to go out of the castle and pick up some fruits like I always do."
King Silas examines the queen, as if trying to examine if she's telling the truth. Queen Arida stands her ground firmly. She doesn't move an inch.
"Free her," King Silas orders after much thought.
The two guards let go of her arms.
"Thank you very much, your majesty," Leilah utters.
"Leave now and get back you your duty," King Silas replies.
Leilah leaves the throne room immediately.
"Now, I have to excuse myself too, I have some important matters to attend to," Queen Arida exclaims as she leaves the room soon after. When Queen Arida is already out of the room, Aztec approaches the king.
"I sense something wrong, my King," he says, "the servant could be guilty."
Prince Merick quickly jumps in to the conversation, "Let me be in charge of her. I will scrutinize her until I find out the truth. I'll make sure that Mizhka would return."
Prince Merick looks at Prince Zidane and says, "As part of our agreement, I'll make sure your wedding with my sister will happen."
"Very well, my son," King Silas speaks with affection. "You are such a gentleman. You know how to keep a promise."
"Thank you. I'll return to my room. I need some rest."
Prince Merick leaves the throne room followed by Ethan.
King Silas, Aztec, and Prince Zidane look at each other.
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Queen Arida walks in to the servant's quarter and looks for Leilah. As she sees her she says, "I want to talk to you privately."
All the other servants leave. Queen Arida sits besides Leilah.
"Leilah, I know that it was you who helped Mizhka leave the castle," she says. "And I couldn't thank you more."
The queen continues, "I really wanted her to be free. To choose who she wants to marry. To be able to do whatever she wants to do. And I failed to bring her that freedom. It was you who has given that to her."
"My queen, I'm willing to do anything for Princess Mizhka, just as how you have always risked your life for my mother," Leilah responds. "And today, you have also done it for me. You really are such a noble person like what my mother always tells me."
Queen Arida smiles as she remembers her old friend.
"Oh Dorothy, the one and only true friend I ever had," she says in a really gentle and sweet voice. "She has been my maid back in Olandrea when I was still a princess."
"Yes, she told me everything, my queen. Including that incident in the lake when you saved her life from drowning," Leilah narrates.
Queen Arida can't help but feels nostalgic as she remembers Dorothy.
"Your family even moved to Lyndonville so that she can still serve me," she relates, "however, her health has already depreciated and she can no longer do that."
"That's why she asked me to become a servant in this castle," Leilah says, "so that we can repay all the good deeds you have done for her."
"There's not a need to repay me. I value our friendship more than anything else."
"And I value mine with Princess Mizhka. That's why I'm willing to do anything for her."
Queen Arida is deeply touched by Leilah's words. She hugs her tight.
"Just be careful Leilah, you know that the king wouldn't take this lightly."
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It was already night time when Princess Mizhka starts walking again. She must find a warm spot as she is freezing to death. As she slowly walks, she hears a long howl.
Awooooooooo!
Princess Mizhka is shaking. She's quite unsure if it's because of the low temperature or out of fear. She continues walking, trying to toughen up herself. After a few minutes of walking, she hears something rustling in the bushes. Princess Mizhka is startled. She grabs the nearest broken tree trunk she finds that she can use to defend herself.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" she yells.
Suddenly, there is a sudden movement that is going directly towards her. Princess Mizhka runs off before she could even see what's coming. She runs as fast as she can, until she reaches a big boulder. She uses the boulder to her advantage. She rests her back against the boulder and faces her adversary. There are three wolves chasing her. The wolves scatter in front of her, seemingly scrutinizing a strategic attack. Princess Mizhka is holding the trunk like a sword. She's breathing heavily, trying to calm herself in order to survive.
Princess Mizhka closes her eyes. She sees her younger self looking from her window. She sees her Prince Merick and Prince Zidane practicing their sword fighting skills. She mimicks their moves.
Princess Mizhka opens here eyes. She grips the trunk tightly, she's ready to fight for her life.
One of the wolves attack her. She swings the trunk and hits the first wolf in its head. The wolf is knocked out. A second wolf makes its attack. She swings the trunk again, but she misses the first hit. This wolf is a lot quicker than the first one. Princess Mizhka is able to evade its attack though. The wolf attempts another attack, she misses a hit again but evades the attack. The wolf prepares for another attack, Princess Mizhka, seems to be planning something. As the wolf runs towards her, Princess Mizhka doesn't make a move. The wolf becomes complacent and jumps towards her with an open mouth. Princess Mizhka jabs the trunk into the wolf's mouth, making it cry in pain and eventually leaves.
This leaves the last wolf standing in front of her. The last wolf seems to be a lot bigger and definitely look fiercer. Princess Mizhka has nothing more to defend herself, and she's too tired to even move. She thinks that this is the end. She just sits there and accepts her fate. The big wolf runs towards her. But before it even reaches her, an arrow pierces through it.
Princess Mizhka searches where the arrow could have come from. She sees a guy holding a bow and arrow, ready to make another strike. The now wounded wolf is angry, and is now targeting the guy. The wolf runs towards him. The guy releases the arrow and hits the wolf in its hind leg. The wolf is now heavily wounded, and it knows that he doesn't stand a chance anymore. It makes a retreat.
Princess Mizhka is relieved. She looks at her savior. He is a slightly muscular young man that looks like a vagabond. But in her eyes, he looks like a knight in shining armor. He appraoches her.
"Are you alright, miss?" he asked.
"I am all good, thanks to you," she asnswers, "you saved my life."
"What are you doing here and why are you all alone? The forest too dangerous especially at night. If the wolves didn't get you, the snakes, the bears, or probably a lion would," he warns.
Princess Mizhka thinks of a made-up story to tell. She doesn't want her real identity be known.
"I'm a servant from the town of Auxemburg, and I am on my way to Ninever to deliver some goods," she narrates. "But a group of bandits took everything, including my horse. That's why I was stuck here, trying find a place to spend tonight."
"I see. I can take you to Lyndonville, and spend a night in my house. It's not too far from here."
"That would be great."
"By the way, I'm Julian. I'm a hunter. It's a good thing that I found you during my hunting time," he says.
"Nice to meet you, Julian. I'm Mi..."
Princess Mizhka stopped. She quickly thinks of a name that she can think of, she can't tell her real name.
"Mileena," she continues.
"Great name. Come on, Mileena. Let's go to Lyndonville."
Holding a boar on his shoulders, Julian leads the way to leave the forest. Princess Mizhka is excited to enter a new world.
END OF CHAPTER 5