They both took a ride through the city. Amir showed her different places and she gaped in awe. Though she sneaks out of the castle with Amir, but she had never gone this far. This was really breakfast for the eyes.
She saw how the commoners lived their lives, they were so free, they didn't have to sneak out of their houses to go somewhere. They had nothing to fear, of course, if perhaps they was a war. They were so happy as they walked around. She wished she lived this kind of life, where she didn't have to be in the confinement of a castle with guards trailing behind her.
Of course, Amir saw her dazed expression and he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. She looked cute with this expression on her face. He said inwardly.
"Do you like the view?"
"Yes Amir, everything here looks so.... beautiful..." She paused for a moment and then sighed.... "I wished I had their kind of freedom." She mumbled but Amir still heard her.
"Elen, your life as a princess is far better than others. At least you have protection....only the few rich people has the kind of protection you have." He explained.
"But at least they have freedom, and they look so happy." She said and sighed again.
"Not everyone are happy as you think they are." He said causing Elen to crease her brows. She was confused, what did he mean by that. All the people she's seeing here looked happy to her, so what the hell is he saying?!
"But they are...."
"I'll show you what I mean." He said, cutting her off. He rode his horse faster and Elen could only sigh and follow him.
He rode to the farthest end of the city, a few people only lived there. Elen knotted her brows. Where is he taking her to? Is this really the 'better idea' he wanted to show her? This place is deserted and she didn't like it here! Knowing that her friend might be up to something again, she kept herself from protesting. They were going deeper and deeper, Elen couldn't take this anymore. Worse was that, he wasn't even saying anything!
Just as she was about to protest, his horse halted. What is wrong now? Well, at least they stopped. She thought trying to calm herself down.
"Look over there." He said pointing out to the farthest end by her right. What she saw made her heart clench. This view is simply not something she wants to see everyday!!
Was this how most people lived? This is pure suffering! She really was thankful for her parents. She now knew how much they really cared for her by giving her all of those protection and a very comfortable life. She never new people lived like walking dead!
She pulled her horse closer to get a better view, she didn't know when the tears she had been forcing back rolled down her cheeks.
The people here, were really suffering. They all looked like they haven't eaten for months! Some couldn't even wear proper clothes and some children cried for food but only a few could eat the little food they got.
This....this sight was truly unbearable. Could she do anything to help these innocent children? They didn't deserve to suffer like this! All the children were covered in dust. They were really looking unkempt!
Elen should be grateful to her parents, she didn't even have the right to get angry at them anymore. She's just seen life and it really wasn't as pleasant as she thought. Maybe Amir was right though, her life as a princess is much...much...much more better than these people.
Taking a deep breath, Elen moved towards the camp where all those seemingly 'as good as dead' people stayed.
Amir protested of course. He didn't expect that she would go close to them!!
"Where are you going?!" He yelled
"I want to help them Amir." She said simply.
"There's no way you can.....arghh Elen have you lost your mind or something? These people have been here for a long while and they don't really mind their suffering." He explained.
"And that is why....I'll take away a little of their pain.
He sighed, clearly frustrated, but after few minutes, he finally nodded and gave in.
"Yay!!!" She said.
"How would you help them huh? Princess Helena?" He said
"Maybe they need a little clean up..." She said
"Elen look, you're a princess you shouldn't be doing things like this."
"But I'm also human too." She mumbled, she stepped down from her horse and she strode towards them.
They were all happy to see that someone was finally paying attention to them. They've been here for a long time and they always get ignored, they really didn't care much about those things again because they realized it was their fate.
Elen helped the children get clean and she gave the elderlies some money to take care of their selves. She knew it wasn't enough but that was all she had on her. She didn't expect that she'll see something like this and that was why she didn't take much money along with her.
While Elen was helping the children, she saw a particular girl which she later found out that her name was 'Helena' too. Elen was surprised, during the days of her life, she hadn't really found anyone that has the same name with hers. But now, she saw this little girl, who was suffering for no reason. Elen felt the urge to cry but she held it back. She couldn't possibly cry in front of these people!
"Do you know we both have the same name?" She asked the girl, the girl was surprised but she shook her head indicating that she didn't know.
"Well now you know...we both have the same name." She told her with a wide grin on her face.
"I wish I could be like you, Helena." The girl said.
"Then promise me you'll do as I say." She said with a serious look and the girl immediately knew that she was about to say something big.
"How old are you?" Helena asked. The girl was expecting another question but all she asked was her age?!
"Fifteen..."
"You're still very young... How did you end up here?" Helena asked, she knew it was a stupid question to ask, but she was curious to know... Compared to the other people, this girl looked healthier and beautiful even if her body were skinny, she still looked very pretty. Elena could already deduce that she came here recently, but why would she come here?
The girl took a deep breath. Elen could tell that she was struggling to say whatever it is that she wanted to stay. She didn't want the girl to recall old memories, so she stopped her.
"It's alright if you don't want to say it...I'm not forc_"
"No...it's alright, I really don't mind."
Elen was hesitant, but her curiosity got a better of her. She was the one who asked anywhere.
Elen sighed and the girl began her story.