I could hear the guards yelling as they chased me through the forest. I knew I was running, but it didn't feel like it at all; I'd been running for what seemed like forever, I had lost all feeling in my legs, and I could feel my breath running out, but I couldn't just stop running, not after what I had just done.
Stop! In the name of the Queen! was all I could hear from the crowd.
It was getting harder and harder to keep running, but if I stopped, I knew I'd be thrown into the dungeon for the rest of my days, never to see the light of day again. So, just as I jumped over a fallen tree, I kicked off my heels and tossed them behind. It was a lot easier running through the trees without them on, I also had gained some speed, and the voices had started to fade.
The cool breeze from the ocean rushed past me as I kept running; I was getting close to the place my handmaiden had mentioned the other day, I thought.
I could smell the ocean, and I was too close to it. The path I had been running on was coming to an end; before I could think about what I was doing, I slowed my pace to a gentle walk. I walked right to the cliff's edge and looked down, "Damn it, she said that it was an easy way to escape, but no, she forgot to mention that the path would end sooner than expected!" I spoke under my breath while clutching the strap of my bag.
As I turned around, the crowd of guards had fully caught up with me now,
In the name of the Queen, you are under arrest, miss Snow Blossom!
I rolled my eyes while the commander gave his long speech about the 'rights' i had as a prisoner. Then, before I made my great escape, I took a few steps back closer to the cliff's edge for some fun. As I suspected, they all raised their swords and looked back and forth between the Cliffs Edge and me.
Looking around at them, I finally spoke, "As you all can see, you're in a sticky situation here, holding your swords at the princess while on the edge of a cliff when your orders are to bring me and the crown back safely. So now the question is, how will you ever make a wise decision to get out of this mess?" I could see the worry on all of their faces except for the commander, and it looked like he had received different orders than the rest. By looking into his eyes, I could tell that one, my stepmother had told him to kill no matter the cost, and two, he was under one of her spells again.
My stepmother always had to get her way, and if she didn't use magic, it would be through the power to control my father with all the fake love she gave him. Ever since mother passed, he's been looking for a new spouse to pass down the throne to once he passes because he says I'm not ready for all the pressure and that I should get married and hand the throne to my husband once I am married.
This crown and I were the only pieces left that she needed to take over once Father is gone. I sadly overheard her in her room talking about how she would kill both myself and my father once she's crowned Queen next week.
I snapped back into reality in time, one of the guards was about to take my arm, but before he could, I swung it towards myself, " You think it's going to be that easy to get me to head back to the palace? I'm a wanted criminal now. I've committed treason by stealing this" I started waving the crown around, "Because of this, I'll be in the dungeon without a trial or being able to explain to my father. At this current time, my family has disowned me, and so has my kingdom."
I glanced around at the guards and then back at the jewels. Was this all worth it? Losing everything and everyone I loved just so my stepmother cant take over and ruin everything?
When I decided to run away from the palace, I knew my decision couldn't have a way to be reversed, but if I went back, everything made over the years would be gone and destroyed by her within a month. All of our people would become under her control, and even worse, there would be no one able to stop her.
Taking another small step back, I could feel the cold breeze of the ocean even more now; I made up my mind about the choice I was making; there was no going back after this. I took a deep breath, clearing my mind of any thoughts that would stop me; after I exhaled, I smiled at all the people staring at me; all of them probably thought I would give in, but little did they know I'd never give in.
I threw my headband on the ground, placed the crown in its place, and smiled once more, "Later, boys." Then, I turned around and jumped off the edge.
She Jumped! Someone go after her! We need her alive; get a search party-ready and find her!