Aurelia sat on a wooden stool in the small house of Madam Louis as the old lady walked around her tending to her injuries. The ones that she had acquired from her struggle with those people who had wanted to burn her alive.
The moment they arrived home and by home she meant, Madam Louis little lonely house at the river side, the woman's grandson Harlow had not let her be, telling her about all the struggles she had put them through all because of her little Casanova.
" Those people are truly brutal. How could they hit such a pretty thing like you so cruelly?", inquired Madam Louis as she wiped Aurelia's pale face with a wet cloth while Aurelia stared aimlessly, her thoughts occupied with her journey henceforth.
" Grand mother don't be silly, if she were not as foolish as she was, then no one could have easily influenced the people like that, she would have stood her ground. She behaves like a princess from an unknown Kingdom, like someone who's never spent time to know what outsiders are like", queried Harlow as he went to change the bowl of water Madam Louis was using while Aurelia's eyes followed him.
She was indeed a princess, but her kingdom was not unknown and Harlow was right. If she had stood her ground and not allowed them to toss her around like that then perhaps she wouldn't have had to go to the prison cell, that was humiliating for her status as princess.
All she wanted was to be reunited with her mother and Madam Louis made her all the more wonder if her mother was going to be anything like this woman, calm and patient.
" You silly boy leave her alone. You always look for reasons to hassle her, are you not ashamed that you keep arguing with a lady?", his grandmother asked him as he passed the bowl over to her which she once again dipped the wet cloth into.
" Elsa why are you being quiet? Do tell me if you are feeling upset about what those people did and I will punish them for you", Harlow suddenly exclaimed with all seriousness and she finally stared at him as if warmed by his statement.
" Look I am sorry that I hassle you but sometimes I feel that you are too quiet even now, you never say a word and seriously don't you get tired of talking in your head, saying it out loud would help since I cannot read minds", stated Harlow as he pulled a stool to sit next to her.
" Get up from here you silly boy, have you cooked the meat for our dinner, we will starve if you don't hurry and boy I do not wish to die any time soon", his grandmother chastised, hitting him with the wet cloth and he immediately abandoned Aurelia's side frowning.
" I wish I had stayed away from the kitchen when I was younger grandmother, that way I would not know how to cook and then you will not send me there every once in a while", Harlow said in a gruff voice as he made his way towards the little kitchen in the house.
Aurelia sighed deeply, she had come all the way here in search of her mother but now she was simply missing home and the fine walls of the castle.
Mostly, she was missing her father and her overbearing aunt, how did they deal with the rival Kingdom after her escape?
She wished to know all these but she could no longer go back and she had a made a vow not to return without her mother and she was intending on keeping that vow intact.
***
Six horses rode on one pathway headed towards the perfect hunting spot that Colin had taken note of a long time ago as he had informed .
" This land belongs to Ashton's grand father, the scary King of Arania Kingdom, I disliked him a lot during the time of his reign", Colin stated bluntly as he rode behind Aurelia who appeared enamoured by the lands and trees she came across.
" Do you wish to have your head chopped Colin, speaking about my grandfather in such a manner is not permitted and in front of my wife as well", Ashton replied him and they both stared at each other, eyes not leaving the other as they thought about something.
" I also did hate that man Colin", Ash finally said breaking their stare with a smile on his lips before it suddenly disappeared and Colin chuckled deeply in regards to his words.
" That man was very strict with us and we probably have bad experiences from childhood all because of him but anyways now we will hunt on his land and may his wicked soul Rest In Peace", Colin said in a sober state as the others, Ash and Rosamund to be precise, both chorused Amen.
" Speaking of the dead in such a manner three of you, you all clearly have displeased and disappointed me", chimed Marcy from behind Ash and they all stopped with their horses including the two guards accompanying them.
The three of them stared at each other as if wondering if in Rizzan, it was sort of a sin to speak of the dead like this.
" We should do more than just hunt on his land. I had one of the guards bring with us some very good red wine, trust me, getting drunk while hunting for games is one of the best experiences, let us go sanctify his land", deadpanned Marceline as a smile revealed itself on her face and she heard Colin sigh while Ash's lips twitched in amusement.
" You had me at the first half Princess Aurelia", Colin stated with a look of relief on his face and Rosamund could not help but smile as well.
Indeed watching people hunt and at the same time drinking the finest red wine was wonderful and all she would have to do was sit on her horse relaxing while Ash and Colin searched for game, this was relaxing.
" Shall we proceed?", Marcy asked softly when they remained staring at her but lost in their own thoughts. " We do not wish to keep scary grandfather waiting, sanctification must never be delayed", replied Colin with a smile and they all proceeded on their journey.
They soon arrived at the entrance of the forest and they all got down from their horses, except Rosamund who remained seated.
Marceline began to ready her bow and arrow, her favorite weapons for hunting causing Rosamund to frown. This princess was not planning on going into the forest with the others was she?
"And where do you think you are headed Lady Aurelia?" Inquired Rosamund as she swiftly got down from her horse glaring at Aurelia's bow and arrow.
" Obviously I did not come here to merely sit and watch Rosamund or are you blind that you cannot see the bow and arrow with me?", she asked much to the surprise of Rosamund who had not expected her to be that blunt with her words even in the presence of the crown prince.
Ashton turned to stare at her and so did Colin who was marveling at her audaciousness.
" Ash did you see how she spoke to me and all I did was ask her a question", Rosamund cried out to Ash who stared at Aurelia with a blank expression on his face but deeply he was busy wondering.
She was never like this, blunt and straightforward. She used to be quiet and would rather let every thought in her remain with her forever, what suddenly changed?
He knew he had always wanted someone outspoken and feisty so that his marriage would not be too boring but now she was just as arrogant as him and seriously he could not live with not getting his way all the time.
He stared at Rosamund who was staring back at him with a plea to defend her but what should he seriously say, other than the fact that it was not right to speak against his wife, would she even listen if he spoke?
She had outrightly refused his demand for her not to accompany them hunting, what was the validation that she would not fight with him here as well?
" Forget it Rosamund, not everyone is like you. You stay and relax while drinking wine, Ash, Aurelia and I will go hunt for games alright", Colin said dissipating the issue as he walked towards the forest while Aurelia followed behind and so did Ash.
Rosamund stomped her feet on the ground angrily for not getting her way. A serving boy immediately rushed to her with the wine served in a glass and she drank it, slowly plotting her revenge on Aurelia.
Meanwhile in the forest, Ash, Colin and Aurelia had already separated from each other and were searching for animals, Fox and deers were rarely seen in this particular land but that was what made hunting them much more interesting.
After long searching, Marcy finally gave up and sat down to rest, she had to agree that this forest was really scarce of any animal. Birds could be seen flying around once in a while but Colin had also stated that they weren't allowed to hunt birds just Foxes and Deers.
Just immediately she heard hasty loud footsteps behind her and she immediately turned around to see what was coming in such a hurry but then she was shot by an arrow in her back and another arrow landed on the leg of the animal headed towards her causing it to whimper in defeat and fall.
" I caught it father, I caught the deer", a young boy exclaimed loudly before gasping when he saw Marcy groaning as well as the deer, trying to remove the stuck arrow from her back.
" Oh no Father, I have done something wrong, Father this lady had been shot by my arrow", the boy cried out in a panicked tone while Ash and Colin approached after hearing the cry of victory from a youngster.
" Princess Aurelia", exclaimed Colin as he rushed to her side as well as Ash whose gaze immediately darkened at the sight of her back bleeding.
Marcy could no longer think straight due to the sharp pain coming from her back as she felt someone lift her up with the arrow still in her back.
" Oh my goodness what was she doing next to that deer, she brought this upon herself", stated one of the men who had accompanied the father and son for hunting.
Ash turned to stare at the man who made that statement and almost immediately, one of the guards that accompanied them all the way from the castle punched the man hard causing the man to fall on the ground due to the impact of the punch.
" Princess Aurelia be calm, I wish to pull the arrow out alright", exclaimed Colin as he held the arrow while Ash carried her on his shoulder. The moment he pulled the arrow, Marcy bit Ash's shoulders hard to stop herself from screaming out loud while Ash closed his blue eyes to bear the pain, wow her teeths were quite sharp.
" Round them all up, they will face trial for trying to harm my queen", stated Ash in fury as Marcy's body became limp on his shoulder and his face paled immediately, why was she no longer moving?