Elsa's heart stumbled over its own rhythm and the knots in her stomach got entangled again - making it harder for her to breath.
Her mother heard the wild, violent thudding of her heart.
Princess Elsa abruptly grasped her mother's hand while tears flowed in torrents across her long face.
Queen Bethany gasped and held her breath subconsciously.
Tears swallowed Elsa's words.
" M..M..Mother, please. Don't let father do this to me."
Queen Bethany's eyes opened wide and she felt her heart leap as her teeth began to chatter.
She struggled with every might in her being to stop tears from flowing.
Words that had been on the tip of her tongue refused to come out.
The sound of the trumpet outside shook her to the core and she forcefully swallowed them.
Queen Bethany hurriedly kissed her daughter's forehead and bolted towards the door without falter.
The king wasn't to hear of her visit to the princess despite his orders.
Princess Elsa glanced coldly at her mother's reflection from the mirror and her stumbling heart skittered to a halt.
It was an understandable reaction - her mother feared her father.
But, at this point, she could only think of it as abnormal.
It was as if they were all at his mercy.
Her father was only a self-absorbed scum who only cared about power and fame.
He never cared about his family and she detested him for this.
Her memories snapped.
It was just like that event happened yesterday.
That fateful day, when she left the palace that beautiful summer morning, she had no idea what was in store for her.
To begin with, everything was too perfect for anything unusual to happen again.
It was one of those days when she felt good.
It was to be a tournament for princesses of neighbouring kingdoms.
She had pleaded with her father to be present at the tournament as it would delight her.
They had all agreed, but to her surprise, he never showed up.
She had cried her eyes out after the tournament because other princesses taunted her for not having a caring family.
____________
After her mother left, she hastily ran towards the window and looked down - speechless with countless thoughts bouncing in her mind.
She had always endured the punishment life has given her ( her father was part of this punishment) with hope that someday things would change.
At the moment, recent situations told her not to think so.
Elsa nodded obediently to the voices that whispered softly in her head.
*****
Princess Elsa rose from the bed abruptly.
The dark room couldn't even conceal the emotions that twirled up in her eyes.
The darkness of the night fell on her face.
Her blue eyes shimmered with determination as she put on her black hood and quietly placed herself on the window frame.
She looked around one more time to ensure she had turned all the lights off and the bed was neatly dressed.
Princess Elsa smiled faintly at herself and turned her gaze away.
Looking down with a tender expression from where she sat, she let herself loose and let the darkness claim her.
She had a good landing with a noisy stomp on the ground.
No one saw her and she stealthily walked to a safer corner.
She had been learning this landing technique from the prince - her brother, and now, it proved itself useful in such situations.
A strangled movement from a nearby truck distracted her thoughts and she found herself colliding into another object in the darkness.
She reluctantly took cover when she saw the flame of light coming towards her direction.
" Who's there?" a hoarse voice questioned and moved the flame of light in his hand from one side to the other.
" Who's there?"
Elsa held her breath unconsciously and fought every muscle in her relatively petite body not to take a peek or breath.
She could see the man from the crack on the object whilst praying for him to move away.
Heaven answered her prayers just in time.
Other guards beckoned on the man to come and have a drink with them at the nearby inn, and he joined them in hesitation.
Princess Elsa wiped out the sweat that had broken out on her forehead and prowled about the palace like a thief while stumbling upon things.
****
She knocked with all intensity on the door and peered about wide-eyed while continuously knocking.
Someone pulled the handle of the door and Elsa pushed the door open without falter.
" I've been waiting for the past few hours. I had thought you wouldn't make it," Oliver's concerned voice rose while they were entangled in their breathtaking embrace.
Oliver kissed her forehead and Elsa felt a surge of emotions rush into her body.
It was getting harder to breath and it seemed like she was losing control.
She blushed and smiled softly.
Elsa hushed him and bolted towards the door to ensure it was locked.
" I don't think they know I left...We need to make our plans as fast as possible."
She went further to pull down the curtains and increase the intensity of the candles in the room.
" Iris sent word. I got the map. We only have to leave from the ground house under the palace," Oliver began.
" Where do we stay?"
" I've sent word to a neighbouring kingdom. Their king has approved our stay in his kingdom."
He spread the sheet of paper on the table and pointed towards a door on the map.
" We can leave unseen from the ground house," he rattled on.
Elsa hissed and massaged her temple.
" That's going to be an uphill task.
" The ground house has a key that I forgot to bring along.
" There's no way we can leave unseen because the guards will see us leave."
Oliver chuckled softly and trudged towards her.
He pulled her cheeks in an endearing manner and gazed into her eyes.
" You worry so much, princess. I've this all under my control.
" I got the keys and I have handled the guards at the ground house.
" Also, I've packed the bags. We'll leave once the time's thirty minutes gone."
A smile tore across Elsa's face and she nodded obediently.
She tried to wave off the delusional thought that had just crossed her mind.
Why did it even have to matter now?
Her father always did whatever pleased him and at his own will.
Why couldn't she do hers?
She had realized that she had a right too, and this time, there will be no delays.