The clock seemed to slow as Elsa and Oliver thought of their journey of uncertainty ahead.
It was the kind of night they both knew they would remember for the rest of their lives.
This night would change so many things in their lives but Elsa was willing to take the risk.
The clock in the room chimed.
It was time already.
Elsa felt the ripple of that one clock chime on her fluttering heart.
She couldn't tell if she felt relieved or terrified.
She sat on the chair - rigid with terror.
Mixed emotions engulfed her body.
She could hear her inner mind question her decision.
She began to question if this was what she truly wanted.
She thought of her mother and brother.
They were the only ones she sincerely loved.
They would be disappointed if they found out - but, could she blame herself?
She had been following all their orders like a blind rabbit.
All she demanded was a change.
She only wanted to make her decisions and stick to them.
Oliver held her shaky hands in his and gave her a reassuring smile.
" We're in this together.
" Don't you trust me?"
Elsa turned away from his gaze and took her hands away from his.
His bemused expression hit her in the face and she suddenly began to feel hot in the frigid room.
" Oliver, I trust you enough but....d...d...does it seem right?"
Oliver stopped her from stuttering by pulling her body towards his.
He gently shoved her sparkling amber hair away from her face.
She shivered under his touch.
His soft but cold voice emitted a different emotion - different from the emotions that twirled up in his eyes.
" My princess, this isn't the time to be pessimistic. We only need to leave now."
Elsa reluctantly pulled away from the closeness of their bodies and dragged the small bag alongside her hood.
Oliver blew off all the candles that lit the room.
A wave of panic seized Elsa as she stepped outside the room.
She shoved her hands deeper into her pocket as her nose burned in the frigid air.
She hadn't gone out of the palace on her own before and this was hardly an ideal way to start.
Princess Elsa forcefully swallowed her fears and took a deep breath.
They prowled alongside each other in deep silence.
Elsa's abrupt backward inch when they arrived at the ground house entrance startled Oliver.
Her breath hitched as she saw the fire move towards the entrance too.
This fire was accompanied by a strangled movement.
" Who's there?"
" Who's there? Surrender or I'll raise an alarm."
Elsa's heartbeat quickened and sweat broke out on her palms.
It was getting difficult to breath.
She couldn't risk being caught again; the fear of being captured again almost suffocated her to death.
Elsa unceremoniously grabbed Oliver's hand with greater strength.
" I thought you said you handled the guards," her strangled whisper came out almost immediately.
Oliver hushed her and pulled out an object from the corner.
" What are you trying to do?"
Everything happened quickly.
The guard was lying on the ground with the fire stick lying beside his lifeless body.
Elsa covered her mouth with her shaky and cold hands to stop her strangled scream from escaping her mouth.
Oliver crouched down to the body and felt his pulse.
His sudden hiss revealed otherwise.
The guard was dead?
" What have you done? You killed a guard?"
Oliver picked the fire stick and passed it in few directions.
" We have to leave before an alarm is raised."
Elsa felt her entire world crumble.
Yes, she wanted her freedom, but she didn't want anyone to get killed.
Tear droplets trickled down her face.
He pulled her hand and dragged her as they ambled towards the entrance of the ground house.
Oliver settled to search for the keys but before he could bring it out of the bag, Elsa heard the palace bell chime.
She mumbled under her shallow breath.
Oliver pulled the keys out and scurried towards the padlock.
The few keys he tried didn't match.
Elsa could hear the strangled movement of other guards.
They were coming down and the bell chimed vigorously.
They had found out about the murder - how?
She peered about wide-eyed while continuously praying that Oliver finds the matching key.
So many thoughts bounced in her mind.
Her father wouldn't spare her - not at all.
Oliver could be executed for killing a royal guard and her father wouldn't spare her either.
Oliver's lips curled in amusement.
He found the matching key and the rattling of the padlock told Elsa so.
He violently pulled the gate at the entrance open and pulled Elsa in.
" Don't you think you should lock it up so they don't follow us," Elsa suggested under her strangled breath.
" We don't have much time. We only need to reach the border."
They galloped further while stumbling upon stones.
" There's no light. How do we know when we get to the other end?"
" I placed a light...."
Thunderous footsteps distracted his sentence completion.
They were coming after them.
The footsteps drew nearer as each second passed.
Oliver turned around with a start.
The lights continuously came towards their direction.
He could see their shadows and hear the echoes of their voices.
" Run! Elsa, run!"
Elsa choked on her breath and slumped to the ground.
" I can't."
Oliver rushed towards her and tried to pull her up.
" I can't breath."
" We can still make it, Elsa. They are coming."
He hurriedly lifted her up and placed her gently on his back.
His steps became heavy and sluggish while he said a prayer in his heart.
The footsteps from behind became louder.
He could see the light.
He only needed to walk more and they would reach the walls of Albion.
He chuckled softly when he felt Elsa make some movements on his back.
Elsa noticed the light glint too and she moved her body energetically.
Oliver's next impetuous rush was stopped abruptly by an order from behind.
He stiffened.
" Surrender!
" Orders from the king!" a hoarse voice stated.
Elsa froze and shrank back in a catatonic stupor.