The morning sun, pale and hesitant, cast a weak glow over the castle grounds. A blanket of snow, the remnants of a recent storm, clung stubbornly to the ground, its pristine white marred only by the occasional dark footprint.
Aurelia stood in the courtyard, a solitary figure wrapped in a thick cloak that obscured her form. Her breath puffed out in white clouds as she stared intently at the base of a large oak tree. Its bare branches, stark against the pale blue sky, seemed to claw at the heavens in defiance of the winter chill.
But it wasn't the tree that drew Aurelia's attention. Beside its massive trunk, nestled amongst the snowdrifts, lay an inky shadow. Unlike the natural silhouette cast by the tree itself, this one was jagged and unnatural, its edges writhing and shifting as if alive.
A shiver ran down Aurelia's spine, a prickle of unease crawling up the back of her neck. This wasn't a shadow cast by the morning light. It was something… else.
The wind whispered through the courtyard, carrying a distant howl that sent another shiver through her. It was a sound that didn't belong in the crisp morning air, a sound that echoed with a chilling loneliness.
Taking a deep breath, Aurelia steeled her nerves. With a resolute step, she pushed her way through the snow, leaving behind a trail of dark footprints that echoed the unnatural shadow beside the oak tree.
As she drew closer, the shadow seemed to writhe even more, its edges twisting into grotesque shapes, she abruptly reached out to it....
"Miss."
Aurelia yelped, her hand recoiling as if burnt as a voice boomed from behind her. Spinning around, she clutched her chest, adrenaline surging through her veins. Standing there, a faint smile playing on his lips, was Finn.
Relief washed over her, replacing the fear with a touch of annoyance. "You!" she exclaimed, trying to catch her breath. "You scared the living daylights out of me!"
Finn laughed, his voice warm and friendly. "Sorry, Miss ," he apologized, his blue eyes twinkling with amusement. "Didn't mean to startle you. Just saw you reaching out to the old oak and thought I'd check on you."
He gestured towards the tree, his smile softening. "You know, I came to the castle as a child, I used to come here all the time as a boy. This old oak… well, it was sort of a friend to me. A place to hide and dream."
Aurelia couldn't help but glance back at the tree. The stark image of the menacing shadow seemed to have disappeared.
"A friend, huh?" she echoed, her voice regaining its composure. "It certainly looks... imposing."
Finn's smile faded slightly. He glanced at the tree, then back at Aurelia.
"Indeed, it is imposing." He admitted.
Aurelia's gaze lingered on the tree before diverting to the imposing castle walls.
"Finn," she began, her voice hesitant, "do you know much about the lands beyond the castle walls? The vast kingdom, I mean."
Finn tilted his head, his brow furrowed in thought. "Not much, Miss," he admitted. "I don't get out of the castle too often, you see. Mostly just around the grounds, doing errands in the stables. Why do you ask?"
A flicker of disappointment crossed Aurelia's face, but she quickly masked it with a shrug. "Just curious," she murmured, the word laced with a hint of deception.
Curious indeed. Her thoughts drifted westward, towards the distant manor where her aunt resided.
Finn, ever perceptive, picked up on the subtle shift in her demeanor. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Are you… thinking of escaping, Miss Aurelia?"
Aurelia whipped around, her emerald eyes flashing with a mixture of surprise and suspicion. "Escape?" she echoed, her voice sharp. "Why would you think that?"
Finn, his cheeks flushing slightly under her intense gaze, stammered slightly. "Well, Miss Betsy, your maid, you see… she mentioned you liked to visit the library often, looking at maps and such. And…"
She schooled her features into a mask of indifference. "So?" she countered, her voice laced with a feigned nonchalance. "Perhaps I enjoy reading."
Finn's lips twitched into a sly smile. "Reading, or perhaps searching for something specific?" he pressed, his voice still a low murmur. "Like, say, an escape route?"
" Whatever it may, I'm willing to abet you." Finn continued
A flicker of hope ignited in Aurelia's eyes at Finn's words. "You… you'd help me escape?" she stammered, her voice laced with disbelief. "Why? If the King finds out he would have you executed for treason!"
Finn, his gaze unwavering, met her stare. "Because," he said, his voice firm, "I can't stand by and watch someone be held captive against their will. This castle… it's not what it seems, Miss Aurelia. There's a darkness here, a cruelty that chills me to the bone."
He paused, his expression hardening for a moment. "Besides," he continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, "I understand your desire for freedom more than you might think."
Aurelia's curiosity piqued. " You do?" she asked, her blank expression replaced by a flicker of genuine interest.
Finn took a deep breath, his gaze flickering nervously towards the castle walls. "Before I came here," he began, his voice barely a whisper, "before I was a stable hand, before I… I had a sister. An older one."
A shadow of sadness crossed his face as he spoke. "She was always there for me, my protector, my confidante. But then… my father. He had a gambling debt, a debt he couldn't repay."
He clenched his fists, a surge of anger momentarily clouding his blue eyes. "He sold her. Sold her into slavery to pay his debt. Took away the only person who truly cared for me."
The raw pain in his voice resonated with Aurelia. She, too, knew the sting of loss, the ache of being separated from loved ones, her parents.
"I never forgot her, Miss Aurelia," Finn continued, his voice regaining its strength. "And seeing you here… trapped in this gilded cage… it reminds me of her. Reminds me of the injustice, the cruelty of the world."
He took a step closer, his gaze filled with a newfound determination. "So yes, I'll help you escape. Whatever it takes. Even if it means defying the King himself."
" A horse would be ideal," Finn admitted, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "But you mentioned you can't ride, Miss Aurelia, besides it would raise suspicion ."
"Don't worry about it," she said, forcing a smile. "Escape is probably a fool's dream anyway. "
Finn, however, seemed unfazed by her words. He continued, his voice laced with a determined glint, "There's another option, Miss Aurelia. A bit risky, but it might work."
He leaned closer. "There's a carriage that leaves the castle grounds every… well, let's just say on a specific night of the week, around midnight. It goes and brings in supplies and whatnot, things the castle needs from the outside world. It leaves tonight"
Aurelia's eyebrow shot up in surprise. A carriage leaving the castle at night? This was information she hadn't anticipated. "A carriage?" she echoed, her curiosity piqued.
"Yes," Finn confirmed. "If you could somehow manage to sneak aboard, it would take you beyond the castle walls. From there, you could try to find your way."
The idea was audacious, reckless even. But for Aurelia, desperate for freedom, it was a lifeline thrown across the churning waters of her despair. She'd be back for revenge.
"Are you serious, Finn?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you really think this could work?"
Finn nodded resolutely. "It's a chance, Miss Aurelia. A slim one, but a chance nonetheless. The guards are less vigilant at night, focused on patrolling the perimeter. And if you can stay hidden until the carriage reaches its destination… well, who knows where it might take you."
Aurelia's mind raced. The dangers were obvious – the risk of discovery, the unknown dangers beyond the castle walls. But the thought of freedom, of finally escaping this oppressive place, was a powerful motivator.
Finn's excitement was palpable. "Meet me by the stables at midnight," he whispered urgently. "We can sneak you onto the carriage then. Just be… careful."
Aurelia was about to voice her concerns, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and hope, when a stoic voice sliced through the air.
"Finn," it boomed, the tone unmistakable. It was Malcolm's.
Finn froze, his face draining of color. He'd been so caught up in planning Aurelia's escape that he hadn't noticed the stoic butler approaching. A deep bow was his only response, a silent plea for understanding.
Malcolm's gaze flickered towards Aurelia, his lips pressed into a thin line. His disapproval seemed to encompass not just Finn's idleness, but Aurelia's very presence in the courtyard.
"Are you paid to slack around and chitchat?" Malcolm inquired, his voice devoid of warmth.
Finn bowed his head even lower. "Apologies, Mr. Malcolm," he stammered. "I was just… showing Miss Aurelia the grounds."
The explanation rang hollow, even to Finn's own ears. Malcolm, however, didn't seem interested in further details. He simply hummed in response, his single, cold eye dismissing Finn with a finality that left no room for argument.
With another hurried bow, Finn scurried away, leaving Aurelia alone with the figure of the butler. A tense silence descended upon them, broken only by the distant cawing of crows.
Malcolm didn't spare Aurelia a single word. He simply turned on his heel and strode away, his long black coat billowing behind him like a malevolent shadow. Aurelia watched him go, a shiver running down her spine.
Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and turned away from the direction Malcolm had disappeared. Midnight would approach. She had a rendezvous to keep, a plan to set in motion. The game for escape had begun, and Aurelia, the once-captive, was now a player with a single, burning desire – to be free.