It was getting darker and Madie’s legs hurt just as much as her head. She wanted to stop and rest, but was still angry at Adam. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her that they hadn’t eaten anything the whole day. The time in the silence made her think about what happened to Berno and If he would look for her. Such a silly thought – of course he would, it was not in his nature to give up. Maybe Emma would give him some hints? But she needed to be rational. There is no way he would find her in this huge forest, away from all roads and towns. Maybe she should focus on her new guard and get to know him little better, just in case. When she was just about to open her mouth and speak, Adam stopped underneath a large tree and what seemed to be a well.
“We can settle a camp here and make a fire. I will try to hunt something for a dinner, but it might be hard because your stomach is growling so loud it must have scared any eatable animals for miles.” he winked at her.
Madie frowned and sat down underneath an old tree and well, clumsily pouring one hand in it. The water was so cold she felt like all her fingers went numb and quickly withdraw them. But the thirst and hunger were too big, so she kneeled and drank water directly from the well. It was still cold, but she didn’t care. She was not at the court and didn’t have to behave according to some silly rules.
“Like a little animal.” She heard Adam’s voice.
Straightening back, she gave him a smirk and cuddled beneath the itchy cloak, watching him gathering dry branches from the ground and arranging them in a small pile, using his firesteel and dry leaves to start a fire. In few moments, the fire was cheerfully dancing and illuminating the clearing. Tossing some dry branches next to her, Adam turned to head to the forest and waved at Madie, seated quietly hugging her bent legs. There was something about the fire that made her calmer and remembered almost forgotten memory, in which she felt similar way. It was several years ago and shortly after her ninth birthday. Her father and grandfather tried to keep her away from the tough times that were upon them, focusing attention to her little brother as the future ruler. Never allowed to leave the safety of the palace, she felt trapped inside with her overprotective mother and handmaids. But one day, when Clothild left for a diplomatic mission with her father-in-law, Madie stayed at home with her father and Berno. Vaguely remembering being bored in her chamber, she heard the sound of horns gathering men for a hunt. She knew that hunt was an important part of her father’s life, but also that women were forbidden to attend – to her great disappointment. One old chambermaid told her a tale of old times, when women were allowed to hunt next to men as their equal, but even If that was true, her mother would quickly forbid it. Begging her father to take her hunting would be fruitless, since she had tried that before, but there was a possibility to slip out the gate when everyone would be distracted by preparations. And at last the day was here. Everyone was too busy with preparation so she was left only with a young handmaiden, that got easily distracted by attractive hunters smiling at her. When the horn blew first time, her gaze focused on a window with a courtyard view, giving Madie the perfect moment to quickly sneak out of the room. Quietly walking into the kitchen, buzzing with people preparing a light meal for hunters, she found an old dirty caped cloak thrown aside in a corner. In such hurry, this had to suffice to cover her head and shoulders, making her bright yellow hair barely visible. An old and dirty apron at the fireplace concealed the fine dress and the ashes finished the decoy just in time to run away from a high- pitched voice calling her name. Quickly leaving the kitchen, she ran through the large courtyard passing her father’s favourite horse, impatiently tossing its head. Finding a perfect hiding place behind the stable door, it was hard to keep the laughter as she observed the desperate handmaiden searching for her all over the courtyard. A boy, not much older than herself, entered the stable with wooden pitchfork in his hands and started to clean the dirty straw. Neither of them noticed each other, until Madie involuntarily giggled at handmaiden’s desperate look when she noticed Berno coming out. Everyone at the court was afraid of him for some reason – Madie never understood why. He was very serious and boring, but she never saw him hurt anyone. Still, the handmaiden quickly walked back inside, obviously trying to avoid him at all cost.
“What are you doing here?” the boy asked with raised eyebrows. Well, there goes her perfect plan. The boy would run to Berno and reveal the princess hiding in the stables. Her parents would be furious and assign guards to follow her on every step.
“Don’t you have anything better to do? Everyone is helping to prepare the hunt, there is no time to play.” He finished, pointing the pitchfork at her. So he didn’t recognize her, that’s good. The truth was that she was kept inside like some precious garnet, locked away in royal chambers with hardly any contact with town people – or even servants outside her room’s walls. This boy never saw the princess and thought her to be just a random poor town girl. Excellent.
“Sorry, but my mom is out of town so I thought I might go out and have some fun. Do you want to come with me?” Grinning, she stood up and walked closer, still eyeing the courtyard in case Berno approached the stable. The boy scratched his head and tightened the grip on the pitchfork.
“You know that we can get in a lot of trouble If we don’t do our job.”
She just shrugged her shoulders and replied: “Everyone will be at the hunt, even the king and Berno, and I know they’ll be taking all adult servants to help. There will be just few old people and some chambermaids left. We can play and then return in time for you to finish your job.”
“And what about your work?” he asked, still not really hooked up on the idea to play.
“Nah, don’t worry about that, I will be fine.” She smiled. “So, are you ready to go?”
She could see that he was tempted, but shook his head and went back to work.
“Sorry, I can’t. But don’t worry, I won’t tell on you.”
Madie was little disappointed but couldn’t stay to persuade him, not with Berno just few steps away. Getting out through a back door, she quickly walked through a very narrow alley, passing unnoticed by guards at the main gate and slipped outside. The wide main road was muddy and it looked like it would rain again soon. But she didn’t mind. Running further to the forest, she felt a warm summer breeze in her hair and enjoyed this much more than sitting in her small room with little sunlight. Walking around the edges of a stone wall enclosing the town, guards hardly noticed a little girl wearing a ragged cloak. But when the horns blew again strong and unpleasant tune three times in a row, announcing the start of the hunt, she knew enough to quickly get away from the town gates. Running deeper into the forest and not paying attention to the road, she felt joy from being alone for a moment, free to do whatever she wanted. After a while, when she couldn’t hear the barking dogs and strong voices, the forest turned quiet. What was she doing? She was dreaming about this moment for a long time, yet all she could feel was like If something heavy was lying on her chest. Scanning the surrounding, she couldn’t decide which way she took and all trees looked the same to her. Tall and scary. Very scary. Panic took over her mind and body, remembering stories one old handmaiden told her. About savage men wearing wolf skin, aimlessly walking in deep woods and live like animals, about spirits and nymphs guarding oldest trees and jinxing people for fun, or about evil old hags in small dirty cottages eating children like her for breakfast. In safety of a comfortable bed they seemed ridiculous, but now her vivid imagination saw every shadow in a wolf’s shape and every blow of the wind sounded like a faerie whisper. The run and fear exhausted her too much to think clearly and when she still couldn’t see tall wooden walls of the town in the distance, her body gave up and collapsed. In a complete darkness she thought to hear some voices calling her name and then something wet on her cheek. Slowly opening her eyes, a dog licking her face barked happily.
“Frija? What are you doing here? “ She must be dreaming.
“Madie? Thank God you are all right!” a strong male voice exclaimed in relief. “Father? Is that really you?” she asked carefully. Instead of reply, his tall figure kneeled and hugged her so strongly she could hardly breathe.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life. Why did you run away?” he said quietly, gently stroking her pale hair.
“I just wanted to go out and see more than my room. I dreamed about heroic adventure, but now I see it was a stupid idea. Papa, I’m sorry and I promise never to leave the palace. Ever.” she whimpered, expecting a long speech and home arrest.
“You know, on one hand I would like to keep you safe behind walls guarded by a small army, as my most valuable treasure. But I know that’s not the right way. You see, the world is a big place that seems scary at first. You feel lost, lonely, frightened and want to find a safe familiar place. But every heroic tale starts like this. Heroes are not born, but formed the moment they accept their fears and step out into the unknown.” Madie looked up at him, genuinely surprised by his words.
He smiled back at her and winked. “Well, since it’s getting dark, it’ll be good idea to make a fire and have something to eat. What do you think? I’ve got some snack here.”
Once the fire was set up and they ate, her father left to inform the searching party that the princess was found. Madie was left alone with Frija at the small fire until his return, but this time she felt a control of her fears.
A cracking sound woke her up. Adam was trying to fight his way through young branches, skilfully using a small dagger to do the job. Madie was so hungry she forgot the silence treatment.
“So what do we have for dinner? I am starving!”
“Oh, so little one speaks when she needs something! My small peasant mind will never understand these noble customs.” He replied, picking two young branches he cut off and examining their shape.
“Don’t tell me you’re not hungry.” She frowned.
“Of course I am, but I’m used to feast and famine situation with my job.” Adam sighted and showed her two chunky pieces of fresh meat.
“But today we will have feast. I hope you know that food is not included in my guiding services.” Madie smirked and looked at the food. It was just too good.
“Where do you have it from?” she narrowed her eyes.
“Apart from being a great soldier and handsome dancer, I am also a master hunter.” Madie didn’t laugh.
“I know many great hunters and none of them would just cut two pieces and leave the rest of the animal there. They would take at least the skin and some other fine parts. So where is the rest?”
“You’re a girl, so what do you know about hunting? Besides, I’m not going to carry more than necessary.” he snapped back.
“But you still haven’t told me what animal is the meat from?“ she continued, partially because of her suspicion but also because she liked to provoke him.
“Why? Do you have a special list of the ones that are unsuitable for your noble mouth? I can throw it away If you don’t want it.” he said, waving hand holding chunky pieces back and forth.
Madie stayed quiet as her hunger overcame suspicions. Adam smiled victoriously and walked towards the fire with chin held up and secured the young branches with meat spiked on them over the flame. Rolling her eyes, Madie decided to wait with mockery after the meat is roasted and eaten. However, they didn’t get there. A sudden outburst of voices and noises came from all around them and Madie first thought she was hallucinating again. Someone swiftly grabbed her hands from behind and pull a scratchy bag over her head. In fear and shock, she screamed as loud as she could, but instead of reply or help, something heavy landed on her head.
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