{{If You are new here this is part 3 of a kingdom Romance. The links for part 1 and 2 are at the bottom}}
I have to run. I have to get away.
The thought raced on repeat through Alissia's head. Her bare feet pounded against the soft soil of the forest floor.
Someone out there was chasing her. She couldn't see who or what it was, she only knew she had to get away from it. Heart pumping, she continued on despite the burning pain in her lungs. Stray branches tugged against her clothes, scraping across her skin. Ahead, she saw a pinhole of light. Salvation.
Mustering the last of her strength, she ducked her head and moved faster.
The light encompassed her, and she winced against the light, stumbling as she moved forward. With a gasp, she stopped running, falling forward as she did. A complete drop-off was before her. There was nowhere to run now. The figure apprehending her continued forward. Squeezing her eyes shut, Alissia began to scream.
“Alissia, please wake up, please,”
With a sharp gasp, Alissia bolted upright, panting for breath. She turned, examining her surroundings before her eyes landed on her lover, who now stared at her with wild eyes.
“You were dreaming again,” Alexander whispered, pulling her close.
“The same dream,” she replied, voice ragged. The same dream had haunted her for weeks since the two had fled the kingdom of Nelia.
After Alissia's impromptu return to the kingdom, Alexander had attempted to keep her presence in his home a secret. For several days, he lived his life as normal. In the mornings, he would complete his duties inside the castle, returning home in solitude to his princess.
The evenings would be spent in the passionate embrace of one another, years of obligation and secreted away feelings coming to fruition. A routine that continued for several weeks.
Alissia considered that she might be in the clear. For a moment, their life was perfect, yet the dreams still came to her. It wasn't every night, but this recurring dream of something she couldn't make out would chase her. She could never see the face of the figure, she just knew it was dangerous. Alissia chalked it up to guilt, despite the fact that she would awaken in a cold sweat more often than she cared to admit. She moved forward with her life and Alexander with his.
Though Alexander kept her presence in his life a secret, rumors began to circulate within the kingdom.
It began with the commoners in town, and slowly but surely worked its way into the castles. Servants began whispering among themselves, and of course, it got back to Alexander.
Eventually, a formal message was received by King Gilbert, and Alexander was just unlucky enough to be in the throne room when the squire announced that the king's daughter had disappeared without a trace.
Alexander would never forget the animosity in the King's eyes when his gaze was met across the room. The king knew far too much without a word being said.
Alexander spent the following hours trying to remain as inconspicuous as one could when harboring a runaway bride, but he couldn't help but be paranoid of the eyes that followed him throughout the kingdom.
He had reached a crossroads. As he had said to Alissia, she could not return to the kingdom after running away. While he wished the opposite was true for himself, it was becoming increasingly clear that his presence in the castle might bring her harm. He could continue to lie low, play dumb, and keep toiling away at the castle.
Or, he could do as Alissia had done and flee the kingdom with her by his side.
He returned to his home that evening feeling downtrodden. When he entered, Alissia was quickly beside him, pulling him into an embrace.
“I've missed you, Alexander,” she spoke, muffled against his clothing. She greeted him this way every day, and every day Alexander would respond with a proclamation of love in return. Today, however, he was eerily silent. Alissia frowned, squeezing him tighter in her arms.
“I've missed you,” she repeated. With only silence as a response, she turned her face up to look into his eyes. “Is something wrong, Alexander?”
Gently, he rested his hand atop her head, stroking her hair. He looked around the room, at the few belongings that lie scattered around the room. He and his family had lived here his entire life, long before his mother had passed away, probably before even her mother had passed. This was his home.
“Alissia,” he spoke hesitantly, gripping her shoulders. “The king received a message today. From the kingdom of Breacuria,”
The color drained from Alissia's face near instantly. She took a step back from Alexander, shaking herself from his grip. Her mouth set into a hard line.
“What do they know?” she spoke with authority, nobility apparent in her voice. Alexander shook his head.
“Nothing of importance was stated in the message, only that the princess had suddenly gone missing. But your father,” he winced, recalling the steeled gaze. “Your father is acting as though he knows exactly where you are,”
“Has he said something?”
“No, nothing. But I'm worried about what this might mean, Alissia. It isn't as though he doesn't have an eye on his kingdom at all times,”
Alissia said nothing but raised a hand to her face. She crossed the room and sat down on the bed. Her mind was reeling. Her father was never one to sit on a problem and wait for a solution to come. He was a man of action. The king had enough information to put the pieces of this puzzle together. She had no choice but to take action against him. Standing suddenly, she once again crossed the room, this time to the small satchel filled with the belongings she had taken with her when she fled Breacuria.
The satchel that was once next to empty, was now close to bulging. Alexander, while making his rounds, had managed to steadily sneak away small items from her bedroom in the castle that still were untouched.
Retrieving a shirt here, or a piece of jewelry there, he managed to make her possessions grow quite heavily, not to mention the small sack of gold she still carried, barely touched thus far. She nearly had enough to live sufficiently on her own.
“I have to leave this place,” she spoke without faltering. Alissia knew that this was what was necessary for her to continue her life freely.
“Alissia, wait,” Alexander spoke in turn, shaking his head.
“I can't wait, Alexander. I have to leave before father sends his guards to examine your quarters. I think we both know that the charges for harboring a fugitive are less than pleasant, yes?”
“I'm coming with you,” Alexander said.
“That's kind but unnecessary,” Alissia responded without missing a beat.
“Must you always be so stubborn,” he sighed, rubbing his temples.
“Had I the choice of being here, in the safety of the kingdom, or on the run with you, I would choose you every time,” he moved between rooms as he spoke, gathering small objects in his arms, then laying them out on the bed with a flourish.
Sealed containers of dried food, a small mirror, a roll of bandages, and several other small pouches now lined up, Alexander looked down upon his possessions proudly.
“Alexander, I-”
“Please,” he interrupted Alissia, “Don't fight me on this,”
He looked back at her then, ignoring the incredulous gaze that crossed her features. He went to her then, cupping her face in his hands.
“If you can run away for me, then I should readily do the same for you,” Alissia pursed her lips. As much as she hated to admit it to herself, hearing his eagerness to follow her, made her heart flutter. Having Alexander by her side made her feel unstoppable. Her fate was entwined with his. Sighing heavily, she placed her hands on her hips.
“I won't wait for you if you start getting tired,”
“I wouldn't dream of it, my lady,”
“Then, we should leave soon, don't you think? Before dawn,” Alexander's face broke out into a grin when she said this. He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.
“I'll prepare at once,” he moved back toward his pile of belongings as he spoke, moving animatedly.
As Alexander packed away what essentials he could carry, Alissia pulled the folded map she kept stored in her satchel, the very same that brought her to Alexander. Unfolding the map, she moved to the kitchen to smooth out the map against the hard wood of the table. Eyes straining to read the washed out text in the low light, she traced her finger along the paths that sprawled across the map. Mouthing silently to herself, followed a path south, to a small kingdom called Dwindra that was located near the ocean.
She desperately tried to remember what she had learned of the kingdom during her classes. She recalled there being a young woman in power that served as their queen, though she was unfamiliar with her name, as well as that the kingdom's main trading resource was salt. She called out to Alexander so he could collaborate over the map.
“This should be our destination. Dwindra to the South,”
Without a word of protest, Alexander had packed away the belongings he wished to keep, and was ready to move by nightfall. Extinguishing the lantern that he kept situated by the entrance, he took a final look around his childhood home before following his lover into the darkness of night.
The path to the south was long and winding, stretched out over a long expanse of terrain. If Alissia had correctly judged by her map, they would be continuing south for at least a week on foot. It was far too risky to try and steal a horse from the stables now. They had supplies, and the moon was shining bright enough to line their path with light.
The duo moved through the shadows of the town, towards the gates. Once they were past the town, they could stand to move freely through the surrounding forests, and Alexander was hopeful that they might be able to hitch a ride with a traveling merchant once they moved far enough that the common man wouldn't take notice of Alissia's being a missing princess.
The first three days on the path were a struggle. While they had enough rationed food to carry themselves until they reached civilization, it was unpleasant to travel on a half-full stomach.
Cautious not to move too freely during the day with the patrolling of guards along the roads, Alissia and Alexander were left to make the majority of their moves at night.
While summer was beginning to pass into fall, the days still remained warm and humid. Mosquitoes buzzed in abundance, and the chorus of footsteps crinkling over fallen leaves was punctuated by the slapping of exposed skin.
Alexander had managed to stuff a large blanket in his pack, which he would use to cover them from the dropping temperatures when they tried to sleep at dawn. It was during these short breaks that they began to speak of their future. The dreams of a small seaside cottage where they would live, and what kind of work they could take once they were living free of King Gilbert's rule. They would drift off in each other's arms on the forest floor, dreaming pleasantly of the future.
It was on the second day of their travels that Alissia woke from a dreamless sleep with a start. The sound of twigs cracking in the distance made goose flesh rise on her skin. They weren't alone out here. She stood quickly, turning repeatedly. Behind her, a tall, robed figure stood, cloaked in complete blackness. She took a step back, shocked. Slowly, she backed up, toward Alexander's resting spot on the ground.
“Alexander,” she nudged him with her foot, speaking softly. “I need you to wake up. Now,”
“Wha's wrong,” his speech was slightly slurred, and he only barely stirred. The figure wasn't moving.
“There's someone out here, Alexander,” Alissia's voice was beginning to quake. She kicked Alexander, harder this time. He winced, but his eyes shot open. Alissia looked down at him, uttering a single word, “Please,”
Alissia looked up in the direction of the figure, and it was far closer than it had been seconds ago. It stood in the same, still position, yet it was now no more than a hundred feet away from them. Alissia had only looked down for a second, its speed was impossible.
Alissia blinked slowly, and she could swear it moved even closer still. Alexander stirred, and she could see in her periphery that he was now sitting upright, but she didn't dare look down at him. The cloaked figure made a visible motion now, reaching an arm out toward Alissia.
Story by Naltedtirt
Artwork custom made for Naltedtirt by Skylantern_Kol,
https://www.fiverr.com/skylantern_kol
Part 1: https://steemit.com/romance/@naltedtirt/alexander-and-allisia
Part 2: https://steemit.com/fiction/@naltedtirt/forbidden-love-alexander-and-alissia
