Chapter 4 PANDORA'S LETTER

CHAPTER FOUR

PANDORA'S LETTER

"You are getting married to the prince of Malipish as an alliance between our kingdoms", those words echoed annoyingly in my head as I sat in front of my dresser all set for my departure to Malipish.

"We have to go my lady. The carriages and escorts are ready", she informed me.

"Alright", I said loudly, clapping my hands together and blowing out some air.

Marie went ahead and opened the door. Stepping out of the room felt like I was going to war. Red carpet was spread on the path and people already gathered in the hallways. Maids threw flowers and people bowed as I walked past them. Suddenly a tension built up inside of me and my hands started trembling. With each step I took, my anxiety heightened and the air thickened. It seemed Marie noticed my reaction, maybe because my pace slowed down and I was a little further behind than I should have been. She walked up to me and placed her hand on my lower back, calming me. As I walked through the hallway, I was met by the king, his wife Lisa, his son Tristan and his daughter Mirabel. Queen Lisa walked up to me and hugged me tightly, it felt awkward.

"I will miss you", she said sadly.

During the earliest days I lost both my parents when there was no one for me, she took care of me until she put Marie solely in charge of my welfare because she wouldn't trust anyone with me and also because Marie served my mother. Living with her for that period, I grew close with Tristan and Mirabel. They were also there for me, we were so close that we did almost everything together, and we loved one another. But that all changed when we grew up to our ambitions, we became distant and less close like we were, and we grew apart. Tristan saw me as a threat to the throne, he became more and more distant despite all my efforts to preserve what we had, he behaved coldly towards me and gave me no regard like he always did. Mirabel tried to maintain what we had but Tristan somehow managed to knock his beliefs into her head. She also got detached leaving me all alone by myself.

"I will write to you when I get there, Your Majesty", I said, hugging her back loosely.

She loosened her hold around me and held my face in between her hands.

"Make sure you do", she replied, smiling warmly at me as she released my face.

I looked over her shoulder at Tristan who stood there watching with his lips pouting with annoyance. I bowed my head curtly at him. I smiled and nodded at Mirabel and she did the same. I turned sideways to the king and queen, I curtsied and they both bowed their heads paying their last respect to me as a princess of Talamhth.

I looked around the castle and sadness settled in my heart. I realized that as much as I hated this place, it was still my home; where I was born, where I grew up, and where I made all of my wonderful memories. My heart became heavy and my eyes teared up. I made my way to the carriage sent by the kingdom of Malipish.

The carriage was decorated with gold and precious gems, and even the horses were decorated with jewelry. It was then I noticed that the kingdom fancied adornments because the royal envoys I met three days ago wore a lot of them. From headgear to clothes, bracelets, rings, necklaces and belts were all made of and decorated with gold and gems. Even the embroidery on their robes was made of thin threads of gold. What an extravagant, yet heavy way to dress. Just as I thought of them, one of them spoke from behind.

"Your Highness".

I looked over my shoulder before turning around to face them. They bowed in unison and made the same gesture of respect.

"I'm glad you considered", lord Tariq said.

Considered? I almost scoffed, as if I had a choice. Women never had a choice, in fact, their opinions never mattered. I just nodded with a meek smile and entered the carriage with Marie. Shortly after, horses neighed and the carriage started to move and the horses galloped away pulling the carriage.

My heart began to race and I felt hot from inside as my eyes skimmed through the words written in the letter, fear slowly crept under my skin and caused it to tighten. Drops of sweat fell on the letter as my heart hammered so hard against my chest that it caused my head to ache painfully.

"What is it my lady?", I heard Marie ask but her voice sounded distant. She shook me slightly but my eyes were fixed on the letter I held in my trembling hands.

My hands trembled so much that I couldn't control them anymore and the letter fell out of them. Marie picked up the letter and read it. She gasped in horror covering her mouth with her hand.

"The prince of Malipish... is dead?", she whispered rhetorically in utter disbelief.

I shook my head with disbelief too. It can't be true, it is not possible, I thought as I shook with fear.

"No, no, this can't be happening", I screamed, almost tearing my hair off, but Marie was quick to cover my mouth with her hand to muffle the scream.

"Your Highness", a guard riding on a horse suddenly called from outside.

They must have heard my scream. Marie gave me a look to keep quiet, then she removed her hand from my mouth slowly while staring at me, afraid I would scream again. I pressed my lips together breathing shakily.

"Your Highness, is everything okay?", he inquired with a tone of urgency that demanded immediate response to confirm our safety.

Marie wiped her face with the hem of her dress and looked out the window. "Hmm, what is the matter?", she asked in a clear tone as if nothing happened.

"Is everything alright in there?", he tried to get a look into the carriage.

"Everything is fine. Her Highness is taking a nap, did anything happen?", she asked, pretentious. The guard said nothing more and left.

"What shall we do with this news, my lady? What will happen now?", Marie hurried to ask when she sat back into the carriage.

I swallowed and parted my quivering lips to speak, "I..." Taking short breaths, "I don't know", I managed to say.

"We have no slightest idea of who sent this suspicious letter, should we trust what's in there?", she said with skepticism while holding up the letter.

Marie was right but still..."What if it is true", I asked in a whisper.

Why are bad things happening to me? First, it was an unprecedented marriage. Now it is the death of the prince I'm getting married to, or maybe was getting married to, I grimaced with the pain the fear I felt caused my heart.

"I mean if it were true, the news would have reached us in Talamhth, even before the letter was delivered", Marie reasoned skeptically.

"Yes, exactly, we should have known. What if this was a scheme? Maybe someone is trying to set me up because they wanted me to get to Malipish to hear of the prince's death knowing there's nothing I can do if I get there under such circumstances", I almost yelled.

I drew sharp breaths to calm myself so I could think clearly. Then my eyes widened with realization, only one person had the power and authority to do such a thing... All of a sudden, the fear I felt turned into anger.

"What are your thoughts my lady? What shall we do now?"

"I don't know", I shuddered, looking at Marie for a way out.

Right now I have to think of a way out, I tried to think straight but I couldn't.

"We should run", I blurted.

"What!?", Marie almost screamed. "Did you just suggest we flee?", she asked to know if she heard me right.

"Yes, we should. Do you have any idea of what could be my fate if I enter the palace?".

Besides the fact that I possibly couldn't return to my parent's house as it was a taboo for a lady to do so, I'd either be widowed or be one of the king's mistresses or maybe married to another royalty like I'm some toy that can be tossed around. My skin tightened at the thought and the anger I felt was replaced with fear.

"Do you know what it means to flee when you're getting married? As a lady? Or even worse, a princess? Have you thought of possible consequences?", she questioned alarmingly.

I knew Marie was right and I would have thought that too if fear wasn't obstructing my reasoning.

"If we run we know almost nothing of the outside world, so how far, where, will we go? It is only a matter of time before we are found".

"I know, I will worry about that when we escape from this", I said and she sighed.

"Okay, she finally agreed. "But how do we go about this without getting caught?"

"Thankfully, it's getting dark. We will stop the carriage to attend to private needs and escape through the woods. By the time they notice anything, we'll be long gone and they won't be able to search the woods at night", I explained with confidence even though I wasn't sure it would work.

"I hope this is a good idea", Marie shifted uneasily in her seat.

"It isn't but we do not have much of a choice. We run now or I live the rest of my life in sorrow", I replied hoping she would clear her doubts and stop wasting time because the more we argued the lesser the time and chance to escape.

Soon after Marie notified the horse rider of the stop, the carriage slowed down and halted.

When we alighted the carriage I told the guards to rest while I attended to private needs in the woods. I blinked severally and took deep breaths, I felt Marie's hand tremble slightly as she held mine. I glanced at her and gave her a reassuring smile. I turned to look at the woods and the thought of being there at night gave me chills. We walked into the woods taking each step with fear hearing the rustling of leaves as the cold wind disturbed the plants. As soon as we were sure we were out of sight, we took to our heels and ran into the darkness of the night.