Hiding from Royalty: Part 12

Written by Emma (A new author)

The next morning, the three girls set off for the dungeon at 7:00 AM.  They decided to leave Buttercup there where they slept in case they got caught.  Who knows what they could do to her?

Hannah climbed the wall versus going through the swamp for a second time.  She saw forty guards scattered everywhere.  "Are they looking for us?  Did they see us escape?  Why would there be so many guards at this time of morning?"  Thoughts like this went through Isabella's mind over and over.

"We have to come up with a plan.  We need to not be spotted by any of the guards." Hannah said.  "That's almost impossible for three girls to not be spotted by forty guards." Isabella said.  Maria said, "I know one way.  Follow me."

The girls followed Maria, sure that she knew where she was going.  Soon they came to a stop.  "We have to climb this wall.  Don't worry, the dungeon is right there."

As they approached the dungeon, they felt an urge to turn back.  The darkness, the cob webs...but they knew they couldn't turn back now.  They had to rescue their dad.  It was now or never.  They must go in, but be on close watch for guards.

When they climbed the wall, they tried opening the door to the dungeon.  It was...locked.  "I'm sorry, the door is never locked!" Maria cried.  "They must know we are trying to get our father back." Isabella said, looking at Hannah.  "We need a key."

To be continued...

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xoxo
Emma

Hiding from Royalty Part 11

     “Come on,” Hannah whispered as she motioned with her hand, “I know how to escape, follow me.”  Leading the horse through the woods, Hannah stealthily made her way to the escape route.  Quietly the two girls followed, silently wondering where they were going.  The three small figures of the girls and the bulky figure of the horse creep through the twilight lit woods.  Finally, Hannah halted and turned around to face Maria and Isabella.

    “Oh, I’m so relieved to see you!” Isabella cried softly. “Wait a second, why are you here and not dad?”  Her face wore an expression of confusion as she tried to figure out what could have happened to her dad.  Did King John send knights to burn down her house?  Had her family fallen ill to some horrible disease and Hannah had barely escaped?

    The two sisters embraced as a cool night breeze blew through their hair.  “I’m so happy I found you.  Dad came to rescue you; I assumed he was captured as well.  You mean you haven’t seen him?” Hannah asked as her worry for her father increased by the second.

     “He was here?!?  Hannah, what if he’s dead!  What if we never see him again?” Panic rose into Isabella’s voice.  She tried to keep her tone quiet, but her mind was racing with loud thoughts.

     Maria set a hand on Isabella’s shoulder, “Don’t worry if your dad came here to rescue you and he did get captured, he is still alive.  King John is too greedy to kill him; he takes all the prisoners he can.”

     Both Hannah and Isabella let out sighs of relief.  “So how are we gonna get dad?” Hannah asked

      “I think we should just focus on getting out of here right now, we don’t even know where he is!” Isabella said.

      Maria spoke up, “Actually, I think I know where he is.  A couple days ago I overheard a conversation between a guard and one of the head maids.  They were talking about a girl named Isabella and how her dad had been captured, and what a shame it was that another family had been broken up.   Then the guard said that he was in the north wing of the dungeon, in cell number 34.”

     “Wait, a guard actually said ‘it’s a shame another family got broken up’?” Isabella asked

     “They’re not all evil; some of them have families too.  Most of them probably just do the job for the money.” Responded Maria as the moonlight shone on her face and outlined her dark skin with shadows.

     “Well…That’s great, I guess, let’s go get dad.” Hannah said. 

     “What do you think we’re gonna do?!  How are we supposed to get him?  I want to find dad too, but do you think we can just waltz in there, break him out of prison, and do the jig past the guards then merrily skip home?!”  Isabella inquired in bewilderment. 

      “I don’t know, but we can’t just leave him! Retorted Hannah, “Listen, It’ll be morning soon, so how ‘bout we get past the fence then get some sleep and talk about it in the morning?” 

   “OK.” Marie and Hannah said simultaneously, they were both eager to be past the confining fence of the castle. 

     “How do we escape anyway?” asked Maria as she stroked Buttercup’s soft hair.

     Hannah smiled, “Everybody thinks that the fence goes all the way around the castle, but it doesn’t.  It ends a little bit ahead when the ground gets a bit swampy.  So all we have to do is ride the horse straight through the swamp because the ground is higher there, and on either side it gets really deep”

     The three girls and the horse walked a bit father till the ground got soft and a swamp began to form.  Then the girls mounted the horse with Hannah in front and began to ride through it.  It took about 30 minuets to get past the swamp and the girls rode another 10 minuets to make sure they were far enough away from the castle until they stopped.  The horse was exhausted from carrying three girls through the thick water; her heavy breath formed small clouds in the cold night air.  As the three dismounted; dew from the tall grass rubbed against them and felt cold on their legs.  The forest was so dense by now that no moonlight escaped the labyrinth of trees to touch the ground.  The girls felt their way to a thick tree and collapsed on the soft mossy ground in exhaustion.

     “Hannah” Isabella asked, “Maybe we shouldn’t go get Dad, maybe we should go back and get help, besides, it’s not fair to Maria.  She shouldn’t have to risk her life to save someone should doesn’t even know.  And anyway what are the chances that we can even help him?”

     Before Hannah could reply, Maria answered. “No.  You need to go rescue your father.  Or at least try.  I would if…  I would try as hard as I could to rescue my dad if he was still alive.” She swallowed and breathed deep. “I grew up in the northern part of France; I had 2 little sisters, and 1 older brother.  Papa owned a bakery which I helped out at on Saturdays.  We were all such a happy family, then it all changed one day.  King John’s men came riding through our village, and burnt it down.  They thought that no one survived; until they looked through the town and found a small eight-year-old girl crying for her parents in the wreckage.  I was the only survivor.  One of the knights, who spoke French picked me up and sat me on his horse.  He planned to take me home with him, but King John was too greedy to let one potential slave slip through his fingers.  He ordered that the knight give the girl to him, when the knight refused…they killed him.  I was brought back here, and taught to speak English.  I never had anyone to love me sense then…”  In the darkness nobody saw the tear roll down Maria’s cheek.

     “We love you.” Said Hannah after a long silence and right before everyone fell asleep she added, “Tomorrow night, we will get our father back!”

Will the girls be able to break their father out of prison?  Will the soldiers find them in the woods?  Is their father still in cell 34?  Stay tuned to find out!!

To Be Continued…

P.S. Hope you liked it!  Also I just wanted to say "Welcome Emma!!!" =D

<3 Laura

Welcome, Emma!!

Welcome Emma, our newest contributor!

Emma has two blogs:
The Ramblings of Emma
Trend Setters

Why don't you go check them out?
Later,
Kathryn

Hiding From Royalty: Part 10

Written by Brooke.

The two girls quickly and quietly climbed down the wall. They must be perfectly silent, for fear a guard might see or hear them. Once they reached the bottom, they crawled along the wall behind the bushes. Once Maria kicked a stone accidentally. The girls froze and strained their ears, listening, waiting, watching. No guards appeared. They crawled some more. Then they saw a beautiful sight. Past the woods, at the very edge, they could see the castle gate.

The way to freedom.

"Maria!" hissed Isabella. "We have to make a run for it. See that huge tree? Run behind that one. Now go, go, go!" Swiftly but silently, their feet pounded into the mossy earth. Isabella made it to behind the tree first. Suddenly a hand clamped over Isabella's mouth. She tried to scream but was unable to do so. "Shh", a voice whispered. "It's me-Hannah. I came to rescue you." Isabella immediately relaxed. Just then Maria darted behind the tree. Then she saw Hannah. "What's going on?" she whispered in a frightened tone. "My sister", Isabella replied shortly. They must stop talking and press on. Every second counted.

Cautiously the three and Buttercup moved through the woods. They hardly dared to breathe. If they were caught, they could be badly mistreated-or worse.

When they finally got to the edge of the woods, Hannah let out a soft gasp. They couldn't believe their eyes. Surrounding the gate were at least a dozen armed soldiers. They were so close to freedom yet so far away. How could they ever escape now?

Hiding From Royalty: Part 9

Written by Aizess

Darkness draped heavily around Hannah as the eerie silhouette of the castle walls loomed in the near distance. What am I doing? How on earth am I planning to save Isabella? What if…?

Not for the first time, doubt wormed into her mind. Resolutely, she shoved it away. With God’s help I shall rescue Isabella. “I just need to find her, and then we need to plan her escape, and then she needs to leave the castle grounds without detection while I continue to hide undercover and- argh!” Her exasperated sigh hovered in the stillness. She had no idea how she was going to rescue Isabella.

But she knew she would.

God’s peace in her spirit confirmed that truth.

She halted at the edge of the dense woods that surrounded the castle. She leaped off her horse, Buttercup, and tied her to a tree trunk. Falling to her knees in the damp earth, she prayed inwardly for strength, courage, and God’s help in rescuing her sister. Afterward, she settled comfortably against another tree trunk to wait and watch for her sister. Only the owls, crickets, and cool night air accompanied her. And the castle guards.

*****

Tonight was the night. Isabella tied her sack of meager belongings to her back and checked to make sure that the rope was secure. Silently, she dropped to her knees one last time beside her mat and pleaded with the Almighty for His protection and her success. Rising quietly to her feet, she tiptoed to the bottom of the tiny window and allowed herself one last look at the sleeping girls in the dark, dank room.

If I could rescue them all, I would. Her eyes landed on the slumbering form of her friend Maria.

You could rescue... one.

She heard the Lord’s voice so clearly that she looked around the room to see if anyone had spoken. Snores and heavy breathing answered her. She felt the Holy Spirit prompting her to help Maria escape.

She walked towards her, being careful of the other sleeping girls, and lightly touched her cheek. The sudden coldness of Isabella’s hand on Maria’s lukewarm cheek jolted her awake.

“Shh.” Isabella placed a finger over her mouth.

Motioning Maria to the window, Isabella pointed at the rope that swayed lightly with the breeze. Maria objected by shaking her head vigorously. Isabella countered with an equally vigorous shake of her head. Finally, she pointed heavenward with her index finger. “God,“ she mouthed. Maria’s eyes widened and she quickly grabbed her thin blanket, tied it about her shoulders, stepped unto the dresser, which contained some worn blankets, that Isabella had pushed under the window the day before, and proceeded to climb over the moss covered stone walls into the frigid night air.

Greatly encouraged by her friends bravery, Isabella stepped unto the dresser and began her climb to an uncertain future. A future of either life… or death.

Welcome Laura!!!

Welcome Laura!!!!!

 She's our newest contributor .

She has an amazing blog.

Its called Princes in Mud boots.

Check it out.

Hiding From Royalty pt. 8

by Ruby Plank


As Maria and Isabella washed the dishes, Isabella began to tell of her coming here, how she was taken from her family by the knight. She told Maria about her family and how she missed them so much. She told Maria about Hannah, Isabella missed her very much.

    Back at home, Hannah woke in the middle of the night. She had a nightmare. A terrible, horrible nightmare about not seeing Isabella ever again. She did not scream when she awoke, she did not want to wake her mother. After waiting an hour of laying in her bed, she could not get back to sleep. She worried about Isabella. Hannah just laid flat on her back staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. Hannah was determind to save her sister, and her father. She finally decided, weil her mother was still asleep, she would run away, and go to the castle and bring Isabella back.
  Hannah packed some cloths and food, went to the stable and picked her horse, prayed to God for guidence, and rode of in the night.