Chapter 4

The sound of galloping horses was heard across the kingdom. Soldiers rode through the kingdom with sticks of fire in their hands as they safeguard the kingdom against invading enemies. 

Lilia hid behind a cart, a scarf tied around her head as she waited for a soldier galloping towards her. The soldier rode past her not noticing her presence, Lilia inhaled deeply in relief and quickly walked towards Mama Gunad's door. 

She knocked quietly not to attract the attention of a nearby soldier approaching her. She heard a voice indoors, "Open mother, it's Lilia" she whispered with her mouth pressed on the wooden door. 

Instantly, the door opened, Lilia quickly burst in and closed the door. The noise of the closing door attracted a nearby soldier. Quickly, Lilia hid under the old woman's bed, her hands over her mouth.

"I heard a noise in here," the soldier said firmly as he stared at the woman with angry eyes. 

Mama Gunad weakly held onto the door as she faced the intimidating soldier, "It's nothing, I thought I saw a rat and it got me scared" she quickly replied.

The soldier narrowed his eyes, shoved her aside, and walked into the hut. His eyes scanned around the small room for more than a minute, after making sure that the house is free from any invaders, he turned to the tired woman, "You better keep your door locked and don't create any problems for this kingdom" he paused with staggering eyes, "Witch!" He spat out and walked out of the hut.

Mama Gunad quickly locked the door and turned towards her bed. "You can come out now, he is gone" she announced and Lilia crawled out of the bed.

A look of worry appeared on her face as she scanned the new appearance of the young princess who woke her up from her night slumber. "What are you up to this time Lilia?" She inquired with a questioning look.

Lilia gazed out of the window as a soldier with a fire stick walked past the hut. She looked at the worried woman before her but her decision has been made and there is no going back, "I am leaving the kingdom tonight" she announced as her hands clung onto her bag tightly.

Mama Gunad's eyes expanded in fear, "No dear, you can't, it is very dangerous out there, you have to go back to the kingdom" she said quickly in panic. 

Lilia nodded in disapproval, "No!, I won't go back to that kingdom until my parents let me do as I please and not just marry me off like I am a piece of exchange" she asserted.

With love in her eyes, the older woman walked towards her and wrapped her hands together with hers, "This isn't the best decision Lilia, you can still talk to your parents about your wish and not run away, that isn't the best decision.

Lilia inhaled deeply, she closed her eyes with sadness written all over her face. She knows that her parents will be worried when they find out about her disappearance but her mind is made up, she won't allow herself to be bound by any laws or responsibility of being a princess, " I am sorry mother, but my mind is made up. When the right time comes, I will come back home" she noted.

Glaring at her face, Mama Gunad knew that the young princess' mind was made up. Feeling defeated, she breathed in deeply, let go of her hands, and walked towards a cupboard. Mama Gunad pulled out a drawer and picked up a silver necklace. With depressing eyes, she walked towards the princess and wore the necklace around her.

"My mother gave me this necklace and I will love you to have it. I believe that it is powerful enough to protect you against any danger" she hesitated and cupped Lilia's face in her hands, "Please be safe and come back when necessary" she begged.

With eyes welled up in tears, Lilia hugged her compassionately, "Thank you mother" she whispered and slowly let go. 

The sound of a passing soldier filled their ears, Mama Gunad glanced out with troubled eyes. She turned to Lilia who has the same uneasy look as she bit her lower lip nervously.

Quickly, Mama Gunad glanced at her tall cupboard, tiredly, she walked towards it, her eyes scanning the old furniture.

Lilia walked towards her confused by her act, "What are you trying to do mother?" She implored curiously.

Mama Gunad looked up at her, "There is a passageway my father built long ago before his death during war times" she disclosed.

Lilia surveyed the room but found nothing, with an uncertain look, she turned to the old woman, "But I don't see anything mother" she confessed.

A smile appeared on the older woman's face, "it is hidden beneath this cupboard, you have to push this cupboard away from its standing spot and you will find it there" she said.

Curiously, Lilia dropped her backpack on a stool nearby, walked towards the wooden cupboard, and pushed it with all her might. Surprisingly, a small door was seen locked perfectly with a padlock. The sight of it brought hope to Lilia who couldn't help but smile. She glanced up at the woman before her, "Where is the key?" She implored with enlarged eyes. 

Mama Gunad walked towards a table, picked up a jar, and brought out a small bronze key. Lilia took the key from her, unlocked the door and a dark passageway with stairs as seen below. Lilia's eyes lit up in joy, she handed the keys to the old woman, hugged her with her face filled with smiles, "Thank you so much Mama Gunad, I will never forget you" she said and hugged the woman again, her eyes filled with tears. 

"You have to go now, news of your disappearance will be discovered soon, you have to leave" Mama Gunad gestured to her. 

With a nod, Lilia picked up a fire stick from a side of the house, brought out a matches box from her pocket, and quickly lit it. She turned to Mama Gunad, smiled, and walked down the stairs, deep darkness revolved around her but the fire stick gave her way through the dark tunnel. 

With fiery eyes, Lilia walked down the long stairs which never seemed to end. She gazed at the wall of the tunnel with wonders in her heart. This tunnel looks so old and deep and she wondered for how long it took Mama Gunad's father to build.

After an hour of walking down the stairs, she began to see light a distance away, filled with hope, she held onto her backpack and walked faster. She began to realize how narrow the tunnel become, quickly she bent and began to crawl towards the light that was becoming obvious. After a few minutes of climbing, she finally reached the end and got out of the tunnel into the open sky and an atmosphere filled with trees and moist ground. 

Lilia turned back to the tunnel, she has succeeded in her escape, right now, she has to face the reality of life and find another kingdom. 

With the fire stick in her hand, she knew that the sun was going to rise soon. Lilia inhaled deeply and walked into the woods with nothing but a stick and her bag.