FRIENDS

My eyes snap open as I feel myself plopping off the bed. Then my pillows are hurled at me on the floor. My eyes slowly adjust to the light in my room and I see Yoda towering over me with her hands crossed over her chest and a scowl on her face. 

“Why would you push me off the bed?” i ask angrily

“Was the only way to wake you up” she answers nonchalantly and walks towards the door

“BE downstairs in five!” she adds

A part of me wanted to crawl back into the bed and snuggle under the sheets, but Gaia stopped me

“I wouldn't do that if I were you.” she says 

“Ugh!” i huff in annoyance

I walk to the bathroom and freshen up quickly before heading out of my room. I noticed that Yoda had carried my duffle bag out as if it had nothing inside of it.

Although I did not know where I was headed, I followed the sound of voices down the stairs until I ended up at what looked like the entrance of this castle. “Your horse is ready for yououtside” a deep voice says behind me

I whipped around so fast that I felt a sharp pain in my neck.

Before me is Yoda’s brother Yohan in all his glory, standing like an angel from the heavens. I feel a warm sensation between my legs which causes heat to rise up to my cheeks.

“I said, your horse is ready for you outside” he repeats

I didn’t realize that I had been staring at him

“Y-yes, my horse - outside okay” i mentally facepalmed myself

I rush out of the castle as fast as my legs could carry me

The outside of the castle is just as magnificent as it is inside. Far ahead of me, I see Yoda seated on a midnight black horse and a pale white horse next to her.

As I approach, Mateo comes into sight since he is ahead of us. It is still dark outside and the cold air stings my ears. “Here” Yoda tosses me some earmuffs and leather gloves

I cautiously approach the beautiful white horse which I assume is mine. “His name is Melrue” she says

Melrue gently walks towards me and I reach out to pet him. 

“He’s not one to warm up so quickly to strangers. I guess he knows family” Yoda says, intrigued

“What do you mean?”

“Melrue was your mother’s gift to you. She was born shortly after you were and since you had to leave the kingdom, he became hers” she explains

I feel a weight in my chest and I reach closer to hug Melrue.

“Are we set” Yohan says 

I didn't realize when he joined us. He is up on a coffee brown horse which is just as beautiful and his sight is one to behold.

I force myself to tear my gaze from him before I become a lovesick puppy again.

“Yes we are” Yoda answers

You’d think that these two are totally unrelated, judging by how straightforward they are with each other. They’re so uptight it makes me giggle a bit.

I avoid their gazes and mount on Melrue before heading out into the dark towards Mateo.

“Hello there princess” he says. I pick up on a slight accent and wonder if he’s from a different place.

“I’m guessing that those two have filled you in on where we’re going?” he asks

“All I know is that I will be joining a Training Academy where i will need to fight bears”

“That doesn't sound fun now does it” he jokes and i glare at him

“Why do we have to leave so early?” i ask, half wishing that i could run back to my bed and shut out the whole world

“You’ll see” he answers before galloping off on his gray horse.

I follow suit, picking up speed on my way. 

We make it out of the castle gates and into the town. There are many little houses lined up on the street with beautiful colored streetlights and stunning gardens in front of each of the homes. This place looked straight out of a fairytale.

“This is Queen’s town,” Mateo explains. The late queen built an extension of the castle as a community where the little princess could visit. She didn't want her to be raised all alone in the castle, not knowing her own people. He glances at me and then looks away.

My heart flutters. He had this edge to him. So carefree. He didn't care who I was and neither did he treat me like an assigned duty.

I slow down and look over my shoulder and I see Yoda and her brother closing in on us.

“I suggest that we cover a lot of distance while the world is still dark and quiet,” Yohan says.

His face is emotionless. Just like Yoda’s. He’s so stoic like a commander with his army

Together we gallop down the quiet streets, with Mateo leading the way, Yohan at the tail and Yoda by my side.

In another life, we could have been friends, just playing in the streets. But reality hit me, that I was a fugitive in my previous home and my whole family as I knew it was a lie. Now I was being taken to some academy where I would have to fight off freaking bears and protect the Kingdom that I have spent my whole life hating.