Celeste had gotten the bandages and tried to bandage Talhad's arm and any other open wounds he may have had. After, she'd gone back down and went back to work. Singing and waiting on people. As she did this, she heard people talking. She faltered for a moment when she heard the mention of the man who had stolen her father's kingdom. She forced herself to keep calm, but wanted to learn what they were saying. When she heard, she wanted to puke. That low life scum! Having been raised by her mother, she was able to keep her composer as she finished her shift.
When she was free for the night, she counted the money she had made. Plenty of money. She went to the store and bought food and supplies. Going back to the room, she left most of the food and some money with Talhad, making sure he;d be able to reach it all without too much trouble. She took a bag that she had bought and stuffed it with enough food for a few days, a dagger, needle and thread, her lion (of course), and the remains of her dress.
She didn't think to leave Talhad a note as she left, going to look for a guard. If the rumors were true, she'd be in no real danger. The 'king' would want her in as perfect condition as possible. Right now, she just hoped the rumor was true, and that she'd find a guard before she ran out of food. She didn't know how far the next town was.
A thought crossed her mind. She stopped and took out the needle and thread and sewed up the gashes that Talhad had cut in her dress, put it back on. She kept the rags he'd gotten her in case she got cold at night or something. At least with her dress on, she'd be more likely to be recognized as who she was.
Celeste was relieved when she saw a guard. She walked up to with a calm, collected, expression. The guard was a little shocked to see the princess come walking right up to him.
"I have come to except whatever is to become of me" she said simply.
The guard said nothing, taking her arms and tying her hands behind her back. She was taken to the camp where this guard's company was staying, and led to the largest tent. She assumed it to be the captain or general. She was right. The person in armor was sitting at a desk, looking at a map.
The captain glanced at them, than stood. The guard saluted to the female captain and left.
"I must say, I'm surprised you were found at all."
"Can it really be called finding when I came willingly."
"Willingly? You must know something I don't then."
"I doubt that."
"Nevertheless, you will be taken to the castle in the morning. We have orders to keep you reasonably comfortable, so You will be given a tent to sleep in. Just remember that you are technically a prisoner, so you will be watched at all times. One of the female guards will stay with you at all times. Everyone is under the direction of the king not to harm you, but men can rarely be trusted to be honorable."
"I completely agree. I am grateful that you are taking such care in fulfilling your orders."
A female guard walked in, saluted the captain, and guided Celeste out. She removed the bindings and took her to her tent. There was one cot and a chair. Celeste sat on the cot with a sigh. Another guard came and brought her some food. At least it wasn't salted meat. Celeste ate and went to sleep, having no plans of trying to escape. The female guard said nothing to her that wasn't necessary.
In the morning, Celeste was awoken by the guard and led outside. They had a carriage waiting. She got in with the guard who sat across form her. They had another two guards, one male and one female, go along with them. This gave Celeste no chance of getting out. The guards talked amongst themselves a bit. None of them spoke to Celeste, and Celeste spoke to none of them.
They rode to the place that had been her home since her birth. Seeing it, she almost wanted to cry. The carriage stopped in front of the palace and she was guided out and taken to a room.
She noted that it had, in fact, been her room. This made her wonder if her things were still here. She was left alone, though she knew there were guards at the door. She took this time to explore any changes that had been made. She was quietly glad to find that he room was just as she had left it.
Even the secret door that her brother had made when she was little. His room was right next to hers. When she'd been little, she had nightmares, as most young children did, and she'd go to his room and sleep with him. The nurse maids, and their mother, didn't approve of this. Even if they were just children. So the secret door would be used so no one would know.
Celeste held in tears as she remembered this, going back and sitting on the bed.
Now she was waiting. Just waiting. What was she waiting so long for?
Finally, the door opened, and the man who had warranted the death of her parents walked in.
"Hello, dear Princess, I do hope my knights have treated you well. If they haven't, they'll have to be punished of course."
"Why would it matter if you guards harmed an enemy?"
"I would prefer to be allies, Princess. I understand that you must hold anger toward me, do your parents' death. I'm regretful that their lives were lost in the joining of our two kingdoms. I do still hope to make the joining....official.....even it started with violence, I would like it to end with peace. Surely, you must agree."
"What is it you're getting at, Sire?" Celeste so wanted to hit him. He didn't regret anything. It was well known that he had always held a grudge toward her father. For many reasons.
"Well....you'd be achieving something you wouldn't have been able to had none of this happened. Women are allowed to ascend the throne here, yes, but you still never could've. Not with your brother in the way, right?"
Celeste felt her dinner from last night starting to come up. Of course she knew that with her brother there, she couldn't be queen. That didn't mean that she wanted to be queen, nor did she hold any grudge of that sort toward her brother.
"....with circumstance as they are, there is only way for me to become a monarch of this country"
"Yes...and you will become queen of more than just your father's land, but mine as well. It will be ours." With this, he took her left hand.
