Celia marched her way down the hallway and towards Soleil who had fallen back in shock. Celia could understand the shock, but the fear was something new to her. Celia and Soleil practically grew up together and no matter what Soleil had always looked down on her. Celia could never beat her and she was second to her. Sometimes even third when Samantha was involved. Celia's heart raced and she couldn't help the smile that was creeping onto her face. This was the first time that Soleil looked at her fear.
Celia parted her lips, licked the top lip. She bent down, coked her head to one side and said "boo." Soleil flinched and Celia chuckled. Hearing the amusement in her voice forced Soleil to regain her composure she got up from the floor. "Get out" Soleil said but in a voice that was unconvincing and hardly above a whisper.
"Sorry love but this is my husband's house."
She had to fast. It angered her to Celia in her house and in her parent room no less, but Soleil was feeling impatient. While she could handle Celia on her own there was no way she could face the prince. It was more important that she escaped then she found herself out of the mercy of the prince once again.
"Fine stay if you want, I've already decided to abandon this place."
That caught Celia's interest and she looked up at Soleil and watched her as she went into a closet. Celia got up and followed Soleil. Closet was large considering the size of the cottage. It was painted a plain white color and had railing on either side of it. Though nothing was hung up. In fact, the closet was quite bare, except for the trunk sitting in the middle. Soleil had her legs spread out on either side of the trunk and was folding a dress.
"You know I can't let you leave." Soleil did not look at her and kept folding a dress.
"Why's that?"
"My love will be angry with me if I let you go"
"Is it not in your best interest if I escape?"
"Oh, my dear you think it's too small. I already have the royal seal and the prince promised to marry me. I just need to show him that I could make a good queen..." Celia moved closer and shoved the seal in Soleil's face, showing it off in a childlike way.
"A queen must not be bothered by hoers. You matter nothing to me or my relationship with the prince." Soleil pushed her hand away.
"Well then consider this me breaking up with the prince and let me leave in peace."
Celia laughed
"You are not listening," she said, pausing between each word.
"I'm not letting you escape, that's not what the prince wants."
"And about what you want?" Soleil said, growing tired of this conversation.
"Well, me...I want what the prince wants."
Soleil grunted in frustration, she stood up and proceeded to stuff the rest of her things into the trunk. Celia continued to watch, making no efforts to stop her.
"That's what a union is, the goals of your husbands become your goals"
"His needs, become your needs"
"And his way in bed is your prize" Celia sang.
Soleil wrestled with the trunk, trying to close it. Celia was getting on her nerves and she could feel her face heating up. She tugged on her hair trying to control her emotions. Celia sat on the trunk and Soleil was finally able to get it closed. She was confused by Celia's sudden helpfulness but decided not to question it.
"Can you get off?"
"Like I said you're not going anywhere" Celia said in the same singing voice from earlier. Soleil rolled her eyes and pushed Celia off the trunk. She landed hard on her bottom and there was a loud thud. Soleil let out a soft chuckle.
"Oooowww" Celia got up and rubbed her behind.
Soleil grabbed the trunk and pulled it across the ground. It was admittedly too much stuff. There was no way for Soleil to escape on foot. Though she figured that Celia had brought her family's carriage. She would steal it from Celia and replace it at the next town.
She was almost at the steps when Celia caught up to her.
"You are so stubborn." Celia said, stepping between Soleil and the steps.
"You can't even move the thing by yourself." Celia grabbed the handle on her side of it and lifted the trunk. Soleil was confused when Celia had sat on the trunk but now she was sure. Despite Celia's words she was helping her leave. Soleil wanted to laugh but she also wanted to break down and cry. She settled for silence and let the girl help down the stairs.
Suddenly the door opened and both girls froze in their steps. They could hear footsteps walking through the kitchen. It was faint but even still both girls assumed it was the prince. Celia dropped the handle and there was a loud thud from the trunk.
"I ALREADY TOLD YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!" Celia screamed. Soleil stared back at the girl but said nothing. There was pain in her chest and she wasn't quite sure why. Her only chance for escape was gone. The prince would surely keep her under his supervision after this.
The footsteps got closer and both girls looked towards the doorway.
"Lord, how did you ever manage to whew the prince with such an irritating voice?" Samantha leaned against the doorway with a playful but arrogant expression.
The tensions that both girls felt disappeared in an instance. Soleil breathed a sigh of relief, never in her life did she think she would be happy to see either of them. However they had both made her day.
Samantha looked about the living room and whistled.
"Now I know why you never wanted to leave your cottage."
"None of this matters to me, I never left because I was clearly not wanted."
Both girls rolled their eyes.
"There you go again with that absurd confidence" Celia said in a pinched voice.
Samantha cleared her throat warning Celia to drop it. "Looks like you're leaving."
Soleil nodded.
"Good, I'm glad to hear it."
"I'm sure you are," Soleil mumbled.
Samantha came closer and put a hand on Soleil's shoulder. The two of them made eye contact.
"I mean it, the prince is an awful man and you don't deserve any of this -"
" None of you do" Samantha turned towards Celia and grabbed her hands.
"You don't have to marry the prince, you are worth so much more than that."
Celia pulled her hands away and patted her dress.
"Actually I want to marry him."
Soleil and Samantha twisted the face. Neither of them could see the appeal. He was about to lose his title, his personality was foul and his appearance only slightly above average.
"What are you doing here?" Soleil said, finally remembering to be suspicious of Samantha being here. Although the last few days had been insane, both girls being in her house was normal at this point.
Samantha had no answer that would make sense. She was not friends with them, nor was she the type to care for others. She looked to the floor deliberating between lying or telling the truth.
"I would answer but we don't have much time, the prince is on his way."
There was both pain and rage behind Samantha's words. A shiver went down Soleil's back, she broke out into a cold sweat. She grabbed the wall and stabilized herself. She had never felt such an emotion so raw and painful. Especially not from Samantha. Something must have happened between them but Soleil decided not to ask. Though she could now confirm that for the meantime both girls were on her side.
"Do either of you have a carriage?" Celia and Samantha nodded. Soleil's heart skipped the beat. She was going to make it out of here.
"Okay then I'll take Samantha's I'm assuming the prince knows you're here Celia?"
Celia nodded.
"Right it would be weird if the prince returned and your carriage is missing." They nodded in agreement.
"I'll head out to Celia's carriage and hide there when we're done here."
"Samantha, can you go into the kitchen and grab food that won't spoil too soon?"
Samantha nodded and headed to the kitchen.
Celia and Soleil grabbed the trunk once again. This time they moved quicker and more in sync. They made their way past the kitchen and out the door to Samantha's carriage. They paused for a second looking around. The prince was nowhere to be seen. They looked at each other and lifted the trunk with all their strength. The trunk was quite heavy and each girl struggled to place the trunk inside the carriage. However after a few minutes of struggling they were able to place it on the floor. Soleil shimmed her way out of the carriage and joined Celia and pushed it, making sure that it sat correctly inside.
The two girls shook their arms and did a few stretches after laboring.
"Good lord, it's a good thing I'm marrying a prince. I am definitely not made for labor."
Soleil laughed a little. Despite both girls being born to a small town and to families with no titles, they lived a lifestyle of leisure.
Samantha came out and handed Soleil a pink basket. It was heavy but easier to carry than the trunk. Soleil climbed back into the carriage and placed the basket on one of the benches. She hopped out again and grabbed a hold of each girls' arm. She had no idea what to say to either of them. In fact she was sure that neither of them were helping for her sake. Still she was aware that her escape was only possible because of their help. As though reading her mind Samantha starts talking.
"Don't bother, we're not that close. Just get into the carriage and go. You have money right?"
Soleil shook her head "I've never needed it but I have some jewels I can trade at the next town."
"Do you know how to get there?"
Soleil shook her head.
"Do you have a place to go?"
Soleil shook her head.
"Do you have anyone you can rely on?"
Soleil shook her head again this time slower and more depressing.
Samantha put her hand on her hips and sighed. Celia rolled her eyes annoyed at how stupid Soleil was being.
"Okay here's what we'll do, head out for now and find yourself an inn. In a few days I'll bring that man that always hangs around you and myself to the inn. From there I will figure out what to do. What's important is that you leave now. "
Soleil gave her a hesitant nod. She got onto the front of the carriage and grabbed the reins to the horses. She looked at the girls, fear evident in her eyes. They nodded at her.
"Just stay safe, you have my word I'll come to you in a few days." Samantha said, with her right hand laying over her heart. Soleil gave a final nod, feeling better about the situation. Samantha was a lot of things but she never went back on her word. Celia looked away from the two of them. She tugged at her hair and begged for the pain in her chest to subside.
Once Soleil was gone Samantha hopped into the remaining carriage and closed the door behind her. Celia went back into the cottage. Her heart was pounding, now it was up to her to convince the prince. She would have to lie to him about how Soleil had escaped.
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