Something's burning. I can smell smoke. I expect an escort to come bring me to my parents but all I hear is screaming. A loud ruckus from outside shakes the palace, the only thing I think to do is hide in my wardrobe. The large number of dresses provide me with a healthy hiding space. I start shaking when I hear the large door to my bedroom open.

Tears start running down my cheek as the silence becomes painful. I hear my breathing speed up as the floor creeks gently under someone's weight.

"Princess? Princess Aria, are you in here?"

Poking my head out of the closet I see the butler, Fredrick. When his eyes land on me all I see is fear.

"Your mother and father are worried sick about you!" He takes my small hand and helps me from the wardrobe, "Hurry, we have to leave!"

I resist, making him drag me the first few inches, "I'm scared, I want my momma!"

"I'll take you to her, she's waiting at the gates for you!" He grabs my large luggage bag and shoves clothing in it. That cannot be a good sign. I rarely travel with my parents, they say stability will help me grow into a suitable young lady. If I'm leaving then something is very wrong.

I grab some of my more precious mementos, such as my china doll and Russian music box my mother gave me and put them in the bag as well. Fredrick takes my hand and begs me to come with him.

"What's going on?" I question as we run through the halls. I don't see any guards, only maids and other staff running the same direction as us. Looking back I see smoke coming from down the long corridor.

"We're under attack! I must get you to your parents!"

I keep my sobs quiet as I'm lifted and carried through a small door I'd never seen before. As we push through the small tunnel, I hear screaming and crying behind us but I don't dare look back as Fredrick keeps running.

We push through room after room before exiting through the back gardens of the palace. My heart pounds as I'm lifted into a large carriage where Fredrick stands guard.

I still smell smoke and hear screams ringing through the shattered windows. Tears run faster down my face as the fear engulfs me. Where are my parents? What's going on? Why is this happening to us? Our people love us, and we love them, this shouldn't be happening.

My heart stops as the carriage door swings open. The sight of my parents sends me into a hysterical fit as I cling to them. My mother pulls me onto her lap as my father pulls himself and their two bags into the carriage with him.

"Hush baby, I've got you," My mother whispers to me as she holds me.

"What's happening?" I sob.

"We need to leave, now! Fredrick, where is the coachman?"

"He's probably lost in the chaos your majesty, if he's not here soon I highly suggest we call a stable boy to take you and your family to the docks!"

Fredrick isn't getting in the carriage. Is he not coming? He must! He's worked for us for years, he's my dearest friend, he must come with us.

"I'm scared, what's going on?" I squeak as I reach for my father.

"It's alright dear, all will be—"

"Don't lie to her Johnathan!" My mother barks, "She's young and scared, not foolish!"

My father stares back, startled by my mother's bluntness, but he nods. "We have to go away for awhile Aria, the kingdom is no longer safe for us. The Mordians have invaded in hopes of taking our land and power. They will force us out or worse to get our kingdom so we have to flee until our army pushes them out."

The Mordians? I think back on my lessons trying to remember which kingdom that is, are they from the east? No they're from the north... I think.

Sometimes I'd sneak to meetings and listen to my father talk with the advisors. I remember hearing of potential threats and attacks, but I'd never imagined this. Curling up against my mother, I start crying again.

She carefully reaches around me for my bag, pulling out my china doll. Her voice soothes me as she tells me to hug the doll, to be brave for her.

"You are a strong girl Aria!" She beams, brushing my blonde hair from my face, "You are so brave and smart, you must be strong now! There will always be bad people, but you must be smarter, stronger, and more dedicated than them! Can you do that?"

I nod as I hug the doll. She and my father start talking, but I don't listen, they both sound scared. Trying my hardest, I keep my tears in and close my eyes. The sounds of Fredrick outside the door cause me go tense up, he's yelling at someone.

"Stay away! You have no authority here, you are not—"

I hear fighting and silence. When the carriage door opens, I can't fight more tears. Three men stand before us, y'all and terrifying, each with a sword at their hip, one of them holds a now bleeding Fredrick.

"By order of His Majesty, King Alfred, you three are under arrest for treason against the crown." One of them speaks, watching us carefully.

"King Alfred has no power here and he never will! Leave our land now and we can continue to let our kingdoms live in peace," My father moves to get between us and the armed men.

"His Majesty wishes to speak with you imposters. He doesn't take kindly to traitors." One of them starts to reach for his sword.

We all freeze as my mother stands, placing me with my father.

"I do believe I'd like to have a word with King Alfred, if he will have an audience with me," She carefully leaves, stepping down to meet the men who tower over her.

One grabs her arm and looks back at us before his comrade whispers something, "One is better than none, King Alfred wants them alive, let's take what we can get today."

They drop Fredrick and surround my mother. She glances back at me with a sorrowful smile.

"I love you both, and I'll see you soon. Remember what I said Aria, always be strong, always be the stronger one. Alright?"

I nod as my father pulls me close. Both of us watch in silence as she is taken away, dragged up the dirt path into the palace.

Once she's out of sight, Fredrick rises and runs to the stables, finding the first stable boy he can. Climbing in with us, Fredrick orders the stable boy to leave.

I watch my home fade from view, smoke pouring from the windows, staff screaming, and valuables being looted. Watching, I hold in my tears and cling to my father.

As we flee I remember my mother's words, "I'll see you soon. Remember what I said Aria, always be strong, always be the stronger one."

"I'll see you soon."

I'll see her soon.