The Runaway Princess

~Chapter 19~

Anthony POV, sorry I keep changing POVs but I thought we should be in Anthony's shoes today.

I stare at the sword in my hands. It is an amazing sword, but why can't I ever use it? I have tried but I can't help but feel like it doesn't suit me.

Maybe I should give it to Alexia.

My mind snaps awake.

Alexia.

I put the sword on my bed then go down the candlelit to her room. I open the door and close it quietly then sit on the edge of her bed.

I hope she will be okay.

I don't know what I would do if I lost her as w_ no, she will be fine.

I look at her pale face. Why is she always so pale? You can't tell if she's sick or healthy. I wish she would wake up.

I sigh and look around her room. I look at her desk where I see a small piece of paper. I stand up and grab the paper. I see a smear of metallic red on it. Now I recognise it, its the map my father gave her. I have the urge to open it but I resist and place it back on the desk.

"Anthony what are you doing here?"I jump and turn to the bed. "Alexia?"I run up to the bed and my eyes widen as indeed I see Alexia awake. "Yes?""You're awake!"I exclaim excitedly. "Wait here."I exit the room and run to get the medical specialists.

"She's awake."I gasp out. "Who?"I glare at the medic and look at another one. "Princess Alexia."I say. They grab a few items and run to her room.

I let them take care of her while I go and inform Nicholas and Thomas. I open Thomas' door and I am surprised to see Nicholas with him.

I sit on the floor next to Nicholas even though the bed has space. "She woke up." I say. Nicholas' head turns to me quickly. "Really? Can we see her?" I shake my head. "They are checking up on her." He nods but a faint smile settles on his face.

"When?" I look at Thomas' worried face and stifle a smile. "Just then when I was in there." He nods but still looks worried.

"At least she's okay." Nicholas says. I nod and look around Thomas' room. Since they used to visit often we gave his family their own rooms.

"You keep your swords here?" I ask as I spot a few in the corner of the room, he doesn't hang them up like me.

"I practise here, and we always used to play games with them." "Why do you keep them there?" I point to the corner of the room. Not everyone can get a professional sword and people couldn't care less on how to take care of them if they do own one.

"I haven't had time with everything going on." I nod and look out the window, I can see the maze clearly. "How do you think she got away with it for all these years?" I ask. I walk to the window and place my elbow on the sill and rest my head on my hand.

"She's smart. She planned it in such a way that no one would find out easily." Thomas replies. "Do you like the boy, Shane?" Nicholas asks me. I shake my head. "And I know both of you don't like him as well." Silence follows after my statement, I guess I'm right.

"You see him as a threat don't you?" I direct this to Thomas but silence continues. "He's getting close to her." He finally replies. I shake my head and my eyes wander to the paths of the maze. I look at the exit and can finally determine which paths leads to the woods. I narrow my eyes onto a certain path that goes to a dead end. 

A man walks carefully along the path and then the floor opens up beneath him and takes him under. I jump at the sudden action. "Did you see that?" I turn around and they both look at me weirdly. 

"There are trapdoors in the maze. No wonder there are never guards on patrol near it. Its a security measure in itself." They nod but don't look as interested as I probably do. 

I turn back to the window and realise how it wouldn't be so hard to remember the path if your window was facing it like this. I lean out a bit and see Alexia's window, she has a better view. 

I will ask Alexia to help me memorise the maze. 

I make a mental note then sit down next to Nicholas. "Why do you always sit on the floor?" I ask, ever since we were young he would do that. He shrugs. "Its a habit." "I think he just loves the floor." Thomas says. I roll my eyes, "really though, why?" "My mother always sat on the floor, especially when she was a child. Even when she was Queen she sat with Felicia and I as we were growing up." 

I shut my mouth after his last statement. His mother is always a sharp subject. She passed as she was giving birth to her third child. Both the baby and the Queen died. This was before King Neil betrayed us.

"Oh, okay then." Thomas scratches his neck awkwardly.

"Anyway, I should go back to my room. I feel a bit tired." Nicholas stands up and exits the room and gently closes the door. "He only has Felicia now. His mother and other sibling are gone and his father is in the dungeons." "Maybe we should ask Felicia to come here." I suggest. Thomas smiles and nods, he has an idea in mind for sure.

"I can ask a knight to go and invite her. I'll write an invitation now." I let him write and I go back to Alexia's room.

I open the door and sit next to Alexia. "Are you feeling okay now?" I ask her. She nods. "Tomorrow Princess Felicia might be arriving. But before that we need to go to King Neil. He has been terrorising all the guards. Will you be able to come?" She nods. "I just need to sleep tonight but tomorrow I will be ready to interrogate that traitor." I smile at her commitment and stand up.

I walk to the door and turn just as I exit. "Goodnight Alexia." "Goodnight Anthony." I close the door and retire to my bedroom. 

(A.N): Next Chapter is going to be in Alexia's POV

Thanks for reading!