Alliar

They say that when you die, you join the gods. Your sprit travels high up past the mountains and clouds and in the sky where the gods can either; gift you with peace, and let you live among them in the stars or they can curse you to never find peace, to live amongst the living, to be nothing but a shadow forever haunting the earth.

I slowly opened my eyes letting them blink to adjust to the light. Okay this was a strange peace, it kind of looked like the damn tent I feel asleep in last night but that would mean I was either cursed down by the gods or I was still alive — I'm thinking I was cursed, but what the hell did I do wrong? I only lived a short life and sure, I wasn't the nicest to sister Clairea but she was at times a major pest to me too so we were even right?

"Oh good you're wake." Jonathan's deep husky voice said as he pulled on a new shirt — this one a light grey.

"Why are you in my star?" I asked quickly as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"What? What star?" He looked at me like I was insane — which at this point I was starting to believe. "We don't have time for this. And don't, narrow your eyes at me or I'll cut them out. Now get up we have work to do." He exclaimed as he tapped the side of my face to break my deathly glare and walked out of the tent but not before he threw a dress at me.

I stared at the dress on my lap in confusion. What the hell was going on? I reached up with my hands and rubbed my face, trying to wake myself up. So I was alive then? I pulled myself out from under the sheet my body was tangled in and quickly slipped my feet into the black boots that were neatly chucked beside the stretcher, so that my feet didn't dirty themselves on the ground.

Standing up I found the bucket of water with the cloth from last night still where it had been left — which I was thankful for. I pulled the bucket closer towards me as I dipped my head inside of it, holding my breath as I tried to quickly comb the much and knots out of my hair and off my face.

Lifting my head up with a loud a gasp I suddenly felt a lot more awake. I padded my face and hair dry with the sheet before I started to braid the sides of my hair and tied them in a lose knot behind my head — hoping that it would keep the hair from falling in front of my face.

Standing up I unfolded the dress to get a better look, it wasn't a dress at all; it was riding leathers. I shook my head and I stared at the clothes. Were they taking me with them? Or did they just plan to dumb me somewhere on the way? Pouting, I started to dress myself pulling on the leather pants that clung to my body tightly — gods, if sister Clairea saw me in this she would have a fit and chase me around the tower with a plank screaming harlot at the top of her lungs.

Reaching down I grabbed hold of the white shirt and quickly pulled it on, it was rather long on me, ending at my mid-thigh while it hung off my shoulder showing my neck and a little cleavage.

I stare down at the corset that would keep my shirt from falling off and groaned. It tied in the back — fan-bloody-tastic. I pulled the corset around my stomach, letting it sit just under my breasts and started to reach behind my back with one arm and tie it, whilst holding it in place with the other hand — let's just say this was not working in my favour at all.

I felt hands brush against mine making me gasp quickly and look over my shoulder to see Jonathan, his eyes were down and focussing on the knots that he was beginning to tie as my hands went back to holding it in place.

"Are you taking me with you?" I asked him as he tightened the strings so deathly tight that I feared I wouldn't be able to breathe. "Do you mind, I would actually like to be able to breathe here." I quickly said as I tried to pull away from his grasp but he only pulled me back towards him.

"Then don't ask stupid questions." He whispered as he reached down and picked up the cloak that was still on the stretcher, it was a light grey with brown fur around the hood and wrists. He pulled it around my shoulders and tied it around my neck tightly before he grabbed my hand and yanked me forward. "We need to get moving."

"Where are we going?" I asked him as I quickly started walking as fast as I could to catch up and stay at his pace.

"North."

"How far north?"

"Are you going to keep asking questions?" He stopped making me bump into him and stumble back.

"Yes." I whispered quietly. I was a habit and I hated not knowing where we were going and what was going on at all times.

"Well stop, or..."

"I'll lose my tongue?" I interrupted him — bad move.

He grabbed a hold of my neck quickly and grasped me tightly as his other hand clutched on to my waist and pulled me hard up against him. I chocked as I tried to breathe through the ordeal but his hand only got tighter. His eyes were a blaze and I could see the pure anger flooding out of them like gushing waters. "I didn't mean..."

"Don't you dare, interrupt me!" He spoke through clenched teeth in a deep voice that sent my carefree confidence stumbling back inwards.

"Okay." I whispered as my hands reached up and I gently placed my hands on top of his, but I didn't try to peer them away. I stared into his eyes as my hands rested on top of his, his eyes slowly blinked a couple of times, each time I could see the anger leaving his dark eyes but I couldn't read the emotion that was left behind. He released his hands around my neck and quickly stepped back reflexively, a stunned look in his eyes as if he didn't know exactly what he was doing.

I leaned forward a little trying to get my breath back as my hands moved to rub my neck, soothing my skin that was no doubt going to bruise. I looked up after five deep breaths and saw his apology in his eyes — even though I knew the words would never leave his lips, the look was enough.

"Come on. We have to get going." He exclaimed quickly as he started walking off through the now somewhat empty meadow.

I slowly fell into step behind him as I looked around, the strong smell in the air was making my stomach curl in on itself while the smoke raised to the clouds and coloured the skies. We walked towards the woods until I saw the small collective of horses that were being feed and watered for a long journey. Jonathan left me as he walked over to a group of horses and started checking the reins and saddles, shifting them with his weight to make sure the straps wouldn't break and patting the black mare he was standing in front of.

"Little Miss, what are you... You're alive?" Demetri said with a shocked expression as he came into the corner of my vision.

I smiled at him and gestured to my body. "I think so? Either that or the gods are playing a cruel joke on me."

He chuckled as he came closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders like my brother's had done on many occasions to me. "Well I'm glad, I could use some decent company."

"Where are we riding to?" I thought I would try and get some answers out of him since Jonathan looked rather busy with the horses.

"North."

"How far north?"

"I don't know?" He shrugged. How the hell can he not know? Was he just following his King blindly off a cliff?

"You don't know?" I asked clearly dumbfounded.

"I don't know how far you're going." He elaborated. That made more sense at least. So he was going to leave me somewhere? I bit my lip as I thought about the times sister Clairea told me girls who had been victims of war had shown up half dead at the gates of the convent and begged for aid.

"Ah, I see. He's not going to dump me at some convent is he?"

He shrugged. Obviously he doesn't know.

"Demetri!" Jonathan called making the both of us jump slightly at the tone. "Is everything in place?"

"Yes. All ready to go." He nodded sure of himself.

"Then let's go."

Demetri walked me over to a small grey and white shotted horse and helped me mount it. I sat a little awkward in the saddle as I went to reach out for the reins but Jonathan quickly grabbed them off me and pulled my horse along until we were in line behind two others. He tied my reins up to a rope that was joined to the end of one of the saddles on the horse in front of me. You're kidding me. He wasn't seriously making me ride behind them without any control?

I Narrowed my eyes at him as I crossed my arms over my chest and pouted. This was not the kind of riding I had in mind.

"Don't pout Little Miss, it's not flattering." He smirked at me before he quickly mounted the black mare which I was tied to and started walking forward. Demetri took up the position of riding next to him and all the other men soon followed behind us.

"Why the long face Little Miss?" A voice floated in as someone rode up next to me. He was a young man, no older then I, with short blond hair and twinkling blue eyes — the same man who was daydreaming in the tent only hours ago.

I smiled and raised my brow at him "Long face?" I wasn't sure whether to be insulted or... what exactly?

"Yes, you know, sad expression, or is it boredom I'm sensing?" He regarded me questionably.

"Boredom is about right." I nodded and took a deep breath.

"How can you bored? This is the best part of the march, unlike when you're camping and the only thing to do is race chickens all day."

"You race chickens?"

"Of course." He smiled as he leaned in as if he were about to tell me a huge secret. "And I never loose. The trick is you have to scare the chicken, I found the best way to win is if you have a little rat in your pocket and you show it to the chicken as it starts to walk it will soon break out into a run, most of the time it works. You should see the next race, I think you'll like it."

"I can't make any promises."

"No of course not Miss." He nodded. "I'm Nicolai by the way, shadow knight in training." He introduced himself.

"In training?"

"Yes, Demetri thinks I have talent."

"Not anymore I don't." Demetri quickly interjected with a scoff.

"Nicolai I swear if you keep talking we're going to stitch your lips shut." Jonathan threatened from in front of me. "Then you'll be the perfect knight."

I giggled as Nicolai quickly rolled his eyes and shut up.

It felt weird, here I was leaving behind everything, everything I have ever know or had, but for what? A chance to survive? Did my life mean that much to me? For my family? To keep the promises I made to Kya that I would see her again? Yes. For all of those reasons.

I was a princess and although I may not be in name anymore, I still had the same blood running through my veins. This may be the end of me, the end of Princess Alliar — the weak girl who had burned with the rest of the bodies of war. But out of the ashes I was now Little Miss - or so they've been calling me - surviving through seer will and determination, gambling with my life every day, manipulating everyone to survive — she is strong and most importantly, she was a survivor. I was sure I would get home one day and when I did I was going to make sure everyone knew it.

The horses came to a stop in a small clearing in the trees and Demetri quickly slide down off his horse and felt the ground. "Here is perfect to make camp, shaded and the grounds dry. Probably can't say much better for further up."

"Alright then." Jonathan nodded and dismounted just as quickly as Demetri had. The men stared flocking over the area, building a fire bit and setting up sleeping sheets instead of tents. Jonathan walked towards me and held his hand out for me to take — which I did, thankful for the help. I slide down off the horse and faced him, his face a mask of seriousness. "Stay here."

"I am not a dog." I grumbled as I refused to back down to him. It appears my pride that scurried off in the wind when I was captured was now back, and with a bite to its bark no less.

"No, a dog would be more obedient." He shook his head at me and turned to walk away.

I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply before running my hand over the coat of the horse, patting her while I waited.

I heard Demetri on the other side of the horses yelling at Nicolai and smiled. Maybe just a few steps wouldn't hurt. I walked over towards the voice until I found Nicolai angrily muttering, mimicking Demetri's orders as he started to unroll a number of sleeping sheets piled at his sides. I walked up to him and took a seat on one of the raised tree roots that stuck out of the ground next to his hunched over figure.

"So tell me about this chicken racing. Can you do it with any chickens or do you need particular ones?" I smiled at him as he listened to my question and laughed.

I stayed with Nicolai talking about chickens of all things while he did his chores, he was quickly becoming my favourite person in this camp, Demetri was a close second but his loyalty to Jonathan proved a problem.

If I was going to stay with them I needed someone on my side, someone I could get information from and who would keep my secrets and I knew now that that was Nicolai. Although I knew he had trouble shutting up, I noticed he only blabbered on about unimportant topics and stayed clear of anyone's plans or ambitions — I was sure I could trust him and I was a great judge of character, well, most of the time.

Jonathan stepped in front of me and reached down holding out his hand holding a bottle. I was hesitant to take it figuring that I would receive a long lecture about moving from my spot or talking to Nicolai but he stayed quiet as I took the bottle and began sipping the water, enjoying the refreshing taste of the glorified liquid.

He walked away silently letting me stay there with the water while he started helping one of the men tie up all the horses. I turned back to Nicolai about to ask something when Demetri stepped on the sleeping bag Nicolai was currently unrolling.

"Get your big foot out of my way or don't complain when I don't do work." Nicolai snapped as he swatted at Demetri's foot making me giggle. Demetri rolled his eyes and lifted his foot only to gently place it on Nicolai's shoulder and push him over.

"Stop your complaining and get up."

"Where are we going?" He whined as he stumbled to his feet and brushed the leaves off his clothes.

"Hurry up!" Demetri called over his shoulder. "And you too Little Miss!"

I looked back at Nicolai who was giving me a challenging smile. I quickly got to my feet and rushed over towards Demetri, following him through the trees with Nicolai hot on my heels.

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