I gasped as I was tugged forward through the barrier and thrown to the ground, my attacker looming over me, a black mass that screamed danger. Quickly, I scrambled back, going for the dagger in my sweater to protect myself only to drop it on the ground and lose it in the blackness of the woods around us. No, no, no... I searched for it frantically. Then there was a snap of a twig and I looked up, forgetting the dagger completely. "Who's there?!" I asked as the silhouette stepped closer. They lifted something large and heavy, and I couldn't look. I covered my face, closing my eyes tightly, in fear for my life. I was going to die before I even had a chance.

But as I prepared for the end, something suddenly illuminated the darkness between us. I flinched, but when I received no painful blow, I took a hesitant peek through my fingers. My shock was almost too great for words.

Xic stood above me, unamused, my preiously discarded makeshift torch-club in his hands, fire licking at the air at the top. I went limp on the ground, so relieved I wasn't about to die that I my body felt almost numb. I exhaled long and slow. Xic looked down at me expressionlessly. "It seems your walk has taken you quite far from the castle, Princess." Though he said it with a title of importance, the underlying sarcasm was impossible to miss.

I sat up slowly, cautiously looking up at him. "Why did you follow me?" I asked, grabbing the dagger that was now visible in the light of the torch.

He snorted, as if it was obvious. "Pardon the insult, your highness, but you are a terrible liar," he told me, taking my arm and making me stand. He gave my outfit another look of disapproval before he politely brushed me off and turned back to the barrier. "The woods are no place for a girl, especially at night. Let us return immediately."

When I realized he intended to bring me back to the castle, I ripped my arm away. "No!" I shouted before I could stop myself. I took several steps back, touching the tree behind me as if to ground myself. 

Xic frowned at me, not trying to hide his annoyance anymore. "Where do you expect to go?" he asked, stepping towards me and holding his arms out. "This forest is filled with creatures that shall not hesitate to devour you if they so much as catch your scent."

I flinched at the harshness in his tone of voice. He walked towards me and I dropped my eyes as he leaned close with his own eyes narrowed. "Is that what you really want?" he questioned, his voice low with a threat. I didn't meet his eyes, but I knew he was staring at me with a darkness that I didn't want to see.

When I didn't respond, his anger eased and he relaxed, stepping away from me to give me space. "You wouldn't make it a hundred bow lengths," he said. He adjusted his own bow over his shoulder. "So, give it up and let's go back."

For the second time, he reached for me, planning to take my arm and lead me back to the castle like I was some simple-minded lamb. But his words had only made me more determined, and before he could get a hand around my wrist, I unsheathed the dagger and pointed it towards him. "No," I said. "I won't go back. I'm not a princess and I can't rule this kindom. I won't; and you can't make me." I straightened my shoulders and steadied my shaking hand. "I'm going home."

Xic rolled his eyes. "Home where? Do you even know how to travel back to the portal?"

I hesitated, but chose to hold my ground. "N-... No. I don't," I said with confidence. "But I'll figure it out. I'll find it on my own if I have to. In the dark, in the rain, whatever I have to, I'll find it."

I could see my words were making him angry. His hand clenched around the torch tightly. "This is not a game, Princess-"

"I'm not a princess," I said for the second time that night. "And I know very well that this is no game. I just don't care."

"These are your people, don't you care about them?" he asked. "Who will guide them when the king passes? They will have no leader."

That did make me feel regrettful for leaving, but not enough to disuade me from my goal. I gripped the blade in my hand, my voice steady. "They are not my people. I don't know any of them, I don't know you, and I don't know your king." I leveled my head so I could stare him down. "I'm sorry, but nothing you say can convince me to stay here."

He looked a little amused by my bravado and smirked. "You really are just like him." He was referring to the king. "He'd have said the same thing if in your position."

I lowered the knife. "Then you should understand and leave me be," I said.

He shook his head. "I cannot do that, your highness." I prepared to raise the blade again, but he stopped me by lifting a hand in surrender and setting the torch on the ground. His eyes looked almost kind as he walked towards me, a sort of resigned look in on his posture. "However, as his highness' most trusted soldier, I am willing to accompany you," he said.

I blinked, surprised he would be so thoughtful all of a sudden. All this time he'd seemed like a rude, self-serving jerk, but maybe he wasn't so bad... "Xic-"

"Back to your room," he finished. Before I could even register the sudden change in his attitude, he had yanked the knife from my hands and snapped it back into it's sheath. I stumbled to react quickly enough, but then one of his hands was around my wrist and the other was hoisting me up by my waist and throwing me over his shoulder.

"Hey!" I shouted as he bent down to pluck the torch out of the dirt. He ignored me and began heading back through the barrier and towards the town. "Put me down!" I snapped, struggling to wriggle free.

He bounced me on his shoulder and snorted. "You trust people too easily," he said. "His highness has too high of hopes for you. You'll be a foolish queen."

I screamed my outrage as he walked through the town, drawing the attention of anyone nearby, but he simply strode on like I was a one-pound weight. When the castle gates came into sight, though, my heart sank and I slumped. "Why...? Why do you need me?" I asked. Xic didn't respond and I clenched my fists, slamming them into his lower back as hard as I could. "Find someone else, damnnit!"

He didn't even react, just walked up the steps and back into the castle, talking me to my room without a word. He ran into some guards on the way and told them to take me the rest of the way and stay outside my door for the remainder of the night. As he set me down, I tried to bolt away, but he caught me with a frown and handed me back to the guards who held me still. "Make sure she stays in her room," he instructed.

They nodded and he seemed satisfied, giving me one last look before turning on his heel and walking away. I glared at his back as he retreated. Then the guards started leading me back to my room. I fought them, but they easily pulled me along, apologizing all the while, until they shoved me into the room. "Forgive us, my lady. Please, sleep well." Then they closed the door.

I ran up and pulled on the handle, but it wouldn't open. "No! Let me out! Hey!" I pounded on the door, but to no avail. I hit it until my arms felt numb and I had to lean on the door for support, exhausted. I kept my hands clenched though, my eyes trained on the wood. But eventually even my hard gaze on the door lessened and my anger deflated. I lifted my arm as if to hit the door one last time, but then stopped and lowered it again, sliding to the floor. I dropped to my knees, resting my hands limply in my lap. Then I fell onto my side and curled in on myself. I was never going to leave here... was I?

*******

Hey everyone! This is getting published soooooo laaaaate! But at least it's getting published. I thought I wouldn't get it done. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS, VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco