Samantha pulled and pulled against the hands that held her. The hands that held her wrists wasn't loosening up in any way. She tugged and tugged.

"Come on you little troublemaker," he said as he struggled to get her under control.

"No!" She kneed him in the groin as hard as she could.

"Uugh!"

Once freed, she took off running toward the inn. She could hear the man behind her groaning still. What she was concerned with more was getting to the inn and getting help.

Once inside, the first thing she spotted first was a man behind a counter. Hurrying over to him, she cried, "Help! Help me!"

"What? What is it? Are you ill?" The inn keeper looked her over for any signs of injuries.

Samantha shook her head no quickly. She was tired and out of breath. Her racing mind only knew that she didn't have time to explain what was happening to her. That man just outside was soon to come bursting along with his friends for all she knew.

"What is it?" he asked again. His face twisted in worry.

She saw no way of out avoiding telling him. Taking a few much needed breath of air, she calmed herself down some. "Some bandits -- they kidnapped me from the castle and please help me get back to my father, The King-- your king."

Confusion showed on the older man's face. "Are you really Princess Samantha?"

Why was he asking that, she wondered. The normal thing would first be to alert the enforcers to the situation, she thought. Pushing those thoughts to the side, she nodded her head up and down. "Yes, please help me. Hurry they're coming."

"If bandits are after you, I suppose I should do something. We will confirm if you are indeed the princess or not later." He reached under his desk for something.

The door of the inn opened, causing Samantha and the inn keeper to look in that direction. Upon realizing who it was, her eyes widen and a relieved smile broke out of her face. Standing in the entryway was the man who met with her father earlier that day. She ran up to him. He could help her get back home, and he could identify who she is.

"This man -- he can tell you who I am and what happened to me."

The handsome man looked at Samantha before turning his gaze to the inn keeper. With a smile on his face, he asked, "How does five hundred dollar sound to you?"

"It sounds just right." A wicked grin formed on the inn keeper's face.

Huh? What is this? She looked between the two men, confusion written on her face.

"A deal then."

"What?" She looked up at the handsome man.

At the moment, the door is pulled open. In step the man who she kneeled in the groan not too long ago. Horror morphed her face, and she took a step back away from both men.

No. "No." She took another step back only to make a run for the door.

She didn't get very far as a hand wrapped around her upper arm, pulling her back. She found herself looking into the face of the handsome man.

"Easy now," the handsome man said.

"Let me go!" She tried tugging her arm away.

He gave her a little push forward. As she stumbled forward, she is caught by someone. Looking up into the face of her pursuer, she begin struggling to get from his hold.

"You're not hitting me again." He shook her a bit to make her stop struggling before picking her up and throwing her across his shoulder.

"No, let go!" She yelled out as she is carried away. The last thing she saw is the handsome man taking several paper money from a sack at his side. The inn keeper happily took the money.

Before she was taken far from the inn, she thought she heard the inn keeper telling someone, another person, that a crazy woman had gotten in and was now being taken care of.

Being carried back to the small group of bandits, she is sat down on her feet. One look around told her that none of the other men seem affected by her running away. Tears began to rise to her eyes.

"None of that Princess," came the voice of the handsome man who emerged from the shadows. "Crying gets you nowhere."

"Why are you doing this? Who are you?"

"Tristan Bellman, leader of the bandits." He introduced himself. "You were sold to me. As my property, you are mine to do with as I please."

"You're lying."

"Believe what you want Princess, but nothing is going to change your fate." He gave her a small smile before shifting his gaze to his men. "We ride tonight. Wouldn't want to get caught by those royal guards."

"Aye," the men replied in union.

"Get ready Princess," Tristan said looking her way. "You're riding beside me. " With that, he turned away and headed toward the horses.

It didn't take them long to gather up their items. They retied her hands and threw her on the back of a horse. Tristan took her reins before climbing on his own horse.

"Let's get out of here," Tristan said moving his horse forward.

They rose the rest of the night, switching from running to walking. Samantha found herself trying to remember where she they would make a turn here and there, but she came up forgetting. With the night growing darker, it was hard to see what was what. Nevertheless, she tried until her eyes grew heavy and her mind grew tired.

When at last the morning did come, the rising sun woke her. Opening her eyes, she is met with a beautiful yet daunting sight. One she never seen before: a village in the forest.

"Amazing isn't it?" The bandit leader asked causing Samantha to look his way.

"Where is this?" she asked returning her gaze forward.

"Welcome to our bandit village, Princess."