Accidental Princess: Part22

Lina carried on watching me, thinking things through. Then she shook her head.
"Let me go with you, Freya" She begged.
I shook my head. "I can't, Lina. Your mum is here, you can't just leave her" I replied.
"My mum got killed last year, Freya" Lina whispered, tears in her eyes.
What I did next shocked her. I pulled her into a hug, I was just full of hugs today. But the main thing that bugged me was that she had gone through a lot by herself because I hadn't been there for her.
"How?" I asked as I let her go.
"Reswart. When he became prince he killed most of the servants because he wanted his own people to serve him." Charming piped up.
"But my mum was looking after you. She was your chambermaid and I would help her now and again. Reswart would come up now and again to talk to you, we could see you hated him, but he still came. He said something inappropriate to you one day and so you slapped him. Your nails were quite long at this point so you scratched him as you did. He told everyone you tried to kill him and when my mum told the truth, he killed her. No one believed my mum, only one person did. Your dad." Lina said between the tears and hiccups. She moved away, directing her attention to opening the cells.
"They thought you were even more mad when you pleaded your case because you was so angry." Charming continued. "I heard that you actually went to kill Reswart that time. Push the both of you out of the window but your dad stopped you and ever since people have been scared of you. Until now. Your dad said that when the stars align something would change, unnoticeable to some but in plain view to others. When we heard that you had been found in a corridor completely confused, asking Aurora how she was awake, we knew that was it. You had come to save us, the past you had come to save the future you."
I didn't have time to dwell on that thought before Fletch was grabbing me and shouting, "come on!" in my face. I shook the thought away then ran to the front of the group. Lina was there waiting for me, a slight smile on her face.
"Right, Lina, here's the idea. You go across now, indicate to me if the coast is clear and I'll send five at a time." I said, as we walked up the stairs.
She nodded then ran ahead and out of the door. Stopping at the door, I indicated for everyone to be quiet then peaked my head out. Lina was standing in the doorway to the corridor that led to the stables.
"Wait in the corridor for us all to get across" I said to Fletch, who was first in line, then I looked back at Lina, who nodded.
"Right first five." I said. "Keep it quick and stay quiet"
It was gruelling watching them run across the open space. My heart was pounding so loudly I was sure it was echoing on the stairs. Charming must have sensed my unease because he came to stand beside me, holding my hand. When the first five were safely on the other side I sent the next as quickly as I could and, to my liking, they was faster than the first five. The last group was quieter than the first two but they was a little bit slower and that scared me terribly.
"Ready?" Charming whispered when they had disappeared.
I shook my head, something didn't seem right. Lina held up one finger to me, telling me to wait, then she put it to her lips. I mouthed the word "go", which she nodded to, then backed slowly into the corridor. I did the same, backed slowly into the stairs, leaving the door open a crack so I could see what was going on.
"Where is she?" Someone asked angrily as Aurora came into view, looking scared. Reswart came into view not long later, looking angry.
"Where did your dad take her?" Reswart asked.
"I don't know, Ressy" She replied, physically shaking.
"Tell me, god dammit!" He screamed at her and then he did something that pulled me out of my hiding place. He raised his hand and used the back of it to slap my sister.
Charming tried to stop me but I was so angry that he couldn't. I moved towards them, well aware of Charming watching me from the stairs.
"Don't you dare touch my sister" I practically growled, anger taking over me slowly.
"Freya, leave it" Aurora cried.
I ignored her, I was watching Reswart and the dirty little smirk on his face. He was waiting for me. He'd been waiting for me for a long time.
"Ah, Princess" He smirked.
He didn't see what I was to do next. He didn't see it until it was too late, until my fist had connected with his face, and he went flying to the floor. Maybe I hit him a little too hard because he remained on the floor, not moving, but I wasn't in the mood to care.
"What have you done?" Aurora screamed at me, crawling to him.
I looked over at Charming, who was coming towards me at a run, then we was running for the door, laughing together like we had never done before.
"That was amazing, Freya" He laughed as we ran into the stables.
Everyone had gone, like I wanted, but dad was waiting. He had Remedy and Rosetip ready and waiting for us. The stables were practically empty of horses. One remained, Old Rusty, the slowest horse ever! I jumped onto Remedy as quickly as I could.
"I'll be back soon, Father. I will sort this out, I promise." I said then leaned down and kissed him on the head. As soon as I did, he slapped the horse and sent her off running. I didn't look behind on our way out, I didn't feel the need to, I was going back there no matter what. I was going to win this battle and I was going to beat Reswart at his own game.