1 The Departure

Charmaine was jolted awake by her mother, who had a terrified expression on her face, and the perspiration on her forehead and the anxiety on her face showed that something was wrong.

"Mom?" Charmaine raised her voice.

"Shh!" Her mother hushed her, putting her hand over her daughter's lips to silence her.

"Leave, dear," her mother murmured, gazing behind her to the door.

"Mom, what exactly do you mean? What exactly is going on?" Charmaine was perplexed.

"Baby, keep in mind that I love you, but you can't remain here because there is a serious problem, and it is unsafe." She stated her case.

Charmaine was moved to tears by the tears that poured down her mother's cheeks.

The general waited outside, keeping watch while they pushed the door open and her father went in.

He hugged her firmly and kissed her on the forehead, assuring her that things would get better and that they would be reunited when everything was resolved.

She did not know what he was talking about, but as her mother finished collecting a few of her items into one bundle, the general offered to carry them while her father hoisted her in his arms.

They rushed out of her room and down the corridor that went to one of the royal quarters, where there was a secret passageway that Charmaine was unaware of.

The underground route which they used went to the back gates, which were commonly used by the maidservants and guards of the castle.

It was late at night, and the darkness outside made the queen even more nervous as they strolled past the guards who were on duty but were sleeping.

The biting cold that brushed up against them made the king reconsider his decision; he wanted to return, but this was the only option to keep his daughter safe despite the unfavorable weather.

For a moment, the moon shone softly on their route before being obscured by the dark clouds above, but it was enough for them to see the carriage waiting outside, only a few meters from the gates where they waited.

"She's there; let's go!" As they rushed towards the carriage they had seen, her father said.

Because the clouds had blocked the moon, their route was dark once again, so they proceeded blindly towards the carriage. "Your highness, please be vigilant," the general said as the queen tripped and nearly fell.

The moon shone once more, this time unobscured by clouds, assisting them by illuminating their way.

"Can you tell me what took you so long?" From within the carriage, they heard a raspy voice.

"Please accept my apologies; we tried to be as quick as possible." The king responded.

"Not quick enough," the raspy voice returned the response. "Now, my tea has gotten cold while I was out."

"I'll give you more gold," the king murmured as he removed a little bag of gold from his coat pocket. "Please take my daughter with you; her safety is assured with you more than when she stays here."

A lady, dressed in a large hooded cloak that hid part of her face, sat in the carriage as seen after the door opened.

The queen felt uneasy; she didn't want to be here; she did not want her daughter to leave them, but she didn't have a choice.

"How old is she?" the lady asked as she received the gold from the king and unzipped the bag to inspect the contents before swiftly closing it.

"She is five years old, and will be six in two months." The king answered.

"She isn't a bother; she is quiet and obedient." The queen piped in.

"I am unconcerned about that." Before she slowly got out of the carriage and stood directly in front of them, the woman responded.

She was tall and slim, clothed entirely in black, including a long black hooded cloak that hid part of her face and a long black dress beneath the cloak that totally covered her legs and swept the ground as she walked.

"I'll have to send her away if you don't come for her within two months." According to the lady. "I have a low tolerance for children, especially spoiled brats."

The queen wanted to say something, that her daughter was not spoiled, well, maybe a bit, but she was not a brat!

"All right, I swear I'll come get her in two months." The king swore before re-embracing Charmaine and kissing her on the forehead.

The queen did the same thing before reluctantly giving her daughter away. Their hearts broke as they watched the carriage drive away with their crying daughter inside. But safeguards had to be taken at times, no matter what the cost.

"Benjamin!" The general's name was called out by the King.

"Yes, my king?" Benjamin, the general, reacted with a modest bow as he stood to the side.

"Promise me that if something awful happens to us, you would seek for our daughter and take her in as if she were your own." The King stated his opinion.

This did not sit well with Benjamin.

Is it possible that the Monarch foresaw his demise? Benjamin couldn't stop himself from pondering.

"Make a promise to me!" The King continued, without looking at the general, perhaps because he was terrified of expressing his emotions and wanted to keep looking away so he wouldn't break down and expose his weakness?

"My king..." Benjamin attempted to protest, but was cut off by the King.

"You're the only one I trust; my court is full of traitors, and my servants have been tainted. They'll be here soon, and I'm worried the kingdom will-" He trailed off, knowing what was ahead for them all, but speaking it out loud stung even more.

"My Majesty-" Benjamin began again, but he did not know what to say in order to comfort the king.

"Make a promise to me, Benjamin." The King stated it once again.

"I vow that whatever happens to you, my King, I will defend and take care of all the people you love, including your daughter, the royal princess, even if it means putting my life on the line for her sake," he swore with another bow, even though this was not what he had wanted.