Uneasiness plagued the forest lingering through the pines following the Princess like a hunter closing in on its prey. In a place full of all walks of life, she was alone. Well not completely alone, she had her wolf with her, but alone in darkness, without choice, without plan, on the run, without a home, laced in betrayal and confusion— dressed in the designer; exile.

      She reminisced on the times she was a stranger to new worlds and felt lonesome, when she felt empty, how each time before now did not compare or prepare her for this moment. She looked up at the night sky; how she had always loved the night, the mystery it held, the silence it brought. Always wishing it would never go away, but now the darkness is uneasy.

The enchantment of the night exists in reminders of numbness, dwelling in intervals,

hoping that any minute the lighting would change, the sun would start to rise. The the pinks would bring warmth and the shadows would mean the dangers are minimized. Princess, as bold as they came, as emboldened as she believed, hated to admit she was terrified.

For as long as she could remember she was taught to be brave powerful, to know what to do in chaotic situations; tame her weaknesses, control heavy emotions for they are like strings on a violin; listen, learn, understand them, and they can and will harmonize to their own tune. Beautifully, poetically.

But sometimes knowing does not prepare one for the unknown.

And she knew was she petrified and confused, hurt and scared.

She was walking aimlessly with only the clothes on her back, a sword, and her wolf by her side. Without a a plan of where to go or where any idea of where her destination was, these types of journeys were only read to her in story books, bedtime stories growing up.

Surely someone will come. There will be a resolution

A sword as heavy as her, one she had owned for years but had hardly touched it. Given to her when she was named Princess, she kept it at her side. It ached at her side; reminding her of everything she wished she was, but was not. She laughed to herself.

In all the years she was named Princess she had never learned how to use one. She did not know how to defend herself or her people. When the moment came, she cowered. She was banished, she was betrayed, she replaced. A Princess, not fit to be a queen, not fit to be a the Princess. She was treated as if she was nothing, and what could she do?

******

“I have found someone else” said the Prince, direct and to the point.

“You are the Prince, and I am the Princess, who will one day be Queen.” knights drew their swords and the distance between the Prince and the Princess instantly grew.

“You have men dressed in pleated jewels to cover your ominous decisions without an explanation to banish me? A woman of force? A woman of power? I ask what is you, what is going on.”

“I said, I have found someone else, and we will not talk about it. There is not a conversation to be had. It is better this way. You and your wolf will be out at sunset, I wish you the best, Princess, and I mean that. Goodbye.”

Pushing through the knights, I approach the Prince.

“And I said, this holds value, a place for a discussion, you do not get to decide what will be discussed and what will not. Another woman? You do not get to throw me away at will.”

I could see the anger fester in his eyes, the disapproval of my words. That was the day I learned the lines of a dauntless woman are soon followed up by;

“Guards! Take her away!!!”

*******

The night felt as if it lasted forever. She remembered when a night sky felt normal, spoke to the moon, anticipated the dawns, would be mesmerized by galaxies dustings, relished in the cosmic freckles. But now she wished for daylight more than ever. Yearned for the answers of a new day.

In all her stories as a kid she remembers nothing ever happens at the right time; it never happens when it is supposed to. There is always a turning point. A moment to define one’s character, one’s integrity.

She was numb. As terrifying as the nighttime was, the day would not hold any relief. The journey was not going to come easy. The sunrise would not halt the madness. Answers did not exist, she remained in exile, and she had nothing; only a sword, a wolf, and herself.