Chapter 2

                                    

                                          
Chapter 2
                          
Charlotte tried to be brave, to be unconcerned and believe in her father, but she couldn't. The girl knew exactly what they would do to him, everyone knew what happens to thieves: torture, hanging...it was sadistic and cruel. A spectacle she didn't want to see and Charlotte begins to cry. How long would her father last? Were the soldiers going to kill him tonight? Her protector rode through the night, keeping the horse in a steady gallop as they moved to the end of the village near the forest that Charlotte knew so well. The woman takes her to a cottage on the outskirts of the village and orders her to come inside, without a word Charlotte obeys still trying to hold in the tears. 
                          
The cottage was small but warm, there was a wooden table near the kitchen and a makeshift bed in the corner with a wooden chest the end of the bed. This cottage was clearly built for one person and to Charlotte's surprise the woman wraps her in her arms letting Charlotte cry it out.
                          
"Shh you are going to be fine."
                          
What? She's heard this voice before, who is this woman? Charlotte blinks away the tears and looks up to see someone very familiar looking down at her.
                          
"But you're-"
                          
"Never mind that."
                          
"Never mind? You're the Princess Teresa! What are you doing here? And why save me?"
                          
Now Teresa lets her go and goes to the chest at the end of the bed. She dishes out a nightgown and hands it to Charlotte. It's a simple cotton nightgown that's a little big for her but just right to sleep in, Charlotte takes the gown in her hands still in shock that the princess of all people saved her life.
                          
"It doesn't matter, you should get ready for bed I'll keep watch."
                          
"It doesn't matter?," Charlotte replies incredulously, "You're a princess, everyone knows that royalty looks down on us! The king is a monster, he executes us for his own entertainment!"
                          
There's a moment of shocked silence as Charlotte realizes what she's just done and for the first time she can see a certain sadness in Teresa's eyes.
                          
"I-I'm so sorry I didn't mean-"
                          
"I know...please go to bed we have a lot to discuss tomorrow."
                          
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Charlotte woke up to the smell of barley bread as Teresa placed it on the table, it was a common breakfast for the penniless and to Charlotte it felt nice to have something so familiar when her world was falling apart. The two sit down to eat, each taking a slice of the warm bread. They eat in silence, enjoying their meal together. Teresa is the first to break the silence.
                          
"So Charlotte how are you today?"
                          
"Good I guess, thanks for the bread."
                          
"You're welcome."
                          
She can't help but notice a bow leaning against the wall, a sack full of something was propped up next to the bow. Teresa smelled very strongly of the forest and still wore the bow and quiver on her back. 
                          
"Do you do archery? What's in the bag?"
                          
Charlotte asks, receiving the princess' attention. 
                          
"Yes I am an archer, I went out early this morning and hunted some rabbits. There's a doctor in the village willing to give his services in return for meat. We'll need him if we want your father to last after breaking him out of prison."
                          
"You-you would do that!?"
                          
The brunette smiles at the girl.
                          
"Any man willing to sacrifice his life for his daughter is worthy of a second chance. Sweetheart your father won't go to trial, we need to get him out as soon as we can."
                          
"But how?"
                          
"I'm going to teach you how to shoot an arrow," Teresa says as she pulls out an arrow out of her quiver and rests it on the table "Consider this a gift, the bow in the corner is also for you."
                          
This peaks Charlotte's curiosity, even more so when the princess pulls out a map drawn on leather. It was a map of the south side of the castle where the dungeon is located, the courtyard just outside the dungeon door had been converted into an execution area after the king's cruelty wasn't satisfied, he wanted to witness the executions. Wanted to see them gasp for air or try to run, sometimes if the village was riddled with crimes he would take the poor and have them watch an example. Now that Charlotte thought about it, Teresa was never present, in fact if she was ever seen during those times she would be seen taking the children from the crowd to a cathedral nearby. The only rule the king allowed the princess to pass was the command stating that church is sanctuary and anyone looking for safe haven would be cared for as long as they stayed within the cathedral. It was an escape where anyone, even the poor, could find sanctuary. Teresa's voice cuts through Charlotte's thoughts, jolting her back to reality.
                          
"This," states the princess as she points on the map, "is the castle's terrace, unlike the others its at a high enough vantage point to witness the entire courtyard. You should be well hidden up there, all I need you to do is shoot an arrow into the courtyard. If my father is one thing its paranoia and having an arrow fly out of nowhere will send both the king and the palace guards into a frenzy. It's very important that you make for the cathedral, that's where we will take your father. Trust me there are so many prisoners to kill I highly doubt my father will come after your father."
                          
"Patrick, my dad's name is Patrick. Patrick Jane."
                          
"Alright."
                          
"So if I'm so far away how will I save my dad?"
                          
"Don't worry," Teresa smiles." I have an idea."
                          
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