Missing princess

The sun was already high in the sky by the time Elaine and I set out for the nearby town. The morning had passed quietly, filled with the routine tasks that had become our norm—fetching water, tending to the small garden, and preparing for the day ahead. The small, cozy world we had created felt almost safe, almost separate from the chaos that lay beyond. But today, we needed to venture out, to restock our supplies and reconnect with the outside world.

The town wasn't far, just a short walk through the forest that surrounded Elaine's home. The path was well-trodden, winding through tall trees whose leaves whispered secrets to one another in the gentle breeze. Birds flitted overhead, their songs adding a lightness to the air that was almost infectious. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax, to simply enjoy the peace of the morning.

Elaine walked beside me, her presence as calm and steady as ever. She didn't speak much, but her silence was never uncomfortable. There was a quiet understanding between us, born of the days we had spent together, healing and rebuilding. As we walked, I found myself glancing at her, wondering about the life she had lived before she found me, about the strength that lay beneath her gentle exterior.

"You've been to this town before?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

She nodded, her gaze fixed ahead. "Many times. It's small, but the people are friendly enough. They don't ask too many questions, which is what I like about it."

I could understand the appeal of that. After everything that had happened, the last thing I wanted was to be interrogated or pitied. I just wanted to blend in, to move through the world unnoticed, at least for a while.

As we neared the edge of the forest, the town came into view. It was modest, with narrow streets lined with simple wooden buildings. A market square sat at its center, bustling with activity even at this early hour. Vendors called out to passersby, hawking their wares—fresh produce, handmade goods, and the occasional trinket that caught the eye. The air was filled with the scents of baked bread, roasting meat, and the faintest hint of flowers from a nearby stall.

Elaine led the way, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. I followed close behind, keeping my head down, trying to avoid drawing attention. But despite my efforts, I couldn't help but notice the way people looked at me—curious glances, whispered words that I couldn't quite make out. I was a stranger here, and in a place like this, strangers were always noticed.

We stopped at a few stalls, picking up the supplies we needed—flour, dried meat, a few herbs that Elaine couldn't grow herself. The vendors greeted her with smiles, exchanging brief pleasantries before moving on to the next customer. It was all very ordinary, very mundane, but there was a comfort in that.

It wasn't until we reached the far side of the market that I noticed something was off. A group of men, dressed in the armor of royal soldiers, stood near the entrance to the square, their eyes scanning the crowd. They were looking for someone. I tensed, instinctively moving closer to Elaine.

"What's wrong?" she asked, noticing my sudden change in demeanor.

"Those soldiers," I murmured, nodding in their direction. "They're searching for someone."

Elaine followed my gaze, her brow furrowing as she took in the scene. "We should be careful," she said quietly. "Let's finish up here and head back."

We continued our shopping, but my attention kept drifting back to the soldiers. They were asking questions, stopping people in the street, showing them something—**a piece of parchment?** I couldn't be sure from this distance, but whatever it was, it had the townsfolk whispering and casting nervous glances their way.

As we made our way to the final stall, I caught a snippet of conversation from a group of women nearby. They were speaking in hushed tones, their eyes wide with concern.

"...the princess is missing…"

"...no one's seen her in days…"

"...the king's offering a reward…"

My stomach twisted at their words. A missing princess? **That explains the soldiers,** I thought. But it was none of my concern. I had enough problems of my own without getting involved in royal matters. Still, the news was troubling. A missing princess meant unrest, and unrest had a way of spreading, of touching even those who wanted nothing to do with it.

Elaine must have noticed my unease because she placed a reassuring hand on my arm. "Let's not get involved," she said softly. "We'll finish our errands and head back. It's best to stay out of this."

I nodded, grateful for her calm presence. She was right—there was no reason for us to get caught up in whatever was happening here. The best thing we could do was keep our heads down and stay out of trouble.

But as we turned to leave the market, fate seemed to have other plans. One of the soldiers had spotted us. He was making his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on us with a suspicious glint. I could feel my heart begin to race, the adrenaline kicking in as my mind scrambled for a plan.

"Elaine," I whispered urgently, "we need to move. Now."

She didn't hesitate. Grabbing my hand, she pulled me into the nearest alleyway, away from the soldier's line of sight. We ducked behind a stack of crates, holding our breath as the sound of armored footsteps grew closer.

The soldier passed by, his heavy boots echoing off the stone walls of the alley. I could see his shadow stretching out before him, the edge of his sword glinting in the sunlight. We waited, tense and silent, until the footsteps faded into the distance.

Elaine let out a breath she had been holding, her grip on my hand relaxing. "That was close," she muttered, peeking around the corner to make sure the coast was clear.

I nodded, still on edge, my heart pounding in my chest. "We need to get out of here," I said. "They're looking for someone, and I don't want to find out who they think we are."

She agreed, and together, we slipped out of the alley and back into the main street. We kept to the shadows, avoiding the soldiers as best we could, until we reached the edge of town. Once we were safely out of sight, we quickened our pace, eager to put as much distance between us and the town as possible.

The walk back to Elaine's home was tense and silent, the earlier peace of the morning shattered by the encounter in the market. My mind raced with possibilities, with questions that I didn't have the answers to. Who was this missing princess? Why were the soldiers so intent on finding her? And why did I have a nagging feeling that this was just the beginning of something much larger?

But despite the questions that swirled in my mind, I knew one thing for certain—I couldn't afford to get involved. I had my own mission, my own path to follow, and I couldn't let anything distract me from that.

As we reached Elaine's home, the familiar warmth of the place greeted us, a stark contrast to the tension we had left behind. I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding, relieved to be back in this small, safe haven.

Elaine didn't say much as we unpacked the supplies, but I could tell she was just as rattled as I was. The encounter with the soldiers had shaken us both, a reminder that the world outside was far from peaceful, far from safe.

But for now, we were home. And for now we're safe.