Chapter Five

###three years later###

After training with the men, on a sunny afternoon, Samantha dragged herself home. She was tired but she was already used to it. She was becoming well acquainted with swords and bows and arrows.

The training ground was a few miles away from the main palace grounds. On her way back home,Louis, one of the men who had also become a good friend of hers over the years, ran up to meet her.

"Sam, wait up," he called, and he ran up to meet her.

"Oh hey Louis. Do you need anything?"

" Not really. I always walk you to the palace gates. Why didn't you wait for me? "

I'm sorry, I was just too tired. I wanted to rest as soon as possible, "

" Yeah, sorry, training was a bit gruesome today, and you know you're a lady. You're not as strong as the men"

" Hey!!! what do you mean?" they both laughed

" Nothing. I was just stating facts"

"You know I would throw you in a duel,"

" In your dreams," Louis laughed

They kept joking and laughing until they were a few steps away from the main palace.

" Sam, I've been meaning to ask you... how's life in the palace. I mean, we've been friends for three years, but you've never talked about the castle or anything. I can't imagine how beautiful it would be to live in the great castle of Vandamore."

Samantha, however, kept mute. She didn't like talking about her life in the palace, not like there was anything interesting to talk about. Her countenance changed, "Oh yeah. It's beautiful to imagine, " She said sarcastically

Louis noticed her expression, " What's wrong? You don't sound happy."

Already at the palace gates; " Nothingbis wrong with me Louis. I am fine, " she said forcefully.

Louis started speaking, " But.." At that moment, the castle gates opened up to let princess Samantha in. "goodnight Louis"

"...." Louis was left stupefied and dumbfounded at the gates. He left dejected with his mind filled with worry and concern with the way Samantha reacted when he mentioned the palace.

********

Samantha, still standing behind the castle gates, looked around and sighed. She suddenly wishes she hadn't related that way towards Louis.

" Oh, how i wish mom and dad were here," she said as she moved inside. Then she heard a painful yelping coming from the garden. It sounded familiar. She quickly rushed over to check what it was.

"That sounds like Momo." she gasped.

Momo was Sam's pet. A puppy. When she got to the garden, she saw Rosella and her personal maid, Hazel, standing in front of Momo, who lay on the ground with bruises and injuries all over him.

"You filthy animal. You are just as naughty as your owner, Samantha. I guess filthy does go with filthy. Next time you learn to stay away from my dress." She pointed a spiny branch at Momo, which she created with her magic."

" I hate pests." she raised the spiny branch to hit Momo with hit again, but then Samantha, who had been watching all this while, screamed, " Nooo!!!"

She came out of her hiding place;

" Master of the filthy has come to rescue the flithy," Rosella said as he rolled her eyes.

" What are you doing to Momo?" she asked as she carefully picked him up from the floor.

" Well, your dog was being disrespectful and stubborn, so I decided to keep it in check. Teach him how to behave towards a princess. "

" Rosella," Sam sighed, " I know we've never been on good terms, but can you please act like you have a heart for once..."

" That's enough!" Rosella snapped, " Take your filthy act and get out of here. Leave now, I wish to see both of you no more. "

"It's not a cat," Sam said with a mischievous smile on her face. " What?" Rosella asked. " I bet you've spent your entire life learning how to vibrate trees and fruits and how to satisfy your mum that you forgot to pay attention to the outside world and learn about them too that you don't know the difference between a cat and a dog. It's a puppy, Rosella."

" That's enough!!" Rosella growled, " You can not teach me things, so shut up, but be warned next time you... puppy advances towards my lovely dress. I'll advance with my fury too. "

As Rosella turned to leave, Samantha hugged Momo.

"Don't worry, Momo, you'll be alright. I'm here for you." She whispered as she patted him gently on his head.