A S T O R I A'the warrior'_____________________________________________
life was a series of formalities for astoria. the only remaining heir to the throne, she was treated as though she was made of fine china. 'do this, do that but not this nor that, you're a princess so you must act like one.'
she hated it
she knew she was the lucky one in her family. everyone else had died the night of the siege on the castle.
--
everyone had thought that would end the war, that we'd all be taken over by the enemy. but our soldiers kept fighting, for me. and i don't know why. others laying down their lives for me, the youngest in the royal family. before this, i never had a chance at the throne, and i was quite content to keep it that way. i'd had no training in etiquette or how to be a leader since i was so far away from ever taking the throne. i was mostly shushed and ignored by my parents and siblings because of this. which was completely fine with me. i was much happier playing outside with the various animals we had on the grounds, and play fighting with the stable-boys. my mother scolded me for not being ladylike and telling me i'd never be fit to be queen.
which was what i wanted.
but i'm here now, a leader to a dying civilisation.
all i do is sit around all day being told what to do and what not to do.
from my room, however, if i sit at just the right angle at the window, i can see into the soldiers training academy nearby.
i can't hear the teacher, but using a folded down parasol in place of a sword, i've been able to replicate most of the stances and sword moves by myself. of course, i miss out on the hand to hand training, but i was decent enough at getting a few punches in as a child. besides, i'm planning on it not having to get to that stage. my sword will be enough.
when i was a child, the younger boys in the family attended compulsory fencing classes.
i snuck in once, since nobody could tell i was a girl under those weird outfits.
i was found out fairly abruptly, but the time i was there, oh boy was it
amazing.
the rush of fighting, the graceful flow of lunging with the sword.
of course, looking back i realise i was not really that graceful.
but i think i have a good enough technique down now.
i am able to keep up with all the drills and exercises the soldiers in training do, albeit difficult in a ruffled dress and a musty, frilly princess bedroom, but i think i'm ready.
i even have some old black soldiers robes, light armour and old guard clothes i found when i snuck into the cellar, that i tailored to fit me better.
i just have to wait for the right moment to sneak out.
and a sword. but i know where to get that. i just need the key to my fathers room.
he kept his great grandfathers sword on display in there, and got it fixed up regularly. we were forbidden to touch it.
i did once, and it made quite a nasty cut.
since the siege, there have been more and more guards around. and since they're just guarding me, it's going to be difficult.
--
then came the night for my escape.
i'd discreetly mentioned to my advisers that on our daily strolls around town i'd heard civilians discussing rumours of an attack on the outer parts of the town -a lie of course- but that's where security is most thin. which will lead them away from me.
it was successful. the guard that patrolled the halls outside my fathers bedroom was gone, and i knew i'd have a clear route out the back walls of the town once i'd snuck out of his window.
of course i had left a note. if not, an endless investigation of innocent civilians would take place because of my disappearance.
so i did.
i dressed up, like the shadows. concealed my face, my identity. i collected the sword and ran.
years of posture and walking training made me quiet and stealthy as i ran.
i made it outside the walls from the back and got myself out of sight from the watchtowers dotted around the front of the town.
i ran.
to the front lines, to join the soldiers risking their lives for me.
to fight.
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the escape_____________________________________________