Lizzy closed the door behind her after having dinner, received a bath, and said good night to everyone. She glanced down to see herself in a dark red sleeping garment with white snaps going down it and sighed. “I have to be more cautious, but I thought we were at war beyond the wall and demons, but everyone that I faced so far is super nice and I haven’t seen any demons yet,” Lizzy muttered and moved to the window.

Lizzy opened the window and felt the cooling breeze go through her damped hair. She sighed and sat down breathing in the nighttime air. The moon shined bright like that night Lizzy was trying to look over the wall. She smiled and looked down to see the lake with the glowing fish, only to find that there was no lake with glowing fish in it. She frowned and looked back up to the night sky looking at the stars that glowed brightly. She wondered if her mother meant to hurt her, she held her hand to her cheek caressing the little scar that was left. She never thought her mother would go out of control like that. She overheard the talk where her mother forbids her from using her powers on Lizzy since she didn’t have any powers to protect herself. “I can’t stay in one spot, but if everyone is hunting for me they will surely recognize me now.” Lizzy softly spoke to herself.

She looked out the window once again and turned and walked to her bag. Lizzy opened her bag exposing the crown that was broken. She looked at it, teardrops falling on it. She sat on the bed and held it tightly and looked around noticing super glue, she got up and got the glue and started gluing it.

2 minutes later… “All done and it dries fast too,” Lizzy said, feeling where she glued it making sure it was dry. Lizzy walked towards the mirror that she walks past every time she enters the room and looks in the mirror. As the tears formed in her eyes and placed the crown gently on her head trying to avoid pushing the spot where Birtha bandaged her head. She looked in the mirror and cried wishing she could turn back and just go home. She missed her room, Amilila, her father, her kingdom, but mostly her mother. She knew her mother didn’t mean to hurt her, she was angry at her at first but realized that she pushed her mother with questions and an explanation too fast. It was her fault, not her mother’s. Lizzy looked at her hand and sighed as she closed her eyes and contracted.

“Please please I need my magic...please,” Lizzy begged, squeezing her eyes shut letting tears go down her cheeks. Lizzy opened her eyes and stared at the mirror for what felt like hours until she saw a girl in the mirror behind her holding her mouth.

Lizzy yelped, wiping away her tears, and turned around to see Birtha. “You’re the runaway-” Birtha began to speak but was suddenly cut off by Lizzy by shushing her.

“Birtha this isn’t what it looks like, but how did you get in here without me hearing you?” Lizzy questioned running to lock the door.

“Well when I was in training years ago I took care of babies and learned how to be quiet and clean at the same time while everyone was asleep, but enough about me you're the runaway princess,” Birtha said, whispering the last part. Lizzy got up and threw her old dress in her bag and closed it.

“Princess, where are you going? It's dark out.” Birtha explained watching Lizzy rush around the room grabbing stuff and tossing it in her bag.

“Birtha I can’t stay here, you know my secret, you will tell the prince and they will send me back or kill me. I’m sorry but I have to keep moving. The hunt starts tomorrow morning. I need to go far...ugh I should have never stayed for long I should have just left after you gave me food.” Lizzy said sitting on the bed, holding her head in her hands shaking her head no. Birtha heard little whispers from Lizzy regretting her life decisions.

Birtha looked at Lizzy in sadness, but had an idea, “Princess I won’t tell anyone and I can even give you an outfit that won’t make you stand out.” Birtha said, grabbing Lizzy’s arms and pulling her up. Lizzy looked up as tears ran down her cheeks, her eyes glossy from the tears.

“But Birtha you don’t understand my parents, they will come to shred this place until there's nothing left. I have no powers, I can't protect myself, I should have just given up as my mother said. I should have just stuck it up and married the guy my mom said I would meet. There was no way I could ever protect my kingdom from evil because I don’t have powers.” Lizzy cried.

“Your highness with all due respect, but don’t listen to your mother’s words. I know you know that she just wants to protect you, and help you become queen,” Birtha said.

“Queen, marriage, queen, and marriage again that's all she talks about, not once since my 18th birthday has she even said I love you to me,” Lizzy explained, letting all her built-up anger that she never knew she had out.

“Well princess I think it's best to get some sleep and I will come in the morning so we can change your outfit into something more of something that will make you blend in, oh and goodnight Princess. I’m glad you're safe.” Birtha smiled and bowed as she took her to leave, closing the door softly as Lizzy crawled in bed and tried to sleep.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

In the morning… The sunlight filled the room from the curtains not closed from the night before. Lizzy’s eyes opened slightly to be blinded by the lights. She covered the light with her hands and sat up to see Birtha in the closest and Anna sitting on the edge of the bed in a robe swaying her legs back and forth. “Oh, I’m sorry pri-Sarah we didn’t mean to wake you if we did. I was just picking out an outfit for the hunt today for Princess Anna right here.” Birtha explained, smiling at Anna that was bouncing slightly on the bed.

“Oh good morning Sarah I’m so glad to see you. Are you ready to go on the hunt for the lost princess?” Anna asked Birtha to turn around and lay a dress on the bed.

“Good morning to you little princess.” Lizzy rubbed her hand against Anna’s hair.

“I’m sorry Sarah, I didn't mean to wake up so early, but a princess must be ready to shine for the people of the kingdom,” Anna said, putting a big smile on her face.

“Oh it's fine you guys didn’t wake me, I'm used to waking up early.” Lizzy giggled then sighed looking down. Birtha looked at Lizzy with sadness but smiled gently.

“Oh Sarah I’ve made breakfast, it's in the kitchen, the prince is already in the living room waiting for Anna, but you can surely get some,” Birtha said as Lizzy walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

Lizzy yawned as she made herself to the kitchen and saw a pot of pottage sitting on the stove. She grabbed a bowl and started to pour herself some. “Ah Sarah your awake hope you slept well and your head seems a lot better than yesterday.” Lizzy turned around to see Jackson get up from the couch. She touched her head to feel that there was no bandage on her head.

“Yeah, I guess Birtha cleaned it when I was asleep,” Lizzy said, making her way to the couch.

Lizzy sat down on the couch and started to eat her food as Jackson went to the kitchen and poured two bowls and set one on the counter and walked to the couch and sat down. “So Sarah I know we just met yesterday so do you mind telling me about yourself?” Jackson asked, taking a bite of pottage.

Lizzy looked down. “Well for starters I am 18 years old and I have dreams that get shot down by my parents, mostly my mother though.” Lizzy laughed to herself. Jackson put down his bowl and looked at Lizzy.

“Why do they shoot down your dreams?” Jackson asked, tilting his head.

“It doesn’t matter right now.” Lizzy looked away.

“Hey if you don’t mind me asking, but I never saw you around before. Are you new here, and when did you get here?” Jackson asked putting down his empty bowl on the table and looking back at Lizzy.

Lizzy froze not knowing what to say, she knew she had to come up with something but she was hoping she could think about stuff on what to say first. Maybe go over it with Birtha to make sure everything sounded real and not like a big makeup lie. She sighed and looked at Jackson.

“I traveled here by myself. I was here for weeks just in the woods exploring. I guess I got into a tight spot and fell. I guess that's when I hit my head and you guys brought me here.” Lizzy motioned around the house with her arms.

“I guess you stayed hidden each time my sister and I would go out on walks in the woods,” Jackson said, rubbing his neck.

“Brother, oh brother I’m ready to find the lost princess.” Lizzy and Jackson glanced up and saw Anna in a black and white dress that came to her knees. She smiled as she twirled around in it, making her giggle.

“Oh I love it, I love it, I love it,” Anna shouted, spinning around until she approached the couch and collapsed due to dizziness.

Birtha walked out and looked at Lizzy and motioned her finger to come here. Lizzy got up and bowed to Jackson and went to Birtha, following her to Anna’s room shutting the door behind her.

“Now I got you a bodysuit that royalty can’t wear. This that I’m giving you is what the townspeople wear. We can’t have you wearing a dress when people are looking for the princess.” Birtha snickered, causing Lizzy to smile slightly.

Lizzy walked towards the mirror and stared at it. “I just lied to the PRINCE Birtha the prince he asked when I arrived here and I couldn’t say yesterday since that's why I ran away and I don’t want someone else knowing that I’m the princess.” Lizzy’s shaky voice tumbles over her words, but Birtha understood.

“Princess you need to calm down, just stick with the story you have and you can tell me later tonight and we can add onto it,” Birtha said, taking Lizzy’s hands, making Lizzy calm down and look at Birtha.

“Birtha, I have a question for you.” Lizzy said as Birtha hummed, allowing Lizzy to continue “I thought my kingdom was at war with demons, but I haven’t seen a demon or anything that looks like war.

Birtha looked at Lizzy confused “Princess we’re not at battle with your kingdom, we used to trade with your kingdoms and enter the villages until one day your parents closed the gates and about the demons-” Birtha started to say when Anna appeared in the room.

“Is she ready yet? Oooo Sarah, you look marvelous, that jumpsuit looks amazing on you.” Anna gazed in awe at the red and black jumpsuit.

“Thanks, Anna, and yes I am ready to go,” Lizzy said, waving bye to Birtha and going out the door.

Birtha sighed and saw Lizzy’s bag and grabbed it, taking out the crown that was inside of it. “If only you knew who you were with,” Birtha said looking at the crown tracing the dried-up glue and the crack that still showed.