(continued)
The guards did not reply but continued in their unrelenting chase. The rain had still not stopped but was reinforced by a biting force of hailstones. The sharp pieces of ice hit Ellima’s bare arms and legs like tiny blades. Cracking and shattering, the sky roared sending greats rolls of thunder across the land. It had turned a horrible grey, a mist of cloud and rain.
Ellima jumped over the flower beds, over a fence and turned left at the main gates. She ran across the main field, the wind in her hair and then down a flight of stone steps. It was a dead end!
“Oh…dragon scales!” she moaned, turning back from the wall to see the guards hot on her tail. Ellima grabbed the stair rail and swung herself up onto the wall. She ran across the top of the wall, screaming as the guards lunged at her feet.
“Get off!”
She fought them off, trying to keep her balance at the same time. But there were too many of them. She slipped and fell into the waiting arms of the guards.
“Let me go!”
Ellima struggled as the guards attempted to shackle her, but her efforts were worthless. With a click, she was captured, attached to the guard.
“Send a message to the Queen that the target has been apprehended.”
Ellima tugged at the shackles.
“What do you mean, target?” she asked one of the guards.
The guard frowned at her.
“Prisoners are not permitted to ask questions.”
“Prisoners? I’m not a prisoner or a target.”
The guard raised his eyebrows and gestured towards the shackles.
“I think they may point you towards the correct answer.”
“And why exactly am I a prisoner?” Ellima said coolly.
“Disruption at a crowning, meddling with royal jewels, attempting to pervert the course of justice and sabotaging a heir to the throne’s royal acceptance. In other words, treason. Oh, and sending a servant home whilst she was still on duty. And general rudeness.”
“WHAT? Treason? You can’t do this to me! I - I…”
“I am the law expert here. These rules were set down by our founding King and Queen. Breaking the law has a consequence.”
“What consequence?”
“Prison.”
Ellima shook her head and tried to pull away from him.
“Mother would have told me. She said… she said I was to be married.”
“NO TALKING!” the guard swung her around and marched her back towards the palace with one hand on her shoulder. The other guards followed in tight formation around her. They arrived at the palace in less then a minute but instead of taking Ellima into the main courtyard or to the royal chambers she was trudged across the Sparrow Bridge, past the watch house and down the steep drop of Crown Peak, into the lockup. They were small, iron cages built so that any prisoner inside could not stand nor sit down, but crouch. They looked pretty flimsy, but the numerous padlocks and pile of bones reassured her no one had ever escaped. Ellima had never dared venture near them before. They were only there to house the few criminals that were caught onsite at the palace before they were taken away to Bone Island, the most secure prison in the whole of Aimia. Perhaps Ellima was destined to join those ranks of murderers, thieves and pirates.
“In,” muttered the guard, pushing her into the cell. “Don’t rattle the locks or the watcher will deal with you.”
Ellima nodded sadly and turned her head away as the door was locked and bolted. How on earth had she got herself into this mess? Was playing a prank on her sister really treason? Of course not, she told herself, what Queen or King would think up that law? Her mother had said that she was to be married because of her actions, not locked up and charged with treason. What was going on?
She moved her feet from side to side. This was the most uncomfortable place she had ever been in. Her back ached already from crouching and shards of iron jabbed her if she touched the sides of the cage. But at least she had calmed down a bit. ‘Yes…’ she thought, its was strange for her to be so relaxed in this situation. While she pondered if this was a good sign or not, she spotted a lady in the distance. Her mother? Ellima shuffled around to look at the back of the cage. For some reason, she didn’t want her mother to see her like this.
Ellima waited a few minutes and on cue, she heard the sharp tap of her mother’s high heels, grinding to a halt behind her.
“Ellima Neptunia Greenwood.”
Hearing her name, she mournfully turned around. Her mother was standing with her arms on her hips, lips pursed and shaking her head in shame.
“What are we going to do with you?”
Ellima hung her head.
“Am I going to be charged?” she whispered, staring at the floor. Her mother sighed and paced backwards and forwards.
“That all depends on you, Madam. Spend your life behind bars or chose to marry.”
“But I didn’t commit treason! Why am I being locked up?”
“The rules do not change over the centuries, Ellima, you broke the law when you stole Ivy’s crown. But, as you were my daughter, I gave you a chance to redeem yourself. To marry a suitor and become respectable.”
“But why did you hunt me down and lock me up? Am I just a prisoner to you? You‘d rather I was than your daughter!”
“I gave you another chance and you blew it. Running away will not solve anything. I suggested that the guards gave you a little taster of a criminal‘s life.”
“So, am I going to Bone Island? Is that all this is about? So you can send me away and live your life without a dirty stain on your reputation!” screamed Ellima, spitting out the words and breathing heavily.
“As I said, you have a choice. If you agree, you will live a free life, married to a fine man.” she said calmly, clearly not
“But..” Ellima stammered.” I- I cannot-”
“You must choose. Prison or Marriage.” her mother ended.
Ellima bit her lips and gazed up at her mother. She didn’t look like she would change her mind. Her face was fixed in an angry grimace. Where was the mother she once loved? The kind, playful woman with a smile on her face. She had gone, and a hard, ruthless, stone statue of a mother put in her place.
“I’ll do it. I’ll get married.” Ellima said softly, bowing her head again.
Her mother stuck her nose in the air and nodded.
“Guards, you may release her.”
The guards did as they were commanded, pulling Ellima to her feet.
Ellima’s mother led her by the shoulder back to the castle and up into her room.
“You will stay here until tomorrow morning. Do not leave until the servants call for you. I want you up at 8 o’ clock. Understand?”
Ellima sat down on her bed and nodded. She seemed incapable of speaking. Her mother left abruptly and slammed the door behind her. Ellima lay down on the silk sheets and stared out of the window.
“Goodbye Freedom.’
And with those last words, she fell into an uneasy sleep.
