The Quiet Escape

The Quiet Escape

It was the afternoon of a winter Sunday, where the birds were chirping and the squirrels were running around. Freya Alexandre was running across the forest, and the birds sang as she passed them. The sun shone on her brown hair as it reflected the light across the trees. As she ran, the birds began to sing a more somber song she the maiden began to run faster, as if for her life. Freya began to run faster and faster through the forest, in a faint hope that she could find one of her friends.

Freya lived in a medieval European country in the 11th century, and she was betrothed to someone whom she despised. Her father had promised her to a neighboring king who had a reputation for cruelty against women in exchange for wealth and land. She had heard stories of his wives being chained and abused for refusing him, and Freya feared for her life and safety. She had escaped from her castle only a day prior, and was hoping that a nearby herbalist would help her hide and escape the country.

Freya had been told her whole life to avoid the herbwoman, but now she knew that she was her only hope of escaping a hellish marriage. After almost an hour of running, she rested by a nearby creek hoping that her father’s patrol wouldn’t be nearby. As she rested, a nearby squirrel came by, and Freya welcomed him, wanting a friend to help comfort her.

“I don’t know if you understand me,” said Freya, “but I need someone to help me escape from my father.” “He is trying to marry me to a brute in exchange for money, and I think I will die in his castle if I don’t escape.”

“Don’t worry,” replied the squirrel, “my name is Harry, and me and my family will help you escape from your fate.” “We know the fastest route to the herbwoman, and we will lead you to her.”

“But how,” asked Freya, “how can you understand me.” “I don’t understand what is happening.”

“I know that this is confusing for you,” replied Harry, “but do not lose hope my lady.” “We have known about your dark fate for weeks now, and we have been sent by the herbwoman to help you.”

“The herbwoman knows about my betrothal,” asked Freya, “but how?”

“The herbwoman knows everything in this kingdom,” said Harry, “she has spies throughout the land, and even the trees speak to her.” “That is how she learned about your betrothal to the cruel man.”

“When can I meet her,” asked Freya, “I need to speak to her.” “My father will send men here, and if they find me, I will never be able to leave the castle again.” Freya almost began to cry as she spoke.

“Don’t cry my lady,” said Harry, “have faith that the herbwoman will help you.” “We need to leave now, the trees just told me that your father’s men have entered the forest, and are looking for you and have brought horses and hounds.” “I have seen what those hounds can do to men and animals, and you can’t be around them.”

Harry then led Freya through the forest, and while they ran, they could hear the terrifying barks of war hounds. Every noise they created caused their skins to shiver as it sounded like they were constantly chewing on flesh. The noise caused by the horses wasn’t less terrifying as they sounded like the horses of the apocalypse as even thick logs were crushed under their hooves.

“I can hear them approaching,” said Harry, “but there is a ravine where you can hide.” “You need to move quickly, their hoofbeats are becoming louder, and the nearby flowers can mask the smell if their hounds come this way.”

Freya quickly hid, and she barely managed to conceal herself when four horsemen arrived, bringing dogs that appeared to be a meter tall. The thugs searched the area for her, dragging their beasts with them. Harry was also noticed by a hound but managed to run up a tree before the hound found him.

One of the horsemen suddenly began to talk. “The king is offering a generous reward for the return of his daughter,” said the thug, “a thousand gold coins to whoever finds her.” “I can think of a lot of things I will do once I have the money.”

“You promised that you would share the return,” replied another horseman, “and that we will all receive equal shares.” The horseman sounded like he was half-drunk.

“Yes, I know that,” said the lead horseman who was beginning to sound annoyed, “and we would find her a lot faster if you stopped drinking so much.” The thugs searched the area for about an hour, and Freya was almost discovered when a hound approached the ravine, but Harry managed to distract him by throwing an acorn at the creature.

“We have been here long enough,” said the lead horseman, “it is time to search another place.” “I know a nearby cave that she may be hiding in.” Right when the horsemen were about to leave, one of the hounds picked up on something. “Meateater found something.” Freya had to use every ounce of strength to restrain herself. At the last moment, Harry threw a rock at the dog, leading him away and managed to escape up a tree right before the hound neared him.

“Stupid dog was chasing squirrels,” said the lead horseman, “we are better off using them for leather.” “Let’s go.” The four horsemen finally left the area, much to the relief of Freya.

“If we leave now, we can reach the herbwoman within a few hours,” said Harry, “I am a little bruised from that chase, but I think I can make it.”

“Thank you for everything,” replied Freya as she followed the trail shown by Harry. After a few hours, Freya could hear a fire crackling, and she immediately knew she was nearing the herbalist.

“Thank you again Harry,” said Freya, “I don’t think that I would’ve made it without your help.”

“My lady,” replied Harry, “don’t be so hard on yourself, I believe that you can do it if you were alone.”

“But how,” asked Freya, “I am not familiar with these woods, and no one else from the castle would’ve helped me.”

“The herbwoman once said that even if it takes you many times, you can escape your fate,” said Harry, “she believed that you could escape your fate no matter how times you need to try again.”

“I don’t know if I can,” said Freya, “I don’t know if I’m that strong.”

“We all start off weak and timid,” said Harry, “but the herbwoman believes that we become stronger over time.”

“If I ever come back to this kingdom, I will try to visit you and the herbwoman again,” said Freya, “what you did for me, I can never pay back.”

“You are always welcome in this forest,” replied Harry, “and we look forward to seeing you again someday.”