Chapter Six

It was late at night. the moon cut through the kingdom of Al-Karhad like a silver knife. High on top of a tower, in a beautiful room, the princess figeted in her sleep.
She was standing under a lovely, white arch, but the sun had given up shining and the ground was bare, save a few dead flowers. She felt her mouth open on marrionette strings and say "I do" of its own accord. The bleak wind blew and she looked down at the sash on her dress as it grew longer and wrapped itself around her, tighter, tighter... Bong bong bong ba-bong
Princess Elizibeth woke up shivering to the sound of bells ringing in the clock tower. She realized she had fallen asleep on the floor. Mentally kicking herself for dozing off, she cheacked the hands of the clock, shining silver in the moonlight. It was eleven forty-five. Elizabeth pulled out the simple bag she had compleated last night. she seached her jewlery box for the simplest items and dropped them on top of her plainest dresses. When she dropped her sewing bag on top of it, something made her look toward her closet. A beautiful dress was practicly glowing in the moonlight, illuminating more than ever the stiches in the side. Elizebeth ran her fingers gently over the small ridge and tingles ran along her spine. The small imperfection seemed like it wanted to tell her something, show her a secret. If t could have spoken to her, it would have told her about her mother's last words; I want three things for you: I want you to have courage, determanation, and most of all, for you to marry for love, and nothing else. It might have told her about a silver dagger, her mother, and an arranged marrage. It would have told her about two years and about the love her mother felt for her, even until she escaped her marrage by a well-placed stab of a dagger. If it could have spoken, it would have told her qute a lot. But it was silent as the sound of the twelve chimes drowned out the thump of Eliebeth's bag as it hit the ground, and it was silent when Elizabeth scaled the castle wall. But it gave her an answer as she ran towards the alleys. When she asked herself, What will my name be? it answered, Zoe, just Zoe.

"I just couldn't stand the idea of an arrainged marrage," She closed her eyes and bent her face to the ground. "I just couldn't." Becky looked into Zoe's face as if studying it. She smiled suddenly.
"One thing's for sure. You can't stay here, or they'll find you." Zoe frowned slightly.
"You're right, I didn't think about that."
The dark-haired boy in the corner spoke. "We can make it across a few towns before they even start searching for you."
"We?"
"Don't take this personally, Zoe, but you wouldn't last a week out there." Becky grinned a lopsided grin. "Someone's gotta watch your back."

The very next day, Jon was caught.



[A/N] Okay, pronunciations:
Zoe: zo (short O)
Becky: bek-ie
Al-Karhad: al kar-had
The name Al-Karhad is an inside joke for all Runescapers. (Think about it. Big elegant castle, street kids, Al-Karhad? Get it?)