The rest of the story

Castle Sprantis of the North
By, Rachel Kelson

Audrietta, Audrie for short, watched the rain roll down the window, onto the ledge, and then plummet onto the cobblestone 8 stories down. She was silently cheering for the drop of cold fall rain, hoping that it would meet up with a friend on its journey through the water cycle. She may have had childish thoughts when it came to her imagination, but on the exterior Audrie was a maturing young woman living in the medieval times. She was not a full grown adult yet, but a 16 year old. She was tall for her age, but the other teenagers were catching up. She had bright, curious green eyes that were constantly squinted due to the great amount of time she used laughing and smiling. She was a friendly, sweet, and enthusiastic young woman. Not only was her heart in the right spot, but also her outward apparel and shape was not unnoticed by the young boys. She was not gangly like many other girls who made sure their sizes were the smallest possible, but instead took pride in knowing that her muscular build was healthy and allowed her to do the things she loved.
Audrietta loved to play games with the boys when she was younger. She certainly was not what now days would be called a tomboy, but innocently loved to play tag and other running activities. Whenever she played, she would tie her mid-back length curly hair on top of her head and hide it with a cap. All of the boys knew it was she, but this allowed Audrie to sneak away from her governess and enjoy herself a little. Once she was covered in mud from diving for the ball or simply getting into a playful mud fight, her face was hidden and she was almost unrecognizable. Adurietta stopped joining the boys when she turned ten, but she never stopped watching them and cheering them on. But don’t take this the wrong way; Audrie was quite the polite and clean girl.
As Audrietta’s raindrop fell to the stone below, she heard the bell ring three times. This was the sound of relief from her grumbling stomach. It was seven thirty on the dot and she had already been up for an hour reading some literature. She glanced and memorized the book page and set it on the window seat she had been occupying. She untucked the blanket that had been encasing her chilly body and was surprised to feel the unexpected coldness of the stone under her bare feet when she placed them on the ground. She hurriedly leapt from her seat and speed-tiptoed across the room to the door. She quickly stepped through the hallway and into her private room where she saw Ann, her governess waiting. She curtsied and said hello.
Her governess did the same in reply and cut to the chase. “Your majesty-” but before she could finish Audrie shot her a glance that in it’s self said “we’ve been over this,” Ann blushed a little and responded. “I beg your pardon. Audrie…” she paused to see if this would satisfy her. When she saw no objection she went on. “Your father, err, I mean King Douglas, has asked me to remind you of today’s schedule.”
As Ann continued, she helped Audrie out of her sleepwear and into a beautiful gown as her apparel for the day. “Breakfast will be the same as usual, and since it is the day of the fall festival you may have a free day. He does wish to remind you that the preparations for the ball will be time consuming and busy, so please stay clear of the dining area, and the ballroom if possible. Brunch at its normal time; noon will then be followed by all the time you need to get ready for the ball later tonight. Oh, and dinner will be served at the party.” Just as Ann finished her last sentence she also finished lacing the back of the corset-like backing of the dress. Audrietta gasped as the ribbons were tied. She breathed slowly as her lungs adjusted to the pressure of the squeezing dress (she thought perhaps since she had been wearing dresses like this since the age of eight, she would be used to the slimming and suffocating dresses; but she was wrong).
Audrie immediately realized that this was her fathers’ way of subtly reminding her that since it was the day of the festival, and she was now 16 years of age, it was now acceptable for her to participate in the balls. Audrietta almost squealed with excitement but quickly regained control of her facial expression and tried to act calm and collected.“Oh, ok…well I don’t know if I will need TOO much time…”
Ann too, was a young lady years ago and she merely chuckled at the princesses’ attempt to act as though she had not been thinking about this day for weeks. She just smiled and swiftly walked to the closet to retrieve the footwear that would compliment the dark purple dress being fashioned by Audrie.
As the princess carefully glided down the stairs she giggled out loud at the thought of her tripping over her outfit and tumbling down the stairs. What a way to get hurt; being bruised from your own apparel! She heard the noise of a clearing throat and looked up to meet the gaze of two men dressed in Viking attire. She stopped midstep, but only for a moment. The next thing she knew one man was hoisting her up like a sack of potatoes while the other man tried to put a gag around her mouth.
As the man reached near her mouth she bit down hard and screamed at the top of her lungs. She kicked and flailed and made it as hard as possible for the man carrying her. The two suspicious men broke into a run as they ran for the kitchen. Just seconds after Audrietta screamed, maids, butlers, and other workers emerged from their daily duties.
As everyone gathered near the taller of the men began to explain, " You are all to get in that far corner of this room right now." As the man bellowed the words he gestured to a hilt on his hip.
Everyone’s attention was drawn to an intimidating looking war axe. As people moved towards the corner one servant suddenly jerked back and sprinted out the front door. Even inside the building you could hear him shout warnings to all the townsfolk. He yelled and screamed and soon you could hear slamming doors as people rushed out of their homes.
Back in the kings home, the first man now had a sword to the princess’ throat explaining that everything would go smoothly if the princess followed them to their ship and quietly let them kidnap her. She stifled a laugh at the stupidity of the man!
She calmly explained, "I will not be going anywhere with a man like you." she smiled a sarcastic grin and showed no signs of fear. When, on the contrast she was terrified to death on the inside. She continued on trying to sound as convincing as possible. " You aren't going to cut my throat. That would be out of the question." Audrietta paused as the man's grip on the hilt tightened as he realized that she was speaking the truth. " Why would you kill me? I'm your only protection right now. The minute you do, you'll be taken over by the people and well, let me tell you your ending will be worse than mine. Besides the whole point of you coming here was to capture me, not kill me...... I’m guessing for ransom, but maybe not." Audrie hoped that if the Vikings had not thought of that before they were now well aware that killing her was not an option.
The Viking laughed but was aware that his own voice wavered as he contemplated what had just been uncovered. He held the princess closer and returned his facial expression to an intense and serious death stare at the servants. The Viking smiled a sickly yellow teethed smile and chuckled a scary laugh. "Princess, you are a clever little girl, but what you have overlooked is that your kindness is a curse. you will not stand there and watch us kill one of your loyal servants."
Audrietta could feel the drain rush out of her face as she realized that she would NEVER let someone die if for her if she had any say in the matter.
Her silence was enough of an agreement for the Viking. As he pushed her in front of him, his partner kept his sword pointed at the hostages. Audrie kept her head down as she trudged out the front castle doors. She was shocked as she noticed that the town was quiet. The man paused as he heard nothing and then continued to drag Audrie towards the port.
The princess was silent and decided to make the best of her imprisoned life-to-be. Then again she could be as obnoxious and intolerable as she wanted and make the Vikings sail home as miserable as possible. Now that she came to think of it, she had no idea where the man was from. She glanced down at his axe handle and noticed that the insignia was of a polar bear and lion. She was astonished that all of those years of studying with Ann could actually be convenient in at least one situation. She now knew he was from Castle Greywood of the East. Finally! It all made sense. Greywood’s king was King Humphrey. The East establishments had never been able to work with the North for as long as anyone could remember!
As Audrie thought this over she realized they were almost turning around the boulder that would lead to the docks in about two minutes time. She saw a movement of the grass up thirty feet ahead just around the rock.
Suddenly out of nowhere two townsfolk jumped out from behind the boulder. One had a pitchfork while the other had a axe. The kidnapper wrenched the princess closer and held the axe as close as possible to the girls neck without drawing any blood.
“I will kill her if I have to. I will.” The man said as he fidgeted.
As the two rescuers eyed each other for a solution Audrie took a chance. She dug her elbow as hard as she could into the mans gut, stomped on his foot and slid out from under his arms. She sprinted as fast as she could, she could hear him behind her.
He had reacted faster than she’d hoped and was right on her heels. She sped up and felt her legs resist the push but was glad that if she made it out of this alive she could argue with Ann that those days playing with the boys made her a faster and better runner. And that could be just what would save her. As Aurietta reached the familiar faces she was panting hard but didn’t stop until she was safe behind their guarding bodies. To her surprise the Viking did not run up to the townspeople but instead ran at an angle past them. He was running for the ship. The princess turned around to see four massive ships waiting at the port. She could just barely make out rugged bearded faces onboard. When the fellow sea men saw that he had no princess with him, they hoisted up the anchor and prepared to set sail. The man was not fast enough and his “friends” continued on without him. By the time Audrie’s heroes caught up with him he was not even fighting back. He let them tie his hands and escort him back to the castle.
When the four arrived back the second Viking had been ambushed by all the farmers. Blacksmiths and everyday people. He now was huddled in the corner waiting to hear his death sentence.
Later upon investigation King Douglas found the men’s names to be Rupert, and Geotry. They were as Audrietta expected from the east and more exactly, Greywood. By the time the King arrived at his last question Rupert and Geotry were willing to give any information he wanted as long as they were not to be killed. As they responded to the last question everything in Audrie’s head was clicking. Everything made sense, all of it fit together.
“Why were you sent to kidnap my daughter?” the King asked roughly
Rupert didn’t give it a second thought before he explained the truth, “ King Humphrey is planning to attack your castle walls in exactly a month. Your daughter was going to be ransom and bait.” he finished.
Everyone in the room’s eyes widened as the truth dawned on them. They were going to be under attack. But little to King Humphrey’s knowledge, when he came, all of Castle Sprantis was going to be ready and waiting.