[center][h1] [color=ed145b]MAREWEN’S JOURNEY[/color][/h1][/center]

Trying not to lose her footing Marewen slid over the wet ground and grabbed hold of a low hanging tree branch to save her from falling completely. She gasped as the thorns from the bush tore at her skirts and scratched at her ankles. After several hours she finally lay against a tree and covered herself up with her cloak. She’d had no idea that getting through the woods on foot would be so harrowing.

She had been there for maybe an hour when she heard animal noises. Startled Marewen sat up and looked around as she got to her feet. The sun was peering through the trees and she couldn’t ever remember being so grateful to see the light. Her trek overnight showed her a different looking person than the one who entered the woods in the wee hours of the morning. This young woman’s hair was dishevelled, her face had dirt smudges as did her clothing as well as some tattered edges from the thorny bushes and burrs in the woods. Marewen had open scratches on her hands and blood marred her soft hands. Her eyes were perhaps the biggest change. They had been confident in her decision and now they were mostly fearful. 

A dog ran at her and Marewen just froze. The little girl laughing and following the dog stopped suddenly at seeing her and as she became more curious she edged a little closer and put her hand on her dog’s head. 

[color=orange]“Toby sit!” [/color]The dog sat but kept his toothy expression and his eyes on Marewen.  [color=orange]“Who are you? You look terrible. You should come see my mother. She will help you.”[/color] The child saw her hands and became upset. [color=orange]“You are bleeding! Come miss, this way!”[/color]  The child pulled the dog with her and lead Marewen to a nearby village.

The child asked her [color=f7941d]“What is your name?” [/color]and grabbed Marewen’s hand in her own small one.  She looked down at the child’s hand and replied. 

[color=f49ac2]“My name is Mary.”[/color] The little girl smiled. 

[color=f7941d]“My mother will like that. Her name is Mary too. She gets upset though because my father works at the palace and is not home often.”[/color]

Panic set in and Marewen’s heart started to thump loudly in her chest. [color=f49ac2]“How far away from the palace are we?”[/color]

The little girl stopped and thought hard for a moment. [color=f7941d]“About three hours by horse at a walk papa says.”[/color]

[color=f49ac2]“I’m sorry little one but I need to get somewhere and I won’t have time to stop to see your mama. Which way is the road?” [/color]The little girl hugged her at the waist and she pointed her in the right direction. Marewen smiled and waved at her and she headed that way but made sure to stay off of the main road. She had to make sure she didn’t look like the princess and she sure wasn’t going to go back. She picked up her pace til she was running. The ground was mostly flat here and she needed to put some real distance between her and the palace.

Over the next week Marewen stayed mostly in the woods next to the road. She managed to survive on berries. Some of the nearby villagers children would feed her when she came close enough to them. Unsure of how long she could stay hidden in the woods she just prayed it wouldn't rain on her.