Sophia flinched at Cecilia's touch, and looks at her with a frightened expression. No terror would better describe it. "You don't understand. He's here because of me! I've put all of you in so much danger!" She looks to Beau, "I have to go. Now. Before he tracks me here. He won't care if you did or did not know who I was..." she murmurs. She looks sad for a moment, then whispers, "It would have been so nice."
"Stop." Piper commanded with quiet authority, edging around her twin until she and Sophia were face to face. Their was no assault to her tone, no dislike akin to when she'd first engaged with the Princess. No matter how hidden there was fondness there for Sophia, and before taking action it was best to get to the root of the matter. That meant all cards on the table for everyone.
"Who are you and why are you being hunted by the King?" the teen didn't seem angry, more -- starved for information. If they were all to escaped unscathed they needed to be on the same page.
"Who are you and why are you being hunted by the King?" the teen didn't seem angry, more -- starved for information. If they were all to escaped unscathed they needed to be on the same page.
Sophia glances first to Beau, then to Piper and murmurs softly, "His niece. The Princess. My father was King Jacob before him, and when my parents died, I was sent to live with him in our summer castle. I am betrothed to Prince Seamus and...I ran away, not wanting to marry him. Your brother...helped me escape." she says, somewhat changing the story a little. "He didn't realize it at first, of course. Only when it was too late to 'return me'." She wrings her hands as she told the story and then extols of Piper, "So you see...I must turn myself in."
There was a unanimous gasp around the entrance to the home once the dreaded 'P' word was uttered, causing the girls to all cup their mouths in shock. A Princess? They'd been housing royalty this whole time? Piper was the first to recover, spinning round to glance at her brother.
"Will we hang if they find us?" The question lost all strength once shown with Sophia, bordering on pleading. It was rare for the more reserved twin's mask to crack but she was terrified. For once, she had no answers. And even though Beau had as many answers as she, his protective nature for his family -- Sophia included -- rose to the surface.
"No one will hang." he said sternly, walking passed the girls to secure all of the windows were closed and locked. "Our op-options are either to st-stay here and send Sophia away, move with her to escort her to the co-convent -- or to the Pr-Prince," he added quietly, knowing that was the very last of their options.
"I do not wish to send her off alone." Cecilia finally spoke up, casting her vote and her eyes at her brother. "Neither do I." Lyric added from the bedroom door, with Agnus nodding beside her.
"Will we hang if they find us?" The question lost all strength once shown with Sophia, bordering on pleading. It was rare for the more reserved twin's mask to crack but she was terrified. For once, she had no answers. And even though Beau had as many answers as she, his protective nature for his family -- Sophia included -- rose to the surface.
"No one will hang." he said sternly, walking passed the girls to secure all of the windows were closed and locked. "Our op-options are either to st-stay here and send Sophia away, move with her to escort her to the co-convent -- or to the Pr-Prince," he added quietly, knowing that was the very last of their options.
"I do not wish to send her off alone." Cecilia finally spoke up, casting her vote and her eyes at her brother. "Neither do I." Lyric added from the bedroom door, with Agnus nodding beside her.
Sophia simply bursts out in tears at this outpouring of support. But she is frightened for them, and she can't imagine them leaving their home, "You can't..." she says through her tears. "If they catch up to us, then..." she leaves the thought unsaid. She turns to Beau and tells him, "Can you find me a horse and just...point me in the right direction? I can do this. I have to." She just can't imagine any other scenario.
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On the other side of the river, the tracker is cursing up a storm. A group of the king's soldiers had crossed over and muddied up the tracks, and he was explaining very carefully how it might take him days to pick up the trail again, if ever, given the storm that was rolling in from behind them. Needless to say, the King was NOT in a very good mood at this point. Several demotions were coming around, if not stiffer punishments.
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On the other side of the river, the tracker is cursing up a storm. A group of the king's soldiers had crossed over and muddied up the tracks, and he was explaining very carefully how it might take him days to pick up the trail again, if ever, given the storm that was rolling in from behind them. Needless to say, the King was NOT in a very good mood at this point. Several demotions were coming around, if not stiffer punishments.
"You'll die out there." Beau said rather bluntly, not sparing his youngest sisters the harsh realities of the world. "We will escort you. If any m-men try to do you harm they'll be dealt with acco-crdingly. That was the only answer the twins needed, already leaving the cabin in order to hitch marigold with their makeshift carriage. There was no room over it like the royalties had, but the wagon was lengthy enough for all to travel in.
"Prep-pare the food." Beau directed to Lyric, who nodded and ran into the kitchen, hoisting the rest of the bread and dried meat together. "It'll be alright." Beau offered to Sophia with an almost sad smile, wanting to quell her anxieties as best he could. "F-For now, though, w-we must move."
"Prep-pare the food." Beau directed to Lyric, who nodded and ran into the kitchen, hoisting the rest of the bread and dried meat together. "It'll be alright." Beau offered to Sophia with an almost sad smile, wanting to quell her anxieties as best he could. "F-For now, though, w-we must move."