As Rosita felt the dull thud of the heavy gold crown placed on her head, she smiled at the cheering nation below her. The country that raised her, fed her, helped her in times of despair. Somewhere below her throne, a band began to play. Almost immediately, the crowd started to sing as one. ‘In the land of roses, where kings and queens stand strong, we live freeeeee…’ ‘We live freeeeee…’ ‘Oh, they never shut up, do they?’ Rosita muttered under her breath. ‘You never give up on that, do you-’ Alina patted her on her back ‘-but at least when Finn gets back, you won’t be moaning on deaf ears.’ She chuckled to herself as she added more herbs to her boiling pot. Rosita flopped down on her motheaten rug. ‘When are we ever going to escape this stupid country?’ Suddenly, quick footsteps pounded across the forest floor. Both females looked up abruptly. Finn bounded up, breathless. ‘The huntsmen!’ he gasped. ‘They’re coming!’ He dropped onto the ground, breathing heavily. Rosita hurriedly started stuffing assorted items from around the camp into a tattered leather suitcase. At the same time, Alina stamped out the embers of the dying campfire. Finn sat up, wiping sweat off his face. ‘They’re over there!’ He pointed in the direction of the castle. ‘No duh!’ Rosita rolled her eyes. ‘Where do you think they’re coming from, the bottom of the ocean?’ ‘Stop squabbling like children,’ Alina barked. ‘Rosy, you’re an outlaw now, not a petty princess drinking tea.’ If looks could kill, Alina would have died right there and then. Finn smirked, then his face darkened. He held up a finger to his lips. Barking hounds and rough voices wafted over to the camp. All three of the outlaws suddenly started to pack up their campsite urgently. Fear hung in the air like smoke. ‘The dogs are getting closer.’ Alina said uneasily, her eyes nervously flicking toward the castle. Rosita stood up. ‘Is everyone ready?’ she asked. Both her friends nodded grimly. The barking of the dogs sounded closer now. Rosita looked at Finn. He hesitated for a second, then whistled two sharp whistles. Alina gathered their belongings, and firmly grasped Finn and Rosita’s hands in hers. ‘Are you ready?’ She asked. Then she grinned. ‘Too late for that!’ Without a second glance, they jumped off the cliff. *********** The man with the green cap looked down at his customers and stroked his beard thoughtfully as they sat up groaning. ‘Probably shouldn’t have jumped off such a high cliff, eh?’ He chortled ‘Magic can only do so much!’ As she sat up on the mattress that stank of mold, Rosita looked around her. As she wrinkled her nose at an unidentifiable stench, the man laughed. ‘Were you expecting a golden carriage pulled by gleaming white horses?’ Rosita rolled her eyes. ‘Not exactly. But I wasn't expecting a decrepit wagon falling apart, either.’ Then she paused. ‘I know you from somewhere.’ The man stopped smiling and touched his green cap nervously. ‘From where?’ Rosita stared into his eyes. ‘You're the man that k*lled me.’ *********** Rosita woke up in a cold sweat, clenching her hands on rumpled blankets. There was a tentative knock on the door. ‘Come in.’ she whispered. Her father came in. ‘It’s your day, my little Rosy! Your day to become the queen of our kingdom!’ Rosita smiled. Then she froze. Her father looked at her reassuringly. ‘I'm sure it’ll be an amazing day, Rosy!’ He said, touching his green cap.
