Princess Serenity screamed in frustration. She was to be wed to an ally in order to keep the truce. It was not at how Serenity had imagined her marraige to be. For one, she thought that she would be marrying for love. When she told her parents this, they laughed and told her love is just an emotion used as an excuse to get married or to enjoy the lust of the flesh. You don't need love when you have money and power, they reminded her.
"I do not wish to be a princess or rich any longer if it means I have to marry some oaf out of royal obligation and duty!"
Serenity stomped her feet and ranted at her parents, but they had merely waved her off, telling her that all young brides suffered from cold feet just before their wedding. Shortly after, Serenity began to plan her runaway, she wanted nothing more than never to be seen again. Her plan was to leave this night as soon as the sun went down. She would find love out in the world and besides, her mother the Queen was expecting again, it wasn't as though there would be no heir to the throne.
That evening, after everyone within the castle had retired, Serenity placed her tiara on the dresser and climbed out of the window onto a tree, ripping her dress in the process. She had not planned on how difficult it would be to climb out windows nor climb down large tree branches in her beautiful gown. The again, it wasn't as if she needed her dress to look perfectly prim and proper. After all, in the next day or so she would be traveling as a normal peasant girl, the thought excited her and pushed her to hurry even quicker than she had been.
Serenity walked past the palace walls, hidden in their deep shadows. Her parent's kingdom had been living in peace and tranquility for so long, the soldier's were slack and rarely on alert. As she walked quietly past the complacent soldiers, she began to think of a different name, something other than calling herself Serenity. She would probably have to cut her long hair as well, it was one of her most distinguishing features and someone might recognize her. Serenity was the most beautiful princess in the land of Alain. Her long dark tresses fell down to her back, framing her curvy frame, supple breasts, and long, shapely legs. She ripped the rest of the torn hem from her gown, tying her hair up in a messy bun. She had no looking glass but she was sure her handy work made sure she no longer looked like the princess she was. The town of Zapora lay just ahead, she had never been there without an escort and it suddenly looked forbidding and exceedingly exciting.
+++
"Land ahead, mates!" Captain Jack Turner yelled. He was what was a villain or at least he tried to be. He had not got quite the hang of it yet, though he had managed to get away with a few petty crimes of late. At least nothing major enough that would cause the kings guards and patrolmen to pay him any mind, yet.
"We stop here then, Cap'n?" The first mate asked his Captain.
"No you bumbling idiot. I wanted us to stop at the next island, five miles from here." Jack rolled his eyes.
"Sorry Cap'n." First mate Fredrick responded, looking away, fearing the Cap'n's unpredictable moods. Finally, Fredrick cleared his throat, "Do ye think we'll be seein any lasses at the pub tonight, ones that might need a little bed warmin?"
"Tis possible, with Triton's luck, they'll look as good as they did in France mate." Jack said with a smirk.
"No girl could ever look as good as the lass' in France." Fredrick said as they exited the boat and walked down the gangplank to the docks. The two men entered the pub as the rest of the shipmates explored the land known as Zapora, Alains. They were completely unaware of the beautiful girl watching them from her hiding place behind the large, wooden shipping barrels.
+++
