I wake up to motion beneath my feet and an aching throughout my entire body. Opening my eyes, I see James' face and I yelp, quickly sitting up, hurting myself even more.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?!" I yell.
"Isobel." he smiles his arrgoant smile. "You're awake!"
"Yes I'm awake!" I yell. "Where am I?!"
"You are in a horse and carriage, with me, on our way to the palace."
"This is kidnap!" I protest.
"This is saving you." he says. "You could have died if I'd have left him to it-"
"I need to go back." I say, suddenly remembering that my father said he'd get Tilly and my mother.
James laughs bitterly. "No way."
"No, your grace-"
"Stop calling me that!" he exclaims. "Please, I am two years older and yes, I'm going to be your king, but please can you just forget that? I just want you and I to be equal!"
"Fine!" I shout. "Fine, James, I need to go back, my mother and sister aren't safe."
"I will send some of my men after them-"
"And how long will that take?!" I ask sarcastically. "I must go back, now, we aren't far from the farm."
"Isobel, I am telling you now-"
I don't catch the last half of that sentence because I open the door of the carriage and leap out. As I land on the floor, all of the pain I am in is amplified as a jolt goes through my body, leaving grazes down my cheek and cuts on my arms.
I shake it off and get straight back up, starting to run back towards the farm. We are on the one road in and out of the two farms, I can get back there within ten minutes if I keep running. It's painful, but Matilda and my mother could be in more pain. Elijah could be if he is back from hunting.
But I hear footsteps behind me and I am sure they're James' and they are a lot faster than mine. He manages to catch up with me, wrapping his arms around my stomach and jolting me backwards. I can't help but yelp because he is holding on tight where my father kicked me. I ignore the pain, it can't be too bad, I must just be exaggerating. I can't be weak.
"Let me go!" I scream.
"Isobel!" he screams back, completely forgetting his role as Prince. He has lost all composure and he just looks a complete mess if I'm honest. "I am not letting you go near that place again!"
"Why?!" I yell. "Why?! What, so you're the future king of England and you have a weird thing for me, that means I can't go look after my family?!"
"You're exactly right!" he shouts. "It's exactly that! I have a thing for you and I care about you, therefore, I don't want you to get hurt anymore, and I am the future king of England so you must obey my orders!"
"Just shut up!" I scream at him. "I need to go-"
Somewhere behind me I hear a little throat clearing. I turn around and Elijah is sat there on his horse, looking beyond confused.
"Hello." he says unsurely.
"Elijah-" I say, rushing over to him.
"Were you just shouting at the prince?" he asks, frowning.
"Yes. But please, please go to my house, I think my family are in danger. It's my father."
He nods his head straight away. "Of course. Where are you going?"
"With the prince." I say. "I'll explain when I get back, please, just go."
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
I nod as he turns his horse around and rides back to my house. I turn back around and go back into the carriage without looking at or speaking to James.
