This is an excerpt from a story I am writing titled 'Divorcing Prince Charming'

‘Ella found her way down through the garden. It was dark and the castle walls loomed over her as if the bricks themselves disapproved of her adventure. A chill wind blew through her cloak, and lifted her spirits. Elated at the  crisp air in her lungs, ‘Ella began to trot faster over the flagstones and towards the back gates that led to the forest.

A bird. She thought. I am a bird, fleeing my gilded cage. She flapped her arms wildly as if they would carry over the forest, past the villages beyond and straight to the sea. She giggled to herself and felt silly. Princesses didn’t giggle.

But I am not a princess anymore, she told herself. I am a bird. The release that came with that thought made her giggle even louder. Her laughter bounced off the outer walls that surrounded the garden and drifted back towards the castle.

She covered her mouth to stifle an even harder laugh and stopped to listen.

But no one had stirred. They were too full of wine & women. The only one awake would be Gaul, and he would be huddled so close to the fire that the crackle and spit would drown out any sound she made as she fled.