(Not me thinking if the band the weekend 😭)
Alice unfortunately had been 'grounded' for leaving the city but of course his wouldn't stop her from sneaking out like she normally did she would wait until the afternoon just as dive had told her to in the meantime she just roamed palace looking for something to distract her
(Help-)
She carefully bandaged her legs and arms, just trying to breathe and bear the pain. Then she rummaged through an old dresser and found a skirt that was a pair of pants in disguise. They might have been her mother’s. Her mother, not her stepmother. Dove put it on, along with a sheer white shirt, a snug corset, and a shawl. Then, she tied her hair and covered it with a cloth cap. Even though she was in pain, she had to see the princess. Dove then crept to her closed door, and pressed her ear to it. She could here echoes of familiar sounds downstairs. Her stepfamily must still be home.
(Ik I'm not bright lol )
Alice was wearing a red dress and a corset picked out by her handmaid before she woke up her hair pulled into a braided bun her whole outfit was extremely uncomfortable and she didn't like it very much but she didn't complain because she was quite fond of her handmaid and didn't want to upset her she was dying to get out of this dress and leave do she could see dove
(“The weekend came?? When’s the concert???”)
Dove waited. And waited. She wanted to just leave already, but terror kept her frozen. Eventually, the sounds died down, and the manor became more… muted. She slowly, cautiously opened the door. Some servants might have seen her as she went downstairs, but if they did they didn’t question it. She went to the kitchen, since it was nearest to the back door, and waited just outside it. She was anxious for the princess to come, but at the same time wondered if she really meant it. Maybe she would go back on her word, and never show up. Dove sighed, and tried to bear through the pain.
(We're going right now! -grabs your hand and runs into a wall-)
She was eventually alone finally she hurriedly got dressed into her riding gear and grabbed her satchel before slipping out of her window going to the palace stables and saddled Cyrus before heading to the manor
(akdjkdknfafh)
Gabriel was cleaning the kitchen, but after a while he noticed Dove sitting near the door. He walked over to her, bending down so he could be somewhat at eye level. A concerned expression came over his gruff face when he got a good look at her.
“Black eye,” he grunted, pointing to her face, then getting up to find a way to treat it. Dove blinked, pressing a hand to the area around the eye he had pointed at. It was certainly painful, and she wasn’t exactly surprised. She winced with pain and took her hand away.
Gabriel came back with a cold, wet rag and gingerly held it to the area around her right eye. Dove closed her eyes, just focusing on breathing. “Thank you,” she said softly.
It didn't take her long to reach the manor especially because she was in a hurry to get there she was excited to be taking someone for a ride mostly because dove was really pretty to Alice and she wanted to see her again once she was getting closer she noticed everything seemed calmer out here it was nice she dismounted Cyrus and went up to the door
Soon Gabriel gruffly asked her to keep the rag on her eye while he kept cleaning. Dove felt a little guilty since she wasn’t helping out, but he firmly shook his head when she offered to help him clean. After about five minutes, she returned the rag to him, since it wasn’t cold anymore, and went out the back door.
Horse’s hooves. Her heart leapt, and pain momentarily forgotten. She quickly went around to the front of the manor, finding the princess at the gate. She smiled and waved, even though there were bandages on her arms and a dark bruise underneath her eye, and went up to open the gate.
Alice waited for a moment before she saw dove a smile appearing almost instantly"oh hello I'm so sorry I'm a little bit late I had to get out of this dreadful dress that my…."the Princess stopped as she looked at the girl "dove what happened to you are you alright your face it's bruised." She looked concerned as the girl walked up to her to open the gate
“Hello,” Dove smiled excitedly, taking in Princess Alice’s lovely appearance once the gate was opened. Then her smile faded, and she reflexively hid her arms behind her back and lowered her eyes. “Um… I’m fine, Your Highness, I promise. I’m glad you’re here.”
Alice just looked at her in shock "that wasn't my question what happened to you." There was power in her voice but she was calm unless she had reason to act other wise
She shivered a little. “Um.. I…” Tears filled her eyes before she could get a word out. She tried clear her throat before croaking, “I was beaten. Earlier. But you needn’t worry, I— I’m only hurting a little…”
"Why on earth would somebody do that?" Alice looked to the manor with a look of disgust her fists ball up at her sides
The tears spilled onto her cheeks. “Please… Your Highness, let’s get away from here, and I will tell you.” She quickly tried to wipe her tears, as the crying made her black eye hurt more.
Her expression softened and she saw start to cry and she sighed "alright…lets get you out of here.' Alice held her hand out so dove could climb up onto the saddle
When Dove’s hand slipped into Alice’s, she almost froze. She was holding the princess’s hand. How delicate and soft it was. She pulled herself onto the saddle, taking a breath and petting the horse’s flank. “Hello, Cyrus,” she murmured, sniffling.
Alice smiled a bit at have greeting the horse "ya know I think he likes you or at lebe likes this place he started riding a little faster when if cane unto view.."
Dove smiled a little, the princess’s words making her feel a little better. “I’m glad,” she said. Then she raised her head. “Oh… should I hold onto you while we’re moving?”
"Hmm oh that would probably be safer if you don't mind doing so it would put me at ease dear." She had a soft smile on her face as the girl asked her question she was still worried about her but she would be safe with the Princess for now
Dove was definitely glad she had worn pants, at least. She adjusted herself on the saddle and a little nervously wrapped her arms around Alice’s waist, her cheeks starting to flush. “Okay, I’m ready.”
"Alright where would you like to go and how fast?" Alice was hoping to take Cyrus running through this new territory but she thought she should ask dove first before doing anything
“Um…” After thinking, Dove said, “I don’t really care where we go. But not to fast, please. I, um, I have other bruises and I don’t want to hurt them.”
Alice nodded gripping the reins a little she still couldn't imagine why someone could do such a thing to such a sweet girl she kept quiet mostly as they made their way through the woods
She held onto Alice as Cyrus began to move them into the woods. The further they went, the more Dove calmed down. She closed her eyes, not caring for a moment that she was with the princess herself.
"You okay back there?" Alice's voice was warm and sweet when she talked to dove as she looked back at the girl holding onto her