Old Story Compilation

One of my other oldest... This is titled as "The Three Princesses." *shudder*

One day, in a land far, far, away, a long time ago, in the Northern kingdom of the world, there lived three princesses. The youngest, Anassai, wore a cloak of light green silk embedded with amethysts and jades and diamonds. The middle sister, Emerisia, wore a sari of purple silk embedded with garnets and golden pieces and diamonds. And the Eldest, Saramayia, wore a veiled sari of light pink silk embedded with rubies and pearls and diamonds.
   The princesses loved each other very much. Saramayia loved to make things and to write stories. Emerisia loved to go horseback riding on one of her many horses. And Anassai loved to play with things and invent new ways to use them.
   Now, Saramayia was 13 years old. She was only a few months away from her 14th birthday, which would also become her wedding day. Emerisia was 9, still being granted many of the privileges of youth. Anassai was but 6 years old, still considered a child and plenty of years away from her marriage.
   One night, all three lounged by their beautiful crystal fireplace, thinking. Finally, Emerisia said, “I wonder who will come to marry you, sister.” Saramayia answered, “I hope he is handsome and smart and funny, and that he is not too stubborn and not at all vain, for I shall not want to marry a peacock. I also pray he will be kind and loving, and want me not for my fortune or my throne, but for my heart.”
   The next day, after breakfast, Saramayia was called into the special parlor. This was the only parlor strangers were allowed in, and as Saramayia walked down the hall, she wondered who on earth it could be.
   Her questions were answered when she entered the parlor. There, by the door, was a prince. He was handsome and cute and looked extremely nice. He stood and bowed. Saramayia curtsied. She felt that he was simply perfect. Her heart beat furiously as she sat in a plush chair.
   “Saramayia, meet Prince Carl of Heron, son of the impressive, everlasting, and rich ex-duke of Heron, King Herald of Heron, whose knowledge expands to the ends of the world.”
  I looked more closely at the Prince. He was handsome. But was that all I could think about I was so very taken with him, I couldn’t notice anything else. I must beware.
   The prince and my father talked a bit, and then he was told to come back tomorrow at noon. The door opened, and as he left, another came in. I saw behind him there were many more princes coming to ask for my hand. So the suitors were finally lining up.
   The next prince was not at all handsome, and not very nice, but he had a great fortune, so he was told to come the day after tomorrow at noon.
   And so the afternoon dragged on, some being told just to go away, others told to come back at some time or other. Meanwhile, Emerisia and Anassai were out riding, Emerisia riding her horse Garnet and Anassai riding her horse Amethyst.
   Emerisia was leading Anassai through the woods when she heard a sharp whistle to her left. Her horse stopped abruptly, as well as Amethyst. She urged her horse forward, but she didn’t budge. She finally whispered to the horse her special words that perked Garnet up and sent her off again, and Amethyst followed.
   “Emerisia?” Anassai sounded worried. “What was that?” I looked to the left, then to the right, but saw nothing. Finally I looked behind us and saw a group of horsemen. I urged Garnet and Amethyst into a gallop. I thought we were a safe distance away to not be worried when I realized the horsemen had started to gallop when we did. I tried to outrun them, but they were gaining. I had Amethyst pull up beside me and pulled Anassai onto Garnet’s back. Garnet did not slow, rather went faster as she became scared. Amethyst was younger and now, with the load off her back, was able to keep up much better.
   The horsemen weren’t gaining, but they weren’t slowing, either. I turned onto an old path that was just used often enough that it was still there.
   Anassai whimpered as Emerisia turned onto the old path. She was scared, and she kept looking over her shoulder at the horsemen.
   I just have to calm down, I thought. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a second. We were going to get out of here. I held on tighter to Emerisia and looked back. The horsemen were catching up, and there was nothing we could do about it. I tried to count them but they kept moving too much.
   Emerisia looked back at the gaining horsemen. There’s no way we’re getting out of here, I thought. If we tried to get off, they would catch us, and our horses aren’t fast enough to outrun them. I wanted to stop and see what they wanted, but I didn’t want to risk Anassai getting hurt.
   I was about to stop when I saw something in the trees. I looked up and saw a girl swinging from branch to branch, keeping just ahead of us. I tapped Anassai’s shoulder and motioned to the girl. The girl seemed to notice that we were watching, and she started swinging lower, within arm’s reach. I lifted Anassai up and she jumped into the girl’s hands. The girl lifted her up, set her on a branch, and continued. I slowly stood, trying to reach her, but the road was rutty, and the horse kept jolting. I finally grabbed for her arm and held on. She flipped me up onto a branch, and then swung back to where Annasai was. I followed, but I was slower and much clumsier. I slipped. I held on with all my might, but I couldn’t pull myself back up. As the horsemen passed below me, I struggled frantically, but they saw me and stopped.
   They reached for my legs and grabbed. I felt a fierce tug on my ankle. It pulled harder and I heard a pop and felt a sharp pain. My left hand slipped off. Another tug on my legs and I crumpled to the ground. Strong hands pulled my arms behind my back and tied them there. One of the horsemen pulled me roughly to my feet and tied another length of rope to the ties that held my hands behind my back. He tugged on it and pulled me over to one of the horses.
   I fell to my knees, but he just kept pulling. I managed to get back on my feet just before he jerked me over and shoved me onto the horse. He tied me to the saddle and jumped on in front of me.