Stiles had been waiting for months, actual months. Waiting and planning for his chance to get out of the castle. And not just into the back gardens surrounded by a large stone wall, that was no better than being in a big green room. No, he wanted to really, truly get out and just breathe. His whole life, as far back as he could remember at least, he’d been sequestered away. Always surrounded by the honor guard, always kept out of sight of the general populace, and he hated it. Hiding for his own safety, at least that’s what his father had said.
But, for months now, Stiles had been figuring out how to slip his guards so he could have even a small moment of freedom. He knew he couldn’t pretend to be sick, that would just have Father calling the apothecary and loading him up herbs and various other nasty things. He couldn’t fake being tired, they’d post a guard outside his door and he wouldn’t be able to slip across the hall and down what appeared to be one of the unused passageways; at least they looked unused when he had managed to get a small glimpse of them. No, instead he had spent the past couple of months repeatedly going to one of the rooms in the back wing of the castle to ‘paint’.
Granted, he had really had to start painting, because otherwise it would have tipped people off, but his main focus was getting everyone used to him claiming that specific room as his own. So, when Father finally capitulated and allowed him sole access to the room, he knew time was here. He couldn’t have believed it when the guards surrounding him agreed to stay out of the room while he painted, claiming he needed quiet and their weapons and armor made too much noise.
It was probably fear of his father that had them finally agreeing, when he alluded to telling him they were insufficient at their job if they didn’t agree. It wasn’t that he really would do it, but he needed them to leave him alone in the room for the day for this to work. He had even instructed that he didn’t want any meals brought up until dinner. Figuring that would have given him sufficient time to stretch and be free.
Once the door was shut, Stiles waited several long seconds before he did anything; lest the guards check in on him one last time. When no such intrusion occurred, Stiles made his way to the corner of the room where he found an old door hidden behind a heavy, dust laden tapestry. Careful not to disturb the dust too much, he slipped through the door and down the stairs he had found.
It was only a matter of being quiet and quick navigation before he finally set foot outside and made his way to the stables. The back gates were open and he just needed the horse. What he hadn’t expected, however, was the stable hand. He stopped short when he was addressed, suppressing the sigh of relief when he wasn’t recognized before he was looking around. The question, however, made him fidget a bit as he took in the tanned figure before him. “I um...yes, I want to take a horse out....through the back gate. Saddle one for me, if you will? Please?” He added the last part quickly, he hated giving orders to anyone, hated being conceived as the spoiled little prince that most peopel believed him to be.
