...a hunting camp. At least, that was her best guess. There was a roaring fire, surrounded by some small tents and a wooden rack for drying skins and meat. Two figures, both clad in rough hunting clothes, sat by the flames.
One of them spotted the princess and drew her sword. "Filthy human wretch!! This is our food!!"
It was then that Arianna noticed the girl's pointed ears. Elf hunters.
Her companion put an arrow on his bow and pulled back the string. "This is no place for a peasant girl like you, human. Turn back and forget what you have seen."
It was then that Arianna remembered her father's edict that elves were forbidden to hunt within the borders of his kingdom. They had hunted many of the great wild herds to extinction, and had defied attempts by the army to remove them. Her father had been reluctant to damage diplomatic relations with the elf kings, but since they had no intention of restraining their people, he felt justified in his actions. Which meant these elves were poachers. And she would soon be dead if she did not heed their words.
But just as she turned heel, her stomach growled. Her foot caught another pebble. She was tired and sore. If they were going to kill her, at least then she would be free of her miseries.
So she turned around and started walking towards the poachers, a blank look on her face begging for death. The elves were confused. They must have thought she was drunk, or possessed. The male prepared to shoot, but before he fired, the female raised her hand for him to stop.
"She's close to death. There's no need to waste a good arrow."
"Then what do you suggest we do? She has seen our faces, and if she reports us to the King's men, we will surely lose our heads."
"I have an idea. Just play along."
The girl sheathed her sword, and caught Arianna just as she was about to faint from hunger. "You need rest and food. You will stay with us for the night."
The young man put down his bow, and grabbed some meat from the rack to cook. He also prepared a space for Arianna to sleep. After the princess had fallen fast asleep, her belly full, the two quietly conversed around the fire.
"Well, now we have another mouth to feed. If we are not to kill her, then what will we do?"
The girl smiled, the light of the fire shining off her unblemished pale elf skin. She pulled a small bottle from her belt.
"A gift from Lady Kyrena. Put this into her drink tomorrow, and she will never betray us."