This is a story for the How Far Can You Reach Contest. I used the sixth picture, I decided to scrap my old story and come up with a whole new one. (I cut it close.) Please Review!!!
He came back, he found me.
I was in my afternoon walk with two of my ladies, when I saw a man peddling wares.
He carried a pack on his shoulders; a large brown hat shielded his face from the blazing sun. It was Mary that wished to by something, a wicker cage for her song birds, I believe. She called out to him, waving her hands over her head, as if he couldn’t see her in the blinding dresses she was known for. He pushed the hat from his head, its string letting it fall onto the back of his tanned neck.
When I saw his face, I thought I was imagining things, but I recognized it. It was Adian, my Adian. He looked at me at me in surprise, not saying anything. I saw the look in his eyes, the look when people find a favorite trinket that has been lost for a long time, and then it turns up in the oddest place. I stared at him in astonishment feeling myself swaying back and forth, my heart beating fast; my breathe left me, and everything went black.
My fainting was blamed on the heat, the man I was to marry, Prince Renold; was deeply concerned. I was not allowed outside for a week without five women to carry parasols, water, and other such things. Renold is not the kind of man I thought I would ever marry, he is kind, and generous; and I should be happy to marry such a man. But I did not love him. I had been content to marry him, until that morning, now I did not know what to do.
Adian and I, we grew up together, we were inseparable. I always thought of him as a brother, only when I was older, did I realize my feelings for him. We both loved each other dearly. He was going to ask for his father’s blessing for our marriage, the day he disappeared.
Seeing him again stirred up feelings I thought long gone; hidden within the depths of my soul. I needed to speak with him. I made many plans, having my most trusted ladies, Isobel; ask him to meet with me. On my morning ride I met him in the woods.
“Adian!” I whispered as I embraced him.
He held me, tight not wanting to let me go. When he did he looked at how much I had changed, he had changed too, he looked older, and had scars on his hands, face, and neck.
“I thought you were dead!” I said my eyes blurring with tears. “I was so worried, where have you been these three years? Why did you leave me!?”
I did not leave you by my own will, Elana.” He explained holding me to his heart. “It was by the hands of other’s that I was unable to return to you.”
He told me of how when he had been riding to his father, he had been attacked by a band of thieves. They pulled him from his horse, took everything he had with him, and beat him within an inch of his life. He was thrown to the side of the road, like a discarded apple core. An old man found him and nursed him slowly back to health. It took a year for him to heal. Adian asked him many times to write to me and his family, he thought we knew but the letters, as he discovered, were never written. The man who found him, as soon as Adian was stronger, sold him as a slave to a rich merchant. The merchant knew that Adian was no slave, and upon hearing his story; told him that if he worked hard enough, he could buy his freedom. But he could not write his father to ask for money. So he worked for two years and freed himself. He has for the last three weeks, been traveling home, hoping I had not yet married.
“I never stopped loving you. It was the thought of seeing your face again, that got me through the toughest times. Elana, what are you doing here anyway? I was on my way to see you, to…to do this.” He knelt down on one knee, taking my hand tightly in his.
“Elana Fox…will you marry me?” I paused breathing deeply “All you have to do is say yes. I love you, just please, say yes.”
I let a sob escape my mouth. “I’m so sorry, I can’t. I am to be married…to the prince.”
I looked into his eyes, flooded in pain. “It is my duty as a daughter.”
He turned his back on me, he couldn’t even look me in the eyes. I left soon after, feeling utterly sick all the rest of the day.
That night as I was preparing for bed, Isobel came rushing in a tizzy.
“Madam,” She said as she curtsied “There is a man on the balcony!”
I walked out, the cool night air hitting my skin. As soon as he saw me he grabbed me and kissed me.
“I could not bare to never see you again.” He whispered as our lips parted.
“I love you Adain, but I must marry Renold. You hold my heart, and he holds my honor. If he was to find out about you he could have you put to death for treason! And I don’t think I could live through that.”
“But I must see you again!”
“If you will I will meet you at the cedar tree on the bank of the pond, were we met today.”
“I will wait for you, and until then keep this with you.” He gave me one last kiss, then melted into the night.
I met him every day for a month and a half. We walked, we rowed in a beautiful little boat on the pond, we talked; we kissed, but never anything more. I thought no one knew of our meetings, save for Isobel. I was very wrong.
One evening I was called into the Prince’s chamber. I entered, bowing my head.
“Your majesty, you sent for me?”
He sighed, looking sadly at me.
“I followed you into the woods this morning.”
I felt my heart skip a beat.
“Your majesty I…”
“Please Elana, don’t. I saw you today, with him. I saw your eyes light up, like I have never seen before. I saw you kissing him, and…and I’ve been told that he came into your chamber one night.”
“My lord, nothing of the sort has ever happened between us, in my chambers, or not; I swear to you. If you will just spare his life, I will never see him again. Just please my lord do not kill him!”
“Elana, I will ask you one question, and I want you to answer it truthfully.”
I nodded my head, terrified of what he was going to ask.
“Do you love him?”
“Your majesty…”
“Answer the question, Elana!”
I took a shaky breath.
“Yes. Yes I love him.”
“It is decided then.” He replied gravely
“Your majesty, please!”
He looked at me, a sad smile on his face, filled with sorrow.
I dreaded what was to come.
“I wish you two all the happiness in the world.”
“WHAT?!?”
“I could never make you unhappy, so you are no longer bound to me.”
I stood dumbfounded for a moment, then I ran and embraced him.
“I wish I could give you all the love you deserve, Renold. You are a wonderful man and you deserve to find someone who loves you, as much as I love Adian.”
I put my hand on his cheek, making him look into my eyes.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
I gave him one last farewell kiss. He looked at me sadly, smiling still.
“I always knew you were no meant for me.” He said releasing me. “Goodbye Elana.”
“Goodbye Renold.”
Before I left he handed me a small chest, a foot wide, half a foot deep, and a foot tall.
“One last gift.” He said pushing me towards the door.
Having one last look at the man who gave me a second chance at love, I turned and walked out the door. I ran all the way to my chambers. Pulling all of the things I possessed before my engagement into a satchel. Dresses, books, everything they had let me bring. I did not change out of my royal dress, for I did not want to waste a second.
As I entered the woods I glanced back at the castle, taking in every detail. I walked on, never taking another look to the past.
I walked to our pond, where Adian and I had spent so many mornings, its almost clear waters shimmered and rippled. I set my things down on the bank, Opening the chest Renold had given me. Inside was a large bag of silver coins. He had given me the gift of being able to restart my life again.
“Thank you Renold.” I whispered.
I walked to where we always left our row boat, untying it, and pushing away from shore. I rowed until I was in the middle of the pond, I stopped, pulling the oars into the boat.
I let the train of my gown trail in the water, the velvet absorbed water quickly.
Good.
I loosened my dress, making it easy to get out of; and pushed the oars to the other side of the boat, to act as a counterbalance. Then I jumped.
The water was cooling on my skin, washing away all thoughts and feelings. My clothes grew heavy, dragging me down to the bottom. I pulled myself free of my prison of velvet, and silk, shedding what was left of, what seemed like a former life.
I stayed under the water until I could no longer bare it. I burst up gasping, the air feeling crisp, and clean. I swam to the bank, and stood there feeling reborn. I was as all new babes are, wet and naked. I dressed in old clothes, feeling like a new person. I walked toward the inn Adian was staying in, ready to tell him YES.
