“So, my fair prince, where did you and my sister steal away to last night?”
“I know not what you mean,” said Henry, but he was already blushing inspite of himself.
“You and my sister Amanda. You left the banquet hall together last night.”
“Only for an instant.”
“It was almost 20 minutes. And when you came back, your hair was ruffled.”
“She wanted to show me some interesting flowers she had seen in the courtyard.”
“I see. And if tonight, I have some interesting flowers I want to show you?”
“Then I will go with you, my lady,”
Alicia pushed Henry backwards. It was a playful gesture, and yet she put some strength into the motion. “You will not. You have played with my heart too long, and I will tolerate it no longer.”
“My lady?”
“Say, Prince Henry, how long have you been a guest in this castle? It has been over a month now, no? That is time enough for you to make up your mind. Who do you find most pleasing? Is it me, or my sister Amanda? Or our cousin Marcia?”
“Marcia is but a girl, at 15.”
“Ah, but you are only 17, Henry. And yet you look so strong and brave. I am 18. I’m a grown woman now. I can marry, if I so choose.”
Henry smiled. “And would you choose?”
“If I met someone I could trust,” she said. “But how can I trust someone who pays equal attention to all us girls?”
“My princess, I may appear to be lighthearted, but once I give someone my word, I will be true to my word.”
“You mean to say that once you promise your love to me, you will no longer go to look at flowers with my sister.”
“I do indeed.”
“Very well, I believe you. But of course, before I give my love to you, you must earn it. I do not give my love so easily.”
“Of course you don’t. You must be courted. I shall sing under your window every afternoon. I shall find the finest wildflowers for you to wear in your hair. I will write poems for you every night.”
“Do so, and tomorrow night I may give you a kiss.”
*****************************************************************
“Are you in there Midor?”
Vivian was sticking her head down the entrance to the wolf den.
“Vivian, is that you?”
“Yes, I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you some food.”
Midor crawled to the entrance of the den. “You thought I might be hungry? But you know that I’ve lived in the woods my whole life. I know how to find food when I need it.”
“Fine, then I brought you the food just as an excuse to talk to you. You’ve made me say it. Are you happy now.”
“Very,” said Midor, as he crawled outside of the wolf den. “And I’ll happily take some of the food as well. It’s not often I get to eat delicacies from the castle.”
“That’s what I figured. How has life been in the wolf den?”
“I only crawl in here when I need to sleep. During the day I’ve been patrolling the forest. And helping to keep an eye on what’s left of the underground chamber.”
“What is there to keep an eye on?”
“If the monsters get free of their realm, that’s where they’ll come out of.”
“And what would you do if they did get out?”
“I don’t know. Warn everyone I guess. Your father is the hereditary monster slayer.”
“Yes, and I am next in line.”
“He usually favors his male heirs, doesn’t he? Rufus and George are always with him.”
“Yes, but I’ve been trained just as much as they have.”
“So what would you do if the monsters did come out?”
“I would join my father in combat.”
“And that’s why I have to stay here,” said Midor. “I could never let you fight alone.” He ate from the plate in silence for a minute, before asking, “Have you asked your father about me?”
“He still refuses to talk about you,” said Vivian. “He still wants you banned from his kingdom.
“He’s still never forgiven me for stealing you away twenty years ago.”
“You didn’t steal me. I went with you of my own free will. And I came back of my own free will. Once I realized what my duty was.”
“Your father doesn’t see it that way.”
“No, of course.”
“How is Robert doing?”
Tears filled into Vivian’s eyes. “You’ve raised our son into a fine young man, Midor.”
“It’s not too late, you know. The three of us could still go off together and be a family.”
“And let the monsters take over?”
“After the monsters are over, I mean.”
“It’s never going to be over. This kingdom needs someone to protect it, and I am the heir.”
“Your father is still healthy. You won’t be needed for many years.”
Vivian noticed that Midor had finished the food, and she started picking up the plates. “I’ll be back again tomorrow, Midor,” she said.
*************************************************************************
Robert was walking back to the castle when he bumped into Grace, who was going out the castle door. “Hello, Robert,” she said. “Where have you been?”
“I was just talking to my father,” he said.
“And how is the great Midor doing?” said Grace, with a hint of irony in her voice.
“Oh, he’s fine. He’s been patrolling the forest and making sure all the animals are ready. He thinks it’s only a matter of time before the monsters get out.”
“You’re not patrolling with him?”
“I’m going back to talk to my mother.”
“You’ve been doing a lot of talking to everyone recently,” said Grace. “But you’ve hardly said a word to me all week.”
Robert’s cheeks turned slightly red. “I’ve been busy,” he said. “It’s a lot to take in Grace--meeting my mother for the first time, seeing my father again, who I thought was dead…”
“Yes, I know,” Grace said. “It must have been so overwhelming since we’ve come to this castle. And so that’s why I haven’t complained until now, but,” Grace smiled, “I’m complaining now. I want you to at least take some time to talk to me a little bit, every now and then. Thomas talks to me all the time.” Grace watched Robert’s eyes carefully as she said the last part.
“Thomas is less worried about disturbing you than I am.”
“Disturbing me?”
“I would hate to bother you by trying to talk to you when I’m not wanted.”
“And when have I ever given you the impression that you weren’t wanted.”
“It’s just that I don’t want to presume…” Robert’s face grew red, and he stopped talking. Then he said, “Forgive me Grace. I was raised in this forest. I never talked to girls my own age before.”
“I’ll forgive you,” Grace said. “If you’ll walk through the castle gardens with me.”
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