Blossom

Menodora is a four year old dark bay Thoroughbred, a gorgeous animal. I am enthralled by her. I spend the next two days riding her all over the countryside. It’s an absolute delight. But tonight there will be a full moon, and my fun with Menodora will come to an end.

I feel pensive today as I ride up the side of the mountain to a hidden lake I know, deep in thought. It’s a mood I’m not really used to, but I can’t help myself. There’s just so much going on in my life right now.

I’ve worked more for my kingdom these past two weeks than I have in the last two years. It’s been tiring, taking on so much responsibility, but it felt good too. Like my life really had a purpose. And now I’m to go back to the sea. To play and idle my days away, leaving my country in the hands of my father. He’s well meaning, but he definitely has his own ideas for running the country, and I wonder if he’ll really take my wishes into account while I’m away. 

The obvious solution is to break the curse so I can rule as I like, but what if I can’t do that? I already know I won’t be content to let my father run the country for the rest of my life. Then what? Shall I marry as our custom demands, and ascend the throne as I am? But who will have me when I’m like this?

There is one man, I consider seriously as I crest the hill overlooking the deep blue mountain lake. A man who met me as a siren, and accepted me for what I was.

Though I haven’t known him long, I’m sure of this: Eamon is special. I’ve been so busy and distracted these last few weeks that I’ve hardly had time to think of him, but now that the prospect of meeting up with him is on the horizon, I get butterflies just imagining it.

Of course it’s too soon to consider marriage. But is it alright to say I intend to see him again with that prospect in mind? He doesn’t know I’m actually human yet, much less the princess. But if he did…

Deep in thought, I am startled by a sudden movement just ahead of me. I recognize another horse and rider. I guess my secret mountain lake is not so secret after all. Well, that’s alright. I’m not worried about trouble; I have my short sword with me. 

I’m dressed in soldier’s clothing, men’s trousers and vest. For formal occasions I wear the ceremonial garments of our ancestors, but for recreation, I’m happy to wear modern men’s garb, though Lois in particular is scandalized by this behavior.

With my hair pulled back and the sun blazing on my face, I approach the man fearlessly, thinking I’ll strike up a conversation while I water my horse. Then I recognize a certain fiery red mane, and I cringe.  

“Princess,” Malchus Zenobia stands beside a tall chestnut stallion, calmly stroking its neck. “I didn’t expect you’d follow me here.”

“Follow you?” I scoff. “You have a big imagination, for an orangutan.”

He chuckles at this as I slip out of the saddle and lead Menodora to the water. She drinks deeply while I glare suspiciously at Malchus.

He looks different when he smiles, I decide. Somehow it makes his rugged, handsome face more intrepid, almost heroic. Like a hero out of an epic, or a temperamental, charismatic god.

“I’ll confess I was waiting for you.”

“How’d you know I’d be here?”

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.”

“Were you following me the last few days?”

“Protecting you. Guarding you in case any bandits showed up.”

I scoff again. “I don’t need your protection.”

Malchus eyes the sword on my hip and shrugs in response. Then he reaches out suddenly and takes it right off of me before I can so much as think about defending myself.

“Give that back!”

“If I were a bandit, you’d already be dead.”

“That’s not fair, I wasn’t on guard around you!”

“No?” he whirls the sword around easily and grins again. My heart does a ridiculous flip flop in my chest for which I am immediately annoyed. What the hell? I am not going to let myself be impressed by this hairy ape’s antics.

“So,” he says, changing the subject abruptly as he hands the sword back hilt first. “Did you miss me?”

“Miss you?”

I suppose he hasn’t been harassing me as much these past few days. In fact, now he mentions it, I haven’t even seen him.

“Carthalo said to stay back, give you space to miss me. But I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t go another day without seeing your face.” 

I smirk, unable to resist the urge to tease him. “I didn’t miss you for a moment. Though I was a bit anxious. Always looking over my shoulder, wondering what weird prank you were going to pull next.”

“Prank?” His face reddens with predictable fury. “Those were demonstrations of my sincere feelings!”

I laugh and he sobers at once, fascinated by me. This guy, he wears his emotions so plainly, it’s impossible not to know exactly what he’s thinking.

“Has anyone ever told you your smile is breathtaking?”

My stupid heart. Why are you beating so fast right now? Are you really so happy to be complimented by an orangutan?

I turn my nose up slightly.

“You think I’ve been living under a rock? People tell me that all the time.”

“Ah. I suppose the bards write songs about your beauty, too.”

“Are you making fun of me right now?”

“Not at all.”

“Hmph.”

“Marry me, Delphine.”

There he goes again with the random marriage proposal. Usually it would just annoy me, but for some reason today my heart must be really confused. It just won’t stop racing at every little thing he says. Is my face red right now? Gods, I hope my face isn’t red…

“I’m sorry for coming on too strongly before,” he says, and I watch him with curiosity, getting the distinct impression this man doesn’t apologize often. “It’s just, I fell for you so hard and so fast, I didn’t know how else to express it. But I hate thinking that I’ve already screwed up with you. Will you let me give it another shot? I promise this time I’ll show you my good sides and capture your heart.”

“It’s not about seeing your good sides or falling for you,” I say, and my voice sounds a little funny. “It just wouldn’t work between us, can’t you see that? I’m the crown princess, I can never leave this island, not even if the emperor’s own son proposes to me. And you can’t settle down here. You have your duty to the empire. So it doesn’t matter what either of our feelings are. You and I can never be together.”

Malchus is frowning, deep in thought, really considering my words. This hotheaded fool, has none of this occurred to him until now? I sigh with exasperation and lead Menodora aside to a pasture of grass interspersed with yellow flowers. She starts to munch happily but Malchus catches her reins.

“She can’t eat here.”

“She can eat where she likes,” I snap at him. For a change Malchus doesn’t snap back, but calmly leads my horse aside.

“Those flowers are toxic. Usually horses won’t eat poisonous plants because they taste bad, but sunburst thistle has no flavor. You have to be careful.”

I sober at his words. We’ve been to this lake a few times already, but until now I don’t think I’ve allowed her to eat the yellow flowers. I’m thankful for his wisdom, and a bit humbled.

“You know a lot,” I remark, somehow unable to make myself thank him.

“Well, I am a few years older than you,” he replies and I wince, recalling all the times I made fun of his age. “I didn’t let all those years pass for nothing. Don’t you find it gross?” he adds with a self-deprecating chuckle.

“Not really,” I admit, and he looks up, pinning me to the spot with the intensity of his yellow-green eyes. “Actually, the fact that you’re older, it’s a little bit…”

“What?”

“…reassuring.”

Malchus swallows hard. He looks about to say something, but I turn quickly and mount my horse.

“I should get back. There are things I need to set in order before tonight.”

“What happens tonight?”

“None of your business,” I answer, kicking Menodora into a trot. Behind me Malchus mounts his horse and trots after. I am less annoyed by the thought of his company than I usually am, and tolerate him riding side by side with me. He seems to be on his best behavior for a change, though the same can’t be said for our horses, who’ve suddenly begun exhibiting a keen interest in one another. 

“Your mare’s in heat,” Malchus observes.

“Well, keep your horse away from her, she’s a Thoroughbred,” I reply irritably. 

“Hannibal’s a Thoroughbred too, I have his papers on my ship.”

“Hmph.”

“It’s not a bad match. Can’t you just picture their foal?”

“No, I can’t.”

“You don’t think she feels anything for him?”

“She feels sorry for him.”

Malchus is laughing. He’s enjoying teasing me, I think. I really hope I’m not blushing.

“I’m being nice to you for now, but don’t get any ideas about us,” I say to him later as we’re coming off the mountain. “I already have someone I like, and he’s way better looking than you. Like way, way, way better looking. Besides, we’ve already kissed.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous?”

“I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. I’m probably going to marry him.”

“We’ll see about that…”