Simina found it hard to focus when there were other things on her mind. Oliver had her dusting off books, but Matilda wanted her in the kitchen cleaning up dishes. Matilda said she had lots of work for her today. She wanted her to dust the books while Gloria sanded the shelves, making more work for Simina because of the sandy, dusty stuff created from the sanding, and then she had to wash the dishes and clean the stables.
Simina hated working with Gloria, but not so much Olivia. Gloria did everything possible in her power to make more work for her and to make things harder. When washing dishes later, while Olivia dried the others and put them away, Simina saw Gloria purposely drop a dish in a way that made it look like Simina did it. Simina then would have to sweep it up and throw away the tiny shards.
Olivia, on the other hand, tried to help Simina all she could. She washed Simina's dishes for her while Simina swept. Gloria had also tracked mud all across the foyer and the carpets. Simina was made to mop it up and bless Olivia's soul who offered to help. Simina's back started hurting halfway through her day and just all around felt glum.
Today, her thoughts were more preoccupied. This surprised her though, since she didn't usually have that much to think about. But now she did. She didn't really have “things” on her mind. Rather it was just one thing. Nar.
She hadn't seen him all day, though she usually would have on any other normal day.
“Matilda, where is Nar today?” Simina asked her while cleaning the dining room. Matilda raised a questioning eyebrow. Simina realized that she'd used his first name, which probably wasn't used very much among commoners.
“Oh, I mean, the Prince. Where is the Prince?” Simina reworded her question. Matilda's brow now creased with suspicion.
“He's not here today. The Prince is away taking care of royal business. Why?” Her eyes narrowed at Simina. She blushed and turned her gaze away from Matilda.
“No reason. I was just...wondering,” Simina muttered and quickly skittered away from Matilda to continue her chores. She didn't want anyone to suspect that she had interest in the Prince; but she was sure somehow that Gloria already suspected, the little wench.
Simina had hoped to see him today. He had said that she would see him. She sighed, feeling glum. She wanted to go somewhere quiet where she could be alone. Simina requested this of Matilda and so she granted her request, telling her to go clean out the stables.
So Simina went out to the castle grounds, feet crunching the snow, but did not go directly to the stables. She took a walk through the castle garden. Simina had never been in the garden before. She thought it magnificent. There were rows of large hedges that were a sparkling, frosty blue. Despite the cold weather, Simina saw beds of blooming flowers all around. She saw a bed of snow white flowers, coated with a chilly frost and they sparkled in the sunlight.
These flowers, she recalled, were called Ice Flowers, a type of flower that thrived in cold weather. Next to the bed of Ice Flowers was a bush of Frost Berries, sparkling like blue crystals, just like the blue snow. Every flower here thrived in cold weather. Without the cold, they'd die.
Simina walked under a canopy of Frost Bells that hung above her and they sprinkled little blue sparkles onto her head. She smiled as they landed softly on her nose and cheeks. She saw another bed of flowers, but these next ones were different. These flowers were also a frosty, icy blue and Simina remembered that they were called Frosty Winkles. But Simina's favorite were the black roses. She liked how they sparkled a dark purple like Nar's mist. Their beauty was indescribable.
Simina thought it beautiful, but did not lolly gag for too much longer because she had to clean the stables; so that is what she did. Nar's horse was of course there, sitting in the stables. Simina cleared out all of the snow, replaced his hay and water supply and cleaned out the remains of his feces.
After a while, Simina brushed and cleaned Nar's horse, the same exact one she'd stolen. She admired his horse in all of its black beauty, petting it, stroking its mane. It neighed to her and nuzzled Simina under her chin. This made Simina giggle, so she put her arms around the horse's neck and hugged him.
Simina loved horses. This horse reminded her of her old horse Winona, the horse she missed so. She missed the beauty of Winona, missed riding her. This only made her nostalgic and caused a wave of sadness to overflow her. She missed her quiet town of the Left. She missed her quaint little cottage, her father, and her friend Ernest. Simina really missed the games her and Ernest would play, the pretty woods, the stream they drank from. But most of all, she missed the library and all of those books. Simina hugged the horse tightly, gently petting it. She honestly saw no point as to why the Lazerian Government sent her to the Right. She still hadn't gotten married yet anyhow. Simina sighed and pulled away from the horse.
“I miss my home. I was happy there. I had friends there. Here, I only have one friend,” she muttered to the horse. She considered her own friend here to be Nar. At least he was nice to her. Besides Olivia of course. Simina felt that she didn't belong here, on the Right. She wanted to go back to the Left, where everything seemed much simpler. There she didn't have Gloria, a demeaning cousin to make life harder for her. But if she did go back to the Left, she'd miss Nar.
Simina was so focused on her thoughts that she paid no attention to the sound of footsteps behind her.
“Do you ride?” A familiar voice from behind spoke to her. Simina turned, hoping it to be who she thought it was, and she was right. It was Nar standing behind her. She smiled at him.
“Nar! Yes, of course I ride. I used to before I came here,” Simina told him. She resisted the urge to run to him and give him a hug. Simina took a few steps closer to him.
“I haven't seen you all day. You told me that I would see you. Where have you been?” she asked him, almost pouting. Nar's smile vanished. A troubled expression replaced it.
“I was...away,” Nar said, a strain to his voice. She cocked her head at him.
“Away where? You can tell me.” Simina's voice lowered. Nar looked at her. Seeing her face gave him relief. Nar found it easy to open up to her. Talking to her was easy. He figured he could tell her, Nar didn't see the harm in it.
“There's been some diplomacy issues with another Kingdom. They are refusing to make a trade agreement and form an alliance. I fear we are on the brink of war. The King of Azria wants our land, the land that will soon be mine, once I take the throne,” Nar explained to Simina. She noticed this troubled him very much. It sadden her to see him troubled. She wanted to make him feel better. Simina placed a hand on his face to comfort him. Before she knew it, strange words blurted from her mouth.
“Do not be troubled, my Prince. Is there anything I can do to help you?” Simina asked soothingly. Nar thought it sweet of her to ask, her concern for him was charming. He offered her a sad smile and placed his hand over hers.
“My Lady, it's flattering that you show concern for me, but I do not wish to worry you with my troubles.” Nar took her hand away. When he saw the dismissed look in her eyes, he immediately felt guilty.
“Walk with me?” he said quickly after. Simina nodded.
“Sure.” They started to walk and Simina fell into step beside him. They said nothing for a while, just walked in silence. Nar didn't know what to say to her. He thought he might've hurt her feelings when he took away her hand. Guilt gnawed at him. Nar thought he should say something. But what? What should he say? Nar felt he might lose his head.
“Do you like my horse?” Nar started, considering that he'd watched her hug up on his horse a few minutes ago.
“Yes, I do. It's a beautiful horse,” Simina replied.
Nar grinned. “Is that why you stole it?”
Simina turned to glare at him. “No,” she responded curtly. Nar chuckled.
“I like horses. I used to have one, before I came here. Her name was Winona.”
“What was she like?” Simina again felt nostalgic as she recalled.
“She was a gray horse with spots and she rode just like the wind.” She sighed.
“I wish I had a horse. I miss Winona.”
“Tell me more about you,” Simina requested. She hardly knew that much about him, he was such a mystery.
“As you know, I am an only child,” Nar began.
“So am I,” Simina quickly added. She found it pleasing to have things in common with the Prince.
“I have no siblings. My mother died when I was young, a small child-” Nar paused because Simina interrupted with a gasp.
“Nar, I'm sorry.” Nar accepted her condolences and continued.
“I was about five when she died from the plague.” Simina watched Nar's eyes cloud over with sadness. It made her think of her own mother. As they walked they entered the garden.
“My mother died from the plague too,” Simina said, starting to feel a special connection with him.
“I am sorry for your loss,” he said mournfully. “When did she die?” Simina took a deep breath, feeling the hole in her chest reopen, the part that her mother used to fill.
“About five years ago. I was eleven.” Simina heard her voice waver. She shook her head.
“I don't want to talk about it. I want to know your childhood.” She changed the subject. Nar nodded in understanding.
“My father remarried again after a while. He remarried several times, actually. But the marriages never lasted. Some of them he divorced, a few of them...died.” He hesitated at the last part. Simina looked at him and drew her brow.
“Died?” she wondered. Nar's face changed. He now looked more like a stone.
“I killed a few of them,” he said emotionlessly. Simina's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
“You killed them?!” Nar grimaced at her high-pitched voice.
“It was an accident. I didn't mean to kill them,” Nar said. Simina felt a little reassured.
“What happened?” He continued.
“I was ten, maybe a little older. My powers were starting to develop. Some of his wives were mean to me or would hurt me. I got angry. And without my control, my powers unleashed upon them and killed them,” Nar explained. Simina thought how terrible it would be to be a ten year old and kill someone by accident.
“That's terrible,” Simina muttered. And she complained about going to school when she was that age. He said nothing. Neither did Simina. Both fell silent. Simina stared at the flowers and let a smile stretch her lips. She went over to each bed of flowers and ran her hand across the petals. Simina cupped an Ice Flower in her hands, bent down and sniffed it daintily. A cool breeze sucked up her nostrils, filling her nose with the sweet scent of frosted vanilla. She brushed her finger along each petal until moving onto the next bed of flowers, which were the Frosty Winkles.
Nar watched her sniff the flowers and gently caress them, then smile with pleasantness at the beauty of them. Nar liked that the flowers pleased her, he liked how happy it made her. He liked to see her happy. Nar smiled. Her beauty was indescribable. Simina's plump cheeks were flushed red from the cold weather, her lovely curly locks of hair draping around her pretty face. Nar liked Simina. Perhaps even loved her, but maybe it was too soon to say. He wanted to be with her. Simina noticed him staring and smiled at him. Nar blushed and smiled bashfully.
“Your garden is beautiful,” Simina cooed. “I love it.” She sniffed the Frosty Winkles. They smelled like blue raspberry. She stroked the petals.
“Who planted them?” she asked Nar.
“I did. Sometimes Matilda helped.” Simina stared at Nar with admiring eyes.
“You like flowers?” She meant it to be a statement rather than a question. Nar just couldn't seem to stop smiling when he was around her.
“Yes, of course. I enjoy their everlasting beauty,” Nar said, caressing a flower. Simina squinted with confusion.
“But won't they wilt?” Simina didn't understand what he meant. Nar shook his head.
“They'll never wilt. I enchanted them with everlasting beauty.” Simina found that fascinating. She caught sight of the black roses, her favorites, with the purple sparkling glitter floating around them. She touched one, fascinated by their beauty.
“I like these ones the most. I've never seen anything like them before.” Her voice sounded enchanting. Nar liked being able to please her. He'd do anything to please her. While Nar wasn't paying attention, Simina picked up a handful of snow and packed it up into a ball. With a mischievous smile, she threw it at him. It hit him in the shoulder. Nar looked up. Simina snorted, holding back a laugh. She grinned. Nar smirked.
“Oh really?” He cocked up an eyebrow. Simina nodded, giggling. Nar bent down and made his own snowball. He threw one back at her, but Simina dodged it. She stuck her tongue out at him.
“Missed me!” she teased. Nar threw another. It hit her this time. She gasped.
“Oh no you didn't.” Nar laughed. An all-out snowball war started between the two. They kept throwing snowballs back and forth at each other. Nar's heart sung with happiness. This was the first time in a while Nar felt happy. Truly happy. He hadn't felt this happy for a long time. Simina made him happy. She brought out his happiness.
Simina and Nar kept throwing snowballs at each other until Simina begged him to stop through her laughter. Nar was winning. So they stopped, both of them laughing and giggling, rolling in the snow. Finally, they stood, and Simina went to him, no longer resisting the urge to run into his arms. Nar took her in his arms, picked her up and twirled her around in the air until he put her down and they hugged each other tight.
Simina laughed as she laid her head on his shoulder and breathed with content. She closed her eyes. Nar held her close to him, petting her hair, stroking his fingers through it. He enjoyed her warmth, her closeness. She smelled sweet, like his lilacs. Even though he was the happiest man in the world right now, Nar felt sad. He couldn't stay with her long; tomorrow, he'd be leaving again. He had to settle the dispute in Azria. Nar had no idea how long he'd be gone.
“I must tell you something,” Nar said to Simina. She must have caught the sad tone to his voice because she looked up.
“Is something wrong?” Worry creased her beautiful young features. Her voice sounded so sweet, Nar wanted to just kiss her right then and there, but held back his temptation.
“No, my sweet. Nothing is wrong,” he assured her and kissed her forehead.
“Then what is it?” Simina wanted to know. Nar sighed.
“I have to go again.” Her smiled faded.
“When?” This made Simina upset. She didn't want Nar going anywhere. She had feelings for him.
“Tomorrow. I have to settle this dispute. I have no idea how long I'll be gone. It depends on how long it takes to settle the dispute and the methods used to settle it. But I promise, I'll write to you.”
Simina shook her head vigorously.
“No. I don't want you to go.”
She pushed her face into his shirt and held on tight. After that, Nar said nothing more. He just held her there with him, wanting to comfort her in any way he could. Simina gripped Nar tighter to her, pulling him closer, snuggling her head deeper. He felt her hot breath on his skin, her warmth radiating into his hands as he touched her. Just then, Nar thought of something that might make her feel slightly better, and he smiled.
“I have something to show you,” he said, and pulled away. Simina pulled back from him, curious.
“What?” Nar held out his hand, palm up.
“Watch.” Simina looked at his hand. To her amazement, she saw a small flurry of purple glittering sparkles gathering in the middle of his hand. They swirled all around very fast, spiraling like they were making something. She stared in wonder at them and slowly, a wisp of purple mist joined. The wisp of purple spiraled and the purple sparkles absorbed into the purple wisp, forming a bright green stem. Simina opened her mouth and gasped.
“Ooh!” she squealed. Nar smiled at her delight. The purple wisp swirled up higher, just as the sparkles gathered in number, glowing brighter. Two small little wisps formed on the stem and made two leaves. The curling purple wisp at the top absorbed all of the gathered sparkles, transforming into a beautiful, spiraling black rose with many petals. Simina gasped, gaping at its beauty. Purple glitter fluttered around it and each petal sparkled. It glowed magnificently, levitating in the middle of his palm. Simina's jaw dropped in awe.
“Oh my,” she sighed, breathless. Smiling, Nar took the rose by the stem. He offered it to her.
“For you,” Nar wisped, voice dripping with sweet honey. Unable to speak, Simina took the fragile flower with two delicate hands.
“Oh Nar, it's beautiful.” She brushed a gentle finger along the edge of a petal. She brought her nose to it and sniffed daintily. It smelled like a rose, but with the scent of lilac. It smelled like lavender, like Nar. Simina felt Nar's finger brush across her jawline. She looked up as Nar tilted up her face to see her. He cupped her chin.
“I've enchanted this flower. As long as I live, this flower shall never wilt. It will only wilt when I start to die. Take it, and keep me with you, always,” Nar whispered and let his hand drop. Simina smiled at him.
“Thank you, Nar,” she thanked him gratefully and so she stood up on her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. Nar stood stunned at her actions. Besides her hugs, this was the first real sign of affection from her. After he composed himself, he leaned forward. He buried his nose in her hair, closing his eyes.
“Mmm. Always, my Lady,” he whispered and kissed the top of her head. Simina closed her eyes. As he kissed her, he used his magic to send her home. When Simina opened her eyes, Nar was gone, and she stood on her front porch alone, holding his flower.