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Annabeth retired to her tent, her head reeling. She sank down on her cot, placed her head in her hands, and rubbed her temples.
What do I do? Oh, God, what should I do? She had never thought beyond day by day, sometimes hour by hour; at times her survival depended upon mere seconds. Now, unexpectedly, her life stood long before her, full—full of questions, questions she had no idea how to answer.
Annabeth had just spoken with King Fredric and then with King Harold. Their plans for her were incredible, and she felt overwhelmed, honored, and unworthy.
“Annabeth?” It was Song Lark’s voice at the flap of her tent.
“Come in,” she invited. “How are you, Song Lark?”
“Much better than you are, I think,” he answered, strumming the strings of his lute.
“I have a feeling you’re right. I haven’t the faintest clue of what I should do.”
Song Lark chuckled and patted her cheek affectionately. “You’ll figure it out. But I have come to say my farewell.”
“You’re leaving?” Annabeth exclaimed in dismay. “You can’t leave; not yet.”
“I don’t dare stay any longer. My lute is longing to be played, and my feet are itching to be on the road.”
“I half wish I could go with you.”
“Why would you want to do a thing like that?”
Annabeth sighed and sagged back onto her cot. “I am tired. I want—I want... I don’t know what I want.”
“You want to get away from everything you’ve known, is that it? But to get away from everything you have ever known seems disloyal and untrue, and so unlike yourself, you don’t know what to do.”
“But I don’t want to leave forever. I just—” Annabeth sighed.
“You’ll figure it out, Annabeth,” he said, patting her head. “But for now, farewell!” Strumming the strings of his lute, he made a cadenced step out of the tent, singing with all of his heart.
I once knew a maid
Who carried a blade
Oh hey nonie nonie na no.
I once knew a man
Who had no plan
Oh hey nonie nonie na no.
Together they fought
And a victory wrought
Oh hey nonie nonie na no.
...
And Song Lark and his verses were gone.
Annabeth walked to the far side of her tent. She mustn’t run. She had gotten so used to running it almost felt a part of her, but then again, it wasn’t what she wanted.
What did she really, truly want? It came to her mind, but she shoved it aside as impossible. Ransom’s face had flashed before her in her mind’s eye. It wasn’t really possible. She turned around, only to start in surprise.
“Oh, hello, Eliot. Can I do something for you?”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“You didn’t frighten me. I was just startled, that’s all.”
Eliot’s mouth twisted into a smile. “Of course. I called out twice, but when I didn’t get an answer I thought I would come in.”
“I am sorry; my mind was elsewhere.”
“You needn’t apologize. It is I who has come to apologize.”
“For what?”
“Can you really be so forgiving to a man who captured you and put you on the rack? Not only that, but turned it and did this?” he said, touching her shoulder.
“You were only doing what you thought you had to. It was your job. You had to make him believe you. If you hadn’t, I still might be down there and most likely dead.”
“I don’t know about that. I have never seen a girl fight like you have.”
“I gave up down there. I wouldn’t have made it out without...” She let her words trail off into silence.
“Ransom is a good man. We trained together when the king hired us for his service. There are few men I admire more than him.”
She nodded in agreement, still feeling silent and puzzled by what she was struggling with in the back of her mind.
“Annabeth. I am sorry for what I did; I truly regret it. Please, forgive me.”
“I already have. You are forgiven,” she said, offering him her hand.
He took it with a smile tweaking the corners of his mouth. “It has been an honor to know you, and I hope that if you decide to become my king’s ward that I will see you often.”
“Did he make you come here to try to convince me?”
Eliot’s eyes smiled quietly. “No. I just wanted to make sure I would not be a roadblock in your decision making. Your choices are difficult ones.”
“Yes, they are. Thank you for coming. I appreciate it.”
“It was my privilege and honor.”
Just then, Prince Alfred came bursting through the tent door. “Annabeth!” He stopped short on seeing Eliot. His posture bristled.
“What are you doing here?” accused Prince Alfred, his eyes sparking with slowly warming anger.
“Is it customary for you to come bursting into a young lady’s tent like that?”
“What right have you to correct me?”
“And what right have you to come barging in here?”
“That is none of your business. I demand an apology. No, on second thought, I think you should apologize to Annabeth for putting her on the rack!” Prince Alfred growled.
“Alfred, please.”
“Annabeth, do you have any idea who this man is?”
“I am not so daft in my head that I do not know the man who played my captor.”
“He did more than play it, Anna. This man here put you on the rack and twisted until he dislocated your shoulder.”
“I am perfectly aware of that, your highness.”
“I don’t think you are.”
“Please, Alf, stop.”
“Annabeth!”
“She asked you to stop, your highness. Why don’t you honor her wishes?” interrupted Eliot.
“You stay out of this. It concerns Anna and me—not you.”
“I am afraid it does. I am standing here, and the conversation is about me.”
Prince Alfred glared at him dangerously.
“Alf, please, let it be for now. What did you want to see me about?”
“I came to see if you had made up your mind yet.”
Annabeth sighed and let her shoulders sag. “I haven’t. Not yet.”
“Well, I am just letting you know there is a place for you always in Lady Christina’s and my court.”
“You and Christina?”
“Yes. Our court,” he said with a smile. “Father finalized that while you were ill. We spent so much time together that...we fell in love.”
Annabeth suddenly felt baffled beyond anything she had ever felt. “Congratulations,” she managed at last. “I wish you the greatest joy in all the world. You deserve it.”
“Thank you, Annabeth. Now do say yes and add to our joy. Please. Christina and I have talked it over, and she desperately wants you to be one of her ladies in waiting.”
“I don’t know, Alfred. I will really have to think about it, and I am feeling very tired right now, so if you don’t mind...”
“Of course. Think about it as long as you need to.”
“I will.”
“Thank you, Annabeth.”
“Aren’t you going to apologize for just bursting in here?” asked Eliot, his arms folded over his chest, his eyes challenging the prince.
“Annabeth is a friend of mine. I have committed no crime, and I certainly don’t intend to take advice from a man such as yourself. If you ask me, Anna shouldn’t even consider any sort of proposal from a country that can hurt her like that. Your king and your country put her on the rack.”
“Alfred, they also rescued me. Besides, my father and King Harold became good friends. Please don’t speak of it.”
“Fine. I won’t, but I still think this man has much to answer for.”
“He has apologized, your highness. Now please leave off quarreling. It is all over and done with.”
“All right, if that is what you really want...but I still think that...”
“My king has nothing to do with this mess. My orders came directly from your father, Prince Alfred. He told me do whatever needed to be done. He gave me the orders to help Raburn find Annabeth and bring her in.”
“My father would never do any such thing!”
“Your father has just come from a battlefield where he has seen worse things happen.”
“My father would never give such an order.”
“Then ask him yourself.”
“Tell me why your king said he gave the order.”
“He knew you wouldn’t understand your father.”
“You are a liar!”
“Prove it.”
Prince Alf swung his right fist towards Eliot, who ducked, landing a direct blow into the prince’s stomach. For a moment Alfred doubled over in pain, but a second later the prince’s angry fists were firing at Eliot again. Faking another right hook, he caught Eliot firmly in the jaw with his left. Eliot saved himself from a complete fall and was up again in a moment. With a swing of his fists, he caught Prince Alfred on the side of his face.
After the first few moments of shock wore off, Annabeth began to protest. “Stop it. Alfred! Eliot. Stop! Stop it, please.”
At that moment, Ransom entered.
“What on earth is going on here?”
Neither of the men answered, and Annabeth was too distressed to respond.
Grabbing the back of Eliot’s jerkin, Ransom pulled then pushed him out of the tent. As Prince Alfred went after him, Ransom caught him and walked towards the back of the tent.
“Stop it!” protested Prince Alfred, trying to shake off Ransom’s strong, coolheaded arms.
“No, you stop it.”
A moment later, Eliot came rushing back in.
Annabeth grabbed onto Eliot’s arm. At her touch he stopped, breathing heavily.
“I’ll tear you to pieces,” muttered Alf through clenched teeth; he was still boiling with anger. “How dare you accuse my father of such an action!”
Eliot’s anger had calmed.
“Because it’s true.”
“Eliot. Stop this,” commanded Ransom; his voice was calm, but anger hid in his firm tone.
“I am not the one who started it.”
Ransom sent him an angry look, then turned to Prince Alfred.
“What were you thinking? You should know better, especially with Annabeth in her weak condition. She has been through enough without the two of you coming in here and fighting like street urchins who don’t know any better.”
“You are right. I shall call for a truce. No more angry words between us; at least not in Annabeth’s presence. We shall settle it like true gentlemen and get to the bottom of this matter.”
“Agreed,” answered Eliot.
“Come; let’s go see my father,” said Alf, brushing by Eliot. At the tent door Alf turned back and looked at Annabeth. “I am sorry, Annabeth.”
“It’s all right, Alf.”
In a moment, Eliot and Prince Alfred were gone.
“Are you all right, Beth?”
“I am fine,” her voice was sharp.
“What is the matter?” Ransom asked, turning Annabeth to face him.
“I can take care of myself, Ransom. Thank you for your help. You may go if you wish,” she said, pushing his hands away.
Ransom waited a moment, wanting to look into Annabeth’s eyes, but they refused to meet his.
“Well, I better make sure those two don’t kill each other. I’ll see you later, Annabeth.”
“Yes, that would be a good idea.”
Slowly, Ransom walked past her and to the tent entrance. Annabeth spun around.
“Ransom.”
He paused and turned back slightly.
“Yes?”
“Of all the people I could be angry with, it shouldn’t be you. I am sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly. I was wrong. Forgive me, please?”
“Of course I forgive you, Annabeth,” he said, and started to leave.
“Ransom.”
“Yes?”
Annabeth bit her lip before she dared let the question pass her lips. “Do you really think I am weak?”
In two steps he was by her side. Taking her face in his hands, he lifted it to meet his own. “No, I don’t think you are weak. You are one of the strongest people I have ever known. Is that what hurt you—why you spoke sharply to me?”
“Yes. I am sorry it was so petty. But I need to be strong right now. There is so much to decide, and my head gets so dizzy. I—I don’t know what to do, Ransom, and when you said that, my silly pride rose and snapped at you. I am so sorry...”
Ransom laid his finger over her mouth. “Shh. It’s all right.”
Annabeth met his eyes. Something in her pulled to lean against him, to let herself cry on his shoulder. But she bit her lip and took a deep breath instead.
“So they told you all of their grand plans for you?” Ransom asked.
“Yes, and I haven’t a clue what I should do. They told me to do what I want, but I really don’t know what I want. I have been working all of this time to get my father free and I was going to do whatever he wanted—and he didn’t even have plans. He didn’t think he’d get out of Raburn’s prison.” Annabeth took a deep breath and let it out. Her head was spinning again, and she wrung her hands, trying to get her nerves to stop flying about in her chest like restless butterflies.
Ransom caught Annabeth’s anxious hands. Her palms were sweaty. “What do you want?”
“That is the thing; I don’t know.”
“No. I am asking what do you want?”
Annabeth looked up at him, confused.
Ransom stepped closer, looking into her eyes.
“Forget everything they have offered you, everything that anyone has ever asked you. Forget about trying to please the King Harold or King Fredric or Alf or anyone else. What do you want to see happen in your life?”
“I—” she shook her head, her brow wrinkling with confusion.
“Close your eyes.”
With a resigned sigh, Annabeth obeyed.
Ransom whispered in her ear. “Now tell me what you wish for most of all.”
She shook her head.
“Do you want to go on being the mysterious Annabeth, carrying a sword all around the country, or would you like to become a great lady?”
“No.” Annabeth shook her head and opened her eyes. “I just want to be me. I don’t want riches; I don’t want to have to fight. I will fight for what I love, but I don’t want to have to fight all of my life. I don’t much care what I do or where I go; I just want to love and be loved. I have dreamed of living in a cottage by a laughing stream, and having children, and...” Annabeth stopped short and shook her head. “I am such a silly dreamer. I am sorry.” She started to turn away, her heart beating frantically in her chest. She had said much more than she had planned on saying to anyone, ever.
Ransom caught her hands.
“Can I share one of my dreams with you?”
Annabeth looked up at Ransom, puzzled. “What?”
“You see, I have a dream. It is about sharing a cottage by a stream with the woman I love. And I love her not because she is amazing with a sword, or because she is strong, or because she is a hero and the beginning of a legend. I love her because she has a tender heart, a gentle hand, an inward beauty that steals my heart. I want to protect, love, cherish, and always be with her.” Ransom stopped and swallowed the lump in his throat.
Annabeth was looking at him as one transfixed.
“That is my dream, Annabeth, and I would be honored if you would share it with me.”
“Are you in earnest?”
“I would not have spoken if it wasn’t with an earnest heart—one that is all yours, if you want it.”
“That is what I want most of all.”
“Will you marry me, Annabeth?” he asked, stepping close and slipping his arms around her.
“Yes, Ransom. With all my heart, yes.”
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The End