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| The Runic Heart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Act two: A chance encounter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For what felt like eternity - the two were frozen. It was then that Angela snapped out of it and quickly covered herself with her arms. Harmen bashfully turned away and covered his eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uh - I am so sorry," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you doing here?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just - looking for some water for my horse - I swear I didn't know," he reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just - stay where you are," she warned as she swam over to where her clothes were. She quickly got out and began to get dressed. Usually she would wait a while as to not get her clothes drenched - but today - she didn't quite have that luxury. Harmen leaned against the rocks behind him and sighed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am sorry," he said seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't - worry about it. How did you get here?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Wasn't easy - this place is hard to get to - probably why you came here in the first place. It is quiet breath taking - from the quick glance I got," he replied casually. "Uhm - is it safe to turn around?" he asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - I guess," she replied. Harmen slowly looked over his shoulder and saw that she was wearing a damp dress. He sighed and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am sorry about this," he said seriously. "I gathered as much. Would it be too much to ask whom I am talking to?" he asked with a charming smile. Angela quietly laughed and shook her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lady Angela," she replied politely. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Odd place for a lady I'm sure," he commented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I happen to live at the abbey - it isn't far from here," she replied sternly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My apologies - I didn't mean to offend. I am - Harmen," he introduced. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are you sure?" she replied suspiciously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Very sure. As I said - I was looking for some water for my steed - and apparently - the only water in this forest is - well - here," he reassured. Angela casually looked over to ensure that she could escape if she need to. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is stopping you?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just got distracted," he replied with a smile. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No doubt. I should be going. If I am gone too long - the sisters might get suspicious or worry - or something," she said as she slowly got up. As she did - her pet ferret hopped from rock to rock until he landed on her shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you get there all wet - won't they get suspicious - or something?" he asked coyly. She stopped and looked over at the charming stranger. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You want me to stay?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Would that be so wrong? I mean I just met you - not as I would have planned to mind you - but I would like to get to know you a little better - if you don't object that is," he replied seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why should I?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "To allow me a chance to make it up to you? Please?" he requested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Make it up to me? I don't know," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please - I promise to stay an arms length away from you if want - just give me a chance?" he requested. She quietly laughed and shook her head. The young man was nothing if not persistent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay," she replied quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But I - what - what did you say?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I said - okay - just keep your distance. Follow me - I'll show you the way out," she said as she motioned for him to follow. He was about to hurry when he remembered the reason why he was there in the first place. He dipped his flask into the pond and then picked up his pace to follow her out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You come her often?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just when I need to escape it all - collect my thoughts," she replied as they made their way out through the dense bushes and branches. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Looks like the perfect place for that," he commented as the branches and bushes began to thin. "Am - am I going to get in trouble for talking to you?" he asked curiously. She smiled and looked back at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You might - is that a problem?" she coyly asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I can think of worse things to get in trouble for," he retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you know the way back to your horse?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Should be that way," he replied - pointing downhill. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lead the way - I would feel bad if you got lost," she replied with a smirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay," he replied. The two made their way through the forest. Angela every now and so often looked over her shoulder to make sure she could find her way back home. When she returned her eyes forward - she saw what his steed was - a unicorn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - you ride a unicorn?" she asked in mild awe. He smiled and walked over to where the magical creature was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where I live - there used to be herds of them - aren?t many left anymore. This one is a close friend of mine and has saved my life more times than I can count," he commented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Passed your fingers and toes?" she remarked. He smirked and looked over his shoulder at the lady that was making fun of him. "Just checking," she added with a smile. He shook his head and poured the water he had retrieved into a bowl. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - are as quick with your wits as most men are with a weapon - I will have to watch myself around you," he remarked. Angela walked over and stared at the magical steed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "May I?" she asked hesitantly. Harmen smiled and stepped back. She hesitantly reached forward and began to pet the mane of the drinking unicorn. As she did the steed stopped and looked over at her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Be nice," Harmen stated. The unicorn snorted and resumed drinking. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've never seen a unicorn before," Angela said in awe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That mean I'm forgiven?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hmm?" she asked as she looked back at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For rudely interrupting your swim?" he reminded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It's okay. Uhm, I really should be heading back. It was nice meeting you - Harmen," she said politely as she began to walk away. Harmen was rendered speechless for a few awkward seconds. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - wait - uh - can - can I see you again?" he asked curiously. Angela stopped walking and looked back at the young man. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Perhaps," she replied - walking backwards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If - I chose to meet you again - it will be - where we met," she replied as she continued to walk back towards the abbey. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When?" he asked optimistically. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Around this time - maybe," she replied coyly as she turned and hurried away. Harmen smiled as the beautiful woman he met seemingly vanished into the forest. He sighed and walked over to where his unicorn was watching. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What do you think?" he asked curiously. The unicorn snorted. "She is something else," he added. He would have continued his train of thought - but the sound of a galloping horse got his attention. He carefully drew his blade and waited for whoever it was that was heading his way. Just then - a horse and rider came up from over a hill and hurried in his direction. When Harmen saw the rider - he sighed put his weapon away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Prince Harmen!" the rider called out. In one fluid motion - the man hopped from the horse and hurried over to where Harmen was standing. The horse slowly came to a complete stop and stood next to the unicorn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bad news Samson?" Harmen asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Really bad - Greel - the duke - his forces were crushed - his castle razed. The Blue Knights tried to turn the attackers back - but her forces were entrenched," he began. All color drained from Harmen's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Witch Queen - she has a staging ground that can stem into every part of the kingdom," Harmen muttered as he looked over to where Angela had run off to. "How much time do we have?" he asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "All signs - say - not long," Samson said between gasps. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then we must find it. We must find the Runic Heart," he replied seriously. "And we will have to find it fast," he concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||