The Runic Heart
By Richard LeBlanc
Act four: shadows of the past
The next day - back in the tranquil forest - Prince Harmen was waiting at the peaceful pond where he had first met Lady Angela. Although he did have urgent matters that needed resolving - he just couldn't - wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he stood her up. Although - at this point - he was beginning to wonder if the point was moot - for the Lady he was waiting for - was late.
"Probably decided to stay in," he muttered as he slowly got up. He was about to leave when he heard sounds of movement coming from the trees near the rocks. He looked over and saw Angela. "I was beginning to worry that you wouldn't come," he commented with a smile.
"I almost couldn't," she replied.
"Yesterday?" he asked.
"Something like that. Why did I come?" she asked curiously.
"Why did I wait?" he retorted.
"Because - you wanted to see me again?" she replied coyly.
"Very much so," he admitted.
"I had to do extra chores - for sneaking out. I told them I fell into a stream - being chased by wolf or something of the like," she replied as she sat down on her favorite rock. Harmen smiled and sat down beside her.
"Didn't tell them about me?" he asked with a smile.
"If I had - I wouldn't have been able to sneak out. I know they worry about me and all - and I know that if they knew I met you - they would worry all the more," she stated with a smile.
"Why? Am I so dangerous?" he asked.
"They might think so," she answered.
"They just want what's best for you I'm sure," he commented.
"I know - believe me - it doesn't make it any easier," she replied.
"I'd imagine not. So - if you don't mind my asking - how did a lovely princess like you end up in an abbey?" he asked curiously. Angela modestly blushed and looked down at the pond.
"You - you don't want to know," she said quietly.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because - it isn't a happy story - nor romantic," she began.
"So? Is it so wrong to want to know more about you?" he asked curiously. She looked over at him and smiled. She sighed and returned her attention to the pond.
"I think - I was around three - around that time. My father - he sent me to a private school to learn stately things - etiquette - manners - and how to behave like the princess I would someday be," she began.
"You must have hated it," he commented.
"I did - they were always yelling at me - telling me I was doing everything wrong. I wanted to go home - but I wasn't allowed - not until my education was done. I would some times get letters from family back home though - it helped me a bit," she began as her voice became distant. "When - when I turned eight - the letters stopped coming - and - and the teachers - they started acting funny," she continued as she looked up and quietly laughed. "I don't know why I'm telling you this," she stated as she sniffled.
"If you don't want to," he reassured.
"No - it's okay. I asked them what was going on - that was when they told me - my home - the entire kingdom - had been attacked. All of my family had been killed - all of the buildings - burned to the ground - nothing was left. Shortly after they sent me to this abbey. I guess they didn?t want to deal with me," she continued.
"Must have been rough for you," he commented. She looked over at him and was surprised to see that he actually looked concerned.
"In their defense - I was acting up a bit - throwing tantrums - talking back to them," she replied calmly.
"You were a kid - you lost your family. How were you supposed to act?" he asked. She quietly laughed and shook her head. "What? What's so funny?" he asked hesitantly.
"That is what Sister Jezzela told me. She and the other sisters helped me out a lot. More than I deserved at times. But after being at the abbey for a year or so - I began to calm down," she replied as she returned her attention to the pond.
"Is that why you sneak out?" he asked curiously.
"You are terrible," she retorted.
"Well? Is it?" he asked curiously.
"I don't know why I'm even here - and I am telling you everything," she said in modest disbelief. She looked over at Harmen that was almost hanging on her every word. "Some times - I have dreams - bad ones," she began.
"About what?' he asked.
"About home. How it must have been when it happened. The good sisters - as good as they are - I just couldn't be around them when those started. I used to stay in my room - but the dreams still happened. So then I sneaked out into the forest. It wasn't easy at first - almost got caught by the guards on a few occasions - but then I found this place," she said with a smile as she looked around the tranquil setting.
"The dreams stop?" he asked.
"I don't have them as often," she began as Meep scurried up and perched himself on her shoulder. Harmen saw the little ferret that seemed to be scowling at him.
"What - is the story with him? Am I safe?" he humorously asked. Angela looked to the ferret on her shoulder and quietly laughed.
"Him? This is Meep. He has been my friend for almost two years. I found him in a hunter's snare and nursed him back to health," she said as she carefully picked the ferret up and held him on her lap. "He is a little protective of me at times," she added. She reached onto her pocket and handed some seeds to Harmen. "He loves seeds," she whispered.
"Oh," he replied. He hesitantly extended the seeds to the untrusting ferret. The tiny animal looked at the hand hesitantly until he began to smell the seeds. Slowly he moved towards the hand and began to nibble at the seeds.
"I think he likes you," Angela said with a smile. "I told you my story - what's yours?" she asked curiously. Harmen looked over at the princess and smiled.
"Well, my story isn't quiet as tragic as yours," he began.
"It isn't a competition - just tell me about you," she requested.
"Me? Okay - my parents - are the king and queen of Eversky," he began.
"Hmm. I've heard about that place - lots of magical creatures," she interrupted.
"There used to be - hunters - wars - have depleted them to the point where almost none are left. I - along with my older brothers - had to study to become the princes and nobles that we would one day become," he continued.
"That doesn't seem like you," she said quietly.
"No?" he replied.
"You seem - more down to earth - almost human. Nobles have to be more," she humorously remarked. The prince quietly laughed and lightly scratched the ferret's head.
"Teachers - or the sisters say that?" he asked.
"A little of both," she replied.
"Everything was quiet - until a year - or so ago," he began as he became serious.
"What happened?" she asked.
"An army - a huge one - began to march on us. War followed," he replied.
"The fighting - it is still going on?" she asked.
"Yes - and it is going badly," he replied.
"Shouldn't you be there?" she asked.
"Tired of me already?" he asked humorously.
"No - I just - well, thought," she began.
"I was in the beginning - but I wasn't going to be able to make any difference - none of us were. That was when I heard a - myth - a story or something - about a weapon - one that might be powerful enough to help turn the tide of the war. A wise sage that it was out this way - I wanted to ask more - but she fell ill and died," he replied.
"Must be quite a weapon," she commented.
"It is - or so I hear, the others of its kind - are powerful - such is why our armies are faring as badly as they are," he replied calmly.
"This - army - that is attacking you - they have those type of weapons?" she asked. The prince looked up at her and nodded.
"They have all of them - all save one - the most powerful - the Runic Heart," he answered. He shook his head in modest disbelief and quietly laughed.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"I - have just met you - and I have told you something I am supposed to tell no one," he said calmly.
"You must trust me - I like that," she said with an innocent smile.
"I guess I do," he replied.
"I - have another place that I go to sometimes - want to see?" she asked curiously.
"Is it anything like here?" he asked.
"Hmmm - not exactly. Follow me," she requested. The two slowly got up and made their way out from the secluded pond.
* * *
Several minutes later - the two were standing before a ruined tower that was almost completely overrun with vegetation. In fact - with the rock formations in the area - the bushes and trees - unless you were looking for it - you would have missed it completely.
"Looks pretty old," he commented.
"It is. If - what I read at the abbey is true - it is over two hundred years old. Near as I can tell - this was a look out tower for a kingdom that was here way back then. The kingdom was attacked by some ruler known as the Death Sage - but after all this time - this tower still stands," she replied.
"Did I say wow yet?" he asked humorously.
"I don't believe so," she remarked.
"Wow," he said - making her laugh. "Is it safe to go in?" he asked.
"The place is made of stone - all of it. I've only been here a couple times - but the place is surprisingly tough. It must have been to survive the Death Sage's forces," she replied humorously.
"Lead on," he replied as he followed the princess into the ancient tower.
"You will have to watch your step - it is a little dark down here. I've tidied up the top area of the tower - never got the chance to do the rest," she warned. Harmen squinted his eyes to adjust to the darkness around them.
"Just being here - it feels," he began.
"I know," she replied as she led him up the partially eroded stony steps. As they went up - more light began to filter down. "Here - we are - my own little home away from home," she said playfully. Harmen stepped up and looked around the old looking place. Much of the furniture looked like it would fall apart if looked at the wrong way - but everything else looked as though it had been thoroughly cleaned.
"Did I say wow yet?" he asked humorously.
"I think you did," she replied with a smile.
"This - must have been how things looked back then," he said as he walked over to a window that was open and looked around.
"Will - will you be here long?" she asked hesitantly. He looked over his shoulder at Angela who was looking very serious.
"I need to complete my quest. If I don't - my story will be no less tragic than your own," he replied timidly.
"But - would - would you come back?" she asked curiously.
"Why?" he asked curiously. Angela blushed and looked away.
"No reason," she began.
"Would you want me to?" he asked.
"You would think me foolish," she began.
"Try me," he replied seriously.
"Yes - I would. I know I have only known you a short while - but I have never felt this way before. I - I feel as though I would be lost if you were gone," she began. She shook her head and sighed. "But I am being foolish. You probably have a girlfriend back home," she added.
"Actually - I don't," he replied.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes - and that didn't sound remotely foolish," he added. She looked over at him and could see that he wasn't joking. She quickly lowered her eyes.
"It doesn't?' she asked curiously.
"No - I feel the same way," he admitted.
"You do?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied as he walked over to where she was standing. "Is that so hard to believe?" he asked as he traced the back of his hand across her cheek. She closed her eyes and shook her head. He slowly leaned forward and lightly kissed her on the lips.
"Why did you kiss me?" she asked.
"Seemed like the right thing to do," he replied
"It was," she replied quietly. The two leaned forward and began to kiss each other with a passion the two hadn't known until that moment.
* * *
Time passed since the moment of their kiss - the two were now asleep on the tower floor - covered by his cloak. Lady Angela was fast asleep with her head on his chest - and the dreams she dreamed now - were not of home.
But in the corner of the room - in a small hole between the wall and the roof a small raven poked his head out and looked down at the sleeping lovers. One of the raven's eyes sparkled like gold - the other was blood red. Silently - it hopped from the hole and flew out of the tower - leaving the sleeping couple - behind.
To be continued...
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