"Well..."
'What does this man want?' Peter thought to himself. And, who could blame him. He was sitting in the dark corner of the colorful and bustling fair and minding his own business with his thoughts. Suddenly, an old man literally, comes out of nowhere and started asking him nonsense.
"Butterflies represent change." The old spoke, in an matter-of-factly tone.
The silence that followed the sentence was so thick, it was nearly suffocating. Peter didn't understand the meaning in the conversation. But, he can't just tell it to the old man's face. So, he opted for the next best thing he could think of.
"Why are you telling me this, grandfather." Peter slightly flinched after completing his sentence. Grandfather? Wow, I really must be under lot of stress. Peter silently thought to himself.
The old man beside him simply cracked a knowing smile. "You are stressed and I'm telling you because you called me grandfather." Again, the reply was in an oddly calm tone, which was suspiciously soothing for the young man seated beside the old man.
Confused, would be an understatement to describe Peter's state right now. But, before he could clear his mind, the old man started again.
"You are neutral. You care. Change can't be seen, but felt." This time the old man was looking straight into Peter's eyes. His eyes were oddly clear and shiny and soothing and comforting for Peter.
Peter just stared at him, blankly. What was he supposed to do now? The old man, then turned away and gazed around the life buzzing around them in a distance.
Peter blinked his eyes, like he was broken out of some kind of trance.
"What kind of change?" He asked, his voice sounding dumb.
Again, a loud laugh reverberated around them. "Did you even listen to me? I told change is felt" the man spoke, after his laughing fit subsided with a broken cough.
"Sometimes everything is just in front of our eyes. But, oh, these eyes does the work for both sides. The neutrality is gut."
Everything that was com in out the old man's mouth was sounding like an extinct language. Change? Neutral? Eyes working for both sides? What was all this?
Peter could feel a headache right between his crease of his eyebrows, which had a frown so deep, his head wasn't liking it. He now, turned and faced the front, gazing around him like the man beside was doing. Trying to make sense of the thoughts whizzing around in his head.
"Do you want me to tell me something?"the old man asked out of sudden. Peter wasn't sure about it. He wasn't able to grasp anything from the conversation and now, the old man wants him to answer something. And he was completely sure, whatever he wants to ask would not be something he would be able to answer or would even understand. But, what choice does he has now. so, with a heavy sigh, he slowly nods his head.
"What do you notice in an ocean first? Surface or depth?" there it is. Another bizzarre question.
"Surface?" Peter's voice came out more like a question rather than an answer but, the old man doesn't seem to mind any of that unless, he gets something as an answer. "Why?" Another question. Peter was thinking hard for a justification for his answer.
"The depth cant be seen. But, the surface can be seen and the depth can be measured by the surface's behavior, though it may not be correct all the time." A chuckle from the old man, cut off his thoughts about the answer he gave and he turned to face him again, to see what was so amusing for him in his given answer.
"Then why dont you humans apply the same thing for the problems in life. Inspect and understand the surface first rather than to worry about the depth, which cant even be determined properly, unless you make a decision to decend.
This made Peter think. Yeah, he was right. They should understand the surface first to make a decend into the depth of an ocean. Suddenly, all the problems in hand flashed through his mind. The Marquess' death, the note, the dispatch of troop to City Belgonia. Everything were whirring through his head at an insane speed, that he was barely able to catch onto his own thoughts.
His eyes closed on instinct in an attempt to clear the incoming headache and to stop all the thoughts. His head lulled back a little, with sudden drowsiness.
The old man beside him, turned around and smiled at Peter, who was fighting with unconciousness. He was in middle of the bridge, between his conscious and unconscious. That's exactly what he needs.
"Be alert." Peter heard the voice, whispering right into his left ear but, it somehow sounded distant. But, it echoed in his head and he was trying to make sense of that, despite his wish to shut it all down.
Amongst the figuring out, a thought made him to shot open his eyes and look around him frantically. Everything was same. The happiness in the air, the chatting of people added with some light music was now, clear and loud for him. The people were still walk in around. The vendors were still selling. Peter was still sitting on the bench.
But, there was no one beside him. He could have sworn there was an old man beside, talking to him about butterflies and change. "Did I dream all of this?" He thought to himself.
During his internal debate, whether it was all a dream or reality, he missed a blue butterfly, gently settelling down on the bench. It was well hidden by the darkness surrounding them.
Frustrated, Peter got up and started taking long strides towards the city center. In hopes, to neutralize the storm in him with the vague sounds the fair was filled with.
"Be alert" Nor his racing thoughts neither, the cheerful sounds could dissipate the words that were echoing in his head.
People often forget how words hop a mighty power than any deathly weapon, one could ever invent. But, words of fate are often, well, mostly ignored.
That's exactly, what happened tonight. The words were ignored.
.....
Back at Nahia Gardens:
The legendary cold hearted prince, the most skilled and known to be ruthless prince, the who is known to be emotionless, was cascading his tears into the soft, silk robes of Princess Aeinshia.
Aeinshia ran soothing circles on the broad back of prince Evan. Never in million years, she would have expected this to happen. Evan looked broken. She always looked up to him to be strong, in every situation, Evan fought.
Evan fought for everyone. He is strong. But, the strongest, suffer the most.
When the strongest person is crumbling in front of her like this, Aeinshia doesn't know what to do. What can she do, apart from comforting her love.
It hurt her, seeing Evan like that. That made her wonder, how much pain was he even carrying in his heart? How many feelings was he hiding behind his facade of his? What scars was he trying to heal by himself?
A little flame was born in her heart at the realization of her selfishness. That little candle like flame, spread, burning all the speculations she had about Evan. The heat from the fuel in fire, spread through her chest, fully burning down the Aeinshia, who was weak.
Burning down the Aeinshia, that thought everyone around her were strong. Who thought, she couldn't protect herself. Who had second thoughts about her changing her ill fate.
That night, from the burned ashes of old Aeinshia, raised a new version of herself, who would protect and love to her full potential. who would fight for what's hers. Protect what's hers with everything in her.
And with that being determined, that night she vowed. She vowed to herself, that no matter what, she would be there for Evan in everything. In pain. In sadness. She would protect him. From all the things, that Evan tended to hide in his heart. That were constantly threatening to crumble him down.
They would become each other's strength and fight everything together.
They loved and protected each other in the past but, individually. Now, they would protect each other together,
Aeinshia pulled away from Evan to face him but, as if a light bulb snapped inside him, Evan turned away from her and wiped his flowing and dried tears, furiously with his robe sleeves.
Aeinshia's heart broke a bit, seeing him like that. When Evan finally calmed down a bit, he faced Aeinshia and let a small smile, contended and free. It was strange feeling for him but, he felt contended after letting all his worries flow out. Some invisible weight seemed to have lifted off of his shoulders and he could finally breathe properly. But, there was something else he was feeling now.
This night gave him reassurance. A reassurance that everything was fine and he would always have his love with him, no matter what. And that was enough for him.
An eternity with his love, Aeinshia.