Walking towards the glittering small lake, Redpearl was awed to say the least at the beauty she was witnessing. She had never seen something like this in her whole life.
Butterflies of different colours flew over the lake giving a magical look and ambiance to the ebonshire trees which were also of a colourful shade of bright colours. The breeze was soft and calming the scent from the trees had a healing effect and Redpearl felt her whole entire body relax.
From the corner of her eyes, Redpearl caught a flower with something inside it and it seemed to be taking a peek at her. Carefully, she turned to that direction and the flower was fast to shut it's self up leaving a shocked Redpearl. "Did you see that?" she whispered to Rosewood who was in no different state, awed and excited. "I did your Highness!" he replied in a whisper himself afraid of scaring away whatever was hiding.
Redpearl took light steps closer to the flower and silently went to her knees to observe the flower. Seemingly, whatever was inside the flower was also curious and at the same time, it to was sneakily trying to take a peek unnoticed but when the flower slightly opened, the little creature in the flower was given a fright seeing an eye at the door of its home that it shrieked.
Tiny, but it's voice was loud and clear, cloes to that of a real human in distress.
Redpearl who was also given a fright at the cry, fell back on her butt unceremoniously and she noticed the flower pods digging themselves into the ground head first like frightened ostriches. Rosewood who too was given a fright had unsheathed his sword and was looking around franatically.
In a distance, a man was looking at the whole scene in amusement. The lake and it's inhabitants had been given quite a scare and he was sure they were going to stay in hiding for a while. He stayed nevertheless and continued to watch the most beautiful human he'd ever seen in his life.
Redpearl once she regained her bearings went back to her knees and took time to observe her surroundings only to see that the whole once magical and beautiful place had lost colour, only green to be left behind. She frowned at this and looked back at the pod buried in the ground. "Hey! I didn't mean to scare you!" she said in the sad and soft voice. "Hello!" she lowered herself to the ground level where the last bit of the flower petal had disappeared to and made an attempt to call again. Again she caught one trying to sneak a peek from behind the petals, this had her smile.
"You are shy?" she asked looking around but got no answer. "Ok. I'll go away!" she said standing up but before she made an attempt to walk off, all the flowers that had burried themselves arose again, aganist their will for that matter. The inhabitants themselves were petrified as the flowers opened their petals wide open revealing their homes. Redpearl was also shocked at this development and so was Rosewood and the man who had been watching.
Looking further around, Redpearl noticed that at the small lake, also it's inhabitants had been displayed to her floating around in bubbles making the place more beautiful and magical. Though slightly surprised, a smile made its way on her face. "Beautiful!" she cheered on and in a matter of seconds, the whole place went back to its original state when they had just come however this time round, the inhabitants didn't hide anymore and stayed there looking ashamed but didn't hide.
Redpearl went on to sit down but what she didn't see but had Rosewood's eyes buldge was that when she attempt to sit down, the plants where she was going to sit coiled.amd twisted themselves into a clean soft cushion shape. She sat down comfortably and smiled at the shy and ashamed inhabitants. "Hello!" she greeted and they all looked at her surprised, eyes wide open with their little ears twitching.
"She's not angry with us!" they whispered amongest themselves with evident relief. They were super tiny and when they were together, they looked like a cluster of little insects.
"Are you this tiny? I can't see you clearly!" she said with a pout. Hearing her complain, they took their original shape, being as big and as wide as an adult human finger and that's when Redpearl caught their small features. They had soft white skins, pointed ears, silky hairs with small flowers as embroideries in their hair making them look so cute and adorable.
You are all so beautiful!" she laughed which made the small creatures blush at her compliment.
Thank you.....Her Majesty is very beautiful too." One of the tiny creatures said.
This had Redpearl laughin heartily. Thank you!" she made a small bow in place and watched how the once scared creatures made attempts to step closer to her and get to know her better.
Rosewood could only look in in complete awe, he had never seen something like this in all his life and such magics could only fascinate him. When he had been here the previous night, he hadn't gotten the chance to see something like this and only thought of the place as beautiful but after this encounter, he noticed something was special with the Princess...but what was it? he was definitely going to find out at all costs and do his best to protect her.
Evening drew in faster than Redpearl could imagine and her time with the magical creatures was cut short as she didn't realise that the sun had already set.
Milady, it's getting late, we need to head back." Rosewood said looking at the obviously disappointed Princess and little creatures.
Let's stay a little longer." she pouted in complain but the little fairies were also aganist it. We've held Her Majesty back for long. You should head back and rest as it's good for your health.
And you can surely come back tomorrow to visit.
Really?" Redpearl asked with evident hope plastered in her angelic voice as her face shone expectantly.
Sure, anytime." The head fairy said with a nod and small smile.
Ok then, I guess I have to move myself...you have been so hospitable to me. Thank you." She smiled as she stood up to her feet.
We'd like her Majesty to take some of this calming Pixy dust to help with soreness just incase her Majesty feels uncomfortable since you've been seated for almost the whole day.
"Awe, you are so considerate. Thank you so much!" Redpearl said taking the small containers that had been presented to her and bowed to the small creatures. She bid farewell and left back for the castle and that's when she took a closer look at her surroundings as they silently trotted back to their quarters.
I didn't know it had gotten too late. Belinda and I must be very worried." Redpearl said with a laugh.
I'm sorry I didn't get to warn you of time, I was fascinated by the small lake and it's inhabitants that I forgot..."
You don't have to apologize for anything." Redpearl said smiling at Rosewood. Had I no one to return to or make worried, I'd have preferred to stay out here!" She said spreading her arms wide to feel the soft breeze that blew by.
Rosewood watched how carefree the princess was and couldn't help but find her more admirable from personality to beauty, she was a fresh breeze, but he also knew he shouldn't be harbouring such emotions for the princess. What he was, towards her, should be considered enough and he shouldn't expect more.
Soon, the castle was in view as they exited the rocky mountains pathway they took during the day. Dinner was being served inside the castle halls and one thing was that almost everyone was in the hall having their meals but Redpearl felt the need to first freshen up since she had been out for long.
When she met with her maids, they were visibly worried and had been pacing in her room as they couldn't do anything about it.
Where have you been milady, do you know how worried we were?" Belinda was the first to question. Though it was inappropriate to do so, she couldn't help herself.
Do you have so little faith in Rosewood, he was protecting me really well for sure!" she laughed as she stepped out of her gown to head for the shower.
How was milady's day?" Risella asked adding perfumes into the water.
Well, you won't believe what I encountered!" she said with a chrip as she stepped into the bath tub. Redpearl re-encountered for them her day leaving them with wide mouths, to prove herself, she went ahead and showed them the soothing Pixy she had got from the small inhabitants of the lake.
.....
Rosewood after ensuring that the princess was safe and okay, he was fast to head to his quarters to shower and prepare for his night shift duty of looking out for his princess, however, he had forgotten that he had come all this way with her cloak still slung over his arm neatly.
Collin who had plans to head out and look for a quiet place to think caught whiff of a very sweet scent that lingered in the hallways. His wolf who had been dozing in his mind awoke immediately with snout high in the sky. Mate!!!' it howled in his mind and Collins didn't think twice as he immediately pursued the source of this scent. He couldn't believe he was so lucky to catch whiff of his mate after a day filled with failed attempts.
Taking the last sharp turn, he caught a figure heading to the guards quarters which had him frown but the sweet scent was still there hence, he made hirried steps to the figure before he disappeared from his sight and begin crying like his Elder brother and as he neared the figure who was less aware that he was being stalked by a predator, he realised the figure was a male. This had his wolf growl in displeasure but he didn't heed to the grumpy creature's protests and went to figure out why the man had his mate's scent.
He must be knowing who out mate is!" His wolf growled eyeing Rosewood's back angrily.
Feeling a tight grip on his shoulder, Rosewood as late to get a hold of his sword as his back violently crashed aganist the wall making him hiss and frown. As he was about to snap at that person, he looked into orange glowing eyes that were glaring hard at him and inspecting him. And taking a closer look at the person, he knew better not to say a word unless asked.
The wolf prince! What have I done?' he thought himself.
Collins growled as he fought for control over his wolf who was sneaky enough to take over. He was very displeased with his wolf's actions as it wasn't being rational but what wolf wa rational? They acted then the thoughts were saved for later and most of the time when it was too late that's why he never let his wolf have full control most of the times, the beast was so untamed!
Looking abck into the frightened eyes of the human soldier who had been trying his best to escape the vice like grip of the wolf, he took a few steps back giving the human space. He looked at the cloak then back at the human whose arm was at his sword, his survival instincts having kicked in.
"You shouldn't move around with female clothes..." he said and his eyes travelled to the back cloak slung nearly in his arm. "you might be misunderstood and end up hurt before you explain yourself!" he said monotonously and took one last look and secret sniff of the sweet scent and turned to walk away before he behaved just like his wolf as the scent was driving him crazy already One thing to note, the human warrior was his mate's guard, another pointer was that now he had a clue of his mate's scent and who to find her with.
"I bet she's as sweet as her scent!" his wolf drooled making Collin roll his eyes at him.
"Had you acted rashly, out mate would he hurt knowing we killed her knight." Collin snapped at his wolf making it grow grumpy again and whine away!
He understood his wolf's feelings as they were equally his aswell. "Let's go for a run!" he suggested and his wolf's mood brightened.
Rosewood having realised that he still had his Ladyship's cloak, had his eyes widen as he rushed back to deliver it. If possible, he wanted to retain it but he knew Princess Redpearl wasn't like the other princess's as she had few resources despite being the king's daughter. The injustices aganist her were as clear as day but no one could speak up for her or face the Queen's wrath since she was incharge of the king's Harlem and all his children, all resources allocated to the different mistresses to king went through her and were personally distributed by her.
......
The next morning, Redpearl rushed to shower and prepare for the day as she still had slot of things to learn from the fairies. They were really tiny but knowledgeable creatures that she feel in love with and grew curious and fascinated about the more.
She had handed over the Pixy dust to her maids as they needed it more than she. However before she left for the forest, an urgent morning session was pit in place and she had to forego heading to the woods that instant but later, she learnt that it was a meeting to the heir apparents. She was so happy and dashed to the stables to where her hosre was since Risella suggested that she took the horse as it was faster....however, as she neared the stable where her horse was staying, she heard it's distressed cry making her take haste steps towards the stable but her feet screeched to a halt as she ran into a very enormous beast that had it's ears perked up, nose in the air sniffing and when it saw her, an earth shattering howl erupted from its mouth as it celebrated finding its mate.
It's cry was answered by distant other wolf howls.
'Mate...mate...mate....Mate.... mate.....mate!!!' Collin heard his wolf's annoying voice sing in his head along with small wolf jumps while he could only look at his mate frozen.
'Beautiful!' he wanted to speak but his voice came out as a low grumble since he was still in his wolf form.
Lots of love from litto-ways ❤️
I'd appreciate if you guys tried to share with me your thoughts. Though it's still early to request something of this sort from you, it's an honour for me along the way