“That’s what my mother says.”
He nodded once. “I wonder if maybe the cure has been under your nose the entire time. The spring stone has magic, doesn’t it?”
“Well, yes, but we don’t have it.” I laughed a little.
Gerard’s brows dipped in confusion. “Your crown last night had fragments of the stone. Didn’t it?”
I shook my head. “We have stones that look like it. But the real stone is with the faeries. Why does it matter?”
Gerard blinked and shook his head. “If it’s the cure, then it’s rather important.” He rested his hands on his hips. “These faeries, they are small woodland creatures?”
I shook my head. “No, those are fairies.”
He arched his brow. “The pronunciation is the same.”
“A little different, but the fae are who we are looking for. Not a fairy. We don’t have those here. A fairy is small. They have wings and cause mischief. Fae are like us, but beautiful, have pointed ears, and I think they even have magic.”
Gerard nodded his understanding.
I strolled over to my desk and closed the drawer he had been searching in. “Faeries are like us, though beautiful and magical. Their ears are pointed and they are magical. They have a particular love for nature.”
“If these faeries have it, and you believe they’re gone, someone needs to make sure they aren’t in hiding,” he replied reasonably.
“My mother has already searched, remember?”
“Then the stone is in their ruins. I’ll get my men ready.”
“Wait, slow down.” I put my hand on his chest when he went to pass me.
Gerard stopped and looked down in a way that made me forget what I was going to say. He was close like he had been the night before. He smelled like autumn woods, brisk and bitter.
He placed his hand over mine. “I will be safe. I will take a couple of my men with me.”
“But you don’t know my kingdom,” I argued.
He raised his brows with a playful smile. “Are you implying you want to join me?”
“What? No, I can’t,” I blundered and pulled my hand away. “It’s not what a crown princess does.”
He stepped even closer. With nowhere to go, my back pressed against the wooden frame of the door. I wanted to hold his gaze, but shyly averted my eyes while my heart raced, wondering—and wanting—to know what he was about to do.
Gerard lifted my chin. “You said you wanted to travel. If you are to be my bride, I want to take care of you. If that means I journey around your entire kingdom to find the cure no one else could, I will do it. No matter how long it takes me.”
“Why?” I breathed.
“Because you’re my responsibility. My duty as a prince is to keep you safe and happy.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek, sending a wave of heat from my head to my toes.
I shuddered.
“You’re certain you don’t want to join me?”
“I-I don’t think … my mother …”
“Ah. I understand. I shan’t be gone too long. I’ll be sure to send a messenger frequently.” Gerard ran his fingers through my hair and winked.
“But …” I started.
“Yes?”
I wanted to beg him to stay, to send someone else. There was still so much I didn’t know about him. I wanted to ask him to give me a proper kiss on the lips. I wanted to feel his muscled body. And then I immediately felt embarrassed. That’s not how a princess should act.
Again, I averted my eyes. “Be safe. Please.”
“I will be. Promise.” He stepped into the hallway and walked away.
I reluctantly returned to my room to dress for breakfast. My mind consumed with thoughts of Gerard. I made sure to look perfect for him. I wore another one of my favorite dresses—a pale green dress with pink flowers along the bottom hem and a squared neckline that pinched downward in the middle to accentuate my breasts. I put on a simple golden necklace and spent far too much time perfecting the pinned pearls in my hair. Prince Ulrich had given them to me at the summer celebration last year.
By the time I made it down to breakfast, everyone was already seated. My sisters sat to my mother’s right with my father, while Gerard and his grandmother sat to my mother’s left with a vacant seat for me.
“Forgive me for being late,” I apologized.
Gerard swiftly stood and grinned as he took me in. He had an overcoat on now, a brown sort of orange like dying leaves. “I could wait all day just to see you.”
I blushed madly. “Thank you, Gerard.”
He pulled my chair out for me, and I took my seat. “I was just telling your parents how we talked last night and you told me about your curse.” He took my hand and set it on the table, and gently removed the long gloves I’d put on, revealing that the scales had spread. He then tucked my fingers in the crook of his hand and returned his attention to my mother.
I bit my lip, unable to look at my mother while secretly wanting to see her reaction.
“I also explained,” he continued, “that you mentioned the faeries. Your mother was just filling me in on their role in your curse.” He gave my fingers a reassuring squeeze.
I finally braved a glance at Mother.
My mother appeared uncomfortable, which surprised me because nothing ever made her uncomfortable. Her gaze darted from Gerard to my hands. “The faeries made a promise all those years ago that they would help break her curse, should the time come. But as I’ve already said, the last of the faeries was found dead yesterday. We received a letter from Selina stating so.”
Gerard set his chin on his fist and turned to his grandmother. “Odd that Selina should involve herself in these matters. What would she hope to gain?”
His grandmother, whom I still hadn’t even been introduced to, had a smile on her face I could almost interpret as a smirk. “A dragon on her side would be rather valuable, I suppose.”
“But why wait all these years? Why wouldn’t she have just taken the child at birth? Raised her as her own?” Gerard pondered aloud as though we weren’t there.
Certainly my parents had wondered the same thing. I saw them exchange a glance, and my mother adjusted in her seat. She seemed a little paler than usual.
“These are wonderful questions, and we’ve worried the same questions for seventeen years,” she interjected. “We’ve come no closer to an answer than you will. I believe we should eat.” She clapped her hands, summoning the servants and cutting off the conversation.
Gerard turned back to me and leaned in his seat. He glanced at my mother and ever so slightly rolled his eyes. A grin spread across my face, and I successfully resisted the urge to giggle. I liked him even more.
Gerard only removed his hand from mine so I could eat, and I set my hand on my lap.
“Is it true Griswil doesn’t change seasons?” he asked, looking at me sideways as he took a bite of his eggs.
“Yes. I don’t know why or how, but Zelig never has a spring or summer or autumn. They always have snow,” I answered. “Because of that, we and Arington provide a lot of their food while they provide ice and minerals.”
“And the other countries are frozen as well? That is why your kingdom is known as the spring kingdom,” he said as though it weren’t a question at all.
I confirmed with a nod. “I don’t know if you can say frozen, exactly. But none of us have changed seasons in … decades? Centuries?” I looked at Mother and Father.
Mother dabbed her lips with a napkin unnecessarily. “Yes, Arington often struggles because their days can scorch their crops and their nights can freeze them. Terricina provides all of our fish and other seafood, so Zelig sends them ice to help with their trades. We’ve managed to help each other through the years. It’s part of the Southern Kingdoms Treaty.”
Gerard nodded, taking in the infor
mation and assessing it. “I’ve been thinking about Elisa’s cure, and I believe the spring stone might be able to help. Even if the faeries are dead, the stone still has magical properties, and Elisa has already told me the faeries are believed to have it.”
Mother nearly dropped her fork.
Father nodded. “But as we’ve already said, the faeries—”
“Are supposedly dead,” Gerard cut in. “I can’t be certain until I check for myself. I shall search their ruins for the stone. I will leave after lunch.”
I found myself biting my lip, leaning close to him, my hand on his arm. “You’re certain you’ll be all right?”
He smiled reassuringly. “I promise. I’ve been a hunter since I was a child. I can protect myself. I know how to survive, and should anything happen along the way with an injury, I’m also trained in medicine.” He leaned so only I could hear. “And remember my magic?”
“Can I help you prepare?”
“Of course, darling.”
My heart roared in my ears, and my entire body ignited with fire.
Gerard leaned over and kissed my cheek, this time letting his lips linger against my skin.
Even though I bit my lip, I couldn’t hold back my grin. I fiddled with the bottom of a curl, wrapping it around my finger and releasing it. I didn’t understand why Gerard did this to me. I wasn’t embarrassed I was so in love … love? Is this what love felt like?
I liked the feeling Gerard gave me of floating on clouds. My heart racing with excitement instead of dread was new and even enjoyable. For the first time, I felt genuine hope that he would be the solution to my problem. I wouldn’t admit to my mother, but she was right. Gerard was just what I needed. Even if he didn’t find a cure before next year, I would rather spend my last year with him than alone locked in the castle.
Marigold and Dahlia giggled to each other, and I raised my gaze to stick my tongue out at them and cross my eyes. It was a quick gesture and if my mother saw it, she didn’t acknowledge me. But Gerard saw it. I knew because his body shook with a chuckle.
After breakfast, Gerard took my hand and we walked to his room on the western side of the second floor of the castle, opposite the castle from my room. “I need to get my bags and restock our supplies,” he explained. “I’ll need to get lots of food.” He opened the bottom drawer of the dresser and pulled out two large bags. “The horses have their own bags, and I’ll stock those with the heavier supplies, like cookware and most of the food.” He looked up at me. “I’ll put clothes and blankets in these.”
“What do you use for shelter?”
“We used tents and inns along the way here. It won’t be difficult to use them as we travel. Townspeople are pretty generous when you offer them some money and most people will allow a prince to stay in their cottage. If we’re too far away, I’ll sleep under the stars.”
“And if it rains?” I pressed.
“Then I’ll be a little wet.” He got back to his feet. “I’ve traveled a lot, Elisa. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“At least you won’t be alone.”
Gerard showed me everything he packed. Guilt prickled at me for slowing him down, but I wanted to be with him as long as absolutely possible. I even entertained the thought of asking my mother if I could go with him. I stayed beside him as he supervised the servants packing the saddlebags. There were lots of vegetables and some fresh meat, but most of it was dry. He explained he would eat the fresh meat that evening or it would spoil.
He also showed me his hunting knife, the bow and arrows he’d had tucked in the corner of his room, and the blankets he rolled and tied to the bottom of his bag.
Before I knew it, lunchtime arrived, and he had everything ready to leave.
“I don’t want you to go,” I finally expressed. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you. Being with you. What if you go and my worry causes the dragon to take over even further?”
“I believe your emotions are indeed tied to your dragon.” He put his arm around me and held me to his chest. “But I think you’re stronger than you believe you are.”
“Ismae said the same thing,” I mumbled.
“Who?”
“My best friend, the princess of Arington.” I gently rested my head against Gerard’s chest and put my arms around him. My heart felt like dandelion seeds blowing in the wind. I put my hand on his back and his muscles shifted as he wrapped his arms around me. He was even stronger than I thought.
“She sounds like a good friend.”
“Mm hm.”
“Maybe you should change the books you read? Certainly there is a book in your library where a princess vanquishes the dragon and not the knight?” I felt the weight of his head as he rested it on top of mine.
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” I hadn’t meant to ask it out loud.
His muscles tensed beneath my head, and I looked up to see him nod. “I thought you said you didn’t believe in chemistry.”
“Maybe you changed my mind.” I let go and stepped back even though I didn’t want to.
Gerard chuckled. “When I return, we will cure your curse and be married. You deserve a love story like those in your books.”
After lunch, I watched him mount his horse and ride away with his two men flanking him.
“I’m afraid I have matters to attend to as well.” Gerard’s grandmother turned to me. “You are a beautiful woman, and I’m pleased you get along so well.” She turned to my mother. “I will wait for word of Gerard’s return, but I will not return until preparations are made for the wedding.”
“Of course,” Mother replied. “It would be convenient to have it on the spring equinox in March. That is the day of our seasonal celebration.”
“Less than three months.” She raised her brows. “That’s not much time for wedding preparations.”
“It will help to keep Elisa busy while her future husband is away.”
I drew a deep breath as my stomach rolled.
Gerard’s grandmother walked down the stairs and climbed into a carriage. I stood beside my mother as the woman left the castle grounds.
“Come, Elisa. We have much to do,” Mother said.
I chewed my bottom lip. Although I couldn’t see Gerard any longer, I couldn’t help but look down the road in the direction he’d gone. He had promised me he would be all right, and I had to trust him. If I didn’t have Gerard, who did I have?
Eight
“My dearest Elisa,” I read aloud. I sat cross-legged on my bed with Marigold and Dahlia looking over my shoulder at Gerard’s slanted script. “We passed through the town of Sloval and should arrive in Andorin soon. I would like to carry on eastward to the border of Griswil and along the Drakespine Mountains. I hope to check every corner. I have also stopped to ask villagers, but no one seems to know anything about faeries. Don’t give up hope. The search is still new. With love, Gerard.”
Waiting for him to write was worse than waiting for the dragon to take hold.
My sisters squealed, and my cheeks blushed.
I’d begun to notice little changes in myself, changes I hadn’t told anyone, like my eyesight becoming more crisp. When I went out to the gardens, the colors were more vibrant. There was a beautiful Sickle Flower I knew to have purple and red, but I never knew it had pink streaks and little flecks of green.
I was also growing more confident. The third day of Gerard’s being gone, I headed outside to spend a little bit of time with the horses.
Mother stopped me in the hallway. “Where are you going, Elisa? You should be studying your history.”
“Why study about the history of our land if I won’t be here in a year to protect it?” I argued back.
She blinked at me. “Elisa!”
I surprised even myself. “It’s true, though,” I pressed. “You know it, I know it. You’re only giv
ing me things to do to keep myself busy while Gerard is out looking for a fae.”
“And he won’t find one,” she said definitively, her nose twitching as she sneered. “We’ve already sent our best scouts and they’ve already reported everything to us. He’s a foolish boy. That is all.”
“Did you ever think maybe Selina put a spell on them?” I snapped. “If she’s powerful enough to turn me into a dragon, she’s powerful enough to make them believe there are no fae left in our land! For once in my life, let me do what I want to do. All I want to do today is go out and spend time with the horses and learn a little more about them. I want to go down into town and look at the buildings instead of staying locked up in here learning about their architecture from a book!”
“How dare you yell at me?” Mother put her hand on her heart as if I had done something horribly offensive.
Even more to her horror, I didn’t care. For once, I didn’t apologize or obey. I held my chin high and walked right past her, out the back door, and down the hill to the stables.
And it felt wonderful.
I grinned wider than I ever had while my fingertips tingled with adrenaline. I couldn’t believe I had just defied my mother!
I heard Philip talking as I drew nearer the stables and spotted an older man leaning against the side of the building. The smell of hay and manure greeted me, and I wrinkled my nose. Maybe being down with the horses wasn’t such a good idea after all.
The man spotted me and straightened immediately. I recognized him as the stable master and Philip’s father, Bernard. He yanked his hat from his head and nervously wrung it. “Crown Princess Elisa. To what do we owe the visit?” He glanced beyond me to see if anyone else was coming.
“I decided to come and see the horses. Philip might have told you I’m not the best rider.” I peered through the open doors and saw Philip with a shovel and a wheelbarrow.
“Oh, certainly not.”
“I really am,” I insisted with a little smile. “I guess I just want to get to know the horses a little better. Spend some time outside. Can I see Tao?”
“Of course, Your Highness. He’s a great horse.” Bernard led the way into the stable and showed me which stall Tao was in.
The Dragon Princess: Sleeping Beauty Reimagined (The Forgotten Kingdom Book 1) Page 6