A Tale of Two Princesses (26 page)

     "No, no, actually—" Suddenly, the thunder clapped, making Court and Sienna both jump. He chuckled. "Uh-oh, sounds like rain again."

     "Yes, your highness," she said, gulping.

     "Anyway, I brought you a gift."

     "A...a gift?" she said, thinking maybe she had misunderstood.

     "Yes. Here you are." Court held out the package.

     Sienna only stared at it, her heart thumping. "Who am I, um, delivering it to?"

     He chuckled. "No one, Sienna. Here, take it."

     "I, I'm sorry, I don't understand," she said. "This is for me? A gift for me?"

     "Yes, of course. Go ahead, open it."

     "But why would you buy a gift for me?"

     "Sienna, hasn't anyone ever bought you a gift before?"

     "My mother, before she died."

     "No one since?"

     She shook her head.

     "Truly?" he said. "I think that's the saddest thing I've ever heard. You're certainly overdue then. Please, take it."

     She took it from his hands slowly. It felt so soft under the wrapper. She smiled at him before she tore it open. Her eyes were saucers as she pulled out the dress, her gasp long and pronounced, the air stuck in her lungs before it finally demanded to be exhaled.

     "This is for me?" she said in amazement. "It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen!"

     He smiled. "Is it? I have to admit, I didn't think you'd be so keen on it."

     "Oh, my goodness! It's so soft! I've never felt anything like it! Oh, thank you, so, so much, Court! I mean, your highness. I don't know what to say."

     "You don't have to say anything, Sienna. Just enjoy it."

     She twirled there in the straw, holding the dress to her chest, bringing it up to her face, smelling it and feeling it. "It's so lovely. I can't believe it."

     He was still chuckling. "Am I really drunk or are you this happy about a dress?"

     She looked up at him and he noticed her eyes were glossy. "Court, I can't believe you're giving this to me. I'm so touched and honored. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

     "You're welcome. Now, I'd better get to bed before I pass out in your stall."

     "Wait, your highness," she said. "May I try it on for you?"

     "I'm sorry?" he said.

     "May I try it on?" she repeated. "I won't have an occasion to wear it, to be honest, but I would love to wear it for you, if you'd let me."

     "You mean now, here in the barn?"

     "Yes. May I?"

     He shrugged. "Sure, why not? Please, be my guest."

     Sienna bit her lip, grinning. "Thank you so much."

     She hurried into her stall, blocked by Striker. Court turned away, taking a few steps to give her privacy.

     "If I had known it was going to make such an impact," he called, "I would have bought you a matching pair of shoes."

     "Your highness, I don't think it could have had a greater impact. I'm beyond words. I never would have expected such a gift. I cannot even guess what I did to deserve this."

     "You deserve it, Sienna. I see what a hard worker you are, and you mended my jacket, helped me pick flowers, and suggested I get Princess Celeste a dress, so I thought I may as well get you one too."

     "You bought the princess a dress? You took my suggestion? I'm so flattered, your highness. Did she like it?"

     Court kicked some straw. "To be honest, she was...unimpressed. But she is a princess, after all, and dresses don't mean much when you have your own tailor. If she had reacted the way you just did, that would have been something."

     "I suppose since I don't have my own tailor, it means more to me."

     "Certainly."

     "You can turn around now, your highness."

     He turned, his eyes growing large. She was standing barefoot before him, the straw poking between her toes, her calves and knees visible, the dress taking over at her thigh. A white lace fringe flowed along the hem before the sheen of the silk rode up her body, tight around her hips, curving in at the waist, reaching up to the black bust, her cleavage deep. The shape of her breasts was especially pronounced, as there was nothing under the dress, the straps hooking over her shoulders. Her flesh was smooth and unblemished, looking clean, even down her arms, including her hands. Her neck was smooth, her chin defined, her lips pouty, her nose a button on her face, her eyes big and green, stuck to his. And then he saw her hair, short, but golden, and wet. She had rinsed it clean in the stall, undoubtedly with the water for his horse. She was still dripping, the water falling on her shoulders.

     "Sienna...you're lovely."

     She immediately smiled. "Really, your highness? It looks nice?"

     "I, I didn't know, but you're, you're beautiful." He shook his head. "I mean, that came out wrong. Yes, it looks very nice on you. It really fits your body. I mean..." He paused, chuckling. "I can't believe I ever thought you were a boy. And I didn't realize your hair was quite so blond, golden even. Has anyone ever told you it resembles the princess' hair?"

     "I've heard that once or twice," she whispered. "Thank you for the dress. It's incredible. I just wish I could dance in it."

     "Do you dance?" he asked.

     She shook her head. "I don't know how to dance. No one has ever taught me."

     "Truly? A girl like you would do well at a dance. Men would be drawn to you, especially in that dress."

     "Would your highness teach me to dance?" she whispered.

     "Pardon? Me?"

     She nodded quickly. "I don't think my uncle will ever let me go to any dances, and he'll probably make me sell my dress the moment he sees it, so maybe, just maybe, I can have one dance with a prince, here in the barn, with the horses as our orchestra."

     He chuckled. "I would, but I'm so drunk, I'm sure to step on your feet."

     "I promise not to cry out," she said, coming closer, lifting her hand. "May I have this dance, your highness?"

     He had a crooked smile. "One dance, Miss Sienna."

     He took her hand in his, placing the other on her hip. Hers came to a rest on his shoulder. He moved forward, stepping into her. She stumbled back.

     "Pardon me," he said.

     "I don't know how to dance like that," she said.

     "Right. Well, it's a four step. Watch my right leg. As I step forward, your left is to move back." Sienna stepped back as he came forward. "Good. Now, as I step to the side, you step to the side with me." Sienna stepped to the side. "Excellent, Sienna. Now, it's your turn. I'm going to step back, and you must step toward me." He moved back and Sienna moved with him. "Good. Now, we repeat a step to the other side. See?"

     "That's not so hard," she said, smiling up at him.

     "Good, good, and we can mix it up. Feel my hand on your hip? If I push you back, you step back. If I pull you in, you step forward. If I nudge you left or right, you slide there. Ready to try?"

     "Yes, your highness."

     They began dancing, moving around the barn.

     "You're a quick study," he said.

     "You're a good teacher." Then she took a risk she knew was wrong. "Did you dance like this with the princess at the ball?"

     "I'm afraid she's not quite as good as you," he said with a laugh.

     "I'm not that good."

     "You're all right," he said.

     She stopped dancing and he stopped with her. He was about to speak, but she spoke first.

     "Court?"

     He chuckled. "You're not one to stand on formality, are you?"

     "You've been so kind to me while you've been here."

     "And you've been kind to me."

     She took her hands away from his, placing them both on his collarbone. He glanced down.

     "Sienna?"

     "And I want you to know, I'll never forget all you've done for me, buying me this dress, cleaning up the eggs, rescuing me from that man, saving my life from the dragon."

     "That's quite all right."

     "And I think Princess Celeste is the luckiest woman in the world to have her arm around yours."

     "That's kind of you to say."

     "And, and," Sienna went on, "if I could trade places with her, just for a night, only one night, I would do it, just so I could have a chance to be with you."

     "Uh, Sienna, please..."

     "Because you're amazing," Sienna continued. "You're so nice, and thoughtful, and you make me feel so good about myself. And when I wake up in my stall, I can't wait to see you in the morning. And when you're gone all day wooing the princess, I'm thinking about when you're going to come home and I can see you again. And I know you're getting married in a week, and I'm counting the time on my hands, how long I have, how many mornings and evenings before you're gone forever, before you're in your castle with Celeste and you're happy and I'm forgotten, not even a memory, just a stable girl you once danced with, and I'll always wonder if you even remember my name, but I'll never forget yours."

     "Sienna, please, I didn't mean to lead you—"

     And then Sienna kissed him, shutting him up, standing on her tiptoes just to reach, slipping her arms around his neck to hold him in place, locking her wrists together. The kiss took Court completely by surprise. Her lips were sandwiching his, her nose pressing into his nose. He tried to say her name, tried to break the kiss, but her grip was tight, and then her tongue touched his. He grabbed her arms, pulling on them, trying to break her grip. She released and he stepped back, pulling his lips from her lips, a string of saliva breaking between them.

     "Sienna! Have you lost your mind?"

     "I'm sorry," she said. "I couldn't help it. I had to do it again, just once more."

     "I am a man engaged to be married to another woman! How dare you disrespect me like that?"

     "I'm sorry," she cried. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

     She ran past him, holding her face as she burst through the barn doors, the wind and rain slamming them shut as she passed.

     Court put a hand to his head. He felt terribly guilty for kissing her. He even felt like it was his fault. The poor girl, had he not bought her a dress, danced with her, saved her life? She must have thought he wanted her. He felt like a fool. He had to make it right.

     "Wait, Sienna."

     Court hurried after her, reaching the barn doors, pushing them open. They exploded, blasting him with fire and rain, throwing him back, smashing into the straw. And then he heard a scream, Sienna's scream.

     "Court!"

     "Sienna!"

     He ran to the doors, throwing them open, charging outside. The dragon roared, startling him. It snapped its jaws and Court narrowly dodged, jumping aside, slipping on the grass, the rain pouring in his eyes. He stumbled to his feet, backing away.

     The dragon swatted with its paw, hitting Court in the side and throwing him down. Court looked up as it came closer. It had him, but it did not bite. It grabbed him and threw him across the ground. He rolled to a stop beside Sienna, finding her covered in mud as she sobbed.

     The dragon leapt, its paws nearly crushing them. Its mouth opened and its fangs bore down on Sienna, but then an arrow struck the dragon's neck and it spun toward the attacker, roaring. Court turned to look. Finn was there with his bow, drawing another arrow.

     "Your highness!" he shouted.

     Court scrambled up, grabbing Sienna's hand, trying to lift her, but the dragon swatted him away. Another arrow flew and struck the dragon's shoulder. It roared in anger, sending out a mouthful of fire. Finn jumped away before it could scorch him. Then the dragon stood up on its hind legs, picking up Sienna in its paws. It let out another roar, leapt straight up into the air, and its long wings began flapping, taking it higher.

     "No!" Court said, climbing up. "Sienna!"

     Sienna was screaming from the dragon's paws, crying his name, "Court! Please help me! Court!"

     "Sienna!" Court shouted, taking a few steps after her, watching in vain as the dragon rose higher.

     "Court! Court, please!" she cried, her voice fading as she moved higher. "Court!"

     "Sienna..."

     "Sir!" Finn said. "Are you all right? When you didn't come back to the tavern—"

     "Prepare the horses, Finn!"

     "Sir?"

     "Hurry! No time to waste!"

     Court spun around, sprinting for all his might, slipping on the slick grass beneath his feet and the drunkenness in his head. He slammed into the tavern door, shoving it open. His men were already alarmed, the sound of the dragon's roar reaching their ears.

     "Sir?" Wellington said.

     "Sienna! The dragon took Sienna!"

     "What?" Wellington said, standing up but then slumping to his stool. "The dragon took who?"

     "The stable girl!" Court shouted. He charged past them, running up the stairs, breaking into his room. He grabbed his chainmail, pulling it over his head, slapping his breastplate on, clasping it closed. He secured his sword to his waist and picked up his bow. He charged back down the stairs, finding his men still standing around. "Mount up! We ride!"

     "Sir," Wellington said, "we cannot fight a dragon in the dead of night."

     "We can and we will! We go now!"

     "The girl is lost though, surely," Wellington said.

     "She will be if we don't hurry! Men, move!"

     The knights scrambled up the stairs. Court hurried to the tavern door, pushing through it. The rain had stopped outside. He looked around, finding the storm clouds moving off.

     "Sir," Wellington said, catching up, "are you sure we are up for this errand?"

     "No, Wellington, I'm not," he said. "Head to the castle. Tell the queen what has happened. Tell her we went into the Tempest Forest. Tell her to send soldiers. We may need the help."

     "Sir, please, think of what you're doing. This is foolhardy, with naught a plan but the sword and the men drunk with ale. Might we not wait until morning at least, with the queen's men in our favor?"