Metanoia (7 page)

“
Gina wins round three and
the match!” Gloria shouted from the clearing. Both riders turned
back towards the field. Leyance quickly dismounted and walked over
to Gina and reached out his hand to help her down. She instead
hopped down effortlessly.

“
Good job,” he said. “I’m
impressed.”

“
Thanks. You too. I didn’t
know you were that good.”

“
I’ve led many teams here.
I’ve been a warrior pretty much my whole life.”

“
Really? I’ve pictured you
more as a lover than a fighter,” Gina stated, smiling.

“
Well, I can see that,” he
responded, returning the smile. “Come on, let’s go get something to
drink. Gina is released from practice today, I assume?”

“
Yes, she is. Good work,”
Gloria stated.

“
Have a good afternoon,”
Kaleb added.

Leyance and Gina walked back to the manor and
began to walk up the stairs.

“
Want to have the drinks in
my room?” Leyance asked.

Gina choked.
Yes, yes, yes!
“Sure.
That’d be fun.” They walked down the hall, up another flight of
stairs and turned the opposite direction of Gina’s room. “So, who
else lives in this manor?”

“
Pretty much everyone
involved in the government and royalty. Our hospital is also here
so all of the doctors and nurses also reside here,” he responded.
They approached a set of double doors and opened it. Leyance’s room
was smaller than Gina’s and only had one face of windows but was
still impressive. He had a small balcony, which Gina walked over to
and looked out its glass doors. She could see part of the city
below and the river as was similar to her view. Past that, she
could see hills with a lonely cottage sitting on the top. It looked
welcoming even though it stood alone, without the attractiveness of
the other houses.

“
Who lives in that cottage
up there?” Gina asked Leyance. He didn’t look up as he
responded.

“
No one. It’s abandoned.
The queen used to go up there with her fiancé a lot though. It was
their romantic get-away spot. Sometimes I go there too, to get away
from everything.”

“
Oh. I have a spot like
that too,” she shared. Leyance gave her a knowing smile.

“
I’m sure you do. What do
you want to drink?”

“
Oh, well, what do you have
here? I’m guessing there isn’t soda.”

“
No, sorry, no soda. Here,
I’ll give you one of my favorite drinks. Sound good?” he
asked.

“
Sure.”

“
Okay. Make yourself
comfortable and while I get the drinks.” With that, Leyance walked
out the doors. Gina looked around and saw a small table with two
chairs under a window by the balcony. She walked over, opened the
glass doors, and stepped out. From here, she could look around the
corner and see her balcony. She stepped back in and sat down in one
of the chairs just as Leyance came back in.

“
Okay, here we go. Two
Roses,” he said.

“
Roses?” she asked, taking
the pinkish liquid he handed her.

“
That’s what we call them
because they are pink.”

“
What’s in it?” she asked
warily.

“
No alcohol if that’s what
you’re wondering and nothing that will kill you. Just drink it.
You’ll like it, I promise.” She did. The sweet juice slid easily
down her throat and seemed to ease her entire body. She couldn’t
recognize any tastes in the drink, but she figured this was
probably what they would serve in heaven.

“
That’s good!” she
exclaimed.

“
I knew you’d like it. The
past queen did too…” he said quietly, drinking.

“
Well, I think anyone
would,” Gina stated.

“
I suppose.”

Chapter 4

“Trials of the Heart”

A few days passed. After a particularly hard
but accomplishing day, Gina found herself walking down the path she
had once found herself on that saddening night more than a month
earlier. She soon discovered, however, that she was not alone.

“
Leyance, what are you
doing here?” she asked, unaccustomed to seeing him in her personal
get-away spot.

“
You aren’t the only one
who comes here to think and get away from it all,” he smiled. A
shimmer from her sword caught Leyance’s attention. “How was
training today, Your Majesty?” A mischievous smile escaped from
Gina’s lips.

“
Fine, thank you,” she
replied. Then, swiftly she exposed her sword and held it to
Leyance’s chin. “And what are you doing out so late, might I ask?
Up to no good?” She laughed, but he did not stir. Seeing that his
mind was on something more serious, Gina put away her sword.
“What’s wrong?”

“
Nothing, Your Highness,”
he replied mechanically.

“
Please, Leyance. Don’t say
‘your majesty’ or ‘your highness.’ I wish everyone would drop it,”
she explained. “I look up to you. I mean you are the one who’s
helped me through all of this. I’m comfortable with you. Please,
don’t put me on a pedestal like the others have - I beg
you.”

“
Sorry, Gina,” he said,
finally smiling.

“
Thanks for saying
that.”

“
Saying what?”

“’
Gina,’” she replied.
“Everyone else insists on calling me ‘Regina,’ but I feel
comfortable around you because you call me ‘Gina.’ I like
it.”

“
Good,” he laughed,
“because I’m not changing it. You’re not on a pedestal, remember?”
Gina now glanced towards the lit water.

“
That water looks so nice
and refreshing,” she observed and once again, a mischievous smile
shown from her, but this time, Leyance noticed.

“
What?” he
asked.

“
Oh, nothing, nothing at
all.” Gina quietly set aside her bow and arrows and took off all
her remaining weaponry. Then, swiftly, she took a flying leap right
into the water. She came up to the surface and laughed at Leyance’s
look.

“
Are you crazy?” he asked,
not sure if he should laugh or scowl.

“
Maybe, who knows. It’s
nice, come on in,” she replied smiling brightly.

“
Like this?” he asked,
motioning to his clothes.

“
Yeah, I’m in my clothes
too. It’s fun, and we need to relax. Do I have to order you to come
in?” She laughed.

“
You wouldn’t do that,” he
countered smiling.

“
Then come in before I’m
forced to.”

“
Fine, fine, you win,”
Leyance responded. Then he too leapt into the water. The coolness
seemed to heal them both as they enjoyed splashing, swimming, and
relaxing as the lights danced below them.

“
Hey, I learned some new
moves today,” Gina shared, and, to demonstrate, she attacked
Leyance. They playfully struggled for awhile but suddenly stopped
as they realized that they were both holding each other, lips
inches apart. They both breathed heavily, as if to take in the
essence of the other. Leyance leaned in as his hand slid up Gina’s
neck to cradle her head. Gina’s world spun around her as Leyance
became closer and closer, their lips were about to touch. She
wanted them to but something held her back. Just as they were about
to kiss, Gina pushed Leyance away. He looked up, stunned as if
coming out of a dream. She avoided his eyes, afraid to see his look
of hurt that her rough action had caused.

“
I can’t. I’m sorry, I
can’t,” she stuttered. She swam to the edge and crawled
out.

“
Gina…”
Leyance began, but she grabbed her belongings and ran off down the
hidden path. He called after her. “Gina, please come back!
Gina!
”

From that day on, Gina avoided the one person
who had brought her comfort and happiness. She couldn’t help it.
Gina knew she’d been attracted to Leyance since the day he saved
her. Now, she knew that he must care for her, but she was not about
to complicate her life any further. It was best if she kept away.
So, instead, Gina concluded to drown herself in her training and
royal duties. Still, she could not get her mind off that man. One
moment, she’d be fighting her trainer, then her thoughts would
drift to that night, and, before she knew it, she’d be imagining
kissing the man she knew she could not want. In fact, Gina was
constantly questioning why she continued to imagine kissing Leyance
and holding him close to her when she knew that it would be too
complicated for her taste. She had not known many men before,
especially not many whom had liked her when she liked them.
Besides, she felt too young for him, despite the fact he seemed
near in age to her. Yet, to have someone show her such affection,
she could not help daydreaming about giving in to it. She felt that
this was often a problem in romantic emotions. In her experience,
there had always been a fine line between liking someone because
she truly cared for him and trying to like him simply because she
knew he liked her. Suddenly, pain interrupted these thoughts as her
scream pierced the air. These emotions and thoughts, which
constantly swam in Gina’s head, were obviously affecting her work
greatly.

“
Your Majesty? Are you
alright?” Kaleb asked. Gina lay on the ground. Her thoughts had
completely prevented her from blocking her trainer’s blow to her
side. She now felt the consequence.

“
Forgive me,” Gloria said,
“but you seem to be a bit distracted.”

“
I know, I know,” Gina
said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“
Then might I suggest
taking the day off?” Gloria suggested. “You won’t accomplish
anything with your mind on something else. The only thing you can
accomplish is becoming frustrated.”

“
I agree,” Kaleb joined in.
“Take the day off.”

Leyance lay awake in his bed, staring at the
ceiling. Thoughts and emotions swam through his head as well.
Finally, he restlessly rolled over and got up. He then hurried out
of his room. Slowly and quietly, he entered Gina’s bedroom. She lay
sleeping. He walked over to her and sat on her bed. From his
pocket, he produced a glittery powder and turned to the sheer
canopy hanging from her four-poster bed. Gently, he blew the powder
from his open hand onto the material. As a result, little lights
appeared throughout the material as if sewn in, illuminating the
bed and Gina’s peaceful face. After awhile of silently observing,
Leyance slowly leaned down and very lovingly did what he had been
unable to do that night. He kissed her lips. This awoke Gina, and
her eyes opened slowly. Seeing him on her bed, she sat up
quickly.

“
What are you doing here?”
she began but suddenly stopped as she realized what he had just
done. Leyance continued to gaze at her with love in his eyes.
“Wait, did you just…you did, didn’t you?” Then she saw the lights.
“What did you do to the canopy?”

“
Just a little trick I
know,” he replied. “Gina, you can’t keep avoiding me like
this.”

“
Why not?”

“
My feelings for you are no
secret. I’ve felt this way about you for our whole lives. I know
you’re feeling something too. Please, let’s just talk about
this.”

“
You barely know me…” Then
realization came over her face. “Oh, my God. We were in love,
weren’t we? We were engaged…”

“
You remember!”

“
No.” Gina shook her head.
“I read about it in the entries about the prophecy, but how can
that be? You would be dead by now.”

“
Not exactly. Because of
our diet, we live very long lives. We basically mature until about
twenty-five or so and then age very slowly for about hundred years
before we continue to grow old normally.”

But Gina wasn’t paying attention. “How could
I have been so blind? It was you all along! I should have
known.”

“
I knew it.”

“
Knew what?” she
demanded.

“
You love me,” he stated.
“Well, I mean your heart remembers loving me.”

“
No, I…”

“
No, Gina, I really think
it does. Darling, I’ve been without you for so long. It’s been the
hardest thing in the world to have the one I love return to me not
remembering that she loved me.” He came in closer to her and held
her close in his arms. He rested his forehead against hers. “Not
being able to tell her how much I love her, how I never want to
leave her side again. Just talk to me. Let yourself
remember.”

“
I…I…I don’t know what to
do…Leyance…” Gina stuttered.

He looked deep into her eyes, captivating her
gaze. “I love you.” Gina quickly shut her eyes.

“
I…I don’t know…Leyance,
please…” Gina’s heart was racing, and she couldn’t say anything
that would make sense. She was close to falling into his arms. She
had so many butterflies in her stomach that she was beginning to
lose all control.

“
What? What is it?” Leyance
asked. “You want to let yourself love me again, don’t you? It’s
okay - I love you. I love you.” With that he cradled her head as he
passionately kissed her. Gina finally gave in and embraced their
new romance. They held each other close for a long while as they
kissed tenderly. Their lips parted for a second, but it was enough
of a break for Gina to regain more composure. Leyance leaned in to
continue kissing her, but she didn’t return the romance.