How do I love thee??
By A.R & J.A Tarantula
"The fountains mingle with the river and the rivers with the ocean
The winds of heaven mix forever, with a sweet emotion
Nothing in the world is single; all things by law divine
In one another's being mingle why not I with thine?
See! The mountains kiss high the heaven,
And the waves clasp one another; no sister flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother; and the sunlight clasps the earth
And moon beams kiss the sea: what are all these kissings worth, if thou kiss not me?"
-"Love's Philosophy" by Percy Shelley
Chapter one "The Meeting":
The area around Hartsfield was budding with flowers, the air smelled of freshly planted crops. A flock of geese where weaving inside and out of corn fields, while being herded down the lane. Soon to be followed by a brown haired maiden.
"Alas you dumbfounded geese!! Here here! Mother isn't gunna be please if you run again... Neither will by the royal court!!"
Down the lane they ran; out of fear she chased after them, whistling and calling to them; hoping they would run back to her. Riding up the same lane on a black noble steed was a dark haired lad; he had come to this place to claim over his father's land, it was strange and new to him; suddenly as if at the right moment he heard honking and he set eyes upon her
"I dare wonder who that lass is calling after those geese?? Could she be the new queen's fool??"
He never really had close relations with town folk before; but something about watching a girl chase geese, opened his eyes to a different life. Since he was wee lad; his father being a great nobleman once never allowed him to talk to town's people; all the lad new was court life.
"You silly geese come hither now"
The lord chuckled as the geese surrounded his horse; the steed displeased whinnied and tried to spook them off. The brown haired lass chased the geese around and about the horse. The lad laughed at the site and spoke
"M'lady If I may be so bold can I help thee??"
The girl droped down into a curtsy, and nodded a yes as she rose... to her feet. The geese flocked towards her as the lad lead them here and there. Once back to their owner the girl spoke
"thank you sir, I don't know how I can repay you, see these geese belong to the royal court and as goose girl it is my duty to herd them there and back to my house"
The lad laughed, he couldn't keep his eyes off her, he felt as if he needed her; it was a tingling desire. The young goose girl raised an eye brown at the lad who seemed to be daydreaming.
"M'lord is thou ok??"
"Why yes fair maiden I am... my I introduce myself"
The lass nodded; the lad stepped closer grab her hand and kissed it
"I am Lord James Tradescant, I have come here to live off my father's land...and you my darling goose girl would be??"
In shock the goose girl replied nothing at first... all she could feel was the new come feeling when she felt his lips brush her hands, a honking goose broke her silence:
"For I'm Isabelle Parker, royal goose girl"
As she curtsy two geese chased each other around her. The youngest of the pair bumped into Isabelle and she fell, James laughed and as he helped her back up he spoke
"Are you sure you're the goose girl and not the queens fool cause you'd make the perfect fool"
Isabelle's only reply was to throw a piece of bread
"Good day to you unkind sir for I have never been so outraged"
And with that she stormed off towards the castle. As all her geese followed her James stood there in shock over thrown piece of breading wondering what he did wrong. He stares contently at the bread and suddenly as if out of nowhere the youngest goose snatched it.
"So you where left behind, alas I know how it feels to suddenly be lonely... I shall take you back to Lady Isabelle and hopefully she can forgive me"
With that he scooped the goose up and led his horse up lane. On her way towards the castle Isabelle mumbled under her breath
"Why that unkind Lord Tradescant is the most veil handsome creature I've ever met but yet at the same time I can't stand him..."
She looked down at a goose and began to act like James
"Are you sure you're not the queens fool...you'd make the perfect fool... how dare he say such a thing... and to a girl he just met"
Alas these soon to be lovers do not notice that cupid is laughing, for when the morn comes the next day. On heart strings they shall play.
