Disclaimer: I don't own Snow White With The Red Hair or any of it's characters.
Many years ago, I had asked the question, why can't I go outside the gates? Why am I hidden from the world? Why can't I have any friends? It had been made clear to me, my pink hair and royal title, are going to make me a target, for any greedy or revenge seeking creep, that may cross my path. I didn't understand the gravity of those words. Instead, I felt like it was an excuse to lock me away in a castle, a manipulation to keep me from engaging in my curiosity. My Father did order for the forest grounds to be a place of freedom for me, having it cultivated, to simulate the vast topography of the regal forests that surrounded Clarines. Like that was some kind of compensation. When I was young, I chose to train and train hard, so my father would let me discover the world for myself, someday. I was going to prove that I can take care of myself! But I didn't know that experience inside the castle grounds can only take me so far. I grew more determined, and each day, my skills improved.
When I am not focused on training, I play in the forest with Ru Ru, my beautiful, and faithful companion, a rare blue and green bird. Although trained in similar ways, as the palace birds are, Ru Ru was my friend, that I trained to do what I wanted it to. Along with my faithful mare, Beauty, the fastest black horse, known in the kingdom, to my specifications of course. I would pretend to engage in fights, imaging that my greedy pursuers, would taste the fate of my sword. However, I am a lady, I would never dream of taking a life. I did see my parents from time to time, whenever they weren't busy with their duties. We would often walk through the garden, or the forest, talking about things that would get their minds off their troubles. My mother missed being an herbalist, and would often try and engage me in her passion of 'weeds'. Being a secret to the public, I didn't have any responsibilities, and a whole lot of time on my hands.
So what can I do? I don't serve any other purpose, at least not yet. I am trained as a lady of the court. I have known for a while, that one day, I would serve as a 'pawn', for some greedy nobleman to rise to power. And preparing for my presentation in the future, I would have to be elegant and controlled. It was something I wasn't keen on, however, learning to address conflicts in a professional matter was imperative, to being a well respected princess.
What is out there? I often dreamed about the towns and people I would meet there. The adventures I would have, snow ball fights, the warm sand between my toes, the open sea air, or what it would be like to be on a ship. Things, I only read about in books.
I wondered if dragons were real, or why we don't ride pegasi, or do those count as fable creatures too. That makes me wonder, if I could let myself believe in things like magic. Yes, I know reality from fantasy, but I still can't seem to grasp it's impossibility. Now before you think I am some kind of book worm, don't! I mostly hate reading books, especially when they are focused on facts, like affairs of the state, books on 'weeds', or the history of our kingdom. Boring!
One day, it will no longer be a mystery, I will make sure of that!
So this brings me to my current situation.
"Obi, got you! Next time, you'll have to do better than that." I announced confidently. Grabbing his arm, while high up in a tree.
"It seems you have, next time, I'll have to step up my game." He couldn't deny how far I had come. One day, I would be the strongest swords-woman this world has ever seen.
We jumped down from the tree, where we had settled this score.
"Well that's enough for one day. By the way, I heard Kihal is coming to the castle this afternoon. You haven't seen her in a while, have you?" Obi informed me.
My face lit up, my turquoise eyes, gleamed with pure joy. "Really! Got to go, Obi! Later." I darted off through the courtyard.
"My oh my, she is in a hurry, isn't she." He ran his fingers through his short, dark brown hair.
"Kihal!" I almost screamed excitedly, before remembering to regain my composer. I hadn't seen her since she had given me Ru Ru.
"Well, it is very nice to see you again, Princess Miko." Kihal placed her hand on my head, which reminded me, how small I still was.
I quickly shook off those thoughts, and followed it up with a question. "Are you here on official business?"
"Not really. Do I need a reason to visit my favourite little princess?"
"You might want to tread a little more lightly, I am not supposed to have commoners as friends..." I could not help but feel bad after saying it. A smirk replaced my sad expression. "So what! What they don't know, won't hurt them."
"For sure."
"So shall we proceed to the garden?" I proposed, hoping to take our visit to a more private setting. Her nod assured me of her understanding.
As we walked, our conversation naturally turned to Ru Ru. "I can't wait to show you a new trick I taught Ru Ru."
"You have certainly been busy."
"Well, Ru Ru is my best friend, of course, I am going to teach it how to be one of the best travel companions ever. I even taught it to attack on command." I declared with a sense of pride.
Kihal giggled, "Is that all you ever think about?" I knew she meant it in the best way, but still, what was she getting at?
"Ha-ha..." I stared into the sky, as if falling into a dream. "I really want to see your island some day, for myself. To do that, I will do whatever it takes."
Now that we were in the garden, I completely relaxed. I wasn't called to performance here, and I knew Kihal didn't care. I blew my whistle, reaching out my arm, to receive the bird.
"You certainly have been taking good care of it. Well, let's see what it can do!" I knew she was going to be in for a surprise.
I stood alone, in the courtyard, with Ru Ru on my shoulder. Ru Ru was never caged, like the other birds, and was free to fly around the castle grounds. Even so, it seemed to prefer hanging around me. I showed Kihal one trick after another.
I sighed. Kihal had already left. She wanted to see my mother too, so our visit was cut a lot shorter. Of course, my only human friend, also had to be friends with my mother. At least, Kihal enjoyed our little show. I can't begin to describe how long I had been waiting to see her face, when we showed off our effectively rehearsed routine. She marveled at it, which was very satisfying to me.
It seemed that Kihal took an interest in the 'weeds', in a way of relating to my mother on a different level. I wondered if it was a genuine interest though, I mean how could anyone like 'weeds'. I suppose the flowers can be pretty, but what of the other plants. How could they be that exciting. That is why we have court herbalists, so we don't have to do any unnecessary studies.
I saw them in the herb garden earlier and lost interest quickly. She was leaving in less than an hour now, and I seriously doubted that I would get another chance to see her before she left.
Ru Ru seemed to sense my loneliness, and gently chewed at my ear, as if saying 'Hey, I am still here.'
"Stop it!" I giggled at the ticklish sensation.
I finally decided to turn my frown upside down, by challenging Ru Ru to a race through the forest. Ru Ru was of course beating me, so I had to give myself a better chance, by employing Beauty into my race. Ru Ru still beat me. Got to hand it to the birds, they will always have the advantage.
Unfortunately, this had adverse effects. It just reminded me, of how much I wanted to soar in the sky like Ru Ru. To be free.
I remembered that my tenth birthday drew near. Maybe now, I could ask my father to follow through with his promise.
By the time I got back to the palace, I had missed the send off. Kihal was gone. It would now revert back to the same routine. I began to regret my decision to race Ru Ru. I wanted to have at least said good-bye. I wondered when would I see her again.
I guess that was a long enough break, I suppose I will get back to training, besides it is almost 4 o'clock. Kiki will be waiting for me, soon.
I approached the woman, who had already taken her stance. "You're late. That is sloppy and very unlike you." she relaxed her composure and concern seemed to be hidden behind her blue eyes. "It's Kihal, isn't it?"
"Not really,... well not completely. Hey, Kiki? Do you think, my father would consider taking me out of the castle soon? Maybe after my tenth birthday?"
"You would have to ask him. Do you think, you are old enough to handle the responsibilities that would go with it? You can't be overly reckless. That won't help your case."
"I won't be, I can handle it!" I stood confidently, before her now. Taking my own stance, with the practice sword, firmly in my grasp.
Swords clashed and unaware of it, we had an audience.
"You seem to be improving." Prince Zen stepped out from the shadows.
"Father, I..." I was caught completely off guard, I hadn't even rehearsed in my mind what I wanted to say, but I didn't want to wait any longer.
Before I could say another word, my father spoke. "Please don't let me stop you. Let's see what you got." He stood curiously, patiently waiting for our sparring to continue.
He may not have meant to, but his presence made me, tense and unfocused. Thus, being sloppy. Kiki knocked the sword out of my hands, with too much ease.
"You seem to be off your game, just relax!" Kiki sent me a knowing smile, followed by an expression, that was encouraging me to prove myself. She was telling me, that she was on my side, wanting to prove my progress to Zen too.
In response, I took a deep breath, and re-adjusted my stance, reminding myself just how crucial this moment was. I swung my sword, that I had retrieved from the ground only a moment ago, and it collided with Kiki's, as to be expected. Now using this opportunity, to show off my fancy footwork, and my recently acquired acrobatic skills.
Things were happening so fast. I wasn't able to see whether I was impressing my father, or not.
Once again, Kiki smacked my sword from my hand. "Again!"
I realized Kiki could be doing other things right now, but years ago, I insisted on learning my sword skills from her. And it certainly was paying off. At such a young age, I could already take on most of the castle guards and come out victorious. I wondered how I was going to show her, one day, how much I appreciated it. So I silently decided the best way to thank her, would be to become the best swords-woman I can be, and princess too, I guess.
I could say, being a princess, wasn't my top concern at the moment.
After a few more times that I had to bite it, I stood up to see my father, who came in between us. "I am really proud of you, you've come along way." After he said those encouraging words, I thought my time to ask him, finally came. I greatly anticipated his response. Never in all my days, had I been this nervous.