An Unexpected Visit

"Are you alright?" Gabriel asked, his eyes wide.

Jasmine blinked, then flushed.

"Of course," she said curtly, pushing herself up, and brushing herself off.

What's wrong with me?

She thought nervously to herself, remembering her first impressions the boy.

What was I thinking?

She looked more closely at him, he was tall and thin, but not in a gangly since, more lean.

He had large grey eyes with a square jaw.

His blond hair was pulled back into a small ponytail that brushed the nape of his neck.

She guessed him to be her age, maybe older.

Gabriel was still looking at her with apprehension. But unlike before he looked at her nervously.

In a way she was only to used to.

With fear.

"Look," she said quietly," I'm sorry I lashed out at you,"

Gabriell stayed quiet.

Gabriell fiddled with his thumbs nervously.

"It's alright," he said finally.

Then silenced.

They stood for a while just staring at one another.

Jasmine was so unaccustomed to speaking with others besides the court, who only wished to marry her of the the highest bidder, she lacked the skills of talking to people her own age, especially boys, especially boys like Gabriel.

Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up and she smiled, breaking the ice that seemed to have built between them in those few awkward moments.

"Well, if you'd like to get out of the rain," she said gesturing to the still sprinkling air around them,"I know a place to stay,"

Gabriell raised a quizzical eyebrow.

Then seemed to right himself as he nodded obediently,"Yes your highness,"

Jasmine cringed,"Please, call me Jasmine,"

Gabriell made to mount his horse, then began to worry that it might be rude to force the heir to the thrown to walk in the rain, as he rode in comfort.

He quickly climbed down nervously and said with an over exaggerated gesture," May I help you madame?"

Jasmine giggled.

And so it began.

For a few minutes they rode in peaceful silence.

Stealing quick furtive glances at one another.

Until finally, the question in Jasmine threatened to burst inside her.

"please don't think me rude, but something's been bothering me,"

"Mmmhhmm?"

"Well, how did you know I was out here?"

Gabriell stayed quiet for a while then said, I'm the stable boy, Gabriell," he realized he'd yet to introduce himself," And I heard you come into the stable,"

He knew what was coming next, the harder question-

"But why? Why did you follow me, you didn't have to, and quite frankly others of the court think leaving me out in the woods to die would be a service, and-"

Gabriell looked up at Jasmine intently.

Chilling her.

"I don't believe that, you do matter,"

Even though it had been an intense moment-

She smiled.

And she knew that it wasn't necessary to say thank you.

After walking through the thick forest for what felt like hours, the two reached a small grove and in that grove was a cave.

Gabriel looked around quizzically,
What is this place?"

Jasmine smiled but didn't answer, she carefully knocked on the door and smiled as a gruff voice asked quizzically, "Who is it?"