We should keep on moving to get the things we desire. The road maybe steep as it seems to be, and our dreams may look far, but we have to keep moving forward. There are times when it seems far yet it is so near. . . so near, and so we only need to be faithful with our dreams. Our dreams will never betray us, but the road that will lead us to it will do.
Rei was stranding before the fields. Everything is wet and sulking after the stormy night had passed. However, its aftermath - the cold breeze and the shy sun - is a satisfying scenery for the young raven-haired man. The sun was hiding behind the giant gray clouds left from last night's rage, its golden streak forbidden to shine against Rei's fair face. His departure will be in an hour, so indulging himself with the last glimpse of everything in Green Fields will be worthwhile.
'Good-bye, Green Fields. Good-bye, farm life. Good-bye to Rei the stable lad.'
As he stood there, dressed with his best dress shirt and trousers, he was excited to take his first step in fulfilling his dreams. To ride a horse and train with a sword or a gun, he was definitely on his way to an uphill path that would lead him to his actualization. To serve his kingdom, most importantly, was his main purpose. But before looking forward, he should keep his eyes what was in front of him, and that was Len. Future would be the concern of every individual but he should not lose sight of his present which included Len. Inside the pocket of his pants was a paper folded into four, confiding the words he would like to tell Len if only he was brave enough. But Rei knew it would hurt his best friend, and he never had the courage to make Len despondent.
He turned on his heel and walked towards the barn where he saw Len ran into last night. The blond must be in the middle of his wonderful dreams so Rei wanted to be as stealth as he could be. And so, he found the blond laying down on the stack of hay, shoulders heaving. His face wrote tranquility all over as his eyes remained closed. Len was still in a deep sleep.
Rei sat in front of Len, smiling like an overjoyed boy who found a treasure buried in his backyard. The moment of silence lasted for what seemed to be an eternity, until Len shifted to lay facing the high buttresses. The rooster cried its early morning call and Rei heard his departure time. He pulled out his letter and placed it beside Len's face so it would be the first thing he would see once he woke. Tapping the blond on his shoulder, Rei left the barn with his farewell whispered in the morning mist.
Two farm boys as they are known, each moved away from their present life. Despite the difference of how they colored their dreams, the important thing is that they are able to paint it with colors they desire.
The raven-haired farm boy ran towards the high road, eyes glistening at the sight of the familiar hansom from a distance. High-spirited, Rei looked back to his parents behind and waved them a goodbye. His mother was crying a lot, since last night she was, and he wanted to comfort her the last time. But as he stepped down, his father gestured him to go with a smile that Rei would never forget. The boy nodded and ran towards the horse-drawn carriage that would bring him closer to his dreams.
"Mother! Father! Please tell Len that I will be back, and we shall meet again!" He waved a hand and turned his back, continuing to move forward this time. . . and never turning his back.
"Fremd bin ich eingezogen,
Fremd ziech ich wieder aus. . ."
Len batted his eyes open when a sweet music rang his ears. A language unknown was manifested into an alluring song without any hints of what was its meaning. High buttresses came into view, blurry for a moment, and he recognized the similar structure he usually woke up to. He spent the night in the barn.
"Der Mai war mir gewogen,
Mit manchem Blumenstrauss. . .'
Len snapped his head to where the humming originated, and there was his fair lady patting the black dog's head. She was singing a song unsung to him, never heard, never known. Yet, that little fact wouldn't stop him to admire her. It was like when she played her piano or harpsichord, the same enticement captured him when she sang.
" Good day to you, Len. You are a heavy sleeper, are you not? But if I may suggest, you should rise and have breakfast with me. All is set in your place, your sister helped me out." Miku chattered, too jolly to start his morning.
"How do you know that I am awake, Lady Miku?" His sleepy voice made the young lady giggle, forgetting the manners taught to her by Clara. When she realized how ungraceful she became, she halted and regained her composure.
"I am a person deprived with the sense of sight. And people who lacked one of his senses, have his other senses empowered. It is easy to tell so, for your movements reached my ears through the snapping hay beneath you, and your breathing altered, and your snoring stopped and replaced with a morning groan."
Len stared at her as if confirming that she really is blind. She was blankly looking ahead, careless whether her companion was by her side. His dog was enjoying her hands on its head, as it blinked at Len. She surely had that image of blind noble.
"I do forget that you are at sometimes. Pardon my rudeness. Good-day to you, milady." He stood and caught sight of the piece of paper lying near his foot. The blond picked it up and read the scribble on it; it was from Rei. Len knew that Rei left already, for he was waken when the rooster cock-a-doodle-doo, witnessing Rei's retreating back. He was not aware of the letter he left for him. Keeping the letter in his pocket since he lost the vigour to see whatever his friend might have written there, he knelt in front Miku and asked her to have their breakfast by now.
Along their walk back to his place while Miku held on his arm, Len inquired about her presence in the barn, and why would his older sister help her setting their breakfast in his place. As they walked pass by the fields, the sun was already up and shining with its brightness unfelt.
"Thy mother has showed up in the manor before the dawn and asked if I could spend the day with you. She told me that you were melancholic last night about Rei's departure, and I, someone indebted to you and your dear friend, obliged myself to show up and cheer you in my little way." She smiled and let go of his arm. She raised her hands across the air and enjoyed the sensation of the cold breeze blowing against them. Even though the outside of their manor was the wheat fields, she was rarely allowed to enjoy the breaking dawn and twilight in there. "What a wonderful morning! Dear wind, please carry away my friend's grievances, or if you cannot, let me share it with him, so he would remain positive in his outlook in life."
Her hands clasped at each other as she said those, eyes of peculiar shade of blue and whiteness glistened with bliss Len didn't know where was it from. Albeit of her sudden talk about it as though she sensed his woe, he was grateful to hear it from her. That made everything less sadder. He stretched out his hand to hold hers, startling her for a brief moment, and stood before her, pressing his forehead against her. The cold breeze blew again, and so, he uttered his favor to the wind as well.
"Dear wind, please let me share the happiness of this dame and help me dismiss this misery. Make her happiness mine so even if the world is dark, I still can see the bright side like her."
Her lips drew a smile as she heard him mumble those words, as if she was the wind, and quietly contained her bliss of being able to alleviate his crestfallen soul. They remained like that for a blissful minute, comforting themselves with each other's warm hands.
"I think we should get going." She sighed and gripped his hand and let it go, then ran her hands to hold on his arm.
"We shall. Excuse me for holding your hands with my untidy ones-"
"Len, I do not approve of how you state it. It is fine, I am fine. Let us begin the day and have our breakfast."
If there is something he truly admired about his Lady, that is her simplicity and humility.
"By the way, what do you call that strange song you are singing earlier?" He led her inside their little house, and yanked a seat for her. She spoke the truth when she said that the meal is ready, it is there.
"Don't you like it? It is a song thought to me by my mother in the South. It is called Gute Nacht. If I may recall it correctly, it is supposed to be a lullaby. In fact, gute nacht means good night."
The two of them ate their breakfast in the empty house. Len's mother and sister were out of his vicinity, such absence puzzled him more. Why would they talk to Sir Leon this early morning? To think, his mother scarcely paid a visit for the scholar. She told Len that Sir Leon was someone she could not stand the stare, it was sharp and inquisitive-always looking beyond what the eyes could see, listening what could be heard more than words. He was lost in his thoughts and was only brought back when the dame squealed; the glass of milk spilled on her frilled dress.
"Milady!" He quickly ran to his room and brought out a dry cloth to dry Miku's drenched hands and neck, and entrusted her the cloth to dry her dress. "You are done with your meal, I can tell. We should get back to the manor so you could change into your clothes. Rise, milady, very quick."
His talking was shunned by a finger of her placed on his lips. She was flitting her eyes from corner to corner, its impression of the polar caps on the charted earth relived in his mind. "I have told you a thousand times already, quit calling me with titles. We are the same and that will not change,"
"I may oblige with your request but I am more worried what other folks may say about me. I certainly do not want to give them a false impression that I am disrespecting you. Who am I when seated next to a noble woman? I am a mere son of a peasant-"
Her arms pulled him down to her; her chin rested on his shoulder. He was bent down to accommodate the young lady on her seat, and it was his first time to be embraced by a little miss of his age. Sometimes, he wondered whether his utterances were no more than a faux pas against himself. Their indifference was open and shut, and it was something he could not change - nor anyone could. Even if they establish this rule between themselves, the norms of the society would continue labeling such action as insolence.
"I know that you are more than a peasant. You are not a peasant beginning the day you studied with my uncle. Rei left this town to seek his fortune more than what Green Fields could give him; and you, you already found that even without leaving. You are a prodigy, my uncle told me. Your ideas are boundless, so why not let it soar? These hierarchy among people will soon fade, I can feel it. I know that you-yes, it is you, Len-you will bring that change. Believe in yourself." Miku's gentle hands patted his back. She was so delicate and kind, it sends Len to an almost breakdown.
"What makes you say all of these? Have you read my mind?" Len pulled her up and escorted her outside their house so she could change her clothes already. The feeling of the spilled milk gives is unpleasant, he knew enough.
"Unfortunately, reading minds is beyond man's capacity. Someone dear to you had told me to look after you, and prevent your heart from shattering. Rei is a nice friend." She dismissed his hand holding her arm and said, "pray do read Rei's letter and I will go back to the manor myself. A coachman was waiting for me. Let us meet later, Len." With that, she left at the trail of his black dog.
Len was left in his house, hesitant whether he would follow her counsel or not. The paper was still kept in his pocket, waiting to be unfolded and read. . . patient with Len's indecisive demeanor. He pondered about it, again and again, because he could for see himself riding a horse and chasing the train to tell Rei his reply, even if he never learned how to ride a horse by himself.
"I shall think of it again after a quick bath," closing the doors behind him, Len went straight to the bath to ease his clouded mind. There, he did not notice that he dozed off while pondering on the wooden tub.
"Good morning, Sir Leon." Len's mother curtseyed when Sir Leon entered the waiting room.
"Good morning to you, Madam Neru Marseilles. And to you too, miss Rin." The blond scholar slightly nodded his head to his visitors, his shoulder length hair followed his movement. "Pray do take your seats."
"I do not deserve the polite greeting anymore, sire. I am a peasant. I came here to confirm why Len behaved strangely last night, he spoke about the lost Prince of my kingdom." Neru bluntly said, sitting straight on the chair-her learned manners from being a part of the royal family still in tact.
Rin, on the other hand, was surprised how noble her mother appeared; it was a woman she had never seen on the fields or on the public market. The lady wondered what could their life be if her mother is still a part of the royal family, maybe she is not who she is or there can be no Rin at all.
Sir Leon sighed. "Since you spoke already, I will be true to you. Is Len the Queen's child?" The scholar watched as the former lady-in-waiting's grace fell. The daughter, too, turned whimsical. "I have my eyes on Len for some years already but I cannot confirm my presumption in fear of your denial."
"Len is not my son, even if by blood we are not bound, a mother will do anything to protect her child. Observing the circumstances, I know this will be the best for the Queen too. I admit I do not intend to confess to you the truth, until last night, Len told us the Rei is the lost Prince. Well, at least he did not tell that Rei was exactly the Prince but he knew that is friend was an orphan.
"That early morning when we found him, there were three babies found in different farms of Green Fields. Rei and Len were two of them. The news about the kingdom being attacked by a spy spread, and the Prince was lost. When I saw Len, I recognized his golden hair that resembled the King's features. His face was like the Queen. Right there I knew, he was the lost Prince. But when he spoke to Rin last night, I was not sure anymore. I was clueless with how did he know that Rei was an orphan." Neru warily wrinkled her apron beneath her palms as she narrated the truth to Sir Leon. The knight, on the other hand, remained calm as expected of the servants of the royals. He was about to speak when Clara, the head of the household, announced the entrance of the knight's niece.
"Good day, uncle." The accent she adapted from the Australian colony was evident. "Pardon me for my intrusion but I am curious if I will be sharing my breakfast with you and Len's mother?"
"Hardly that, I am having a serious conversation with Madam Neru. Please take your meal ahead of me."
"I am sorry. I know I should not butt in, but is this related to the lost Prince?"
"Clara, please bring Lady Miku out of this roo-"
"Excuse me, but can I take her to Len? Maybe you can dine with Len since he is left in our house, disheartened I bet, for Rei left already to train as a squire." Rin stood from her seat, eyeing the blind young miss. She saw Rei came to the manor before he left, and he probably exchanged a word or two with Miku. The cold knight sighed and gestured that they may go, and so, the blonde brought the noble girl with her.
When Rin and Miku was out of the manor, Sir Leon darted his eyes on the blonde seated across his room. Her face, quite weary compared some eleven years ago, did not change a lot. She wore the same expression royalties were expected to display when in front of public, but even if she held on that pretense, the wise knight and scholar could read all her worries.
"There were three, but the prince is only one. What makes Len tell you that his friend is the lost royalty? How can he tell?" Sir Leon walked back and forth across the room, his finger tapped on his chin in deep thought. He was sure that he never mentioned his real motive in residing in Green Fields to his student, but it was confusing. The war never concerned that spirited youth. Someone must have told him.
"How did he know that the Prince is missing? That was never told in public." Sir Leon and Neru shared inquisitive gazes. "Someone from the two kingdoms should have told him. Who could it be?"
The silence was broken when Clara walked in again, telling the home owner that he has a new visitor.
"Pardon me, Sir Leon. A fair man is here to visit you,"
"Who is he? Let him in." Leon couldn't believe who stood on his doorway. Fancy clothing, a musket kept at the side of waist, blond hair caught up-his lost brother, Rinto.
"My dear brother! How are you, Leon? It has been a while. Oh! Glad to see you again, Lady Neru. If I may comment, you've grown old. So, what are you saying again? Who told Len what?" Sir Rinto walked across the room, his steps graceful as he moved towards the large window. The shy sun was stepping out of the clouds. "If this Len is the blond lad with our niece, dear brother, then I am the person who asked his help to look for the lost Prince."
"This is not your affair, Rinto. The King and Queen are convinced that you are a traitor! What are you planning?" Leon grabbed his collar and pressed him against the window, afraid of the sinister he sensed from his own brother. "You are the chieftain of the highwaymen, you will not be able to get back in the kingdom!"
"Convinced, you say. Have you told them the truth? No. Fine. I only want a truce, brother. This will end if the princes are returned and-"
"Princes! How come princes? Your child and the prince are the only ones-"
"They are not! This kingdom's prince is stolen too. Do you not understand? That is the reason why this war will not stop. If Len is adopted, he can be one of the princes or my son." Rinto pushed Leon away and brushed off the wrinkles Leon made on his dress shirt. His triumphant smile was directed to Neru. "Where is the alleged prince, Lady Neru?"
"He has left Green Fields to be a squire."
"Who is Len?"
"I cannot tell." She stooped her head.
"Stop this, Rinto! If you want me to fetch your wife out of the Queenland, I will. Just do not interfere with-" Leon was not able to finish his say when Rinto drew out his musket. Rinto's gleaming smile disappeared after Leon mentioned his wife and his motherland.
"I am not a coward like you, Leon. Did you not tell me that I am someone stronger than you? Then let me fight for someone using my strength." His words stung like a bee to Leon's chest. Those were the words he spoke to convince Rinto to persuade his brother giving in with the King's demand to be a frontliner, which resulted to his misfortune.
His hand on Rinto's shoulder swung back to his side in defeat. "Yes, I told you that but I never meant it this way. Not against me, my brother. Leave the Queenland's prince to me and find your son. If you wish to have your wife here with you, I will retrieve her from-"
Slap! His brother's hand touched his face in the most unaffectionate way-a slap stronger than Leon's weakest sway of his sword-connected with his right cheek. Golden forelock drooped just above Leon's eyes, slowly turning his head to face his brother again.
That glare was immense and full of hatred, fiery and austere. "Thinking highly of you being a scholar and the King's right hand, you disappoint me with your unthought arrangements. You are a knight, so am I. Do you know how does it burden me to have my glory stained because of a crime I am not liable? Bringing my wife here in Portia will not put us up with good fortune. I am a highwayman and King Yohio will soon take action upon us when they discovered that it is the old thieves who stole their son!"
"That doesn't concern me. I am in service of King Oliver, and he alone. And that is a proposal of a brother to a brother." Leon turned his back from Rinto, wanting to end the senseless talk when he heard a click from behind.
Rinto's musket was raised level to Leon's head. "Pray do tell me where is the Prince of Queenland and I will pretend that you are not an enemy."
"After you told us about the long absence of the Prince of Portia, there is no assurance who is the prince. A nevus on his chest and a mole at his back were his identity. I will not hinder you finding King Oliver's child, that will help me after all. But I am telling you, using the Prince to find your way back will not help yo-"
Leon was unable to finish his warning when he dropped on the ground, shoulder wounded after a bullet grazed on it. Rinto was dazzled of the sudden gunfire, but when the glass walls shattered and a group of fancy-dressed young men barged in, he knew that these highwaymen moved on their own accord. He quickly ran to his brother, watching his face twist and crinkle in pain and called Neru to aid him to his carriage.
"Bring him within the walls and find a doctor! He should be treated soon before he ran out of blood for the next half of hour!" He told Neru and went back inside the manor, beating down the highwaymen robbing his brother's mansion.
Neru asked his coachman and Clara to do as what Rinto told them, only to be interrupted when the cart where the young miss was riding halted before them. Without a word, she was picked up by Neru and settled before the injured gentleman, and was asked to escort her uncle to a doctor in Hestia, a town inside the Kingdom. "Clara, look after them. May God bless you."
Neru ran out of the manor and rode Rin's horse. She dashed her way to her cabin and met Rin standing by the roadside. "Rin! Hurry young lady! The manor is ambushed by the thieves. Hurry up before they see us!"
Confused, she did not oblige soon, and instead asked, "Why? Why are you in a hurry? Len is safe in the cab-"
"Sir Rinto might be after Len!" Her mom yelled.
"Sir Rinto? Is he Len's real father?" This time, Rin ran after her mom's horse only to stop when she stopped and Len was standing opposite them, escorting a pony.
Neru and Rin were both astonished seeing the young blond standing before them. The paper he was holding was slid back inside his pocket as he climbed to the horse back. "Mother, what happened to the manor?"
"Len, have you heard us?"
"Mother, what happened to the manor? Is Lady Miku and Sir Leon fine? Are they hurt?" Len pulled his horse to turn his back to them.
"They are heading to the Hestia to find a doctor. Sir Leon is wounded-Len! Come back here!" His mother was not yet finished when Len dashed away, his pony ran swiftly away. He heard enough, he was like Rei and he could be Sir Rinto's son and Miku's cousin, if so ever.
Nevertheless, hearing the truth did not make him ache a little.
Dearest Len,
I am glad to spend my childhood with you. We promised to grow up together as we dreamed together, and I am now on my way there. I will be back as soon as I can and see you and Miku doing well.
I heard the truth from my parents that I was an orphan, and I was picked up with you. It did not offend me knowing the truth for that only meant that we were together ever since, were we not? We should be called basket-brothers if so. I hope it did not hurt you reading this, but when I came back, let us find our real families.
Truly yours,
Rei.
P.S. tell Miku that she should take care of you while I am way. Do not be ridiculous to her. Learn the chivalry.
The pony skipped along the railway. The train was a little ahead him. He could see teal locks waving from an open window near the rear part of the train, and he did his best to catch them at least. Black smoke blew from the pipes of the train, darkening Len's vicinity.
"Len! Stop! Now!" Rin was behind him, almost near him, yelling that he would not be able to chase the train. But the hard-headed he was continued the run, shielding his nose with his sleeves against the dark smoke.
"Miku! Miku! Sir Leon!" His call was unheard against the clattering railway and roaring engines, attempts were in vain. His sister continued asking him to stop. "Miss Clara! Sir Tonio!" He insisted on shouting their names despite the augmenting distances.
"Len! Stop now! That is the end of the moor! You will-"
Len did not understand what she warned for he was right behind the train, until he felt his pony squirm beneath him. Water. There was water. The land was discontinued.
"Len!"
Down he fell from the cliff with his pony, and he eyed the train which went ahead of the railway that extended across two moors. He closed his eyes knowing it was his end, and he prayed that this running water beneath him would welcome him with a splash and not with rocks.
"Excuse my rudeness, sister. I should have listened to you."
The blue sky above him was stained with black smoke. Air tickled him as he fell, and he felt tranquility.
"I am very sorry."
A/N:
Len died.
The end.
Just kidding. Honestly speaking, I hate my writing style. *buries my face with these papers* Next chapter will surprise you - or I am kidding myself?
