A/N: Thank you to Aaron, Birchtail, and Fox for their reviews!
The rainy season had come early that year. Romac pulled his coat tighter, trying to keep the cold out, and continued slogging through the mud. Wind rippled through the jungle, each gust carrying another wave of rain that stung when it hit the Grounder's face. Shielding his eyes with a hand, he tried to ignore the harsh conditions and focused instead on finding the object he sought. Under normal circumstances, he would be with his clan in the village, where it was dry, but not tonight. He'd made a promise, and he intended to keep it.
At last, after almost slipping on the wet rocks, he reached the sheltered cliff face where the garden was. Protected against the wind, this location was far dryer than its surroundings. Romac lowered himself onto one of the rocks with a sigh and shook the water off his coat.
Like the waterfall he showed Mira, this was a place he visited often. Secluded, sheltered, and beautiful, it was the perfect spot to spend some time alone thinking or reading. He couldn't count the number of hours he'd passed under this rocky hideaway, engrossed in a book or tending his plants.
Lovingly cared for, those plants were his pride and joy. One of them stood out from the others. It had long, thorny stems topped by blood-red flowers, with each petal curled around another, creating a tight spiral unlike anything he'd seen among the native Tangea flora. This plant was one his father had acquired on his travels; the man who sold it to him said it was called a "rose" and was grown by the humans. It was this plant that had prompted his trek through the wet jungle.
Removing a knife from his belt, he sliced four flower stems off the plant, pausing briefly to inhale their sweet scent before slipping them into the leather bag he carried. Next he picked a dozen yellow flowers off another plant and placed them next to the roses.
"That should be enough." He smiled to himself.
"The weather seems to be clearing up."
Her father's comment made her glance out the window, and Mira noted with satisfaction that the rain was indeed slowing. She'd feared it would last all night. Although Romac had promised he would meet her that day regardless of the weather, she was still relieved to find the rain wouldn't pose any problems.
"Oh, Mira, I forgot to tell you," remarked the king, warming his hands on the steaming mug he held. "You have an appointment with the tailor tomorrow. You need to be fitted for your gown. That dress you wore at last year's ball won't fit you anymore."
Mira nodded, hardly listening. "Yes, Father." Who cared about parties and balls and dresses when there were more important things to look forward to - like seeing Romac again?
"Have you decided who you will go with?" King Nova sipped the drink and leaned back in his chair. "You're getting too old to be escorted by me every year. It's time you went with one of the young men your age. I know some of them have been asking."
I don't care about any of them! They're a bunch of self-absorbed idiots. I wish Romac could escort me to the ball. "Oh, I'll find someone," she answered without enthusiasm. Glancing at the clock, she began to squirm. I need to get to our meeting place. Romac will be here soon. "Daddy?"
"Yes, Mira?"
"I'm going to take a walk - I, uh, need to stretch my legs. I feel stiff from sitting inside all day." She rose, trying to appear casual. "I'll see you later, okay, Daddy?"
King Nova nodded, looking down into his cup. "I hope you enjoy your walk."
At last the rain had stopped, and Romac gratefully flung off his wet coat. Removing the tarp that covered his bike, he swung himself into the seat and pressed his foot down upon one of the pedals. Water and mud was blown in every direction as the powerful engine came to life, lifting the bike into the air. Once he had risen above the trees, he steered towards the distant palace, holding back none of the vehicle's speed. Wet treetops raced by below in a blur, and the palace grew larger and larger.
In no time at all, he was bringing the bike back to a sedate speed so he could maneuver around the floating city, trying to locate the quiet balcony he knew so well. The sight of a pink figure staring up at the moon caught his eye, and he quietly lowered the bike down some distance away.
Mira stood on the edge of the balcony, clutching her hand to her heart as she waited. She had her back turned, and seemed unaware of Romac's presence.
She looks so beautiful in the moonlight, he mused. Slipping his hand into his pocket, he withdrew a handful of the glowing airy spores that tinkled like chimes, and tossed them into the air. The breeze caught them and carried them forward like a swarm of fireflies, blowing past Mira. She gasped in delight and turned around in time to see the spores alight on the bouquet of flowers Romac held out to her.
"Romac! You came! And you brought those alien flowers you told me about, just like you promised!" She dashed forward, love shining her eyes. Resting against the red and yellow bouquet, she looked up into his face joyfully.
Romac flashed her his customary charming grin, and the pair leaned towards each other, their lips puckered. The moonlight cast soft light onto their faces; the perfect moment for a kiss.
"Mira!" The angry voice shattered the tranquil night, and the pair spun around in shock, coming face to face with a furious King Nova.
"Daddy!" Mira gasped.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, waving his cane at them and resting his gaze on Romac, who flinched. "What is that doing here?"
"Y-Your Majesty," began Romac, backing away, "I-I can explain..."
"Father, please, don't be angry," begged Mira.
Nova gripped the top of his cane so tightly it looked as if it would break. "Angry? My girl, I am not angry - I am enraged!" He advanced towards the pair. "Here I find my only daughter, the princess of Tangea, consorting with a filthy, disgusting Grounder," his voice was filled with venom when he said the word, "and you don't want me to be angry?"
"But Daddy," Mira pleaded, "Romac's wonderful. Don't -"
"Silence!" The king held up his hand. "You!" He pointed at Romac. "I want you gone - now! And don't you ever come back."
"No, Father!" The princess grabbed his arm. "Don't send him away! Please don't send him away!" Her lips quivered. "I love him."
Ignoring her completely, Nova directed a glare at Romac, and the Grounder hung his head in defeat. He shoved the flowers into Mira's hands and jumped onto the bike. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he repeated. "I love you too." Before she could stop him, he powered up the vehicle and flew into the night.
"Romac!" Clutching the flowers in one hand, Mira stretched out the other in a vain plea for her lover to return. No! No!
While she watched the bike fade into nothing more than a speck on the horizon, her father came over and yanked the bouquet away from her. She tried to grab the flowers back, but he flung them to the floor. Petals and leaves were scattered everywhere, and the king stamped his boot on the once pretty bouquet.
"No," Mira sobbed, staring at the remains of Romac's gift. "Father..." Unable to continue, she turned away and began to cry.
"None of that, daughter, we need to talk." Her father took her hand and pulled her back inside. Wordlessly they traipsed through the halls until they reached their chambers. Once inside, King Nova seated her firmly in one of the chairs and began to pace. "What were you thinking?" He threw up his hands. "My own daughter with a Grounder!"
Mira sniffed. "I love him." This can't be happening! Why is it happening? "What were you doing there, Father?" she asked bitterly.
He looked away. "I followed you. I've suspected for some time that you had a secret... But I never dreamed..." Shaking his head, he continued, "I thought perhaps you were visiting parts of the palace that are off-limits to you, or that you had a boyfriend and didn't want to tell me..."
"I do have a boyfriend," she sobbed. "And he's the most wonderful man I've ever met!"
Nova gritted his teeth. "He is a Grounder, Mira. A Grounder. They are little more than animals - and savage, barbaric animals at that. There's a reason we live up here and they live down there. The less interaction we have with them the better."
"But Mother lived down there, with them," countered Mira.
"No, she may have lived on the surface, but she lived among her own kind. Even the surface-dwellers, for all their faults, stay away from the Grounders."
"But Daddy, you don't know what Romac's like! He's not savage - he's kind, and smart, and funny." Tears ran down her face. "I love him."
Nova sighed. "Mira, you are too young to understand these things. You've convinced yourself you're in love with that Grounder, but you're not - you don't even know what love is. All the lies that brute has probably spun have confused you, and you've lost your good judgement."
"You don't understand!" she cried. "You can't understand, because you don't want to! You just want to believe that all Grounders are stupid, vicious beasts, but they're not!"
"That's enough, Mira! You don't know what you're talking about," silenced her father. "Listen to me: You are never to speak to that Grounder again. Do you understand me?"
"But -"
"Do you understand?"
She sighed, looking down at her feet. "Yes, Father."
"Good." His face softened, and he stopped pacing. "I know you're angry, Mira, but one day you'll see that I'm right. This is for your own good." He put his hand on her shoulder.
"No, I won't see!" Shaking him off, she folded her arms. "One day, when I'm queen, I'm going change things! We'll stop being so prejudiced against the Grounders, and we'll stop being so afraid of outsiders. We'll travel to the stars and -"
As she spoke, her father's expression grew darker and darker until finally he cut in, "No! You will do nothing of the sort! You will uphold the age-old Tangean traditions just as I have and my father before me, and his before him. So put aside all these ridiculous notions!"
"Just wait and see," Mira threatened. "I'll change things."
"Oh, Mira," sighed Nova, suddenly appearing to be very tired. "Why can't you be more like the other girls your age? None of them ever cause such trouble as you do. You certainly wouldn't find the Capellas' children or the Denebs' daughter associating with Grounders. Why can't you be like them?"
Mira clenched her fists. "Oh, you want me to be like Cygni Deneb? Strutting about the palace in skimpy dresses and flirting with everyone in sight? Or Vega Capella, who bursts into tears at the slightest provocation?"
"Now, you know that's not what I meant, Mira," admonished her father. "I want you to act more like a Royal; more like a princess. Not some wild monkey who consorts with Grounders."
"But - ugh!" She sprang to her feet, and waved her arms in frustration. "You just don't understand! I don't think you ever will."
Nova rolled his eyes. "Mira, please, no theatrics."
"Just leave me alone!" She stormed towards her room. "I never want to talk to you again!" If Tangea had doors, she certainly would have slammed one as she walked out.
Once in her room, Mira collapsed onto her bed and cried into the pillow. It just wasn't fair - she loved Romac, and knew they were meant to be together - but now they'd been forced apart. I promised him I would never let anything come between us, and he promised me the same thing. But Father split us up! She kicked at the bed. It's not fair! It's not fair!
It was one thing to threaten her father with all the changes she'd make when she was queen, but it was quite another thing to wait for that time to come. It could be many years before she took the throne, and by then Romac would have forgotten about her. Oh, why did this have to happen? Why?
How could she convince her father that the Grounders weren't all bad? How could she get him to see what Romac was really like? I don't think there is a way. Her sobs increased. He's far too stubborn. He never changes his mind. Oh, I wish Mother were here! She would understand.
Thinking of her mother made her remember the blue flowers, and in turn she remembered the flowers Romac had given her. This time she hadn't even been able to keep the flowers in memory of the person she'd lost. Anger and bitterness against her father welled up within her. He's horrible! I wish I didn't live here! I wish I could live with the Grounders, and go with them when they visit other planets, and be with Romac. Everything would be so much better that way. I wish I wasn't a princess.
Somewhere, deep in her mind, she suddenly felt a pull - as though someone were trying to reach outto her. The pull grew stronger, and she recognised it.
"Romac." She breathed the name softly, and repeated it. He was trying to contact her. Of course! The mind link! Even after everything that's happened, I'll be able to talk to him! But then, just as she was about to joyfully open her mind and call out to him, her face fell. I can't... Father forbade me to speak to him. For all her anger, the thought of going against her father's wishes was too much for her conscience to handle. The man infuriated her, but she still respected him.
And yet, she could feel Romac's presence as he urged her to open her mind, and it was so hard to resist. More than anything, she wanted to fall into his arms and be held while she told him of the fight with her father, and let him soothe away all her troubles. Even if it was only in her mind, it would be bliss to see him again after the way they had parted.
But she couldn't. She couldn't disobey her father. It wouldn't be right. Oh, Romac, I'm sorry. And so she closed her eyes and tried to block out the pull of his mind.
He tried for almost an hour, but it was no use. She was ignoring his pleas, shutting him out from her mind. That stung more than anything her father could have said or done. The girl he loved didn't want to talk to him - she wouldn't even say one word. Finally, he gave up.
Opening his eyes, he glanced out the window of the run-down house and noticed it had begun to rain again. How fitting. His family was huddled around a fire in one of the other rooms, probably eating supper, but he wasn't hungry. Nor did he want to see anyone right now. All he could do was open one of his books and lose himself in its world.
But even then, he couldn't shake the misery he felt. Mira had been wrenched from his life - perhaps forever. After searching for so long, he'd at last found a kindred spirit, and now she was gone. What was he supposed to do now? Who could he share his thoughts with? His views, his dreams, his memories? Only Mira had ever been interested in listening. No one else cared.
Realising he hadn't read a word on the page he was staring at, he renewed his concentration and tried to forget the blow that had been dealt to him that night.
Outside, the rain kept pouring.
