Chapter 12: Tears

"I'm sorry, but I can't say yes." Alan was angry. He'd poured out his feelings to her, in front of all of these people, and she had the gall to kiss him before turning him down. You don't kiss like that if you feel nothing for a man.

Gathering himself together, he spat at her, slapped her face and stormed out of the restaurant. Sara shook her head at the waiter, who looked as if he wanted to murder the man who had dared to lay a hand on his princess. A tear streaked down her cheek, as she slowly walked out of there.

Surely he understands, she thought. He's a noble, he knows I have responsibilities. With a heavy heart, she walked home. She was met by Mairi, who was obviously excited about being adopted by King Maggur. Conjuring up a fake smile, she feigned happiness. She'd consider what to do later that night, when she was alone with her thoughts.

Alan nursed his drink; he had no wish to think about that girl. She had broken his heart through her callous refusal of his suit. Tomorrow he'd return home and forget about her. Banish her from his mind and memories.

I just want to know why! He thought, his mood changing abruptly from anger to self-pity as he finished his drink.

Sitting on her bed, with tears streaming down her face, Sara tried to write the hardest letter of her life. She loved Alan deeply, but it would have been easier if they'd never met.

The sound of knocking brought her out of her daze. King Maggur walked into the room, took one look at his daughter and enfolded her in his arms.

"Hush, sweetheart. I'm sure it's not as bad as you think. Just tell me what's wrong." Slowly, he drew out the story and calmed her down. Tucking her in, he sat at her side, stroking her hair and singing until she fell asleep.

A gentle breeze from hushabye mountain

Softly blows o'er lullaby bay

It fills the sails of boats that are waiting

Waiting to sail your worries away

It isn't far to hushabye mountain

And your boat waits down by the key

The winds of night so softly are sighing

Soon they will fly your troubles to sea

So close your eyes on hushabye mountain

Wave goodbye to cares of the day

And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain

Sail far away from lullaby bay

Sara woke the next morning, with a firm idea of what to say in her letter. She felt she owed something to her first love.

Alan received the letter when he got home to Pirate's Swoop. Uncertain as to how to get it to him, Sara had just sent it to his home in the hopes that he would get it soon. At first, Alan had no wish to read what it was that she had written, but gradually his curiosity and the tiny shred of love he still had for Sara persuaded him to read it. It was not particularly long, but it was tear stained.

Dear Alan,

I feel I owe you an apology. But first you need to understand that I love you. I don't know when I started, although I suspect it was when you told me to shut up. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. You are truly handsome, but none of this is what you want to hear.

You asked me to marry you. I had every intention of saying yes, but in my country it is traditional to ask a girl's father permission to court their daughter. I understand that you're a foreigner. Here, it's not a way of making a girl a possession, but a way of saying that you value her and wish to care and love and protect her. If your proposal had been planned, you would have asked and found out, instead of spontaneously proposing. I do not wish to be loved one day and then left behind in a few years.

This is my way of saying that I love you. I said no because I doubted your sincerity. I was uncertain as to whether you truly meant to join me to you for eternity. I apologise if you meant it, but there you are. Know that I will always love you, but marriage must wait until we two are older, wiser and more knowledgeable abut emotions like love.

All my love, from now until after I am departed forever from this earth, your Sara.


The song's from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Please review.