Chapter 3: Love at Last
"Sakura! How could you make such a scene before the entire court?" Sakura's father shouted, pounding his hand on the ebony desk in his study.
"How could you promise me to any fool who could win some stupid tournament and kill some troll?!" Sakura shouted in return.
"Sakura, I need to make an alliance to any one of the kingdoms or baronies that are participating," the king said wearily.
"Well then, find another way to make one!" Sakura said angrily.
"Sakura! I need this! If you don't agree, it doesn't matter, because you will marry one of those young men!"
"You know what, I need to go for a walk around the village for a bit," Sakura said abruptly.
"Fine, go, but remember, you will do what I tell you!" the king said.
"How could I forget," Sakura muttered to herself.
Sakura walked out the door and down the silent corridors to the huge double door that led to the courtyard. She passed through the wide-open cobblestone space and out the gate to the sleepy town that sprawled across the rolling hills and silent valleys of Avalon.
She sighed with relief and strolled down the dusty lane, smiling at the simple peasants who were stunned by her beauty. As she made her way to the town square, a young man came up to her and bowed deeply.
"My lady, you are as beautiful as they say," he said politely, handing her a red rose.
"Thank you, but what is your name, might I ask?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Ah, you do not know me. I am Taevan, Knight of the King's own," he replied.
"I see, nice to meet you," she murmured.
"I swear to win the tournament a for you!" Taevan said fervently.
"That is very sweet," Sakura said, wishing that she were somewhere else.
Luckily, the young knight begged her to allow him to leave, and Sakura readily complied. As Sakura entered the courtyard, she was startled to see knights and princes all filling the space and when she entered, they all began to swear loyalty to her. She smiled weakly and wound her way through the throngs of men. She was disappointed that when she passed Li, all he did was smile and bow. She was startled to realize that she was unhappy that he didn't swear to win for her. Once Sakura entered the cool shade of the entrance hall, she leaned against the huge doors and sighed with relief.
"Don't let anyone in without first asking His Majesty, or me," Sakura said to the guard that was posted just inside the door.
He nodded and let the heavy bolt fall into place. Sakura walked slowly to her room and flopped down on her bed. She lay there for a few minutes, mulling over the reasons why Li hadn't said anything to her. Finally, Sakura got up and headed to the garden, where she could think in peace with the beautiful pink blossoms surrounding her. As she walked, she found herself half hoping that she would see Li there. When she got there, she sat down on a bench that sat under her favorite tree and sighed unhappily. Li was nowhere in sight. Suddenly, she heard a rustling in the tree branches and Li leapt lightly from his perch in her tree and came over to sit beside her.
"Hello Sakura," he said.
"Hi Li. I was wondering, why did you enter this tournament?" Sakura asked softly, afraid of the reply.
Li reached over and with a tremulous smile, took Sakura's hand in his.
"Because, the moment I saw you, I fell in love with you," Li answered.
Sakura smiled and felt relieved. She was afraid that he would say anything but what he did say.
"Here, take my colors, and I wish you luck in the tournament," Sakura said shyly, handing Li a pale pink scarf.
"Ah, Sweet Sakura, I will treasure this," Li said softly.
Suddenly, before he left, Li leaned over and kissed Sakura gently on the lips. Then, his face slightly red with embarrassment, he rose and departed, leaving Sakura smiling like a star struck fool.
"Sakura! How could you make such a scene before the entire court?" Sakura's father shouted, pounding his hand on the ebony desk in his study.
"How could you promise me to any fool who could win some stupid tournament and kill some troll?!" Sakura shouted in return.
"Sakura, I need to make an alliance to any one of the kingdoms or baronies that are participating," the king said wearily.
"Well then, find another way to make one!" Sakura said angrily.
"Sakura! I need this! If you don't agree, it doesn't matter, because you will marry one of those young men!"
"You know what, I need to go for a walk around the village for a bit," Sakura said abruptly.
"Fine, go, but remember, you will do what I tell you!" the king said.
"How could I forget," Sakura muttered to herself.
Sakura walked out the door and down the silent corridors to the huge double door that led to the courtyard. She passed through the wide-open cobblestone space and out the gate to the sleepy town that sprawled across the rolling hills and silent valleys of Avalon.
She sighed with relief and strolled down the dusty lane, smiling at the simple peasants who were stunned by her beauty. As she made her way to the town square, a young man came up to her and bowed deeply.
"My lady, you are as beautiful as they say," he said politely, handing her a red rose.
"Thank you, but what is your name, might I ask?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Ah, you do not know me. I am Taevan, Knight of the King's own," he replied.
"I see, nice to meet you," she murmured.
"I swear to win the tournament a for you!" Taevan said fervently.
"That is very sweet," Sakura said, wishing that she were somewhere else.
Luckily, the young knight begged her to allow him to leave, and Sakura readily complied. As Sakura entered the courtyard, she was startled to see knights and princes all filling the space and when she entered, they all began to swear loyalty to her. She smiled weakly and wound her way through the throngs of men. She was disappointed that when she passed Li, all he did was smile and bow. She was startled to realize that she was unhappy that he didn't swear to win for her. Once Sakura entered the cool shade of the entrance hall, she leaned against the huge doors and sighed with relief.
"Don't let anyone in without first asking His Majesty, or me," Sakura said to the guard that was posted just inside the door.
He nodded and let the heavy bolt fall into place. Sakura walked slowly to her room and flopped down on her bed. She lay there for a few minutes, mulling over the reasons why Li hadn't said anything to her. Finally, Sakura got up and headed to the garden, where she could think in peace with the beautiful pink blossoms surrounding her. As she walked, she found herself half hoping that she would see Li there. When she got there, she sat down on a bench that sat under her favorite tree and sighed unhappily. Li was nowhere in sight. Suddenly, she heard a rustling in the tree branches and Li leapt lightly from his perch in her tree and came over to sit beside her.
"Hello Sakura," he said.
"Hi Li. I was wondering, why did you enter this tournament?" Sakura asked softly, afraid of the reply.
Li reached over and with a tremulous smile, took Sakura's hand in his.
"Because, the moment I saw you, I fell in love with you," Li answered.
Sakura smiled and felt relieved. She was afraid that he would say anything but what he did say.
"Here, take my colors, and I wish you luck in the tournament," Sakura said shyly, handing Li a pale pink scarf.
"Ah, Sweet Sakura, I will treasure this," Li said softly.
Suddenly, before he left, Li leaned over and kissed Sakura gently on the lips. Then, his face slightly red with embarrassment, he rose and departed, leaving Sakura smiling like a star struck fool.