insert standard disclaimer here
~~~~~
Dryden sighed and pushed his glasses back up on his nose. It had been five years since he had parted ways with his royal in-laws. Five long years of bickering merchants, nagging advisors, and greedy clients. Through it all, it seemed he couldn't take his mind off a certain golden-haired princess.
I know she said it's alright
But you can make it up next time
I know she knows it's not right
There ain't no use in lying...
He yawned and stretched. Riding on horseback for the last week was taking it's toll on his back. He grimaced at the dull ache that had settled in. He absolutely couldn't wait to be home in Asturia. He longed for a real bed, good food, and a library at his disposal again. Then he could be with her again. He shouldn't have left. He wanted to see her again. His goddess.
Maybe she thinks I know something
Maybe...
Maybe she thinks it's fine
Maybe she knows something I don't
I'm so...
I'm so tired...
I'm so tired of trying...
"Almost there, sir!" A voice broke into his thoughts.
"Thank you," Dryden smiled in response. He looked back to the path, allowing his mind to wander.
*~flashback~*
"Meet your fiancee, Millerna."
The blond girl curtsied, "Pleased to meet you."
Dryden lifted the girl's hand and kissed it, locking eyes with her, "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you."
The girl had blushed.
"I suggest that you two get to know eachother."
The girl curtsied again, "Of course, Father."
*~end flashback~*
It seems to me that maybe
It pretty much always means no
So don't tell me,
You might just let it go.
And oftentimes we're lazy
It seems to stand in my way
'Cause no one, no not no one
Likes to be let down...
Dryden smiled to himself. He had fallen in love with her that day. Right then and there. He loved the way she carried herself with a tomboyish grace, the way the sunlight played off her
hair, the way her eyes always shone with a fierce independence... He chuckled; he even liked the way she stubbornly refused to
marry him!
*~flashback~*
They were walking through the palace gardens in silence, no one having anything to say.
Suddenly, Millerna spun to face him.
"I'll have you know I do not have any intention to marry you. I am in love with another, and nothing you or father say or do will
change that!"
*~end flashback~*
Dryden chuckled again.
I know she loves the sunrise
No longer sees it with her sleeping eyes
And I know that when she says she's gonna try
Well it might not work because of other ties and
I know she usually has some other ties and
I wouldn't want to break 'em
Nah
I wouldn't want to break 'em
Maybe she'll help me to untie this, but
Until then, well, I'm gonna have to lie, too...
The sharp percussion of the horse's hooves on the cobblestone broke Dryden out of his reverie. They had arrived. He quickly
dismounted and entered the palace, ignoring the discomfort in his back and shoulders. He was greeted by the ever stoic Princess
Eries.
He bowed, "Where might I find Princess Millerna?"
Eries smiled, "She's at the local hospital."
"Hospital?"
Eries nodded, "I'll have someone take you there."
He bowed again, "Thank you, Princess."
It seems to me that maybe
It pretty much always means no
So don't tell me you might just let it go...
Dryden entered the large building and the scent of numerous medicinal herbs assaulted his nose. He watched the people scurrying about with awe. Much had changed since he left.
"Can I help you, mister?"
And often times we're lazy
It seems to stand in my way
'Cause no one, no not no one
Likes to be let down
He smiled at the little boy who had tugged at his sleeve, and crouched down to eye level.
"I'm looking for the Princess Millerna."
The boy's face brightened at her name.
"I'll take you to her, okay?" The boy eagerly grabbed his hand and pulled him down a hallway.
"Okay! Okay!" He laughed as he allowed the boy to lead him through the maze. They stopped in front of a sturdy oaken door.
The boy opened it and bounded in, Dryden quietly slipping in behind him.
Millerna was struggling to keep a little boy still in bed. Her eyes lit upon the loud intruder.
"Archer, would you please go get Lady Airwra to help me?"
Archer nodded enthusiastically, and brushed past Dryden as Millerna returned to her charge.
"Please, Wynn! I have to look at your arm!"
"It huuuurrrts!"
"I know it does, Wynn, and if you sit still like a good little boy, I can make it feel all better, okay?"
Dryden walked across the room, still unnoticed by Millerna, and picked up an apple that rested in a bowl on an end table. He pulled a small knife out of one of his pouches, and moved to the foot of the bed where the boy could see him. He began to peel the fruit.
It seems to me that maybe
It pretty much always means no
So don't tell me you just might let it go...
The boy watched in awe as Dryden's peel got longer and longer without breaking. Millerna used the distraction to undo the
bandages on the boy's arm and clean the wound there.
"Look, Lady Millerna!" The boy pointed as the peeling hit the floor.
"That's wonderful, Wynn, " She replied, still focused on her task, "Almost done."
Dryden ran out of skin, and the peeling fell to the floor. Quietly he picked it up, and placed it in the boy's lap.
"Done!" Millerna cried triumphantly, "Thank you-" Her voice died in her throat as she saw her assistant, "Dryden?"
"It's been a long time, Millerna."
Millerna walked around the bed and stood before him, staring at his face in wonder. He smiled
at her. She narrowed her eyes and slapped him. She stormed out of the room, leaving a stunned Dryden behind.
The harder you try, baby, the further you'll fall
Even with all the money in the whole wide world
Please Please Please don't pass me
Please Please Please don't pass me
Please Please Please don't pass me by...
"Oohhhh..." Wynn muttered from the bed. Dryden shot him a dark look and followed after his princess, cheek still stinging painfully.
"Millerna!" He yelled at her retreating form, jogging to catch up. She ducked into a room,
Dryden following. She stood with her back to him, hands in tight fists at her sides, trembling slightly.
"Millerna..."He tentatively reached out a hand and gently brushed her shoulder. She spun
around, violently knocking away his hand as angry tears coursed their was down her cheeks. She
glared at him.
Everything you know about me now, baby, you gonna have to change
You gonna call it by a brand new name
Please Please Please don't drag me
Please Please Please don't drag me
Please Please Please don't drag me down
"I missed you," She hissed accusingly, " I wasn't supposed to miss you, because you were
supposed to come back.," She hid her face in her hands, sobbing, "Why didn't you come back?"
Dryden stepped forward and gathered her into his arms, allowing her to cry into his shirt. "I'm sorry," He murmured, stroking her hair.
"Don't leave me again," She shuddered into his shirt, clutching on to him as if he would disappear.
"I won't," He replied, kissing the top of her head.
Just like a tree down by the water, baby, I shall not move
Even after all the silly things you do
Please Please Please don't drag me
Please Please Please don't drag me
Please Please Please don't drag me down...
They stayed like that, Dryden stroking her hair, allowing Millerna to regain her composure. Finally her sobs turned to sniffles, and
she pulled away.
"I must look a wreck," She muttered, tugging at the front of her dress.
Dryden regarded her coolly, then lifted her chin so she was looking at him.
"Beautiful," He murmured, lightly brushing her lips with his. He was home.
~~~~~
A/N: *radio announcer's voice* And that was 'Flake' by Jack Johnson. Coming up...