Old Times: Part 3
By: Jennifer Davis
A man wearing a blue tunic and black pants is sitting in the middle of a meadow. All of a sudden, a man wearing a white robe, walks up to the guy sitting. The man sitting looks up, "Hello."
"Hello, Jack. May I sit?"
"It would be my pleasure. Please sit."
The man sits beside Jack. "Jack, you come here everyday. What do you think about?"
"Vanessa."
"Who is Vanessa?"
"The love of my life."
"Tell me about her and how the two of you met."
"Well, the fires time I meet her, she was running in the woods."
Some of my people and I went out looking for food, when suddenly we heard something running in the woods. We all thought it was a deer, so we followed it. When it finally stopped, we surrounded it. When we got a clear shot of it, we saw that it was a girl. She was dressed in a pretty pink dress. She had a shoe in her hand. Her dress was torn all over. She must have heard us because all at once, she yelled, "Is someone there?" We didn't say anything. Then she yelled again, "Please, if someone is out there, please show yourself." Then she started crying. I motioned to everyone that we needed to help her. Without warning, she screamed, "Please, I mean no harm. Will you please show yourselves?" She was in hysterics about this time, so I motioned to everybody to come out of their hiding place and show ourselves. We were still surrounding her. This must have scared her even more because she started shaking, "Please, don't hurt me." I started walking closer to her. She curled up into a little ball and started crying some more. I stood right beside her and leaned down and said, "We're not going to hurt you. You're safe with us." She looked up, "Excuse me, Sir." "I said you're safe with us. We're not going to hurt you." I started to pick her up and the next thing I knew, she fainted.
I knew that she was a princess of Alexandria, but I couldn't take her there. So, I decided to take her to my home. I laid her down on the bed. I called some of the women to take off her clothes and put some new ones on. While they were doing that, I left. A few minutes later, the women came out and told me it was done. I went back into my house. There she was dressed in red tunic and black pants on my bed. She is so beautiful. I walked up beside her and my hand caressed her face. What are you doing? She's a princess. She'll probably be gone tomorrow. I took my hand away from her face. I looked at her a little while longer than walked out. Some of the guys were still standing outside. "John?" "Yeah, Jack." "Can I stay at your house tonight?" "Sure."
The next morning, I walked over to my house to see if she was awake. Before I opened the door, I looked through the window. I saw that she was awake. She was so beautiful. Then I saw that she was about to get off the bed, so I decided to open the door. At first, I just stood there in the doorway, her beauty captivated me, but then the thought of her going back home popped in my head. "Oh, I see that you're awake." "Can you please tell me where I am, Sir?" "This is our home." "I'm sorry, Sir, but where is that?" "We like to keep that a secret." "Oh, I see, Sir." "How do you like your new clothes?" She looked down at herself, "They are very different, Sir. I've never worn anything other than dresses my whole life, Sir." "Sorry, it was all we had and the dress you had on before wasn't in great condition. Ah.would you like to go for a walk? I can show you around the place, and we can talk as we walk?" "That would be very interesting, Sir." She got off the bed and walked towards me. "Oh, I'm sorry I haven't even introduced myself," I bowed, "I'm Jack." "It is lovely to meet you, Sir Jack," she curtsied, "and I am Vanessa, Sir." "Please just call me Jack." "Yes, Si.," she blushed, "Jack.
"So, you were swept with her beauty, Jack?" "Yes, I fall madly and deeply in love with her when I first saw her." "Please continue, Jack.
We walked out of the door, and I heard a gasp noise, then all of a sudden, she grabbed hold of me. "I'm sorry.Jack.but this is all so new to me." "You're okay.
"What did she see, Jack?" "Since, we were a secret community, we hid all our houses. And one place people wouldn't look, is in the trees." "Continue.
After we got to the ground, we walked around and I introduced her to everyone. Then we walked away from the little town. "Jack, where are we going?" "To a place where it's quite and peaceful." We walked for a couple of minutes; then we came to a cleaning. There in front of us was a spectacular waterfall. The water was sparkling like jewels. "Why, it's beautiful." "A lot of people come down here to be alone, and I thought that a princess would definitely love something like this." "You knew?" "Just because I live out here doesn't mean I don't know what's going on else where. Come, we'll sit on that log and you can tell me why you were all alone in the woods last night?" We walked over to the log and sat down. "The reason I was all alone was because I was running away from home." "Why?" "Cause I didn't want to be what they wanted me to be." "Let me guess, they wanted you to be queen." I was about to laugh at that idea, cause there's no way she wouldn't want to be queen, but before I laughed, she said. "Yes." That shocked the hell out of me. "So, what's wrong with that?" "Nothing, but." "But what?" "I didn't want to be told what I could or couldn't wear, where I could go, what I could do, and I didn't want to be confined to that castle. I wanted to be free." "I understand. That's why we are here. There's only one thing you have to do for me." "Yes?" "If you're going to stay here, you're going to have to give up everything you were taught. You can't be all prim and proper out here. If you do, you won't survive. Do you understand?" I was hoping she did and would stay. "Yes, Sir." "Also, you're going to have to fight." She paused for a moment and said, "I'll try my best." I wanted to jump up for joy, but contained myself as hard as I could.
After years of training her to become a great fighter, she did. One day, she was fighting a guy that was six feet tall and most of his body mass was muscles. I was watching from afar where she couldn't see me. After a couple of fast, hard hits, the guy went down. She stood in front of him, and the guy lifted his head and looked up at her. I walked closer, where I could hear what they were saying. The guy on the ground said, "That's enough! I can't take anymore!" She leaned down and helped him up. "Vanessa, you're the best fighter I know. I don't believe anybody can defeat you." "Maybe you will.one day." They started laughing and I came up behind her. She turned around and saw me. She walked up to me and whispered that she wanted me to meet her at the waterfall. I smiled, and she walked away and out into the woods. I looked over to the guy. "You okay?" "Yeah, she's one tough lady." I started laughing, "Well, she learned from the best. I'll see you later." Then I went and walked into the woods to find Vanessa. When I came up to the waterfall, I didn't see her anywhere. "Vanessa! Where are you?" I looked down and saw her clothes. "Vanessa! I know you're down here. I'm going to find you." I went around looking for her. All of a sudden, I heard splashing behind me. As I turned around, I saw Vanessa popping her head up out of the water. "What are you doing in there?" "I had to clean up after that fight. Ummm.why don't you join me?" "What?" "The water feels fine, and I need someone to wash my back. I can't quite reach it." "I'm not sure about that." She started to pout. "You're going to make me cry." "Fine, I'm coming in. I hate to see a woman in distress, but only on one condition." "What?" "You have to turn around until I get into the water." "Fine," she turned around. When I got into the water, I swam towards her and started rubbing her back. "Ummm.that feels good." I leaned towards her and kissed her on the back of her neck. She turned around and looked into my eyes. "I'm sorry." She put her hand on my cheek, "Don't be. I'm tired of keeping this a secret." Her hand slid down my chest. She leaned towards me and kissed me on my lips. I didn't know what to say or do; I just stared at her in shock. "Jack, is something wrong?" Finally, I said, "No, I'm just surprised." "I'm sorry, but I've wanted to do that for a long time. I also have something to tell you.ummm.how can I say this?" "Start from the beginning." She smiled. My heart skipped a beat. "I've known you for years now, and I've grown fond of you. And now.I.ummm." "Yes?" "I've fallen in love with you." I was about to fall backwards and if I would have done that I would have drowned. I couldn't believe what she said. It was something I wanted to say and hear since the first day I met her. I was so happy that I picked her up out of the water and spun her around and around. I was so happy, I wasn't thinking straight and forgot she didn't have any clothes on, so I stopped and slowly put her back in the water. I blushed, "Sorry, I'm just so happy. I've been wanting to tell you that same thing for some time now, but I've been afraid that you would run away from me." She smiled at me, and then she leaned towards me again and kissed me passionately, "I could never run away from you. I love you too much.
"Ummm.I'm not sure if you want to hear the rest of this part. You know.it's kind of." "I understand, Jack." "Two months later was the worst day of my life." "What happened, Jack?" He lowered his head, "She left me.
I was outside practicing my fighting techniques. Vanessa was out in the woods picking berries. All of a sudden, I saw her running towards me. "Vanessa!" I kissed her on the lips. "What's the matter? Why are you out of breath?" "Jack, I need to talk to you." "Let's go inside." We went inside and sat down on the bed. "Now, what is it you wanted to tell me? Are you pregnant?" My heart skipped a beat. "I'm sorry, but no." I felt like a black veil had been put over my head. "Jack, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I have to go back home." "But you are home." "I mean I have to go back to my father's castle." I felt like someone was ripping my heart from my chest, "Why?" "It's hard to explain." "You can tell me." "Jack, you wouldn't understand. I just have to go back, for my father's sake." That did it for me, tears started forming in my eyes, but I didn't want her to see me cry, so I turned away from her. I didn't know what to say. I was upset, mad, and depressed. I didn't know what to do, but I told her, "Go." "What?" This time the anger took over, and I yelled, "I said go." I paused, trying to calm myself down, "If it's that important, I don't want to stand in your way." She stood up, gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, "I love you." What was I supposed to say I love you, too? I couldn't say that. I thought if she loved me, she wouldn't leave me, so I didn't say anything. She waited a couple of minutes to see if I was going to say anything. When she finally realized I wasn't, she walked out the door. I sat there for a couple of minutes, and then I jumped up and went out the door. I watched her walk out into the woods, even though I knew she couldn't hear me, I still whispered, "I love you, too."
A couple of hours later, I got word that the King had died and Vanessa was now Queen, so I decided to go to town to hear that speech, the now, Queen was giving.
When I got there, there were hundreds of people crowned around a balcony of the castle. Finally, Vanessa came out, she was all painted up. I could tell she was very uncomfortable wearing all that stuff, but she tried her best not to let the other people know that. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the King is dead." Everybody gasped. "But as the King's daughter, I will be your new Queen."
Everybody cheered, but me. People were shouting, "Long live, Queen
Vanessa." Then she stepped out of view and back into the castle. Later, I went around the castle looking for the balcony to her room. Finally, I came to a balcony with the curtains blowing in the wind. I could hear two female voices inside. Then it got quiet, and then all of a sudden, she walked out onto the balcony. I jumped behind the shadows where she couldn't see me, but I could see her. She was very beautiful. "Jack, I miss you so much." I thought she had seen me, but then I realized she was just talking out loud. So, I decided to stand there and listen to her. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't want to leave you. There's nothing I would love more than to leave right now and be in your arms tonight." My heart went to my throat. "But I can't." My heart went to my stomach. "By my father's wishes, I am now exiled here forever." She sighed. "I still love you, Jack, wherever you are." I wanted to yell out I still love you too, but I didn't. Then she walked back into her room.
"Was this the last time you saw her?" "No, I would come to her balcony every night and she would always come out at night. One night I even got to hold her one last time.
Months later, I found out they were holding a party at the castle. I went and watched her from outside. Later on the night, she walked outside. Then her Lieutenant came up beside her. "You're not thinking of running away again," her Lieutenant asked. I just sat there and listened to them. Vanessa looked at the Lieutenant, "No, not this time." "I remember the first time. You didn't think anyone was around, but I was. I watched as you ran into the woods, I followed you. I watched as the group of people surrounded you. I was about to reveal my hiding place, but then I heard the guy say that he wasn't going to hurt you. I followed them as they carried you back to their home. I stayed in the woods that night and waited until I saw you the next morning. I finally saw you when you came out with that guy. I followed you and him to the waterfall. I listened to the conversation you and him were having. Then I heard you tell him that you didn't want to be Queen. So, I told myself I would not tell your father, but I would keep my eye on you. And I did until you're father sent a solider out to look for you. I told the solider where to go, but not to get too close. I told him to look like he was wondering around; where people wouldn't know that he knew where the secret village was. I knew you would come back." "And what if I didn't?" "Then I would have made you come back." "Why? Why couldn't my sister be Queen?" "Your sister has changed." "What do you mean? Did you follow her a month ago when she left?" "Yes, I did." "What did you see?" "I followed your sister into the woods. Then she started practicing black magic. Her face twisted and deformed. She frightened me, so I ran away. As I was running, I could hear her laughing. She knew that I had followed her." "How do you know that?" "Because I heard her say, You better go back to your Queen Vanessa before I kill her!" "My God! Why does my sister want to kill me?" "Apparently, she wanted to by Queen." "If she wants it that badly, she can have it." "No!" "Why?" "You're sister is into black magic. If your sister becomes Queen, she would destroy this town. You're father had to tell you that." "He did. Now I understand. I guess I will just have to watch my back." "Don't worry, I'll protect you." Then all of a sudden, I saw something coming from the woods. It was a woman wearing a black low cut dress, jet black hair, pale face, and red lips, riding a black stallion. She rode right up to Vanessa and the Lieutenant. The Lieutenant stood in front of Vanessa, "What do you want, Amber?" Amber jumped off of her horse, "I just wanted to talk to my sister.alone." "I'm sorry, but I can't allow that." Amber stuck her hand out in front of the Lieutenant, "You will allow it. Now, go back inside." I couldn't believe my eyes. The Lieutenant looked like a zombie and said, "Yes, ma'am," and walked back inside. Amber started walking toward Vanessa, "Now then." "What do you want, Amber?" "Just to talk." "Then stop walking and talk." That's my girl. Amber stopped, "My aren't we the feisty one. Very well then. I really didn't come here to talk." "Then what did you come for?" "I've come to kill you!" Amber screamed and raised her sword over her head. I grabbed my sword, but still waited in the shadows. Vanessa tripped backwards, but kept her balance, "Why?" "Because I hate you." "I never did anything to you." "You took away the power that I deserved! I should be Queen, not you!" Amber raised her sword higher. And I ran for Amber, but by the time I got there, Vanessa had stumbled backwards and fell to the ground hard. She didn't move. I saw Amber about to bring her sword down on Vanessa, so I got in front of her and our swords clashed. "Who the hell are you?" I didn't say anything to her, just fought back against her. She screamed and lifted her sword again. So, I stabbed my sword in her side. She stood there for a second glaring at me. Finally, feeling defeated, she got back on her horse and rode away. I returned back to Vanessa. She was knocked out. I held her there in my arms for a couple of seconds. I knew sooner or later, the Lieutenant was going to come out of his trance and come back out here. I looked at her soft, smooth face. I kissed her on the cheek and said, "I love you." I laid her back down and hide in the shadows for the Lieutenant to come back out. Finally, he did. "My Lady, are you okay?" She started to move again, and then she sat up. "I'm fine. I just hit my head. Is she gone?" "Yes, ma'am." The Lieutenant lifted her up. "Come, let's go inside." She followed him inside. I went over to her balcony. The party was now over, people were starting to leave. Then I saw her come out onto the balcony. Couples were holding hands and laughing and she was watching them. "I will never be like that. Jack, what was I thinking? I lost the love of my life, the guy I was going to marry and have a family with. They are trying to make me marry a guy. I had so many suitors tonight." I started to get upset hearing this. "But they were nothing like you." Hearing this made me happy and I calmed down. She started laughing and then she busted down and cried, "Jack, I want to be with you right now. I want everything to be like it use to be, but I know it never will be. I've lost you and now my sister hates me and wants me dead." She started to cry some more, and then she stopped and looked down right at me. Then she ran back into her room. Damn it, she saw me. I must have frightened her.
"Did she ever come back out?" "No, not that night. And later she stopped coming out at all." "What do you mean?" "One night I want to her balcony, but she didn't come out. I thought maybe she was sick. So, I came back the next night and she still didn't come out. So, I realized she had forgotten about me." "So, you stopped coming around." "I started coming around only when she had something big going on. About five years later, she was holding a beautiful ball.
Coming up to the place where the ball was being held, I could see a whole lot of people getting in. I stayed in the shadows watching what went on inside through different windows. For some reason, they didn't announce Vanessa when she came in, and I still don't know why. I watched as she came into the room, she was wearing a beautiful blue and white dress, it showed off her shoulders. She was very beautiful. I watched as she walked to the center of the room. I tried to keep my eyes on her, but all of a sudden, men surrounded her. I lost sight of her. I searched the faces looking for her, than I saw her, she had walked away from the group and started walking towards another guy. I could see their lips moving, but couldn't understand what they were saying. I watched as the guy and her laughed together. If I told you that this wasn't upsetting my, then I would be lying. I watched as he took her hand and started dancing with her. I couldn't bear to watch anymore. I looked around at the rest of the place, but I still kept her in the corner of my eye. Later on that night, I watched as they went out on a balcony. "So, are you having fun, Mr. Logan?" I took it as Logan was the guy's name. Logan said, "Definitely, now that I've met you. Have I told you, you have a very exquisite face?" "No, you haven't, Mr. Logan." "I bet everyone tells you that." "Now how would you know that?" "With all the guys that were surrounding you, how could they not? By the way, with all those guys, why did you come up to me?" "Because all those guys want is power." "Power? What are you a Princess? No, you idiot, she's queen. I thought to myself. "No," she started laughing. "The moonlight is very beautiful on your face. It makes your eyes glow. It also makes your lips shine." They started moving closer to each other. Their lips are inches from each other. Just as they are about to kiss and I'm about to yell, the Lieutenant came behind them and said, "Your majesty, your people are calling for you." She looks at the Lieutenant, "Oh!" Then she looks back at Logan, "I'm sorry, excuse me." I thought to myself, Thank God. The Lieutenant walked back inside and she started to follow him, but Logan grabbed her arm. "Your Majesty? Your people?" "Yes." "But you said you weren't a princess." "I'm not. I'm a queen." "Queen!" He got down on one knee. "I'm sorry if I have said anything out of the way." I thought to myself, Dumb ass. She looked down at him, "Logan, get up." He does. "There is nothing for you to be sorry about. You spoke what was on your mind." I thought, He should be sorry, he about kissed you. "Logan, I was beginning to think you liked me, even though you didn't know I was queen." "I was. I mean I do." "Good, cause I haven't felt like that in a long time. This shouldn't take long, will you wait for me?" "Sure." Vanessa walked back inside. Hearing what she said broke my heart. Her words, I haven't felt like that in a long time, kept echoing in my head. She had forgotten about me and had stopped loving me. I knew it was time for me to do the same. I started walking back home, when all of a sudden I saw Amber and some other people came riding up to the ball. I hid behind a bush. I watched as they put something at the door and ran away. A couple of seconds later, the doors had blown inside. I was terrified that Vanessa had been killed, so I ran back to a window and searched the room for her. Finally, I found her. Her, Logan, and the Lieutenant were up at the podium. I watched as her and Amber talked to each other. Then Amber started running towards Vanessa, but Logan started running toward Amber. Logan and Amber came face to face. Then all of a sudden, Logan flew to one side of the room and hits the wall hard and fell to the floor. He laid there motionless. After a few moments, Vanessa started running towards the back of the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amber tell her soldiers to go after Vanessa. Not knowing where Vanessa would go, I stayed and watched Amber. I watched as she leaned over Logan's body. She motioned for one of her guards to come and take him. Then above my head, I heard some sort of noise. Down a ways from me, I saw Vanessa hanging from the roof. She let go and landed in a pile of hay. Then she got up and ran away. A few seconds later, I saw two of Amber's soldiers fall into the hay. I ran towards them and without them knowing, chop their heads off. Knowing that Vanessa will be safe now, I walked back home.
A couple of nights later, Nick came to my house and told me to come over; he's got something to tell me.
"Okay Nick, we're all here, what did you want," John asked. "Alright, alright. You can come out now." Vanessa slowly opened the bedroom door and walked in the room. "Hi guys." John ran towards her and hugged her, "Vanessa, I can't believe it." He couldn't believe his eyes, he kept looking her up and down. She looked over to me. I was sitting on the bed with head down, but I kept glimpsing up and looking up at her when she wasn't looking. "Go sit back down, John. I have something important to tell you all." John went and sat back down between Nick and I. "Okay, I've come here to ask for your help." "With what," John and Nick asked. "Tomorrow my soldiers and I are going to go get rid of someone who has been terrorizing me for 5 years. My troops.I believe you three can help teach my troops some better fighting techniques than they know and.," she looked at me. "I would love to have you all by my side. Please, say you will." Nick and John nodded at each other and then looked at me. I turned towards them and nodded back. Nick said, "Okay, we'll do it." "Thanks guys." She hugged Nick and John, but before she could get near me, I got up and walked out the door. A few minutes later, she came out of Nick's house. I was leaning against the banister, looking up towards the sky. "Jack, I know you're hurt from what I did, but you have to understand I had to do it." I didn't say anything, just kept looking up at the sky. "The least you could do is speak to me." I lowered my head and tears started rolling down my cheeks. I couldn't turn around and let her see me crying. So, I kept my back turned to her. She stood there for a few more seconds, and then walked away. I turned around as she was leaving. I watched her get back on her horse and ride away.
"Why didn't you speak to her, Jack?" "I guess because I was still hurt from what she said to Logan, but then again that wasn't her fault. She left me and hasn't seen me in 5 years, so she should have fallen in love with another man, but I didn't want to let go of her.
The next morning, John, Nick, and myself went to the castle. We watched as Vanessa and her soldiers were riding away from the Castle. I couldn't believe what she was wearing. She was wearing the outfit she had on when she left me. I couldn't believe she still had it. My mind started to wonder back to the past. Then Nick tapped me on my shoulder for us to follow them. We stayed with them, but far enough away where they couldn't see us. When they finally stopped, Vanessa found us and told us to come to their camp. When we came near her camp, we stopped. "I'm going first. Then I will introduce you to all of them." We watched as Vanessa entered the camp, the Lieutenant came up to her, "Ma'am, what are you doing away from the camp?" "I have something to tell you and the soldiers." The Lieutenant sat with all the other soldiers. "I called a couple of friends of mine." John, Nick, and I walked up behind her. First, she pointed to Nick, "This is Nick." Then she pointed to John, "This is John." And finally, she pointed to me, "And this is Jack. These guys can show you all a couple of techniques of fighting that you don't know." John and Nick went to go train with some soldiers, but I stayed behind. While Vanessa was watching them train, I tapped her on her shoulder. She turned around and looked at me. "Vanessa?" She turned back around. "Vanessa, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings yesterday, but you have to remember you hurt mine first." She turned back towards me. "And I told you I had to leave, I didn't want to hurt your feelings." I leaned towards her, "Can we go somewhere and talk." She nodded. So we walked off together.
We walked until we reached a lake. "Jack." I turned towards her and hugged her, "It's been a long time." "Yes, it has. Why didn't you speak or even look at me last night?" "I was still hurt from you leaving me." "Jack, I'm sorry." "That's okay. You're here now and I've missed you." "And I you." I leaned forward to kiss her. She pushed me away, "Jack!" "Oh, I forgot, it's not like 'Old Times'." "'Old Times'." "Yeah, do you remember the old times we had together? You ran away from home and found us guys. We taught you how to fight and you became very good. We had fun didn't we?" "I guess so, I don't remember very much." "Vanessa?" "Yes?" "You never gave me a reason for leaving. And now look at you, a queen." She lowered her head. "Vanessa," I lifted her head. "Now can you give me a reason for leaving back then?" "Jack, you wouldn't understand." "That's what you said last time," I lowered my head. "I'm sorry." I lifted my head, "So, why are you here anyway?" "Because of my sister, Amber." "What?" I thought to myself, Amber is her sister? "Amber has been terrorizing me. She has been trying to kill me. I had a dance weeks ago and she decided to crash it." Tears started forming in her eyes. "I was the only survivor." Tears rolled down her face. I grabbed her and held her. After she finished crying, she looked at me in the face, "I'm sorry." "Don't be. So, now you're going to." "I'm going to get rid of her once and for all." "I'll be here to help you." "Thank you."
The next morning, Vanessa had gone down to the lake to take a bath. I walked up and watched her. She turned around and faced me. "Jack! What are you doing here? I'm taking a bath!" "I want to take a bath, too." "Wait until I get done." "Why? It wouldn't be the first time we've taken a bath together." She paused for a minute, "Okay, I'm coming out, turn around." "Why? It wouldn't be the first time I've seen you naked, either." Vanessa lowered her head, "Things are different now." I didn't know what to say, so I just turned around. When Vanessa got out of the water, I still glanced at her when she wasn't looking. When she was done putting her clothes on, she told me I could turn around. "You're still as beautiful as the first day I met you." She started to blush, "I better make it back to camp before they think something has happened to me." "Alright, I'll come with you." "I thought you were going to take a bath?" "I've changed my mind." The truth was I had already taken mine. When we got back to camp and got everything packed and ready, we headed out again.
When it started getting day, we decided to make camp. I walked up to the Lieutenant and Vanessa. I grabbed Vanessa hand, "I've got a surprise for you. Come with me." Vanessa looked at the Lieutenant and said, "Excuse me, Lieutenant." Vanessa followed me to a clearing in the woods. There are logs lying down and they formed a circle, and in the middle of the circle was a fire burning. "What is this all about, Jack?" I led her towards the fire and told her to sit down on one of the logs. She does. I yelled, "Okay, now!" Right when I said this, a whole bunch of men and women came out of the woods. "Oh my God. Thank you, Jack." Vanessa ran and hugged all of them. "I haven't seen you all in a long time. It's so good to see you all." Everybody sat around the campfire and started talking. Vanessa sat down beside me. All of a sudden she got quite. I sat there watching her. After a few minutes, she jumped up. Everyone stared at her. Then she ran away from the group. I jump up and follow her, "Vanessa? Vanessa, where are you going?" Finally, I reached her. She had come to a waterfall; it looked like the one back at home. Her back was turned towards me. I walked up to her, "Are you okay? What happened back there?" "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten anybody." "Are you okay?" "No," she screamed. "What's wrong?" "Back there, all of my memories of when I was with you came back to me." She turned around to face me; tears were streaming down her face. "Jack, I'm sorry, for the way I made you feel when ever I left. I'm sorry, I never gave you a reason, but I will now. You better sit down." So, we found a spot to sit. "The day I left, I had gotten a letter from my father. He told me he was dying. There were no sons in our family. It was only my sister and I. So, I had to go back and be queen."
"Why couldn't your sister?" "My sister is evil and my father knew it, that's why he sent for me. If my sister had become queen, she would have destroyed everything. I loved you so much. I didn't want to leave, but I had no choice." "Vanessa, I have something to tell you. Even after you left, I watched over you. Every night after you left, I stood below your balcony listening to every word that came out of your mouth. Somehow, I felt in my heart that you would come back to me, but one night you didn't come out on the balcony. I thought maybe you were sick, but the next night you still wasn't there. That broke my heart cause then I realized that you had forgotten about me." "I'm sorry." She lowered her head. "But I still watched over you form afar. I even got to hold you the first night you had a dance." "I don't remember that." "You were sort of knocked out. I watched as you came out of the castle. I thought you were going to run back home.to our home, but then I heard the Lieutenant ask you if you were thinking about running away again. Then I heard the Lieutenant tell you about your sister, and I knew you weren't going to run away. I was about to leave when I saw a woman dressed in black riding a horse coming towards you, so I decided to stick around some more. I listened to the conversation you were having, and I watched as she put some kind of spell on the Lieutenant and he walked back inside of the castle leaving you to defend for yourself. I waited until I saw the first sign of trouble. When she screamed and started towards you with her swords, I started towards her. By the time I got there you had stumbled backwards and was knocked out cold. She raised her sword to kill you, but I got in front of her and our swords clashed. She screamed again and lifted her sword. So, I stabbed my sword in her side. She stood there for a second glaring at me. Finally, feeling defeated, she got back on her horse and rode away. I knew I didn't have much time before the spell would wear off of the Lieutenant and he would come back out there to you. So, I knelt down beside you, held you in my arms for a couple of seconds, kissed you on the lips and hid behind the shadows. Finally, the Lieutenant came out and took you back inside. Later on, I heard you crying at your balcony." "So, that was you?" "Yes, I was the person you saw below your balcony that night." "You frightened me." "I didn't mean to." "So, were you watching me the night Amber burned down the building?" "Yes. I helped you then, too." "How?" "I watched as you ran away from her guards. I watched as you fell off the roof and into a bail of hay. Also, did you ever think of why the guards didn't follow you?" "I thought I lost them." "I got rid of them for you." "Oh, Jack. You cared for me so much, but I just left you without saying a word." "Seeing you leave broke my heart, but now I understand why, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have let you go." "I know." Vanessa leaned towards me and kissed me on the lips and whispered in my ear, "You know I still love you." I was shocked. I looked at her and said, "I.ummm.I still love you, too." She started kissing me on my neck. "Vanessa?" "Yes," she asked while still kissing me. "What are we doing?" She stopped kissing me, looked at me, "We're doing like 'Old Times'." Then she passionately kissed me on the lips.
"Well, you know what happened next." "Yes, continue, Jack.
The next morning, we all made our way to Amber's hide out. When we finally arrived, we saw a massive dark castle on top of a hill. There was a huge black cloud hovering over it and every now and then a streak of white, blinding, lightning would come shooting to the ground. The thundering was deafening. Vanessa signaled for everyone to huddle around her. "Lieutenant Scott, I want you to take John and some soldiers with you to the right side of the castle. Nick, I want you to take some of your people and the rest of the soldiers to the other side. And Jack and I will take the others to the front. Does everyone understand?" We all nodded our heads. "I wish you luck, Lieutenant Scott, John, and Nick." Lieutenant Scott said, "Please be careful, my La." Vanessa gave him a glare. I didn't understand why she did that. "I mean.Vanessa." Vanessa yelled at the top of her lungs, "Are you ready?" Everybody yelled, "Yes, ma'am!" Then everybody started towards their destinations. I didn't realize that that would be the last time I would see them all.
When Vanessa and I got near that castle, we had to fight our way in. It didn't take long for us to kill all the guards. After that, neither one of us saw any more guards. I kept wondering why and I found out the answer to my question. All of a sudden, Amber appeared. "Sister, how good of you to visit, but next time you should knock before entering." "Amber, there won't be a next time!" "Oh, what a shame? Oh, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you." Amber moved from where she was standing and there stood Logan. "Oh, my God!" Then I saw Vanessa running to him. "Logan, are you alright? Speak to me!" Logan didn't respond. "Logan, please show me some sign of living!" Amber moved beside Logan, "Now Logan, do as she says. Show her that you are alive." Logan turned towards Vanessa and slapped her clear across the room. I ran towards Vanessa, "Vanessa, are you okay?" She didn't respond. I turned back towards Amber. "You bitch!" "Oh, thank you. I try my best.wait a minute, don't I know you from somewhere.yeah, you were there the night I had a chance to kill her. You stopped me and stabbed me." Her face became very red and started twisting with anger. Logan started moving towards me. Amber stopped him, "No, I want to handle him." Logan backed off. Amber started towards me. "I see you love my sister very much." "I do." "Aww, that's sweet, but I don't and I don't want anybody else to." Amber ran towards me. After a few minutes of sword fighting, I heard Vanessa behind me, "Amber, no!" I turned towards Vanessa. Then all of a sudden, a felt a sharp pain in my back and stomach. I looked down and the tip of Amber's sword was sticking out of my stomach; she stabbed me from behind. I felt it as she pulled it back out, and I fell to my knees clutching my stomach. I heard Vanessa yell, "No!" Amber started laughing. Vanessa ran to me. She kneeled down and put my head on her knee. "You're going to be alright. You just hold on." "Vanessa, you and I both know that's a lie." I tried to smiles as best as I could. Every time I breathed a sharp piercing pain shoot through my body. She smiled back at me. "Jack, I've been meaning to tell you that if I had to do it all over again, I would have never left you." Tears started falling down her face. I smiled at her again. "Don't cry. Just remember I still love you, Vanessa." "I still love you, too, Jack.
"Those were the last words I heard." "Oh, Jack I never knew all of that. You loved her very much." "Yes, I did." Jack and the man stands up. "Oh, I almost forgot why I came here in the first place. I wanted to tell you something, Jack. After you died, Vanessa defeated Amber, but instead of going back to the kingdom, she gave it to Logan." "So, Logan became King?" "Yes. Vanessa carried your body back home and buried it at you two's favorite spot." "The waterfall." "Yes. About a year later, a son was born." "Vanessa had a son?" "Yes, Jack. You and Vanessa had a son." "My son?" "Yes, Jack. She named him, Jack. He grew up to be a very strong and brave man. About 20 years later, Logan had asked Vanessa if it would be okay for Jack to take his rightful place as King. So, Vanessa told your son about you and told him what Logan had said. And he accepted." "So, I have a son and now he's King." "Yes, Jack, and I have another surprise for you." The guy points over to a hill. Jack can see a figure on top of the hill, he can't see exactly who the figure is, but in his heart he knows who it is. "Vanessa!" The man whispers in Jack's ear, "Go, run to her Jack."
By: Jennifer Davis
A man wearing a blue tunic and black pants is sitting in the middle of a meadow. All of a sudden, a man wearing a white robe, walks up to the guy sitting. The man sitting looks up, "Hello."
"Hello, Jack. May I sit?"
"It would be my pleasure. Please sit."
The man sits beside Jack. "Jack, you come here everyday. What do you think about?"
"Vanessa."
"Who is Vanessa?"
"The love of my life."
"Tell me about her and how the two of you met."
"Well, the fires time I meet her, she was running in the woods."
Some of my people and I went out looking for food, when suddenly we heard something running in the woods. We all thought it was a deer, so we followed it. When it finally stopped, we surrounded it. When we got a clear shot of it, we saw that it was a girl. She was dressed in a pretty pink dress. She had a shoe in her hand. Her dress was torn all over. She must have heard us because all at once, she yelled, "Is someone there?" We didn't say anything. Then she yelled again, "Please, if someone is out there, please show yourself." Then she started crying. I motioned to everyone that we needed to help her. Without warning, she screamed, "Please, I mean no harm. Will you please show yourselves?" She was in hysterics about this time, so I motioned to everybody to come out of their hiding place and show ourselves. We were still surrounding her. This must have scared her even more because she started shaking, "Please, don't hurt me." I started walking closer to her. She curled up into a little ball and started crying some more. I stood right beside her and leaned down and said, "We're not going to hurt you. You're safe with us." She looked up, "Excuse me, Sir." "I said you're safe with us. We're not going to hurt you." I started to pick her up and the next thing I knew, she fainted.
I knew that she was a princess of Alexandria, but I couldn't take her there. So, I decided to take her to my home. I laid her down on the bed. I called some of the women to take off her clothes and put some new ones on. While they were doing that, I left. A few minutes later, the women came out and told me it was done. I went back into my house. There she was dressed in red tunic and black pants on my bed. She is so beautiful. I walked up beside her and my hand caressed her face. What are you doing? She's a princess. She'll probably be gone tomorrow. I took my hand away from her face. I looked at her a little while longer than walked out. Some of the guys were still standing outside. "John?" "Yeah, Jack." "Can I stay at your house tonight?" "Sure."
The next morning, I walked over to my house to see if she was awake. Before I opened the door, I looked through the window. I saw that she was awake. She was so beautiful. Then I saw that she was about to get off the bed, so I decided to open the door. At first, I just stood there in the doorway, her beauty captivated me, but then the thought of her going back home popped in my head. "Oh, I see that you're awake." "Can you please tell me where I am, Sir?" "This is our home." "I'm sorry, Sir, but where is that?" "We like to keep that a secret." "Oh, I see, Sir." "How do you like your new clothes?" She looked down at herself, "They are very different, Sir. I've never worn anything other than dresses my whole life, Sir." "Sorry, it was all we had and the dress you had on before wasn't in great condition. Ah.would you like to go for a walk? I can show you around the place, and we can talk as we walk?" "That would be very interesting, Sir." She got off the bed and walked towards me. "Oh, I'm sorry I haven't even introduced myself," I bowed, "I'm Jack." "It is lovely to meet you, Sir Jack," she curtsied, "and I am Vanessa, Sir." "Please just call me Jack." "Yes, Si.," she blushed, "Jack.
"So, you were swept with her beauty, Jack?" "Yes, I fall madly and deeply in love with her when I first saw her." "Please continue, Jack.
We walked out of the door, and I heard a gasp noise, then all of a sudden, she grabbed hold of me. "I'm sorry.Jack.but this is all so new to me." "You're okay.
"What did she see, Jack?" "Since, we were a secret community, we hid all our houses. And one place people wouldn't look, is in the trees." "Continue.
After we got to the ground, we walked around and I introduced her to everyone. Then we walked away from the little town. "Jack, where are we going?" "To a place where it's quite and peaceful." We walked for a couple of minutes; then we came to a cleaning. There in front of us was a spectacular waterfall. The water was sparkling like jewels. "Why, it's beautiful." "A lot of people come down here to be alone, and I thought that a princess would definitely love something like this." "You knew?" "Just because I live out here doesn't mean I don't know what's going on else where. Come, we'll sit on that log and you can tell me why you were all alone in the woods last night?" We walked over to the log and sat down. "The reason I was all alone was because I was running away from home." "Why?" "Cause I didn't want to be what they wanted me to be." "Let me guess, they wanted you to be queen." I was about to laugh at that idea, cause there's no way she wouldn't want to be queen, but before I laughed, she said. "Yes." That shocked the hell out of me. "So, what's wrong with that?" "Nothing, but." "But what?" "I didn't want to be told what I could or couldn't wear, where I could go, what I could do, and I didn't want to be confined to that castle. I wanted to be free." "I understand. That's why we are here. There's only one thing you have to do for me." "Yes?" "If you're going to stay here, you're going to have to give up everything you were taught. You can't be all prim and proper out here. If you do, you won't survive. Do you understand?" I was hoping she did and would stay. "Yes, Sir." "Also, you're going to have to fight." She paused for a moment and said, "I'll try my best." I wanted to jump up for joy, but contained myself as hard as I could.
After years of training her to become a great fighter, she did. One day, she was fighting a guy that was six feet tall and most of his body mass was muscles. I was watching from afar where she couldn't see me. After a couple of fast, hard hits, the guy went down. She stood in front of him, and the guy lifted his head and looked up at her. I walked closer, where I could hear what they were saying. The guy on the ground said, "That's enough! I can't take anymore!" She leaned down and helped him up. "Vanessa, you're the best fighter I know. I don't believe anybody can defeat you." "Maybe you will.one day." They started laughing and I came up behind her. She turned around and saw me. She walked up to me and whispered that she wanted me to meet her at the waterfall. I smiled, and she walked away and out into the woods. I looked over to the guy. "You okay?" "Yeah, she's one tough lady." I started laughing, "Well, she learned from the best. I'll see you later." Then I went and walked into the woods to find Vanessa. When I came up to the waterfall, I didn't see her anywhere. "Vanessa! Where are you?" I looked down and saw her clothes. "Vanessa! I know you're down here. I'm going to find you." I went around looking for her. All of a sudden, I heard splashing behind me. As I turned around, I saw Vanessa popping her head up out of the water. "What are you doing in there?" "I had to clean up after that fight. Ummm.why don't you join me?" "What?" "The water feels fine, and I need someone to wash my back. I can't quite reach it." "I'm not sure about that." She started to pout. "You're going to make me cry." "Fine, I'm coming in. I hate to see a woman in distress, but only on one condition." "What?" "You have to turn around until I get into the water." "Fine," she turned around. When I got into the water, I swam towards her and started rubbing her back. "Ummm.that feels good." I leaned towards her and kissed her on the back of her neck. She turned around and looked into my eyes. "I'm sorry." She put her hand on my cheek, "Don't be. I'm tired of keeping this a secret." Her hand slid down my chest. She leaned towards me and kissed me on my lips. I didn't know what to say or do; I just stared at her in shock. "Jack, is something wrong?" Finally, I said, "No, I'm just surprised." "I'm sorry, but I've wanted to do that for a long time. I also have something to tell you.ummm.how can I say this?" "Start from the beginning." She smiled. My heart skipped a beat. "I've known you for years now, and I've grown fond of you. And now.I.ummm." "Yes?" "I've fallen in love with you." I was about to fall backwards and if I would have done that I would have drowned. I couldn't believe what she said. It was something I wanted to say and hear since the first day I met her. I was so happy that I picked her up out of the water and spun her around and around. I was so happy, I wasn't thinking straight and forgot she didn't have any clothes on, so I stopped and slowly put her back in the water. I blushed, "Sorry, I'm just so happy. I've been wanting to tell you that same thing for some time now, but I've been afraid that you would run away from me." She smiled at me, and then she leaned towards me again and kissed me passionately, "I could never run away from you. I love you too much.
"Ummm.I'm not sure if you want to hear the rest of this part. You know.it's kind of." "I understand, Jack." "Two months later was the worst day of my life." "What happened, Jack?" He lowered his head, "She left me.
I was outside practicing my fighting techniques. Vanessa was out in the woods picking berries. All of a sudden, I saw her running towards me. "Vanessa!" I kissed her on the lips. "What's the matter? Why are you out of breath?" "Jack, I need to talk to you." "Let's go inside." We went inside and sat down on the bed. "Now, what is it you wanted to tell me? Are you pregnant?" My heart skipped a beat. "I'm sorry, but no." I felt like a black veil had been put over my head. "Jack, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I have to go back home." "But you are home." "I mean I have to go back to my father's castle." I felt like someone was ripping my heart from my chest, "Why?" "It's hard to explain." "You can tell me." "Jack, you wouldn't understand. I just have to go back, for my father's sake." That did it for me, tears started forming in my eyes, but I didn't want her to see me cry, so I turned away from her. I didn't know what to say. I was upset, mad, and depressed. I didn't know what to do, but I told her, "Go." "What?" This time the anger took over, and I yelled, "I said go." I paused, trying to calm myself down, "If it's that important, I don't want to stand in your way." She stood up, gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, "I love you." What was I supposed to say I love you, too? I couldn't say that. I thought if she loved me, she wouldn't leave me, so I didn't say anything. She waited a couple of minutes to see if I was going to say anything. When she finally realized I wasn't, she walked out the door. I sat there for a couple of minutes, and then I jumped up and went out the door. I watched her walk out into the woods, even though I knew she couldn't hear me, I still whispered, "I love you, too."
A couple of hours later, I got word that the King had died and Vanessa was now Queen, so I decided to go to town to hear that speech, the now, Queen was giving.
When I got there, there were hundreds of people crowned around a balcony of the castle. Finally, Vanessa came out, she was all painted up. I could tell she was very uncomfortable wearing all that stuff, but she tried her best not to let the other people know that. "Ladies and Gentlemen, the King is dead." Everybody gasped. "But as the King's daughter, I will be your new Queen."
Everybody cheered, but me. People were shouting, "Long live, Queen
Vanessa." Then she stepped out of view and back into the castle. Later, I went around the castle looking for the balcony to her room. Finally, I came to a balcony with the curtains blowing in the wind. I could hear two female voices inside. Then it got quiet, and then all of a sudden, she walked out onto the balcony. I jumped behind the shadows where she couldn't see me, but I could see her. She was very beautiful. "Jack, I miss you so much." I thought she had seen me, but then I realized she was just talking out loud. So, I decided to stand there and listen to her. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't want to leave you. There's nothing I would love more than to leave right now and be in your arms tonight." My heart went to my throat. "But I can't." My heart went to my stomach. "By my father's wishes, I am now exiled here forever." She sighed. "I still love you, Jack, wherever you are." I wanted to yell out I still love you too, but I didn't. Then she walked back into her room.
"Was this the last time you saw her?" "No, I would come to her balcony every night and she would always come out at night. One night I even got to hold her one last time.
Months later, I found out they were holding a party at the castle. I went and watched her from outside. Later on the night, she walked outside. Then her Lieutenant came up beside her. "You're not thinking of running away again," her Lieutenant asked. I just sat there and listened to them. Vanessa looked at the Lieutenant, "No, not this time." "I remember the first time. You didn't think anyone was around, but I was. I watched as you ran into the woods, I followed you. I watched as the group of people surrounded you. I was about to reveal my hiding place, but then I heard the guy say that he wasn't going to hurt you. I followed them as they carried you back to their home. I stayed in the woods that night and waited until I saw you the next morning. I finally saw you when you came out with that guy. I followed you and him to the waterfall. I listened to the conversation you and him were having. Then I heard you tell him that you didn't want to be Queen. So, I told myself I would not tell your father, but I would keep my eye on you. And I did until you're father sent a solider out to look for you. I told the solider where to go, but not to get too close. I told him to look like he was wondering around; where people wouldn't know that he knew where the secret village was. I knew you would come back." "And what if I didn't?" "Then I would have made you come back." "Why? Why couldn't my sister be Queen?" "Your sister has changed." "What do you mean? Did you follow her a month ago when she left?" "Yes, I did." "What did you see?" "I followed your sister into the woods. Then she started practicing black magic. Her face twisted and deformed. She frightened me, so I ran away. As I was running, I could hear her laughing. She knew that I had followed her." "How do you know that?" "Because I heard her say, You better go back to your Queen Vanessa before I kill her!" "My God! Why does my sister want to kill me?" "Apparently, she wanted to by Queen." "If she wants it that badly, she can have it." "No!" "Why?" "You're sister is into black magic. If your sister becomes Queen, she would destroy this town. You're father had to tell you that." "He did. Now I understand. I guess I will just have to watch my back." "Don't worry, I'll protect you." Then all of a sudden, I saw something coming from the woods. It was a woman wearing a black low cut dress, jet black hair, pale face, and red lips, riding a black stallion. She rode right up to Vanessa and the Lieutenant. The Lieutenant stood in front of Vanessa, "What do you want, Amber?" Amber jumped off of her horse, "I just wanted to talk to my sister.alone." "I'm sorry, but I can't allow that." Amber stuck her hand out in front of the Lieutenant, "You will allow it. Now, go back inside." I couldn't believe my eyes. The Lieutenant looked like a zombie and said, "Yes, ma'am," and walked back inside. Amber started walking toward Vanessa, "Now then." "What do you want, Amber?" "Just to talk." "Then stop walking and talk." That's my girl. Amber stopped, "My aren't we the feisty one. Very well then. I really didn't come here to talk." "Then what did you come for?" "I've come to kill you!" Amber screamed and raised her sword over her head. I grabbed my sword, but still waited in the shadows. Vanessa tripped backwards, but kept her balance, "Why?" "Because I hate you." "I never did anything to you." "You took away the power that I deserved! I should be Queen, not you!" Amber raised her sword higher. And I ran for Amber, but by the time I got there, Vanessa had stumbled backwards and fell to the ground hard. She didn't move. I saw Amber about to bring her sword down on Vanessa, so I got in front of her and our swords clashed. "Who the hell are you?" I didn't say anything to her, just fought back against her. She screamed and lifted her sword again. So, I stabbed my sword in her side. She stood there for a second glaring at me. Finally, feeling defeated, she got back on her horse and rode away. I returned back to Vanessa. She was knocked out. I held her there in my arms for a couple of seconds. I knew sooner or later, the Lieutenant was going to come out of his trance and come back out here. I looked at her soft, smooth face. I kissed her on the cheek and said, "I love you." I laid her back down and hide in the shadows for the Lieutenant to come back out. Finally, he did. "My Lady, are you okay?" She started to move again, and then she sat up. "I'm fine. I just hit my head. Is she gone?" "Yes, ma'am." The Lieutenant lifted her up. "Come, let's go inside." She followed him inside. I went over to her balcony. The party was now over, people were starting to leave. Then I saw her come out onto the balcony. Couples were holding hands and laughing and she was watching them. "I will never be like that. Jack, what was I thinking? I lost the love of my life, the guy I was going to marry and have a family with. They are trying to make me marry a guy. I had so many suitors tonight." I started to get upset hearing this. "But they were nothing like you." Hearing this made me happy and I calmed down. She started laughing and then she busted down and cried, "Jack, I want to be with you right now. I want everything to be like it use to be, but I know it never will be. I've lost you and now my sister hates me and wants me dead." She started to cry some more, and then she stopped and looked down right at me. Then she ran back into her room. Damn it, she saw me. I must have frightened her.
"Did she ever come back out?" "No, not that night. And later she stopped coming out at all." "What do you mean?" "One night I want to her balcony, but she didn't come out. I thought maybe she was sick. So, I came back the next night and she still didn't come out. So, I realized she had forgotten about me." "So, you stopped coming around." "I started coming around only when she had something big going on. About five years later, she was holding a beautiful ball.
Coming up to the place where the ball was being held, I could see a whole lot of people getting in. I stayed in the shadows watching what went on inside through different windows. For some reason, they didn't announce Vanessa when she came in, and I still don't know why. I watched as she came into the room, she was wearing a beautiful blue and white dress, it showed off her shoulders. She was very beautiful. I watched as she walked to the center of the room. I tried to keep my eyes on her, but all of a sudden, men surrounded her. I lost sight of her. I searched the faces looking for her, than I saw her, she had walked away from the group and started walking towards another guy. I could see their lips moving, but couldn't understand what they were saying. I watched as the guy and her laughed together. If I told you that this wasn't upsetting my, then I would be lying. I watched as he took her hand and started dancing with her. I couldn't bear to watch anymore. I looked around at the rest of the place, but I still kept her in the corner of my eye. Later on that night, I watched as they went out on a balcony. "So, are you having fun, Mr. Logan?" I took it as Logan was the guy's name. Logan said, "Definitely, now that I've met you. Have I told you, you have a very exquisite face?" "No, you haven't, Mr. Logan." "I bet everyone tells you that." "Now how would you know that?" "With all the guys that were surrounding you, how could they not? By the way, with all those guys, why did you come up to me?" "Because all those guys want is power." "Power? What are you a Princess? No, you idiot, she's queen. I thought to myself. "No," she started laughing. "The moonlight is very beautiful on your face. It makes your eyes glow. It also makes your lips shine." They started moving closer to each other. Their lips are inches from each other. Just as they are about to kiss and I'm about to yell, the Lieutenant came behind them and said, "Your majesty, your people are calling for you." She looks at the Lieutenant, "Oh!" Then she looks back at Logan, "I'm sorry, excuse me." I thought to myself, Thank God. The Lieutenant walked back inside and she started to follow him, but Logan grabbed her arm. "Your Majesty? Your people?" "Yes." "But you said you weren't a princess." "I'm not. I'm a queen." "Queen!" He got down on one knee. "I'm sorry if I have said anything out of the way." I thought to myself, Dumb ass. She looked down at him, "Logan, get up." He does. "There is nothing for you to be sorry about. You spoke what was on your mind." I thought, He should be sorry, he about kissed you. "Logan, I was beginning to think you liked me, even though you didn't know I was queen." "I was. I mean I do." "Good, cause I haven't felt like that in a long time. This shouldn't take long, will you wait for me?" "Sure." Vanessa walked back inside. Hearing what she said broke my heart. Her words, I haven't felt like that in a long time, kept echoing in my head. She had forgotten about me and had stopped loving me. I knew it was time for me to do the same. I started walking back home, when all of a sudden I saw Amber and some other people came riding up to the ball. I hid behind a bush. I watched as they put something at the door and ran away. A couple of seconds later, the doors had blown inside. I was terrified that Vanessa had been killed, so I ran back to a window and searched the room for her. Finally, I found her. Her, Logan, and the Lieutenant were up at the podium. I watched as her and Amber talked to each other. Then Amber started running towards Vanessa, but Logan started running toward Amber. Logan and Amber came face to face. Then all of a sudden, Logan flew to one side of the room and hits the wall hard and fell to the floor. He laid there motionless. After a few moments, Vanessa started running towards the back of the room. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amber tell her soldiers to go after Vanessa. Not knowing where Vanessa would go, I stayed and watched Amber. I watched as she leaned over Logan's body. She motioned for one of her guards to come and take him. Then above my head, I heard some sort of noise. Down a ways from me, I saw Vanessa hanging from the roof. She let go and landed in a pile of hay. Then she got up and ran away. A few seconds later, I saw two of Amber's soldiers fall into the hay. I ran towards them and without them knowing, chop their heads off. Knowing that Vanessa will be safe now, I walked back home.
A couple of nights later, Nick came to my house and told me to come over; he's got something to tell me.
"Okay Nick, we're all here, what did you want," John asked. "Alright, alright. You can come out now." Vanessa slowly opened the bedroom door and walked in the room. "Hi guys." John ran towards her and hugged her, "Vanessa, I can't believe it." He couldn't believe his eyes, he kept looking her up and down. She looked over to me. I was sitting on the bed with head down, but I kept glimpsing up and looking up at her when she wasn't looking. "Go sit back down, John. I have something important to tell you all." John went and sat back down between Nick and I. "Okay, I've come here to ask for your help." "With what," John and Nick asked. "Tomorrow my soldiers and I are going to go get rid of someone who has been terrorizing me for 5 years. My troops.I believe you three can help teach my troops some better fighting techniques than they know and.," she looked at me. "I would love to have you all by my side. Please, say you will." Nick and John nodded at each other and then looked at me. I turned towards them and nodded back. Nick said, "Okay, we'll do it." "Thanks guys." She hugged Nick and John, but before she could get near me, I got up and walked out the door. A few minutes later, she came out of Nick's house. I was leaning against the banister, looking up towards the sky. "Jack, I know you're hurt from what I did, but you have to understand I had to do it." I didn't say anything, just kept looking up at the sky. "The least you could do is speak to me." I lowered my head and tears started rolling down my cheeks. I couldn't turn around and let her see me crying. So, I kept my back turned to her. She stood there for a few more seconds, and then walked away. I turned around as she was leaving. I watched her get back on her horse and ride away.
"Why didn't you speak to her, Jack?" "I guess because I was still hurt from what she said to Logan, but then again that wasn't her fault. She left me and hasn't seen me in 5 years, so she should have fallen in love with another man, but I didn't want to let go of her.
The next morning, John, Nick, and myself went to the castle. We watched as Vanessa and her soldiers were riding away from the Castle. I couldn't believe what she was wearing. She was wearing the outfit she had on when she left me. I couldn't believe she still had it. My mind started to wonder back to the past. Then Nick tapped me on my shoulder for us to follow them. We stayed with them, but far enough away where they couldn't see us. When they finally stopped, Vanessa found us and told us to come to their camp. When we came near her camp, we stopped. "I'm going first. Then I will introduce you to all of them." We watched as Vanessa entered the camp, the Lieutenant came up to her, "Ma'am, what are you doing away from the camp?" "I have something to tell you and the soldiers." The Lieutenant sat with all the other soldiers. "I called a couple of friends of mine." John, Nick, and I walked up behind her. First, she pointed to Nick, "This is Nick." Then she pointed to John, "This is John." And finally, she pointed to me, "And this is Jack. These guys can show you all a couple of techniques of fighting that you don't know." John and Nick went to go train with some soldiers, but I stayed behind. While Vanessa was watching them train, I tapped her on her shoulder. She turned around and looked at me. "Vanessa?" She turned back around. "Vanessa, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings yesterday, but you have to remember you hurt mine first." She turned back towards me. "And I told you I had to leave, I didn't want to hurt your feelings." I leaned towards her, "Can we go somewhere and talk." She nodded. So we walked off together.
We walked until we reached a lake. "Jack." I turned towards her and hugged her, "It's been a long time." "Yes, it has. Why didn't you speak or even look at me last night?" "I was still hurt from you leaving me." "Jack, I'm sorry." "That's okay. You're here now and I've missed you." "And I you." I leaned forward to kiss her. She pushed me away, "Jack!" "Oh, I forgot, it's not like 'Old Times'." "'Old Times'." "Yeah, do you remember the old times we had together? You ran away from home and found us guys. We taught you how to fight and you became very good. We had fun didn't we?" "I guess so, I don't remember very much." "Vanessa?" "Yes?" "You never gave me a reason for leaving. And now look at you, a queen." She lowered her head. "Vanessa," I lifted her head. "Now can you give me a reason for leaving back then?" "Jack, you wouldn't understand." "That's what you said last time," I lowered my head. "I'm sorry." I lifted my head, "So, why are you here anyway?" "Because of my sister, Amber." "What?" I thought to myself, Amber is her sister? "Amber has been terrorizing me. She has been trying to kill me. I had a dance weeks ago and she decided to crash it." Tears started forming in her eyes. "I was the only survivor." Tears rolled down her face. I grabbed her and held her. After she finished crying, she looked at me in the face, "I'm sorry." "Don't be. So, now you're going to." "I'm going to get rid of her once and for all." "I'll be here to help you." "Thank you."
The next morning, Vanessa had gone down to the lake to take a bath. I walked up and watched her. She turned around and faced me. "Jack! What are you doing here? I'm taking a bath!" "I want to take a bath, too." "Wait until I get done." "Why? It wouldn't be the first time we've taken a bath together." She paused for a minute, "Okay, I'm coming out, turn around." "Why? It wouldn't be the first time I've seen you naked, either." Vanessa lowered her head, "Things are different now." I didn't know what to say, so I just turned around. When Vanessa got out of the water, I still glanced at her when she wasn't looking. When she was done putting her clothes on, she told me I could turn around. "You're still as beautiful as the first day I met you." She started to blush, "I better make it back to camp before they think something has happened to me." "Alright, I'll come with you." "I thought you were going to take a bath?" "I've changed my mind." The truth was I had already taken mine. When we got back to camp and got everything packed and ready, we headed out again.
When it started getting day, we decided to make camp. I walked up to the Lieutenant and Vanessa. I grabbed Vanessa hand, "I've got a surprise for you. Come with me." Vanessa looked at the Lieutenant and said, "Excuse me, Lieutenant." Vanessa followed me to a clearing in the woods. There are logs lying down and they formed a circle, and in the middle of the circle was a fire burning. "What is this all about, Jack?" I led her towards the fire and told her to sit down on one of the logs. She does. I yelled, "Okay, now!" Right when I said this, a whole bunch of men and women came out of the woods. "Oh my God. Thank you, Jack." Vanessa ran and hugged all of them. "I haven't seen you all in a long time. It's so good to see you all." Everybody sat around the campfire and started talking. Vanessa sat down beside me. All of a sudden she got quite. I sat there watching her. After a few minutes, she jumped up. Everyone stared at her. Then she ran away from the group. I jump up and follow her, "Vanessa? Vanessa, where are you going?" Finally, I reached her. She had come to a waterfall; it looked like the one back at home. Her back was turned towards me. I walked up to her, "Are you okay? What happened back there?" "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten anybody." "Are you okay?" "No," she screamed. "What's wrong?" "Back there, all of my memories of when I was with you came back to me." She turned around to face me; tears were streaming down her face. "Jack, I'm sorry, for the way I made you feel when ever I left. I'm sorry, I never gave you a reason, but I will now. You better sit down." So, we found a spot to sit. "The day I left, I had gotten a letter from my father. He told me he was dying. There were no sons in our family. It was only my sister and I. So, I had to go back and be queen."
"Why couldn't your sister?" "My sister is evil and my father knew it, that's why he sent for me. If my sister had become queen, she would have destroyed everything. I loved you so much. I didn't want to leave, but I had no choice." "Vanessa, I have something to tell you. Even after you left, I watched over you. Every night after you left, I stood below your balcony listening to every word that came out of your mouth. Somehow, I felt in my heart that you would come back to me, but one night you didn't come out on the balcony. I thought maybe you were sick, but the next night you still wasn't there. That broke my heart cause then I realized that you had forgotten about me." "I'm sorry." She lowered her head. "But I still watched over you form afar. I even got to hold you the first night you had a dance." "I don't remember that." "You were sort of knocked out. I watched as you came out of the castle. I thought you were going to run back home.to our home, but then I heard the Lieutenant ask you if you were thinking about running away again. Then I heard the Lieutenant tell you about your sister, and I knew you weren't going to run away. I was about to leave when I saw a woman dressed in black riding a horse coming towards you, so I decided to stick around some more. I listened to the conversation you were having, and I watched as she put some kind of spell on the Lieutenant and he walked back inside of the castle leaving you to defend for yourself. I waited until I saw the first sign of trouble. When she screamed and started towards you with her swords, I started towards her. By the time I got there you had stumbled backwards and was knocked out cold. She raised her sword to kill you, but I got in front of her and our swords clashed. She screamed again and lifted her sword. So, I stabbed my sword in her side. She stood there for a second glaring at me. Finally, feeling defeated, she got back on her horse and rode away. I knew I didn't have much time before the spell would wear off of the Lieutenant and he would come back out there to you. So, I knelt down beside you, held you in my arms for a couple of seconds, kissed you on the lips and hid behind the shadows. Finally, the Lieutenant came out and took you back inside. Later on, I heard you crying at your balcony." "So, that was you?" "Yes, I was the person you saw below your balcony that night." "You frightened me." "I didn't mean to." "So, were you watching me the night Amber burned down the building?" "Yes. I helped you then, too." "How?" "I watched as you ran away from her guards. I watched as you fell off the roof and into a bail of hay. Also, did you ever think of why the guards didn't follow you?" "I thought I lost them." "I got rid of them for you." "Oh, Jack. You cared for me so much, but I just left you without saying a word." "Seeing you leave broke my heart, but now I understand why, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't have let you go." "I know." Vanessa leaned towards me and kissed me on the lips and whispered in my ear, "You know I still love you." I was shocked. I looked at her and said, "I.ummm.I still love you, too." She started kissing me on my neck. "Vanessa?" "Yes," she asked while still kissing me. "What are we doing?" She stopped kissing me, looked at me, "We're doing like 'Old Times'." Then she passionately kissed me on the lips.
"Well, you know what happened next." "Yes, continue, Jack.
The next morning, we all made our way to Amber's hide out. When we finally arrived, we saw a massive dark castle on top of a hill. There was a huge black cloud hovering over it and every now and then a streak of white, blinding, lightning would come shooting to the ground. The thundering was deafening. Vanessa signaled for everyone to huddle around her. "Lieutenant Scott, I want you to take John and some soldiers with you to the right side of the castle. Nick, I want you to take some of your people and the rest of the soldiers to the other side. And Jack and I will take the others to the front. Does everyone understand?" We all nodded our heads. "I wish you luck, Lieutenant Scott, John, and Nick." Lieutenant Scott said, "Please be careful, my La." Vanessa gave him a glare. I didn't understand why she did that. "I mean.Vanessa." Vanessa yelled at the top of her lungs, "Are you ready?" Everybody yelled, "Yes, ma'am!" Then everybody started towards their destinations. I didn't realize that that would be the last time I would see them all.
When Vanessa and I got near that castle, we had to fight our way in. It didn't take long for us to kill all the guards. After that, neither one of us saw any more guards. I kept wondering why and I found out the answer to my question. All of a sudden, Amber appeared. "Sister, how good of you to visit, but next time you should knock before entering." "Amber, there won't be a next time!" "Oh, what a shame? Oh, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you." Amber moved from where she was standing and there stood Logan. "Oh, my God!" Then I saw Vanessa running to him. "Logan, are you alright? Speak to me!" Logan didn't respond. "Logan, please show me some sign of living!" Amber moved beside Logan, "Now Logan, do as she says. Show her that you are alive." Logan turned towards Vanessa and slapped her clear across the room. I ran towards Vanessa, "Vanessa, are you okay?" She didn't respond. I turned back towards Amber. "You bitch!" "Oh, thank you. I try my best.wait a minute, don't I know you from somewhere.yeah, you were there the night I had a chance to kill her. You stopped me and stabbed me." Her face became very red and started twisting with anger. Logan started moving towards me. Amber stopped him, "No, I want to handle him." Logan backed off. Amber started towards me. "I see you love my sister very much." "I do." "Aww, that's sweet, but I don't and I don't want anybody else to." Amber ran towards me. After a few minutes of sword fighting, I heard Vanessa behind me, "Amber, no!" I turned towards Vanessa. Then all of a sudden, a felt a sharp pain in my back and stomach. I looked down and the tip of Amber's sword was sticking out of my stomach; she stabbed me from behind. I felt it as she pulled it back out, and I fell to my knees clutching my stomach. I heard Vanessa yell, "No!" Amber started laughing. Vanessa ran to me. She kneeled down and put my head on her knee. "You're going to be alright. You just hold on." "Vanessa, you and I both know that's a lie." I tried to smiles as best as I could. Every time I breathed a sharp piercing pain shoot through my body. She smiled back at me. "Jack, I've been meaning to tell you that if I had to do it all over again, I would have never left you." Tears started falling down her face. I smiled at her again. "Don't cry. Just remember I still love you, Vanessa." "I still love you, too, Jack.
"Those were the last words I heard." "Oh, Jack I never knew all of that. You loved her very much." "Yes, I did." Jack and the man stands up. "Oh, I almost forgot why I came here in the first place. I wanted to tell you something, Jack. After you died, Vanessa defeated Amber, but instead of going back to the kingdom, she gave it to Logan." "So, Logan became King?" "Yes. Vanessa carried your body back home and buried it at you two's favorite spot." "The waterfall." "Yes. About a year later, a son was born." "Vanessa had a son?" "Yes, Jack. You and Vanessa had a son." "My son?" "Yes, Jack. She named him, Jack. He grew up to be a very strong and brave man. About 20 years later, Logan had asked Vanessa if it would be okay for Jack to take his rightful place as King. So, Vanessa told your son about you and told him what Logan had said. And he accepted." "So, I have a son and now he's King." "Yes, Jack, and I have another surprise for you." The guy points over to a hill. Jack can see a figure on top of the hill, he can't see exactly who the figure is, but in his heart he knows who it is. "Vanessa!" The man whispers in Jack's ear, "Go, run to her Jack."