Chapter 8 – A Quest

Ann was suddenly awakened from her reverie by Liam's kiss. She was so surprised that she didn't react. Her senses finally came back to her and she pulled away quickly. Her cheeks were flaming and, she noticed, so were Liam's.

Liam cleared his throat and got up to get more water, all the while avoiding looking at the girl.

Neither of them spoke, finally, Ann stretched and broke the silence.

"I'm tired. It is still snowing?" Liam looked outside the window and nodded without looking at her. His cheeks were still bright red.

"I'm going to sleep," Ann announced and disappeared into one of the smaller rooms, closing the door behind her.

Liam watched her go. What was I thinking? Why did I do that? Although he questioned himself for his actions, he didn't regret what he'd done.

Ann climbed into one of the wooden beds covered with wool mattress. As she stared into the darkness, her pounding heart finally slowed down. What was he doing? And why didn't I…Ann was going to ask herself why she didn't punch him, but as she thought about the feeling of his lips against hers, she couldn't stop smiling, and her heart quickened again. Why is my heart pounding and I can't stop smiling like a fool?

The next morning, Ann woke up to the smell of bacon. She entered the kitchen to find Liam already there, eating breakfast.

"Good morning," she called out.

" 'Morning," Liam mumbled without looking at her. He was still embarrassed about what he did the previous night. He wanted to apologize, but could seem to find the right words, or the courage.

Ann walked over to the pump and glanced out the window. "Wow," she breathed. The storm had stopped sometime overnight and the world outside was covered with a blanket of white. Even the trees were highlighted with glistening snow.

"Come and see," Ann turned to the prince, but he didn't look up. What's with him? Ann shrugged and sat down across from him with her breakfast.

Finally, with the dishes washed and put away in the cupboard, Liam found the courage to look at Ann in the eye.

He took a deep breath, "Ann, I'm sorry for, for um, what I did last night. You know…"

"That's okay I guess," Ann smiled.

"Are we still friends?" Liam held his breath.

"I don't know, maybe," Ann replied with a smile. Liam was still worried until he realized that she was only joking.

"Don't do that. You had me worried."

It took the two of them quite some time to get back to the castle. The snow was already high before the storm, now it was up to Ann's waist.

They snuck in the back entrance unnoticed by anyone. Liam went to his parents and found out for Ann that the Duke of Ashcroft had already left. Upon hearing this, Ann let out her breath. Liam however, had to explain to his parents what he was up to. He couldn't tell them about Ann's story, so he was punished by his parents for not showing up for the banquet because of his duty as the prince.

"I'm sorry," Ann told him.

"What for?"

"For getting you in trouble."

"That's okay, I insisted to stay with you." Then he remembered something, "Do you have to leave?"

"I hope not," Ann replied.

"Please Mother, can we stay? If he didn't see us, then he wouldn't know that we are here," Ann pleaded.

"You really like it here, don't you?" her mother asked thoughtfully. When Ann nodded in earnest, she chuckled softly, "And the prince too?"

"Mother!" Ann's face went bright red in embarrassment.

"All right, we'll stay. I don't want to move again anyway." Ann's mother said before adding softly, "It's good to see you found a place you like."

Winter melted into spring. During the months of cold, Ann and Liam often went skating in the frozen pond, but only after making sure that the ice was solidly frozen. Neither of them spoke of the kiss, though both thought about it often when they were alone.

On the feast of Spring Equinox, Ann was playing her flute as part of the entertainment. Everyone thought her music was enchanting, especially an old female gnome sitting beside the queen.

After the feast, the old gnome talked privately with Queen Aireia.

"That girl playing the flute, who is she?" the gnome asked.

"I think her name is Ann. She's one of the servants in the palace," Aireia answered. Then seeing the old gnome's thoughtful expression, she asked, "What is it Fraechaem?"

"She has a gift, and you may need it someday. I see that she may have a quest with your son in her future." Queen Aireia nodded and made a mental note to remember what the wise old gnome just said.

Fraechaem meant grandmother in Gnomic, and she took care of Aireia when she ran away to the forest as a young woman. The queen invited Fraechaem along with the rest of her gnome family for the feast to welcome the spring. Fraechaem saved Aireia's life once, and she knew things humans don't. She could see the future, though not in detail.

Sure enough, by the middle of the 5th month, messengers from Leithia reported to Queen Aireia and King Robin that Princess Briana of Leithia was missing. An old soothsayer told King Charming that only a prince of a neighbouring country could find and rescue her. Therefore, King Charming had requested that Prince Liam should go and find the princess.

Aireia was at first baffled by the request, but the messenger told her that Charming was quite distraught over the disappearance of his daughter. It was her duty to help a neighbour in need. Besides, it wouldn't do Liam much harm to get out and see the world.

So she summoned her son and told him about the quest. Liam was reluctant, because he couldn't forget what Briana did to Ann. but in the end, he accepted, as it was his duty.

Aireia suddenly remembered Fraechaem's comment on Ann. Maybe she could help Liam with her "gift", whatever that was.

~*~

i'm back! no i haven't given up writing, i just had to study for final exams and finish projects.

thank you all for reviewing!!