Then...Chapter Two
Rose sat in the lake, looking up at the surface where the mermaids were laughing down at her "Hey! Stop Laughing!!!" she yelled, but all that came out was a silvery bubble. The mermaids laughed, and jumped into the lake, smirking at her "what's the matter? Catfish got your tongue?" one exclaimed laughing at her. Rose sighed, and covered her face with her hands in shame. Instantly, the mermaids started giggling, and swimming away from what appeared to be a male. She looked up towards the surface, and blushed crimson as she saw the handsome male staring down at her.
Dimitri arrived at the lake in time to hear the laughter of mermaids, who quickly fled into the far depths of the water, out of sight. He walked towards the lake, and looked inside it. Instantly, his eyes widened in surprise as he saw a stunning woman staring back at him. Her raven hair swirled about her legs, for it looked like it hadn't been cut in years. Her eyes were a rare shade of emerald green, and her skin was a caramel color. He looked at her clothes, and it seemed to him that her style of clothing went out years and years ago. He reached down into the water to touch her cheek, and, surprisingly, she pulled away.
Rose tried to swim away, but was surprised when she felt someone ((the man)) grab her shoulder. She turned around, and gasped as she saw that the man had broken the barrier. Whoever it was gently lifted her out of the water. She gasped as her face hit the warm night air, and smiled, coughing slightly as she walked towards the shore.
He looked at the maiden, and asked "who are you?" in an astonished voice. Rose, not wanting to give her real name, said "My name is Anna-Maria, and I have been imprisoned in this lake for about a century...I am Glad you got me out." Dimitri looked at her with even more astonishment in his eyes "My god...really?" He asked, the awe and shock was evident in his voice. Anna/rose smiled, and nodded "yes." Dimitri immediately blurted out "you are the girl from my dreams then? You have been haunting my sleep since I was twelve!" he said, but at the same time, thinking that Anna-Maria was an odd name for her, In fact, he imagined her as a Rose...but he quickly dismissed the thought. "So milady, how did you get into that lake?" he asked.
Rose smiled, and told her story from beginning to end, shivering slightly in the night air, for she was not used to the air, but was used to having lukewarm water surround her. She sighed as her story ended, and smiled slightly as she saw his face.
Dimitri was utterly stunned "so you are the long lost princess...My family took over the throne after your family disappeared...my god!" he exclaimed, feeling awfully shy around the lady. He smiled at her, and blushed as he asked "Do y ou need a place to stay?" Wheen she nodded, he could barely contain his happiness.
Rose walked with the price to his horse, and began to feel her cold heart giving way to him. As he lifted her onto the steed, she couldn't help but notice how wonderful it felt to be in his arms.