Chapter 11: Meeting a new friend
It have been three days since King Yuu got better and everybody smiles. Zen and Shirayuki almost every day go for horseriding in the forest. Mitsuhide and Kiki accompany them.
Like the other days, today the four of them have gone to the forest for picnic with Shirayuki's handmade food. The maids insisted that they should prepare the sandwiches but in the end Shirayuki convinced them that she could do it on her own. So now they're sitting down on the grass eating their food.
Zen is teasing Mitsuhide as always and the last one is taking it seriously. In the end everyone is laughing with the face Mitsuhide makes.
Shirayuki is happy being with friends and especially Zen. This is more than she could wish for. But she knows that all these will end in less of a month. If only she could persuade her father to let her stay a little more time, just a few days long.
They continue eating and making jokes when they hear a sound, like someone's climbing from a tree to the other. Shirayuki remembers the time when she was kidnapped and unconsciously goes behind Zen. He understands it and looks at her with a smile.
- Don't worry, I'm here to protect you. You won't get hurt, I promise!
She nodes and everyone heads towards the sound. At first they don't see someone but then a young boy is landing in front of them. It seems that he's around their age and his hair is green. He has eyes like a cat's and on his face there is a little scar.
- Who are you?, says Zen as he pulls out his sword.
- Calm down Prince Zen. I'm not here to hurt anyone.
- What's your name?
- My name is Obi, my Lord.
-Are you from Clarines?
- It doesn't matter where I'm from. I just go here and there from time to time.
They are talking for a little longer and when Zen figures out that he's not an enemy, he invites Obi to eat with them. Shirayuki seems a little scared but soon she smiles and considers him as a friend.
All of them is a happy company. They talk to each other friendly and make jokes. But it is already lunchtime and Zen, Shirayuki,Mitsuhide and Kiki must go back to the castle.
- Obi, do you have somewhere to sleep for the night?
- Don't worry for me Princess. I'm okay!
-Zen, we have to do something. He may be capable of protect himself but I don't want to leave him here. Can we let him sleep in the castle?, Shirayuki wispers in Zen's ear.
Shirayuki is right, we can't leave him alone. I'll give him a bed to sleep for the night but he might reject the idea. I have to persuade him, Zen thinks.
- Obi I have a proposal to make you. Do you want to stay in the castle for the night? We can't leave you here in the forest. There are thieves and they could hurt you.
- Thank you Master but I have got used to this kind of life. No one will hurt me.
- Please Obi come with us, Shirayuki begs him.
Obi pretends that he's thinking about the proposal but deep inside he wants to go with them. It's the first time he's been with friends so it's a good chance to keep them.
- Okay I'll come with you, he says as he puts his hand behind his neck.
And the five of them go back to the castle. When they enter the gate, everyone is looking towards them but they don't pay attention. Zen looks at Shirayuki's eyes with a smile. She looks toward him too. That time, Mitsuhide and Kiki assure themselves that their friends are in love indeed. Obi figures it out too even though he met them today. It's obvious!
Zen and Shirayuki go to meet their parents. They found them in the throne room. It is a happy atmosphere! The four parents are laughing and after a few seconds realize that the two teenagers are there.
- Oh Zen. How are you? I haven't seen you since this morning, says Queen Miki.
- How was your picnic in the forest?, asks Queen Hitomi.
- We're fine. The picnic was great! You should have come, Shirayuki speaks with excitement and a wide smile on her face.
- Father, I heard something about Izana. How is he?, Zen asked with concern.
Izana is Zen's older brother. King Yuu sent him to negotiate with the Tashika's Kingdom. In a few years he will be crowned as the new Clarines' King, so he has to learn how things work to be a proper king.
- He's alright. The King said that he'll be Clarines' ally. Your brother did great work.
- That's good to know. I feel proud of him!, Zen says with pride for his brother.
Zen and Izana go well with each other since they were little. Izana taught Zen how to fight his enemies and how to be a good and proper prince.
- In two days, Izana will return to Clarines and I want to prepare a feast to welcome him.
- I will gladly help you prepare it, Shirayuki says.
- Alright, then we will count on you too Shirayuki, smiles Queen Miki.
Everyone is waiting for Izana to come back. In the meanwhile, Mitsuhide has taken Obi to a room to stay for the night. Obi thanked him and fell asleep. Before he closes his eyes to sleep, the young boy with green hair thinks about Princess Shirayuki. She was very kind towards him and he wants somehow to repay her for this. He will think something and as he is thinking of this, slowly he falls asleep.
Hi everyone! As you read, Obi met our protagonists in the forest and Izana is at Tashika's Kingdom. I thought that somehow they should be in the story. And here they are! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will wait for reviews!
See you next time...