Things might have gone on this way for many years, if not for a highly unexpected circumstance that happened one day when Helganna was about nineteen. It had rained especially hard the night before, turning most of the valley into thick, sticky Florentine mud--that really gloopy kind that would stop a rampaging elephant in its tracks. (If they had had elephants in those days, of course.) An aristocrat by the name of Lady Lila (who, I think, was some cousin of the king and otherwise hadn't done anything special to deserve the title of 'Lady') had chosen that particular morning to cross the countryside, and by some freak chance, her large, expensive carriage became stuck in the mud directly in front of Helganna's farm. Naturally, when the carriage stopped, the Lady Lila stepped out to see what the problem was...
...and promptly found herself stuck in the mud as well.
Then when she realised that her oh-so-perfectly-clean dress was getting covered in mud and gunk, she did the most lady-like thing in the world.
In other words, she began to scream at the top of her lungs.
Helganna and her parents quickly came running, immediately followed by Arnold. Bob studied the situation, and put on his best manners (she was wealthy, after all, and he wondered if there was some way of getting a reward). "Aw, don't worry about a thing, your Grace," he said. "The farm boy and I'll take care of this."
"Farm boy?" Lady Lila began...but then she noticed Arnold, and a slow smile crept across her face. Subtlety had never been her strong point. She batted her eyelashes. "I'd appreciate it ever-so-much," she said, not taking her eyes from him.
She didn't take her eyes away the entire time.
The Lady watched Arnold as he helped to push the carriage back onto solid ground. She watched as he cleaned the mud from the wheels and horses. She especially watched as she sent him to be 'ever-so-kind' and fetch her a drink of water. Then while she drove away, Lady Lila blew him a kiss.
"Criminy!!" Helganna thought that evening as she lay on her bed. Why would Lady Lila keep watching him, watching him like that? She didn't know why it bothered her so much--but it did, and that angered her all the more. (Plus, that stupid kiss had been really annoying!) The Lady was young and rich and pretty enough...so why make such a fuss over a simple football-headed farm boy who fed pigs?
Although--she had to admit he wasn't that bad to look at.....He was tall and blond and strong...and always wore a small smile on his face...and his eyes were the color of green jellybeans. (Yes, they had jellybeans in those days, even though no elephants yet.) And he was a nice guy...really and truly nice, who never complained and went out of the way to help however he could. Even after a long day of being tormented by her snide remarks, he wouldn't be a bit mad. And some spoiled aristocrat had the gall to flirt with him! Well, wouldn't that little red-haired snot look funny in her ridiculously expensive dress, wallowing around in a muddy pig sty at Arnold's side?
Helganna suddenly laughed at herself. She was acting jealous--actually jealous--of Lady Lila! Of all the silly things! It wasn't even as if Arnold had treated her special somehow. Not once had he answered her requests with an 'As you wish'.....
Helganna stopped laughing.
Come to think of it, she had never heard him say "As you wish" to anyone else. And he always said it the same way--looking directly at her, speaking those three little words in such a soft, earnest voice.
Then, two shocking things dawned on her...all these years while Arnold had told her 'As you wish', might he possibly have meant...'I love you'?
...But even more surprising, she realised she truly loved him.
Helganna went straightaway to his hut and threw open the door without knocking. Arnold, somewhat startled, looked up from his reading.
"I love you," she said. "I know that sounds completely insane, since all I've ever done is berate you and insult you and taunt you, but it's true. I've loved you from the day we met. At first, I thought I loved you more than anyone could ever possibly love somebody...but with each passing moment, I know that my love for you grows twice as strong as anything I felt the second before. I love you so much more now than I did even one minute ago, there's no comparison." He remained silent, staring at her, listening. Bravely, she continued; "Dearest Arnold--I've never called you that, have I?--Arnold...sweet, beautiful Arnold...I will do anything you ask--only please...please say I have the tiniest chance of someday receiving your love in return!!"
He closed the door in her face.
Without a word.
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A/N: To Tano.... Aww, come on! Thanks for the compliment, but don't be so hard on yourself. You're a pretty dedicated writer and you've got some great stories out; there's no reason to call it quits just like that.