Chapter 4
They get on the horse and wave goodbye to everyone that is there to send them off.
Someone is missing.
Fu Zhen had said goodbye to her father the night before for she cannot bear to see Prince Aaron leave, therefore, she stayed in her room that morning.
They leave the village almost immediately for the journey to Haven is a long one. They had to travel down the hill, across the deserts and sail past the Mediterranean Sea. Fu Zhen's father had made sure the supply is enough to sustain through the journey.
Weeks later, they finally reached the gates of Haven. Prince Aaron leads the way to his palace and Fu Zhen's father together with another two, follow behind. Soon, they arrive.
Prince Aaron gets down from his horse and walks into the palace.
The King and the Queen was shocked to see him. At first, they thought they were dreaming but then they realise it is really their real son, so, they run over to him and give him a big and tight hug which almost suffocate him.
"You scared me too death, dear! I thought you are never going to come back! Why did you go all the way to find that so-called beautiful maiden and so many soldiers were sacrificed, I thought you were too," the Queen says after they broke off the hug.
"I am sorry, mother. Besides, I am here isn't it? Don't worry anymore because I won't do such a silly thing anymore."
"So, do I have to punish that old man?" the King asks.
"Of course!" the Queen says.
"No mother! You should not punish him. It was from him that I learnt about what are the things we can get and what we can't," he says.
"Then…we'll let him go then!" the King and the Queen said.
"Sigh…" Prince Aaron sighs.
He looks out of the window of his bedroom.
He is at his warm, comfortable, big home isn't it? But why is he feeling so down? He could not figure that out. He felt as if something is missing from his life and he needed it desperately…but what is it?
The image of the small villager kept playing itself in his mind.
He remembers the endless field of paddy and plantations. He remembers the villagers there that are kind and friendly. He remembers how everyone was the same and no one holds a higher post than the other. He remembers how carefree everyone's life was there even though they have to work all day long, and yet they never complained a bit. Just then he remembers how happy was the meals he had there.
With the company of Ah You who never failed to make him laugh, he never felt bored. With the company of Fu Zhen's father who was like his second father, he felt protected. With the company of Fu Zhen…
"With the company of Fu Zhen, I…I…" he says but could not continue on for he does not understand what feeling it is.
'I felt comfortable with her around…I had a feeling I had never had in my life before…I felt cared for with her around…Does that mean…No, no. You would not have fallen in love with a lady that looks like that?!' he thinks.
Like a spell casted on him, the images of her never failed to leave from his mind. It followed him everywhere. During the day, he would constantly remember about her and during the night, he would dream about her.
Flashback
The very night before he left…
Fu Zhen knocks on his room door and waits patiently for it to open. It opens and Prince Aaron is standing at the door.
"Fu Zhen? Is there anything you need?" he asks.
"Um…could you come outside for awhile?" she asks.
She turns and walks to the door while Prince Aaron follows her out.
Once outside, Fu Zhen looks at him and asks…
"Can we dance together?"
"Dance? Why do you want to dance with me?" he asks her back.
"I know it would be hard for you to dance with me but please…because this would be the last night you are here and who knows when we'll meet again?"
"Umm…"
"Please? You can close your eyes or imagine that I am someone else. Just this once," she pleads.
"Okay then."
Then, they start to dance with Prince Aaron closing his eyes while imagining that the person before him is a very beautiful lady. A very special feeling arouse in his heart and the sweetness of it that came from them spreads throughout the village and all over the world. The two of them is like a pair from heaven that is meant to be together for ever…
End of Flashback
After so many days then he finally realises. After spending that period of time being with her, he noticed that she is not ugly at all…the heart she owned is made of pure gold, so pure that nothing in this world could make a thing like that…her heart is beautiful and that is what beauty meant!
He runs out of his room.
"Get the horses ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" he yells.
To be continued…