Chapter Two: Finn's Basket
Finn had always enjoyed the wagon ride into the city. Offo sat next to him, speaking of the lucky amount of cuttable wood there had been this month. Usually there was a shortage of the kind that was nice enough to buy off the forest folk; if they wanted just any wood, the woodcutters could just go into their backyards.
In return, Finn spoke of his mother's knitted goods and valuable hens' eggs, how the chickens had been in good temper lately. However, his mind was on Isi and Enna. Finn was, by nature, a worrier, something his mother often told him to go out to the chicken coop and talk about with the hens if he felt like expressing it in any great amount.
If there was anything Finn really had liked about the forest, it was Enna. However, when she had left, the city became the place for Finn. He couldn't really explain it; he doubted anyone could. All he knew was that the thing that really made the city special, above all else, was time with Enna.
Eventually, the rundown wagon had completed its journey from the rural forest dwellings to the big city. The city fascinated Finn; everything from the hustle and bustle of a busy life to the variety of things one saw. In the forest, he usually saw trees, animals, and uh, trees.
Hurrying to grab a spot on the crowded street, he slipped into a spot between a baker and a witch. This should be a nice spot! Finn set his wicker basket of goods down along with his crate of eggs and began setting up. He hardly noticed as a slim, dark haired girl slid something into his basket with a mischievous smile.
Finn's heart nearly stopped. There, laying among his beautiful eggs, was a horribly colored yellow one that was... leaking dye onto the box. His catching laughter escaped his lips as he met the sparkling brown eyes of a girl standing in the shadows across the street, at least a head shorter than him.
Sauntering over, Enna picked up the egg and sputtered through her laughter something to the effect that Razo was much better at egg tricks than she. Hugging Enna was one of the greatest comforts of Finn's life. He loved the smell of hay and grass that always seemed to cling to her and her brightly colored tunics. Today she was wearing a sky blue one with yellow accents. Finn recognized it well; it had been made by his mother for her.
Waving a slightly-shorter-still girl in a sun hat over, Enna was still laughing uncontrollably. Isi walked up to meet them, her dyed brows still immaculately done, an yellow and red dress to match her hair and cheeks. Healthier than ever, the goose girl smiled up at him with her perfect teeth, nervously fingering the orange, frayed ribbon that tied her hat around her delicate chin. Under the shadow of her hat, her eyes twinkled with the honest joy of reunion.
"'Lo, there, Lady of the Geese," Finn greeted Isi, grinning rakishly. Enna mussed up his near-brown hair and alerted him to the fact that it was "Lakeside Princess" or "Yella' Lady" to him, and that he'd best mind his manners around a proper lady.
"Hello to you as well, Finn. How is Gilsa? She is healthy, yes?" Isi queried in her long-perfected Bayern accent. Sometimes Finn forgot it was a fake one at all. Sometimes, Finn thought sadly, I forget that she's fake in the least.
The plans of war on Kilendree struck Geric as off. This feeling could not be shaken by the young man as he sat through yet another war council, Anidori by his side. Again. Sighing, the prince spoke in favor of Sir Rolynd's suggestion that we find a scout to see what Kilendree's got before we attack. However, Anidori found this insulting; she claimed it to be a doubt towards the veracity of her information and therefore treasonous. Good god, she could be quite the little snake when she wanted to be. Trusting her was very difficult when she said things like that to the members of the court.
So, the better part of the council was spent calming the girl down as her cheeks turned all shades of pink. It was a little amusing, actually, to watch a lady throw a temper tantrum. Isi would never do that. No, no, no! Isi is not your fiance, and you will not think of her as anything but a goose girl. Somehow, this was easier thought than done.
Tossing and turning that night, Geric muttered restlessly about six days left. Six days until he would marry the princess. Oh, God he missed Isi. What could he do? I need to see her again. Somehow, that thought felt more right in his head than any of his thoughts for the past few days.
The next day, he snuck out before Anidori awoke and could trail him. Taking the bay that Isi had taught him how to ride, Geric rode out to the goose pastures. His heart longed for Isi, his soul seemingly reaching for her. Soon he would be with her. With a solid determination in his heart, the prince dismounted and promptly continued to sit calmly in the dewy grass to await his love.