by Amy Kyle
When we arrived in Soundsforth hours later, the townsfolk were there to greet us. They cheered as we entered the gates. Everyone was trying to get a glimpse of Soundsforth’s newest princess. I cowered into Kit not wanting to be seen. My mind continued to soar back to Darden. I wondered what they were doing and if anyone missed me. I knew I was certainly missing them. Head forward and heart hidden, I trudged onward into my new life as Princess Mira Bataran of Soundsforth.
Kit was extremely accommodating when we arrived at the castle. The handmaids had already prepared a separate room to help me adjust. A wave of relief washed over me as I realized I was not expected to share a bed with a complete stranger. They helped me undress and change into something other than my funeral cloak and frilly wedding dress. After bathing I sat on the edge of my bed and peered out of the window. The moon was full and the stars bright. I hoped that father was up there looking into this window right now. I hope he could see how brave I was being. I hope he knew I missed him.
Breaking my trance, I heard a quiet tap on the door. “Who is it?” I choked out.
“Mira,” I heard in a small voice “it’s me, Kit. May I please come in?”
My heart immediately began to pound and my hands started to sweat. All of the nerves in my body were on guard and prickling me. I couldn’t say no, could I? “Kit. Yes, you may come in.”
Quietly he pushed into the door being sure not to make a sound when closing it behind himself. Exaggeratedly he tip-toed his way across the room and sat across from me on the edge of the bed. We sat there in silence for quite a while simply staring into each other’s eyes. His were round and the color of azure. The light from the moon bounced off of his brilliant eyes and they sparkled as they looked into mine. “I was telling the truth when I promised I would love you.” He managed to break our silence.
I smiled shyly but said nothing in return.
“Mira, we are going to have a beautiful life together but only when you are ready. I will be here when you need me and until then I am granting you space and comfort.” He stood and stepped over to face me. With one hand on either side of me he bent in close. “I promise I am going to love you.” He repeated and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek before leaving the room.
My mind was spinning when I heard the door click closed. So badly my heart was crying out to follow him but my mind continued to intervene. Mira, guard your heart. If I was to fall in love with him, something terrible would happen to him. As loud as my mind was screaming over the cries of my heart, it wasn’t loud enough.
In the dark I fumbled my way across the hall in search of Kit’s room. At this point I was sure he had to have been asleep as it had been hours since he had visited me. When I finally reached his room, I could still see the flicker of candle light around the edges of his closed door. I inhaled deeply before rapping on the door. Not even a second had passed and I turned to go back, he had to have been asleep.
Suddenly, the door propped open. “Mira?” I heard Kit’s whispers. “Mira, is that you out there?”
My feet took off running toward him and I barreled into him arms. Frantically I sobbed and told him all about how alone I felt. “Father was my best friend. He was the only person who loved me just as much as I loved him. Brother had never been kind to me, he almost seemed relieved to hear that Father was gone.” I spilled my entire story about how I killed my mother when I was born to helplessly watching my father get attacked by a savage animal. It felt all too easy to fall into his arms and to confess it all. I didn’t hold back and he sat there and listened. The entire time stroking my hair and kissing my cheeks.
I had never felt comfort like this. I have never felt this kind of safety with anyone. He held me tightly and let me cry into his chest. Eventually I felt as though I had no more reason to cry. Everything that had been bottling up inside of me for so long had been released. I no longer felt as though I needed bigger shoulders now that I knew the release of honesty and finding someone who cared.
“Kit,” I looked up at him “I think I promise to love you too.” I could feel my heart racing in my chest. It was pounding so hard it must have thrown its guard down because before I knew it I was kissing him and all of the pain had stopped.
He held my face in his hands and kissed me with so much passion I could feel it in my toes. I pulled him close to me and ran my hands down his back. His breath on my neck felt electric and I could barely it. One by one, I unbuttoned his shirt eager to feel the warm skin beneath it. His chest was strong I could see each muscle tense as he picked me up and carried me across the room. This was paradise.
Carefully he laid me down across the bed and continued kissing me. My mind felt intoxicated and my heart was jarred with lust. So badly I wanted to feel his skin against mine. I started grabbing for my nightgown and he slowed himself down.
“Mira, if you’re not ready I can wait.” He gently kissed my forehead.
“I’m ready.” I was so ready to love this man I could hardly stand it. I stood up and slipped out of my nightgown. In the middle of the room I stood, vulnerable. The light of the night sky cascaded alongside of my body casting a mysterious silhouette on the wall. I stepped forward toward Kit. He was laying on his side on the bed, propped up by his elbow. His eyes scanned me as I moved forward. With one arm he reached out and wrapped it around my small waist. Tenderly he kissed my breasts stirring so many emotions and desires in my heart.
I laid myself against Kit. My skin thrilled under the influence of his. With each touch I pulled myself closer to him. We moved into each other and my breath fell heavy. Every nerve in my body ached with desire. All of the past seemed to melt away and he was the only thing contained in my consciousness.
Together we reached the top and I collapsed beside him. Resting my head on his chest I followed his breath and listened to his heart throb. Every feeling in my body was so alien but yet so freeing. We lay there in a close embrace for what felt like hours sharing playful kisses and laughing. Just as I began to fall into sleep I heard Kit’s soft voice “Mira, I promise to love you.” We fell asleep with smiles on our faces.
The sun beamed through the window blinding me. I could feel Kit stirring beside me. I immediately felt as though I should panic and run back to my room but this was my husband. This was the man I was to share my life with so who was to care that I had spent the night with him. The thought reassured me and I reached over to kiss him.
Once we had dressed and prepared for the day ahead, we made our way into the dining hall for our breakfast with the king and the queen. Laurence and Elmire greeted us with the warmest hugs.
“It brings great joy to see our Kit so happy, Mira. We have dreamt of Kit’s wedding day since he was a young boy. Always so easy and carefree. As his mother, I know he will dedicate his being to making you happy.” Elmire reached up to brush her son’s cheek. “To see him marry such a bright young lady makes me a very proud mother. Mira, if you are anything like your father, Soundsforth with be lucky to have the two of you ruling it someday.”
“That just about sums up everything I wanted to say.” Laurence chuckled. “My queen is never shy of words. Welcome to our family princess Mira!” he cheered. “Now let us eat.”
During breakfast I learned so much about the Bataran family. Each king thus far had lived a long prosperous life. The townsfolk were always considered family and were welcome at the castle any time. Their values reminded me so much of father’s. It seemed that everything Brother had told me had been complete deception. My heart fired at the thought of him.
I wondered how Darden was doing under the rein of their new King Montgomery. I hoped he kept father’s spirit alive and spread as much love as King Erroll had. Deep down, I dreaded it very much. My heart feared for the people of Darden.
In the weeks that followed I was able to explore Soundsforth with Kit by my side. He introduced me to the street merchants and school children. One by one he knocked on the doors as women did their washing to introduce his bride. With ea
ch passing day I felt more like a princess than I ever had. Kit showed me off as though I was a trophy, I was something he was proud of and if felt astonishing. He treated me kindly and always ensured I was taken care of.
Truly, we were the happiest pair. There wasn’t a day that Kit wasn’t beaming with joy. I thought I could never see him happier until the day that my bed nurse announced to him that I was pregnant. He screamed with pride and twirled me into the air. “We are going to have a child!” he proclaimed. “Mira, my beautiful lady. You are going to have my child. I promise to love you always.” He wrapped his arms around me lovingly. “Thank you nurse!”
The news of our pregnancy rolled through Soundsforth faster than I could have ever imagined. The entire town buzzed with excitement for the new baby prince or princess. I hadn’t realized just how far it had spread until one morning I received a letter from my brother. It read:
My dearest sister,
News has reached Darden that you are with child. I presume congratulations are in order. It pains me to hear such news through the chattering of Darden townsfolk. I am your brother and I wish to hear such news from the direct source. Be sure to write me if anything noteworthy should happen. I care to be the first to know.
I have spent the past month cleaning up the mess that Father has left behind. I know you believe that Father was a great king but he was absolutely wretched. His carelessness and gaiety has caused me much grief since I have been appointed King.
There is something very important that you need to be aware of. As I expect this letter to be monitored by Soundsforth authorities I will simply say this: Follow his strides by the light of the new moon. A new man you will find.
Dare not say that I did not tell you. Sister, you have been warned.
Signed,
King Montgomery Nord
My heart sank and confusion set in. What was he talking about ‘a new man you will find?’ For days I read over his letter in private trying to understand the meaning. Surely he couldn’t be talking about Kit? I spent every night in Kit’s arms. With the new moon approaching I became wearier. What kind of warning was brother sending me?
On the night of the new moon I lay still in our bed however could not contain any rest as my mind was racing. Just as I started to fall into sleep, I felt Kit stirring beside me. He got to his feet and quietly left the room.
At this point I could hear my heart in my ears. I waited until his footsteps disappeared down the hall. Without hesitation I sprung up out of bed and changed into my clothes. Without any light, I stumbled my way down the corridor. Kit was nowhere within sight or sound. He must have left the castle.
I made my way to the back gates where no one would see me escape into the night. From the light of the moon I could see Kit’s silhouette in the far off distance. I made sure to stay back so that he could not hear or see me. He seemed to be headed in a specific direction, straight to the tree line.
The forests in Soundsforth were nothing like they were in Darden. They were heavy and dark. You could hear the moaning of the souls that had been trapped in the trees unlike Darden where birds whispered in your ear and the trees sang into the breeze. He was headed deeper and deeper into the forest. With each step forward I could feel the baby kicking me. Maybe it was a sign that I needed to stop and go back. I needed to know where he was going.
Brother and I had never really seen eye to eye. Maybe this was his way of reaching out to me to show me that he still cared. Even with that thought, I was terrified for what I might find when I caught up with Kit. The darkest part of night was falling and the baby kicked harder than ever before inside of me.
Just when I was ready to turn around, the trees parted into a clearing. I remained at the edge of the trees so that Kit wouldn’t see me. I searched the clearing but he was nowhere in sight. As I turned to leave I heard a branch snap just a few feet away from me. I froze, it was Kit.
He was staring into the darkness with the moon directly at his back. Then something strange started happening. The wind stopped. The night fell completely still. Kit’s body began to shake, slowly at first but became exaggeratedly more vicious with each passing moment. Something seemed to be possessing his body. I couldn’t hide anymore and watch him. I screamed out but quickly covered my mouth with both of my hands.
Before me stood a dark creature. At about seven feet tall and completely covered in thick bristly hair. Its silhouette resembled that of a starved bear. Its breath was heavy and eyes hollow as he turned in my direction. My body was frozen with fear. Kit had changed into a beast in front of my eyes. My brain couldn’t process what had happened. This was the beast that had killed my father. The beast that had killed King Erroll Nord and had sent my life spiraling. Kit had killed my father.
The beast took a stepped toward me, slowly. “Stay away from me you animal!” I cried out. The baby thrashed around, something was wrong. As fast as they could my feet took me running through the woods. I held my stomach trying to calm down the baby, it was too soon. When I reached the castle, I turned back and Kit was nowhere in sight. I ran straight to the barn and jumped on the tallest, fastest horse, Midnight. Without a thought I dug my heels into his hips and sent him in the direction of Darden. I needed to tell Brother that I knew who had killed Father.
“Midnight, faster!” I hollered. We raced through the night onward to Darden. There were still a few hours remaining until we would reach our destination. The baby didn’t seem happy as it twisted and turned. I tried talking to it to help it calm down. “Baby, it’s alright. I have gotten you away from that man, that beast. We will be safe in Darden you just hang in there. They will all love you there.” I cried out in pain.
Night was beginning to break and I could see a glimpse of dawn on the horizon. Midnight had slowed to a fluid canter and I had somehow managed to settle the baby. I could still feel its squirms but I was no longer in dire pain. Morning was beginning to show it’s face when I arrived at the outer limits of Darden. I knew I was trespassing but this matter was far too urgent. When I arrived I would plead for Brother’s forgiveness and offer to complete my punishment as a servant.
I could see the small huts and shacks of the town nearing. At this point in the morning there should have been more people swarming the town but from what I could see at this distance it was desolate. Where were the merchants selling their international goods? The baker should be at the market selling his sourdough and sweets as the people made their way to work at the mills. There was no one around.
Slowly Midnight and I walked through the narrow paths of town. I could see Miss Caleigh Clarne picking through the rubble down the path. “Miss Clarne! Caleigh!” I called out.
Her gazed darted in my direction. Her face used to be plump and pink with a dazzling smile constantly plastered across it. Today her face was sunken and grey, her thin lips creased into a frown. She looked frightened and defeated. “Mira?” she asked in a broken voice. “Princess Mira, is that truly you?” weakly she smiled in my direction.
I dismounted Midnight and ran to hug her. “Oh, Caleigh it is such a pleasure to see your familiar face!” I held her close. “Do you know where my brother is? I need to see him immediately. I have discovered something quite horrid.”
At this mention Caleigh pulled away from me. “He is a horrible man Mira. He will be of no help to you.”
This confused me. What was she speaking of? “Caleigh I do not understand.”
“Mira, look at me. King Montgomery has starved all of the townsfolk out of their homes. Many took to the forest to thrive and forage. Anyone who stayed has since taken ill or gone into hiding. Very few of us remain Mira. He has taken Darden for himself. You need to stop him!” her frail hands gripped my shoulders sending pain down my arms.
“Caleigh, you’re hurting me.” I tried to break free from her grasp. She only tightened her grip.
“Mira. Help us!”
When I was able to free myself, I mounted Midnight and headed for the castle. Everything I
saw tonight confused me and weighed on my heart. At the entrance of the castle the guards seemed relieved when they saw me approaching.
“Princess Mira, you have returned!” the guard greeted. “However you should not be here, it is no longer safe here you must turn back.”
“Mr. Lane I must see my brother. There is something I need to tell him!” I pleaded. What was happening in Darden?
“If you must Mira but please tell King Montgomery you snuck in the back. He will have my head if he finds out.”
I reached out and gave him a generous hug. “You have my word.”
The corridors were dimly lit and there were large cobwebs draped in every corner. I took the steps one at a time and tried to conjure the words that I would tell Brother. How was I to tell him that the man he married me off to had caused our father’s death? There was no way he would believe me.
Reaching the top of the stairs I heard laughter behind the door to my right. My bedroom. It must be Brother! I eased the door open and peaked around the corner. There stood Toil Germaine, his back to the door. He was dancing about with jewelry draped from his neck to his feet. His laughter echoed through the room. Without warning a sharp pain shot through my stomach and I shrieked in pain. This was an interesting way of announcing my presence. Toil spun around with a look of alarm plastered across his mug.
“Why are you here?” I managed to muster together in between jabs of pain. The baby was coming. “Where is my brother?”
Beads of sweat formed on his brow. He stammered about in search of a response.
