Happily Ever After.....Maybe

Chapter Nine

I rode back to Capricious only looking back once at the Enchanted Forest of Death. I was thankful Hayden and I talked for awhile. Even though I felt like I was leaving my heart with him when I left; I also felt at peace with us talking. Knowing that I'll be back to see him again I clicked my tongue and Tobias took off at a gallop.
Leaving Tobias at the stables I got back to the Pub just in time for the evening crowds of travelers and town drunks. I quickly grabbed an apron and tied it around my red dress before pulling my blond hair up and out of my face in a messy bun.
"I'll take tables you want the bar?" Tallulah asked coming up behind me to grab a notepad and a tiny pencil.
I nodded and turned around to see the costumers that I'll be serving. My mouth dropped open in shocked as I saw Dylan sitting at the bar stool. He wore a white cotton shirt and held a grin on his clean shaven face when he recognized me. I stepped up to the bar, I cleared my throat, "What are you doing here, Dylan?" Seeing him again made something inside me stir but I ignored it.
He grinned at me showing perfect dimples, "My damsel in distress! I didn't know you worked at this tavern."
"I told you, I'm not a damsel in distress, and I'm not yours. Plus you didn't answer my question!"
Dylan smiled, "Since you must know I had business in town and decided to get a drink. Now perhaps you'll tell me your name?"
I shook my head, "Not going to happen, why will a knight like yourself have business in a small town like this?" I raised an eyebrow.
He shrugged, "That's for me to know, and you to find out. Besides I can't match a name to your beautiful face you'll have to remain a damsel in distress." He flashed me his charming smile.
I rolled my eyes slightly annoyed, "Keep calling me that and I'll have to call you......" My voice trailed off as I couldn't think of a comeback to say. "Charming." I blurted out then wished I didn't say that because it wouldn't be a insult.
His perfect blue eyes held a look of amusement, "You think I'm charming?" He grinned.
"I said no such thing!" Heat flooded my face.
"Ahh but you kinda did." He laughed clearly enjoying himself.
Our conversation was interrupted by a man who sat at the other end of the bar, "Hey! Will you two quit flirting! I want some whiskey!" He growled glaring at Dylan for taking all my time.
I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, "Right, so I have work to do Dylan, are you going to order or....."
"Oh of course.... Um...." He looked at me and smiled, "Surprise me with your favorite."
I nodded and went over to the grouchy guy to take his order. I felt bad that Tallulah had so many over at the tables I stepped over to take a few more orders before going back to fill up the glasses. I purposely served Dylan his drink last to see if he liked it.
He looked down at the cold glass of rum I sat in front of him, "Rum? Uhhh I'm not really a rum guy I've only had red wine....."
"Chicken." I grinned and picking up his glass I took a big swing of it. I closed my eyes as it burned my throat. The warmth filling my stomach.
Dylan raised his eyebrows, "You drink rum?" He laughed then leaned forward, "You amaze me, damsel, please I'm begging you tell me who you are?"
I handed him his drink back, "Drink up."
He held the glass in his hand staring down at the light brown liquid. Then he put it to his lips and took a sip. His face squinted up in a look of disgust, he gagged and place in hand on his mouth, "That is the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted!"
I laughed and took the cup from him, "Here I think Tallulah might have a bottle of red wine somewhere."
Dylan watched me replace the rum with some soft red wine. "Please tell me your name?" He asked again. Our hands brushed against each other as I handed him the glass of wine.
I was about to say no, when Tallulah who had been running around like mad getting orders and passing out alcohol leaned against the bar. She gasped for breath as she asked, "Amaya, do you mind helping me with tables? There's so many tonight." She said refilling some rum she placed the glasses on the tray before heading back to the tables.
"The cat is out of the bag now." I muttered to myself, not that I was mad at Tallulah, it's just I wasn't quite sure I wanted Dylan to know my name yet.
Dylan smiled, "Your name is Amaya? Beautiful." He murmured.
There he was back to being charming again, "Yeah well I have tables to take care of, so if getting my name is all you wanted then you can leave." With that I left the bar as I towards the tables of drunks I heard him say behind me, "I'm not going anywhere." With a smile on my face I took orders and filled glasses full of rum and whiskey to middle age men who laughed and joked around with each other. Heat flooded my face as I could feel Dylan's eyes watching me. I knew he liked me, I could tell by the way he smiled and looked at me. He didn't even try to hide his feelings which bothered me, because I knew in my heart something was different about him. I didn't like the way my heart was starting to feel about him.
Tallulah leaned close to me and dropped her voice to a whisper as we placed rum glasses on the table and took others to refill. "Who's the cutie sitting at the bar that won't stop having dreamy eyes at you?"
I froze, "He does not have dreamy eyes!" I turned to glance at him briefly. His blue eyes twinkled and he grinned as our eyes met. I turned back around and whispered, "Okay maybe he has dreamy eyes, but they sure aren't for me!"
She chuckled, "Well he didn't get them from me, but mmm he could have my heart any day that boy is fine!"
I filled another glass with rum from my pitcher, "Really?" I glanced over at Dylan. He was rather good looking, his blond hair fell just the right way above his ears and his blue eyes sparkled like diamonds. I shook my head, "I don't know what you mean." I said.
"Girl, I know you see it too." She winked at me, and continued jabbering on how fine of man Dylan was.
Ignoring her I focused on the customers. I didn't want to encourage her with Dylan after all did she already forget about my love for Hayden? How can I like someone else when my heart still and always will belong to Hayden? It hurt somewhat that Tallulah had forgot about my love for Hayden, she knew what I've been through.
Before I knew it the evening was flying by. Men came into the Pub sober as a cat and then left drunk with their heads feeling like a bowl of soup slushing around. Slowly the Pub started emptying out with fewer drunks remaining. My eyes traveled to were Dylan still sat at the bar with his empty glass. I was surprised to see that he was still here, he had finished his wine awhile ago and hasn't asked for a refill.
Dylan touched my arm gently as I walked by his stool were he sat, "It's getting late, I was wondering would you like to take a walk with me to the stables?"
"I.... I don't know, the Pub isn't closed yet, and there's still a lot to do..."
Tallulah over heard and interrupted before I could say no, "Oh she's just trying to be polite, go Amaya." She took my tray from my hands, "I got it covered." She smiled brightly at me and Dylan then hurried off to the tables.
He stood up immediately, "You heard her, she's got it covered. Can I grab your coat for you?"
I rolled my eyes could he be anymore obvious that he liked me! "Wait here I'll get it." I went to side of the room and went upstairs to Tallulah's and my room. Bending beneath my small bed I pulled my leather jacket out. I held it to my nose. The smell of the woods and Hayden were long gone; replaced with the smell of the Pub and alcohol. Pulling it on I headed back down stairs to wear Dylan waited at wooden swinging doors his fur cloak already on.
He held the swinging door open for me to step through and we walked down the dirt streets to the town's stables. Moonlight lit our path as we walked and stars twinkled goodnight to us over head in the dark sky.
A hard cold wind blew it's way around the buildings flattening potted flowers in window sills. I shivered and pulled my jacket closer around me.
"You're cold."
I shook my head, "No, I'm fine." but Dylan won't take no for an answer and removing his cloak he placed it on my shoulders.
My fingers grasped the soft warm fur, "Thank you." I murmured.
We continued on in silence. The animal fur on his cloak was thick and warm. None of us spoke so I let my mind wonder off. I'm sure Dylan enjoyed being a knight getting nice clothing to wear by who ever was his King, traveling and doing important business, while girls swooned at the sight of him."
About half way to the stables Dylan spoke, "He died didn't he?"
"Who?" It took me a moment to realize what he meant.
"You loved someone once didn't you?"
I bit my lip, "How did you know?"
He shrugged, "Wasn't hard, you obviously are trying not to let your heart open up again that's why you keep holding back. Must have been a bad heartbreak such as death of a love one, I mean why else would a beautiful woman like you be leaving the Enchanted Forest of Death."
I looked away, "His name was Hayden." I said quietly, "I didn't plan on falling for him, it just happened."
Dylan took my hand in his, "I'm sorry, Amaya."
But I didn't want his sympathy. I pulled away, "He did die, it tore my heart in two." I gave a small laugh, "I'm in love with him and yet angry at him for leaving me." We came towards the stables and a stable hand ran to fetch his horse.
He looked towards the stables then at me, "I know your heart is hurting, Amaya and that you love this man, but he's dead."
I nodded, "But that doesn't mean I have to open my heart up again."
"True, but it might be just the thing your heart needs to heal and move on from this." Dylan thanked the stable hand and paid him then he turned back to me, "I'll wait for you Amaya, however long it takes."
His remark caught me off guard. I watched him climb up onto his black stallion, "I didn't ask you to wait for me." I said quickly.
Dylan grinned down at me his smile sending a stir inside me, "You didn't have to I'll win your heart that I can promise." He winked at me, "My beautiful damsel in distress." He turned his horse around and trotted away before I could respond.
"Don't be so sure of yourself!! And I'm not yours!" I hollered after him. He held his hand up with a wave as he left Capricious. I smiled as I watched him leave then I turned and walked away.
Halfway back to the Pub I realized I still had his cape on. I took it off and held it in my hands. Part of me had a feeling that he'd be back and I can give it to him so I wasn't too worried about that. But I did wonder if he would really wait till I was ready to love again? Would I even be able to love? My heart died the moment Hayden did, I wasn't sure if I was even capable to love someone else.
Leaving the darkness outside were it belong I entered the Pub. Tallulah blown out most of the candles so it was very dim. I looked around the empty Pub, Tallulah was leaning against the bar her hands on the counter. I laid Dylan's cape down on a stool, "Alright, what should I do?" I asked coming behind the bar.
Tallulah remained silent which I thought was odd, usually she was chattery. Maybe this afternoon got to her and she was tired. I wiped down a few tables before laying my rag aside. "What's wrong?" I asked.
She looked up at me she looked upset, "When were you going to me Amaya?"
I frown at her not sure by all what she meant. Picking the rag up I went to wipe another table.
That's when Tallulah held up a paper she was holding, "Or should I say Princess Amaya of Rollick?"
My eyes widened and I dropped the rag. It landed on the floor with a splat as I stared at Tallulah who held a wanted poster up. The poster had an etched drawing of me and read.
Wanted Dead or Alive
Runway Princess Amaya of Rollick for murder, treason against King Jack of Rollick.