her love like torture

2 days.

2 days Fire Girl had been gone. 2 days Water Girl tended the sad, empty cottage. Every waking moment, Water Girl's heart sank further and further into an inescapable sorrow. 

Oh, Mother. Kind, beautiful, dear Mother!. Oh, how I miss you. Water Girl thought, closing her wet eyes, hand clasped over her heart. Those beautiful spring water eyes which belonged to her widowed parent, never to open again. The heart that sought others' needs before her own, never to beat again.

Late into that night, a loud bang! sounded throughout the tiny establishment. The tables shook at the slam. The dust stirred off the furniture.

It was Fire Girl, stumbling drunk into the house.

"Oh, Fire Girl! Mother!" Water Girl cried, clinging to her beloved sister for comfort.

"I-I know, you stupid goose. Why do you think I left the house? Wh-why do you think I tried to stay away? I know you di-didn't believe it, but she was my mother, and I loved her so dearly." Fire Girl slurred as she weakly pushed her sister away, angrily. She, too, began to sob anew. 

"Wh-why, it's alright, we've got each other now!" Water Girl delicately smiled. "If you wish to visit her, the grave is under the apple tree out there. I knew she loved that plant greatly, as she always tended to it, even when she was ill." 

"Alriigghhht." Fire Girl grumbled.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, royal fanfare bellowed through the home and woke two tired sisters from their deep sleeps.

"What is that?" Water Girl mumbled, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"It's your Prince Charming, you rat. I was trying to sleep." Fire Girl growled. 

Water Girl bolted upright in her little dingy cot and gasped in realization. "Sister! Wake up! Hurry, he's here! We're going to the palace today."

Fire Girl swore under her breath, got up and stumbled across the room to change out of her nightgown, just as her twin did. They dressed in simple clothes, as the palace would provide whatever else they would need when they arrived. 

A knock sounded from the door. "Water Girl, love, are you there?" a smooth voice politely inquired. 

"Yes, dear, just a moment." 

When they were ready, the two girls headed out the door, packing only a few beloved belongings. Fire Girl brought her small collection of cosmetics as to entrance dukes or knights, while Water Girl brought her mother's antique jewelry, wearing the brooch her parent wore when she wed.  

"Ready?" Prince Gregory asked, his warm chocolate eyes pouring into her delicate sapphire ones.

"Yes, sweetheart." Water Girl gushed as Fire Girl rolled her deep blues. 

Crack! went the whip, and they began their long journey to the castle.