Happily Ever After.....Maybe

Chapter Seventeen

Sunlight peeked through the worn out curtain that once was white, but now yellowish from age. I laid in bed as the memories of last night slowly came back. Dylan's question hung heavily in my mind, and how my whole world will change if I answered yes. Did I really want that? To be a queen, live in a palace, with the whole city watching me like a hawk, and what about my curse? How could I agree to this knowing I'll be bringing unhappiness to the whole kingdom of Kalopsia if I'm queen. The more I thought of the matter the more it made my stomach hurt.
Tallulah laid sound asleep in the bed across from mine, with how much she drank last night she'll probably be out for awhile. As I sat up I felt a wave of nauseous hit me making me feel sick. Slowly I walked down the narrow wooden staircase to the pub hoping that walking would make me feel better.
Frantically I rushed to behind the wooden counter as I tasted bile at the back of my throat. Bending over I puked into the mop bucket which sat on the floor behind the counter. I grimaced wiping my mouth with my cotten sleeve, I didn't think I drank that much last night at the ball. Thinking back on it I barely had a sip, I must be getting sick again I muttered under my breath. Grabbing the brass skillet I sat it on top of the brass pot belly stove. I fumbled with the ashes in the stove as I tried to find some coals that were still hot. Hayden was always better at starting the fire than me. Finally I got the fire going and got busy preparing Tallulah some breakfast. I made scrambled eggs and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Tallulah groggily came down the stairs after I had squeezed the last orange for the juice. "How bad was I?" She asked sitting down in a wobbly bar stool.
"Well.... You drank enough wine for the both of us and I found you arguing with the server about what flavor of wine he was serving, then you said we should make Dylan into wine. Oh and you fell into a guard and told him he smelled good." I placed a plate of scrambled eggs and orange juice in front of her.
She placed her hands over her face, "Oww my head feels terrible.. I don't know how our customers drink all the time." she took a bite of eggs, "I don't remember anything from last night, so tell me how was Sir Dylan?"
"Oh... more like Prince Dylan...."
"Come again?" Tallulah asked with a raise of her eyebrows.
I came around from the counter and sat beside Tallulah in a bar stool. Starting at the beginning I explained how Dylan and I danced for awhile before he led me away. Then I told her about his surprising proposal to me and how he was really the Prince of Kalopsia who's in need of a queen to take over his father's kingdom. Finishing with why he kept it a secret for so long.
"Wow.... What did you tell him?!" Tallulah asked excitedly her warm food forgotten.
"I told him I wanted time to process it and think." Bitting my lower lip I thought of how Dylan had called me a princess in five inch heels and that was Hayden's little nickname for me. When Hayden called me it at first it drove me crazy... Why would Dylan say the exact same thing Hayden used to say unless.... "Tallulah, do you believe in reincarnation?"
"You definitely were a princess who liked to study weren't you? What does that big word even mean?"
"I read about it in a book when I was in the royal library back at home..."
She shook her head, "Of course you did." She commented.
"It's the rebirth of a soul in a new body."
A frown crossed Tallulah's coco skin face, "You mean someone that's dead goes into someone else's body?"
"Exactly," I said getting excited, "What if Dylan is really Hayden?" my smile faded as Tallulah looked at me sympathetically; it was if I could read her mine. Poor poor Amaya who can't get a hint that Hayden is dead. I felt myself drawing away and building up my walls before Tallulah even spoke.
"Amaya...." she spoke slowly as if that would make her next words not hurt, "Hayden's dead."
"Believe me I know that!" I snapped getting angry, she was suppose to my friend why does she have to keep reminding me Hayden is dead? I stood up abruptly from the stool and marched towards the swinging wooden doors to let Grace out. But really I was just looking for an excuse to get away from Tallulah.
Tallulah jumped out of her seat and walked over to me, "No I don't think you really do, you keep holding onto Hayden and you won't accept the fact that he's dead. He died almost two months ago."
I couldn't look Tallulah in her face for fear that she was right so instead I looked out at Grace who sniffed the dirt ground looking for food. "He didn't have to though." I murmured as tears slid down my cheeks.
"I know, but he did. He choose to tell you he loved you even though he knew the price. Death was his decision and now it's your decision if you'll move on from this or not."
Sniffling I turned around to face my best friend, "What do you mean?"
"I mean Dylan is alive and he wants to marry you. He loves you and I know you feel something too though you may push it away. Remember the Enchanted Forest of Past and Future and how Futurerilla told she told you'll break your curse and that she heard wedding bells? Maybe Dylan is the answer to breaking your curse and you'll finally know what happiness is!"
I chewed my bottom lip thoughtfully, I didn't know much about marriage, but I always thought marriage was a special thing and should be with someone you absolutely love. "Dylan is sweet and kind to me, but I still like Hayden and miss him. How can I marry Dylan when I still long for Hayden?"
Tallulah smiled gently at me, "That's the hard part, you have to learn to let Hayden go. It'll take some time believe me, I grieved for Gavin for years."
"But I don't have years. Dylan will need an answer in a couple of days or he'll be force to give up the crown to his uncle." I pointed out feeling sick again.
"Maybe marrying Dylan can be a distraction from Hayden while you grieve?"
I winced rubbing my stomach as I felt the urge to vomit, "That doesn't sound like a good idea."
"Well what options do you have. Hey, you okay?" Tallulah asked changing topics.
Gathering my dress in my hands I pushed through the swinging doors and threw up against the side of the Pub. I sighed wiping the side of my mouth when I sure I had vomited the last remaining thing that could possibly be in my empty stomach. I leaned against the cool wood.
"Are you okay?" Tallulah asked handing me a wet rag for my face before sloshing water on the ground where I threw up to wash it away.
I took the rag from her, "Thank you, I must be getting that stomach bug again."
"Ugh well it is that season, winter will be here before you know it. How about you go upstairs and rest and I'll handle the morning crowds."
"No, you're head is probably still feeling cloudy from the wine you had last night and I'm not going to let you run the Pub by yourself. I'll be fine."
Tallulah gave me a hard look before giving up, "Fine, but the moment you vomit into any guys' beer or whatever drink they order you're resting for the rest of the night."
I laughed as we got busy opening the Pub. Tallulah wiped the counters down and made sure we had enough alcohol and food for the whole night while I swept the floors and took the chairs off the table and set them back down in their usual spots. Slowly men staggered in ready to drink their hearts content and not remember a single thing.
That evening the Pub was filled with mostly men, there were a few ladies mostly the kind that wore low cotton dresses showing most of their boobs and sat on men's laps hoping to seduce at least one for the night. I grumbled but pasted on a smile as I walked up to a table where a lady wearing a blue cotton dress was sitting on Mr. Salty Pepper Beard. At least that's what I always called him, he was a regular at the pub and had a long salt and peppered beard that went perfect with his pot belly.
Now usually I just ignored the ladies that came in to the pub looking for attention from men, but this lady was half his age and I knew for a fact that Mr. Salty Beard was a married man. I smiled nicely at Mr. Salty and his companion, "What can I get you?"
"How about some good ol' gin for me and this gal right here." He slapped her rump making her giggle and lean closer to him.
Smoothly I wove between tables and went back behind the wooden counter. I grabbed a couple of glasses and filled a glass pitcher with some gin, then I went back to the table where Mr. Salty sat. I poured their drinks and faked a smile at him asked, "How's your wife doing?"
Obviously the lady on his lap didn't know he was married, she huffed and picking up her blue dress walked away probably to find a single and hopefully closer age guy.
Mr. Salty growled and standing up he snatched my arm.
Surprised I let out a little shriek and dropped the glass pitcher which shattered on the floor spilling gin on his leather shoes. "How dare you, let me go!" I demanded using my other hand to try to claw his grip from my wrist, but that only made him squeeze harder tightening his rough grip. I cried out in pain looking around for Tallulah but she was busy at the counter and hadn't realized what was happening.
"How dare I? You're nothing but a little Tavern waitress who is only suppose to serve me my drinks. How dare you speak about my wife when I'm with someone else." He growled his breath smelled heavily of alcohol. He squeezed my arm even tighter, "If you ever do that again... I'll make sure...."
Suddenly two strong hands grabbed my shoulders, "There you are, you never gave me my order of rum."
Quickly Mr. Salty let go of my hand and sat back down in his seat. I turned around  and I stared up into the handsome face of Dylan!
Dylan stepped protectively in front of me, "And you should treat the ladies at the Pub with more respect, they serve only the best here which is clearly not what you need. So you can just leave."
Mr. Salty glared, he leaned over to look me in the eye, "You're just going to let this low life talk to me like that?"
"Yes." I said as calmly as I could, I rubbed my wrist where it still hurt from his grip, "You can pay for the gin and leave. The door is that way." I pointed out the only doors we had to let him know I meant business.
Grumbling Mr. Salty stood up, he slammed some shekels onto the table before storming out the door into the fresh night air.
I turned back to Dylan who smiled down at me, he sure did have that winning smile of a prince. "What are you doing here? And you hate rum." I added remembering his first comment to Mr. Salty.
He laughed, "You know me well. I saw that guy and just said the first thing that came to mind. I came to see you and see if you excepted my offer yet."
I rolled my eyes and started walking back to the counter to get the broom and dust pan for the broken glass, "You make it sound like marrying you is a business trade you're making."
Dylan face flushed a light pink, "It's not a business trade at all, I really do love you Amaya, it's just I don't have much time left and...."
Taking the broom and dust pan I walked back towards the tables, "I understand that Dylan, and I like you too."
"But?" Dylan prompted as he followed me.
I sighed as I bent down to sweep up the shards of glass, "But I need some time to think, to prosper everything, I'll be giving my whole life up here."
He shrugged, "I don't think that's a bad thing, I mean look how that guy just treated you."
"They're not all bad like that and..." Dylan offered me his hand and helped me stand back up with the broken glass. He held onto my hand our body close enough to touch and our faces inches from each other. I pulled my hand out of his and stepped back, "And... it's not like I can become a queen over night!" I returned the broom and dusk pan to it's place.
"You'll make an excellent Queen of Kalopsia and I have people to help you with that."
Busily I cleared off a table with empty glasses all around me I could feel men and ladies eyes on the two of us. With the rum and gin they've all been drinking I doubt they remember much tomorrow though.
"You don't want to marrying me do you?"
"It's.... it's not that Dylan, I just." I sighed and put my plates and glasses down so I could give him my full attention. I stared deep into his blue eyes, "The other night when I said I needed to think about it before giving you my answer you said take you're time am I correct?"
Dylan pondered it for a moment, "Yes." He finally said.
"And it's only been a day, A DAY! Don't you see it hasn't been long enough, I haven't even had time to think about it today with everything at the Pub to do and here you are wanting an answer from me it's.... it's too much!" I burst.
"I'm..... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude on you and make you feel like I was rushing you I just..... I'm sorry that's all." Dylan refused to look at me with his soft blue eyes.
"I'm sorry too, I didn't mean to snap at you, I know you probably have a lot of stress with the kingdom and all. I do like you Dylan and I promise I'll have an answer for you soon, it's just a big commitment to take on. I never imagined myself as one day being Queen." Which wasn't true because for the longest time I was a princess daydreaming of marrying and becoming Queen.
He gave me a small smile, "That's funny because I can't imagine not being King."
"And you'll be a magnificent King."
His blue eyes lit up like I haven't seen them before. "And you will make a beautiful queen that is if you have me."
I smiled mischievously at him, "Wouldn't you like to know." He chuckled remembering when we first met and he asked for my name and I said the exact same thing.
Dylan picked up my hand in his and placed his warm lips on my hand which made me tingle. "Good night, my love." With that he left I watched him leave. When he was gone I felt like he took my heart with him, but I didn't have much time to dwell on how he made me feel. Because in that moment  I still had tables to clean and drunken men to give more drinks to although they didn't need anymore.

                                                                                                                ***

Squeak went the rusty hinges on the Great Wizard's cottage door. The Great Wizard sighed impatiently from the wooden table where he was leaning over making a potion. "It's not nice to walk in on people Dearie!"
"It's not going to work!" The man grouched stomping into the cottage he leaned against the door with his arms crossed.
The Great Wizard rolled his eyes annoyed, "Why do you always doubt my abilities! I've been planning and playing this game for over forty-five years. Don't forget my games always work because I always win."
"Yeah yeah." The man said glumly, "And if she says no?"
"She won't, she wants to desperately break this curse, so she will marry. After all if I say there's going to be a wedding, then there is going to be a wedding. Now leave me in peace and get back to work!" The Great Wizard Commanded.