The Horse of Wood

Chapter 4- So This is Love?

Hey everyone! Sorry it took so long for the update! I'm sorry the story is slowly getting somewhere, but I promise it will get more into the action soon! Happy reading!

Their most recent conversation left them both in deep thought. Was something changing between the two since then? Did their feelings change? Although their conversation was very eye-opening, they skillfully avoided one another for a few days. That didn't stop them from spying on each other, or stealing secret glances when one thought the other wasn't looking. The glances weren't meant to be disrespectful, but they were glances of compassion and love. No two people have ever looked at each other that way before.

They both knew that avoiding each other was stubborn, but effective. There really wasn't a point to this, other than to see who could avoid the other longer. Obviously, it didn't last too long. Lovers are always attracting one another like magnets. Three days of avoiding each other took a toll on the both of them. It was quite a bad idea for them to let it last this long.

Phoenix sprinted down the hallway, throwing every door open as she went. She had one goal in mind and one only. She has to get there first. Her heart pounding in her chest made this situation so much worse. Her heart had seemed so out of control lately, almost as if it's malfunctioning and will lead to her early demise. She reached the corridor to the garden and her smirk lifted. She had one in this little game.

Matthias couldn't handle it. He was laying in his bed thinking about everything, when it hit him. Has it really been this long? He sprang out of bed and took large strides to the door. He flung it open and flew down the hallway. This little competition is going to come to a close, and he's gonna win. He wasn't for sure if he was going the right way, but he had a vague idea. The light of the day was shining brightly at the end of the corridor. Matthias had just won.

Oh, how dense they both were. They both immediately noticed each other from either side of the garden and began to run toward the tree. It was a race of speed and endurance. Phoenix had the advantage because she had been closer, but Matthias is a big strong man, and big strong men are powerful. They eyed each other one more time before focusing on the tree ahead. Their attention now solely on the tree, they both didn't realize how close they had gotten. They also didn't notice that they would never make it to the tree. Both stubborn royals reached and grabbed for the tree at the same time. It was a very close race--BAM!

Rubbing the sore spots on their bodies, both parties locked eyes. Phoenix was sprawled out on Matthias, stomach to stomach, faces inches apart. Matthias was under Phoenix, his butt shoved into a giant hole both failed to notice, and hands stretched out behind him to hold them steady. Catching their breath both spoke.

"I believe I just-" Both said simultaneously. Phoenix gave Matthias a dirty look before finishing the sentence.

"-won. I just beat you. I believe that I deserve a prize." Matthias scoffed. She really thought she had won. Oh, how wrong she was.

"I do not think you won, because I am the one that won." Phoenix jabbed lightly at Matthias' rib cage. He let out a squeak in return. Is the Fierce Prince Matthias ticklish, perhaps? An idea popped into her head and she put her plan into action. Her hands slowly climbed up to his torso and when she reached her destination, she jabbed her fingers into his side again.

A very deep, but loud laugh echoed through the garden. Phoenix continued to torment the poor prince. That was until she took a quick break, and Matthias took the opportunity to have revenge. He dug his fingers into her sides and she let out a shrill scream. Loud, girlish laughs were heard all around the palace, with the occasional snort.

"P-please...s-st-stop...M-Matthias!" Matthias let her go and she heaved and huffed rather loudly. Both looked up at the other, and then realization had hit them both, like lightning striking an old tree setting the area around it on fire. The fire was set ablaze in their hearts too at this very moment.

She was just so breathtaking. Every time Matthias looked at her, he felt his heartbeat quicken. The way she looked at that very moment, teary eyes, filled with joy, tired expression, and a wide smile, this woman will be the very death of him. He felt his body heat up at this epiphany. Is this what it was like to be in love? He liked this feeling. She was so strong, smart, and she was definitely the most beautiful girl in the world. Matthias thought that he would never find anyone that would understand him and be there for him, but Phoenix proved him wrong. Maybe it wasn't so bad that they were going to get married eventually.

The way he looked just made her heart soar. His messed-up hair, red cheeks, and broad smile made her melt. Just the mention of his name made her excited. She was always happy when he was around. Phoenix had never felt like this before about anyone. She loved everything about Matthias. Even his flaws were great parts of his personality. Does love feel like this? Am I in love? Phoenix pondered her situation. She looked up again and scrambled to her feet. Matthias followed suit, and both turned away from each other. They bid a quick goodbye and ran in the opposite direction. They could be such cowards sometimes.

Phoenix ran to her mother and father's old chambers. Her father couldn't bear to be in that room anymore after her mother's "death." It was the same as when she was seven, except the room was filled with dust. She sat in the middle of the floor and began to think. What do I do? She wished her mother was there to comfort her and tell her what to do, but she didn't have that. Instead, Phoenix walked up to the bed with her mother's favorite blanket on it. It still smelled like her. She wrapped it around her and sat back down on the floor. She curled up on the floor and fell into a restful sleep.

Matthias on the other hand ran to the stables and collected his horse. He rode to the shore and dismounted from his horse. He claimed a spot in the sand and sat down. His thoughts were filled with moments of her. This was such a good feeling to him. It was time for him to figure out how to confess to the beautiful girl. He saw some pebbles and scooped up a handful. Pebbles were being tossed into the ocean until dusk.

Phoenix ran to the garden in the morning, oblivious to the presence of someone watching her. She settled on the edge of the garden, near her mother's favorite flowers. It was time to let her feelings out.

"I am in love!" She yelled at the top of her lungs. Luckily she was nowhere near anyone right now. Phoenix jumped up and down and started dancing. She began to hum love songs. It was a bad idea on her part to be doing this in the garden because at a distance Matthias watched her in awe. He slowly approached her excited figure. Phoenix continued to happily dance until a figure jumped in front of her and bellowed. "I'm afraid my ears deceive me. What exactly did you say a few seconds ago?"

"Oh my goodness, Matthias, you scared me." Phoenix jumped and then quickly pouted at Matthias' rather loud laughing. She began to laugh herself.

"What has got you so happy today?"

"Oh, nothing. I just decided to let some energy out by dancing." Truth be told, Matthias had heard everything.

"So that declaration of love and very loud squeals was taking energy out?" Phoenix's face morphed from happy to shock. He had seen and heard her. That is so embarrassing. The person she was in love with heard her confessing her feelings to no one in particular.

"How much of that did you see? How much did you hear?" Her heart began to pound against her chest.

"Absolutely all of it. I saw and heard everything." His face still held a smile which confused Phoenix. Maybe he was going to nicely reject her. Everything became tight, even the air around her. She let out a small squeak as he stepped closer and spoke very quickly.

"I am so sorry. I understand if you don't love me back. You wouldn't be hurting my feelings if you didn't love me. I thought maybe you could love me in return, but that's very foolish of me to think. I just yelled that at my loudest volume, and I just now realized that maybe you didn't like me back. Oh, I made a fool of myself!" Matthias sat there for a few seconds processing her words. As he went to speak up, soft sniffling was heard in front of him. Phoenix was crying softly. He began to close the distance between the two, but Phoenix ran away before Matthias could get a word out about her little outburst.