Seeds in the Wind

Part 5

Two weeks have passed. The dandelion has been grown for a few days now and Delilah was glad. She plucked it from the pot and thought of what she wanted to say. Even though Wyatt wouldn't hear them or probably even see the seeds, she wanted to let him know she was okay. Repeating her actions with the first dandelion, she plants the last seed to fly away.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"My princess."

"Oh, it's you, Arthur," Delilah sneered. Ever since he caught on that this wasn't where she wanted to be, he was constantly on her back. Nagging her to go out and do this and that with him, like they were a couple. Which they weren't. Whenever they were in front of a crowd he would always threaten what the others would think if she rejected him. "What do you want me to do now?"

"Can you at least act pleasant?"

"Why should I?"

"Because look around you," Arthur started to raise his voice, "you could have anything you want. You have me as a husband-"

"Not exactly-" Delilah cut him off.

"Let me finish. Any other girl would kill for your spot. So why? Why are you like this?"

"Because I am not like everyone else, okay? I won't fawn over you because I don't even like you. What you both do; I don't even understand it. Why do it? Why force some innocent girl into a forced marriage?"

"It's for the community to have a voice."

"No. If it was for community, then why are still half the population in this kingdom working manual jobs and barely making enough for their two children. I'll tell you what this is, it's just an operation to feel power. Having the ability to control women, by what they think and what they can do. They say, 'Oh, it's such a blessing.' Having my rights taken away? I don't think so. Being forced to have children so this monarchy can stay alive? No."

He was silent for a few seconds. Delilah thought that maybe that speech would have knocked some sense into that dense, thick head of his.

With no reply, he left her room.

"That was awfully cold," she spat.

She went back to her thoughts. Staring at the pot. In her spare time, she had painted on it. Delilah decorated the orange planter with flowers, her parents, the field, and Wyatt.

Whenever Arthur would ask about him though, she told him that it was her brother. If anything, bad were to happen to him because of her recklessness and dreams she wouldn't ever forgive herself.

"Your highness."

"Leanne, I told you, you can call me Delilah."

"It feels wrong, I went through so many courses telling me not to do that..." she muttered, "anyway, Delilah, I think there's something you should hear."

She followed her maid through the corridor, and they walked right into the middle of a conversation between the King and his son.

"She still doesn't love me, father."

"How? You're charming, rich, powerful..."

"I don't know, apparently she doesn't like the suitor drawings."

"But it helps represent the community."

"That's what I told her."

"And she still didn't listen?" he asked skeptically. "Is it about that boy? What's his name?"

"Sawyer." Delilah did think ahead though and gave Wyatt a fake name, just in case. The prince continued, "That's her brother."

"You imbecile. She could've lied." The King replied back angrily. Before Delilah could hear anymore though, she had already left. Quietly heading back to her room.

"What are you doing? He is your brother, right?" Leanne whispered.

Delilah scanned the area before replying back, "Obviously not."

She gasped, then smirked, "don't worry princess, I'll cover for you."

Delilah packed her things, which wasn't much, and she jumped off her balcony from the second floor. Fortunately, she landed in patch of grass, and not in one of the rose bushes in the royal garden.

That day she ran, not looking back.

____________________

Leanne had given Delilah a two-hour head start. She had to limit it of course, otherwise, she would receive an unfortunate fate as well. If only she knew the capabilities of the King.

"And where is she now...?"

"I don't know, your majesty," Leanne replied, her hands were shaking from fear. "One moment I was fetching her fruit from the kitchen, and the next moment she was gone."

"Arthur. Find her," the King gritted, "and you. Stay here."

The prince nodded at his request and left swiftly. As for the servant... Her screams could be heard by Arthur and his men. Until there was silence. Deathly silence.

"I don't tolerate people who can't even do the simple task of watching one person."

____________________

"Wyatt, are you here?"

"It can't be..."

"Wyatt!"

"Shh." He pulled Delilah down from above the grass and brought her next to him. "What are you doing here? Didn't you say it yourself; the King is dangerous."

"But I had to see you. I had to make sure you were all right." Her heart started to beat faster.

"I'm fine, okay? Go back, now, before you're caught."

"Aren't you happy at all to see me?"

"I would be happy if you didn't have some psycho prince coming after you right now." They both stared intently, even though knowing it was a joke, it was true.

Lying down in silence, Wyatt pushed a strand of hair out of Delilah's face. "Palace life didn't change you one bit. You're still the girl I know and love."

Love. What a silly word.

Delilah squeezed his hand. "Wyatt. If Arthur does find me, I don't want to have any regrets." Wyatt nodded. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath in, "I like you. And I mean more than a friend."

"Since when did you become so tacky. How about this to answer your question?" He slowly closed his eyes and started moving towards her.

"STOP! That's my wife."

Interrupting them, Delilah annoyingly replied, "How many times do I have to tell you, Arthur? We're not married yet."