Trapped by Destiny

Finding a Stranger

What is wrong with me? I was letting this man take me on an "adventure".  I didn't even know where I was let alone if I should trust him. But I did. Natively, I did trust him. He didn't seem like he was dangerous. He was everything I wanted to be. He was so in sync with himself. He knew himself. I don't know who I am. Anytime I looked in the mirror, I didn't see Maria. I saw a princess who will soon be queen trapped in a world she did not choose to be in.  It was a good thing this stranger did not know me as Maria but as Maya.

"You're doing it again?" I heard him say. "Mm?" I asked him as my attention turned away from my thoughts. "I can hear you thinking. Whatever is boring you, let it go. Be here," He said. How did he know? Was it that obvious that I was lost in thought? Why does he always say so poetic things? We're the same age yet he knew so much about living. "I'll try," I said softly. I'm riding on the back of a horse.

Liam guides Lazy over a lake. It was swallow but I never did that before. but it didn't scare me. I felt alive. I let my thoughts fade and tried to enjoy the ride. I didn't notice how fast we were going or when we jumped over a fallen tree. I didn't even realize we rode passed a few peasants until they greeted Liam. "You're popular," I commented after a group of ladies greeted him flirtatiously for what seemed to be for the third time. "Popular means adore. I'm just known," he stated with a smile. "I don't know rather call you humble or cocky," I said playfully. "Why can't it be noble?" he asked with a smirk.

Lazy was guided to slow down as we reached a clearing in the middle of the forest. There was a small unfinished cabin, a few tents, and a few fires lit. They walked past two men Liam had greeted. I assumed they were guarding the entrance of...whatever this place was. I'm not sure what to call it. "Where are we?" I asked him. There were enough people here. Some ladies were tending to the children or washing clothes. Men, to my surprise, were cooking. Or trying to but they seemed to be failing by the look of the white liquid boiling over the pot. "The home of The Nameless. The Broken Woods," He said happily. "The Broken Woods? Isn't that home to the banished?" I asked him. He nodded as he jumped off of Lazy.

"That's what the royals said. We aren't banished per se. We choose to leave," He explained. He held his hand out to me. I took it saying, "Thank you." As I jumped down, I looked circumspectly around the camp. The Nameless was the name of the group of thieves that are wanted all over the kingdom. I am soundly committing treason every minute I am with Liam. I hope no one here knows who I am. How would that recognize me anyway? I barely leave the castle and I'm sure a group of bandits didn't pay attention to royals unless they had a crown on their head. "Why did you bring me here?" I asked him.

"Because something was troubling you. You needed to get out of that pretty little head of yours and remember what being in the present is like," He concluded. My smile brightens as I felt my heart flutter. I don't know if it was because he cared so much about what I was feeling or the fact that he just called me pretty. However, I have to remember that he does not know me. I am a stranger to him and he to me. "Show me," I said. I was taking a leap of faith. Let's see what Liam James has in store for me. "Gladly," he said.

He took my hand after making sure Lazy was tied up to a tree next to a bucket of water and food.  He leads me to a fire with a pot on top of it. "Every week we have a cooking competition here. It's just something to remind ourselves that we have each other and that's enough. Afterward, we talk, tell stories, and play games. I want you to join me" he explained. I bit my lip as I listened to him. It was nice. Even though they didn't have much, they found a way to enjoy the world around them. I have so much yet I am never satisfied. "I would love to but I don't know how to cook," I said slightly ashamed that I didn't know how to provide for myself. I didn't have any life skills. I am sure Liam could build a fire, wash clothes, cook, and make a tent. I did not know none of that. "It's okay. I'll show you," he said.

I wonder why he didn't question it. "What are we making?" I asked him. "Rabbit," He answered as if it was common. I guess it was common to him but it was not to me. "Rabbit?" I questioned. "You don't like Rabbit?" Liam asked. "I never had it," I said. Out of everything I've told him, that seemed to shock him the most. "Your mom never made rabbit stew? It was my favorite growing up," He said contently. I start to frown when he mentioned his mom. My mother never cook. She was never a mother. She was more like fire that never seems to burn out and always destroyed.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I made you upset," I heard him say. I look up to him, I hadn't noticed that I started looking down on the floor. "You're frowning," he stated. "I'm okay," I said softly. I cleared my throat and widened my smile. "What do we do first?" I asked.

Making rabbit stew, took forever. No wonder why there were so many chefs at the castle. The longing process consisted of cutting up vegetables, crushing seeds to create different kinds of spices, and keeping the fire well lit so it could actually cook. Not to mention, they had to carry a bucket of water to even make the broth. As tiring as it was, I was having fun. Liam made it fun. We would have races on who can cut up the most vegetables or who can carry the most water. They needed extra for drinking.

We even had a water fight. Even though it was my first time, I believed I won. Or he cheated by picking me up and dumping me into the lake. I was experiencing something I don't think I ever felt. Joy. Laughter. Fun.

I was giggling like never before. I didn't even care that I was soaking wet, that my clothes were dirty, that my hair was a nappy mess, or that I was supposed to be home two hours ago. Becoming Maya was the best thing to ever happen to me.

Currently, Liam and I were carrying buckets of water back to the camp. I would occasionally bump into him so he would lose his balance. He did it to me and I giggled. "You have a beautiful laugh," He said. I felt my cheeks get red. I hope it wasn't noticeable. "And you're cute when you blush." My checks got redder. "Oh stop," I said trying to hide my face from him.

A peaceful silence fell between them. They would catch each other looking at each other, laughing and smiling every time. "So," I started, "Liam James, what's your story?" I asked him. "You seem so in tune with the world and yourself. How? Why?"

He didn't answer right away. I looked over to see him collecting his thoughts. It mustn't be like the stories I've heard. What if it was worst? "My story isn't a happy one. My parents died when I was eight. By a noblemen. I don't know what the reason was but I know they didn't deserve it." He said. My heart ached for him. It was horrible. "I'm sorry," I said. What else could I say? I knew how ruthless my parents are. It more likely my father sentenced their deaths. "Do you know who did it?" I asked him. "The king and queen. It was an order," He answered. It was my parent's fault. Now I can never tell him my real name. I must stay as Maya.

"Did you ever try to get revenge?" I asked him. He shook his head no. "I wanted to. Deep down I still do but that's not me. I only started stealing because I didn't have a home. It was a group of us. Each of us had someone to look out for. Neither ourselves or a family member. After my parents died, it was just me and my sister," He said calmly. I could hear the sadness in his voice. He probably missed his parents. They clearly raised a noble son. But my attention was drawn to the mention to his sister. "You have a sister? Can I meet her?" I asked him, somewhat excitedly. "Sure," he chuckled. "She's at the camp."

"What's your story, Just Maya?"

"Complicated," I answered in a sigh. I couldn't tell him that I was the princess of this kingdom. That I was Maria. Even if he never sought for revenge, there would still be a good chance that he would not want anything to do with her. Even if he was a stranger, he was the most pulchritudinous man I have ever met. "I want to tell you when you're ready," I said. "I'm ready now," he said. I shook my head. "No. It can change everything and...I want you to get to know me for me. Not for my story," I explained. "Is that okay?" I asked him. I hoped that it didn't make a shift between them. They were on a good path.

"Of course it is. Tell me your story when you're ready," he said. I smiled. So patient. I wish everyone was like Liam James.