Finding Yourself

Chapter 3

Raelynn's POV

To say that I was shocked was an understatement. Why would she do that? The woods was literally the number one place never to run away to. And why did she run away in the first place? Flashbacks resurfaced in my mind, showing myself running away from Lysus to escape marriage against my will. Maybe she had a good point to do so.

I examined the girl once more with more interest. She looked simple, maybe one of the village girls? Nothing about her looked like royalty; her dress, hair, and looks all expressed this. A common girl.

I had once wished for a life like hers. Simple but full of content, and nothing forced.

The silence was broken by Eleanor, who said bitterly, "It's okay if you don't approve, I bet no one does. I just want a happy life as a princess, like a queen. Still, I don't care. Anyway, who are you?"

Calmly, I answered, "Being rich doesn't equal happiness, Eleanor. I learned my lesson the hard way, I don't want you ending up with the same fate as me."

Eleanor's eyes darkened, "You don't know at all. You're just a wild beast, a scary creature who lives in the dark from the mortal world. If you see what I see, you would think differently."

I shook my head. "Think about the different perspective. Try being a royal. There's difficulties they experience that are different than yours." I bit my tongue, cutting back my cutting remark, like getting married off to a man you don't love.

She didn't seem to understand. "OH YEAH?! And how do you know, beast? What makes you think that? Royals live in the upmost comfort, with whatever they want at the tip of their fingers. Difficulties? Forget it, they have NONE. Absolutely NONE."

My throat clenched in anger but I expected this. I sighed. I would tell the truth.

"You were asking who I was. I'm Raelynn."

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Eleanor's POV

I blinked. My mind was swirling with ideas and what to say, but for once, I was tongue-tied. She's a princess. But now she's a unicorn.

It couldn't be possible. But here I was, standing in front of royalty. Of a person I wanted to become.

I would have never guessed that the white beast was a princess. I had heard of the princess from the faraway lands that controlled the land we lived on. She was described as beautiful and meek- the perfect princess. Jealously had overcame me immediately when I caught a glimpse of her on a picture. Perfect blonde hair, slender frame, and pale complexion. I would never be like that . Years afterward, I heard she was engaged to a highly-respected man. That had been my dream wish: be rich, marry the perfect guy. She had it all.

News about her dissipated months after, and no one knew what had happened to her.

Now, I was seeing her in person. In a different body, but still. Anger took over once more. "You got engaged. Instead of at your wedding, I find you in the woods transformed. What did you do to become like this? You threw your life away! Such a waste!" I snapped.

Raelynn shook her head. "I ran away like you. I wanted true love, not a forced marriage. He came after me. "

Realization dawned on me. "That's what you meant when you said your life was hard," I whispered.

She nodded. I thought a bit, then asked, "Don't you regret it at all?" My impatience was dissolving, replaced by genuine curiosity.

"I never regretted my choice. Even now. Even though he trapped me, I'm grateful he was kind enough to make me a gentle beast and let me live in peace."

"Oh."

We stood for a while not talking. Finally, Raelynn spoke, "To me, your life is what I want."

I gasped. Surprised, I asked, "And why is that?"

Raelynn explained, "You make your own choices. True, you're poor, but you're rich in another way that I longed for."

We both absorbed each other's wants. I stated, "Then we both have different ideas for a perfect life."

Raelynn nodded. "True love and wealth." Two completely different things that bring us together into one team...