Previous to Ever After

Nine

One down, two more to go. Plus, you know, finding a crazy wizard who no one thought even existed. But, hey, it sure beats sitting at home, right?

We've been riding on the trail for hours. It had long since grown dark out from when we left Unicorn Prairie. The stars freckled the sky swirling around a big, bright moon. It was a beautiful sight, peeking through the leaves of the trees. I thought about if mother and everyone waiting at home was looking at this same sky. Or whether their eyes were focused on my sick father instead.

William had mentioned stopping and making camp twice now, considering the next village was still three hours away. But each time he suggested camp, that royal snobby attitude that mother had been drilling into me for the last eighteen years finally kicked in.

"C'mon, it's getting really late. I'm tired, and so is Wesley," William said brushing Wesley's mane. My horse muffled a neigh in response, sounding exhausted.

"I am not sleeping in a forest," I mumbled crossing my arms.

"Genevieve, you princess is showing," he replied glumly.

But, after a while, my eyelids grew heavy, and my head kept slipping, slapping into William's back. Finally, I rested my head for more than two seconds and dozed off, only to wake a second later to the sound of his voice.

"Alright, sleepy head, we're stopping for the night." He pulled Wesley off the trail and over near a patch of grass in front of a huge rock. It curved over, sort of like a wave. The rock created a small cave big enough for two, and was connected to a huge, grassy hill, sprinkled with great oaks, like the ones back in Chestwood. The feeling of homesickness started to form in the pit of my stomach, and I began to miss my always made, fluffy, daisy smelling bed.

Did I seriously just think that?

When William stepped off Wesley I slumped forward and fell against Wesley's neck, almost falling asleep again.

"Oh, shoot, Genevieve," William muttered as he reached up and pulled me into his arms. That's when I fully woke up. I squirmed out of his arms and stepped onto the soft grass.

"I'm fine, I can walk," I said in protest. He smiled and took out a big, blue blanket from his bag and laid it out on the grass under the rock cave.

I sprawled out onto the blanket and laid my head down. I looked up and saw William walk over near Wesley and lie down on a patch of grass, at least ten feet away from me.

"William, what are you doing?" I asked lifting my head up.

"I don't think your parents–or your fiancé–for that matter, would approve of me sleeping next to you." I felt my face grow red. "It's alright," he continued. "I think I'll survive out here, it's pretty warm tonight." But I knew it wasn't.

Summer was coming to an end. In fact, my birthday was on the last day of summer. The chilly nights that autumn was famous for were returning, nipping at our noses and cheeks. I saw the cool breeze flow through the leaves of the trees, causing the branches to sway in the most beautiful way. But it was still cold to sleep outside, unprotected, nonetheless.

I sighed and put my head back down, using my right arm as a pillow. I looked up and stared at William lying on his back with his eyes closed. I could see him starting to shiver.

That's when I stood up and took the blanket off the ground and shook it, letting all of the loose leaves and strands of grass to flutter to the ground. I walked over to William and laid it out on top of him. He opened his eyes and gave me a confused look, opening his mouth, ready to protest.

"Don't worry," I said, cutting him off before he could speak. I turned and walked back under my shelter. "I'm not the one sleeping under the stars tonight. You need it more than I do."