Battlefield.

03

+2008+

It was in this bleak and desolate place that he first laid eyes on Sara, a mere commoner who tended to the needs of the prisoners with a kindness that belied the harsh reality of their circumstances. Her presence, like a beacon of light in the suffocating darkness, stirred something within Nathaniel—a glimmer of hope amidst the despair that threatened to consume him.

Their first encounter was fraught with tension, the air heavy with the weight of unspoken truths. Nathaniel, his heart heavy with the burden of his plight, watched in silence as Sara moved gracefully through the dimly lit dungeon, her eyes alight with compassion. Nathaniel looked up as he saw the unfamiliar face. For a moment, he felt like his whole world was stopped. Once his senses returned to reality, he quickly reached for his mask— that covered his whole face except for his eyes and wear it.

"I'm sorry.. but I think I am lost.." the small girl with black shoulder length hair said while her eyes roamed all over things behind the bars. "That's okay little girl, just climbed the stairs back and it will bring you to the small pathways, there will be people there" Nathaniel said. Since there are visitors, the guards that guarded the dungeon might go somewhere else which is why the girl are able to reached the dungeon without getting caught, Nathaniel thought.  "Little girl? Is it because of my height? For your information, I am 10!! Rude!" Sara said with her furious eyebrows and both of her hands were placed on each side of her waist. Nathaniel giggled. "Cute" He said to himself. "Sorry, I don't know your name that's why I called you that. Mind to share?" Nathaniel asked. "Sara. Lee Sara.. or Sara Lee.. I don't know.. I just came from China... it was my first flight trip and to be honest I am still dizzy" she said. Nathaniel couldn't help but giggled. He nodded. "Why are you coming to this castle?" "Ah, my mother is an artist and she said the Royal Family asked her to draw their family portrait or stuff like that.." Sara answered, then her eyes keep roaming inside the bars. "Why are you in this jail? You don't seem like a bad guy?" She asked. Nathaniel smile faded away before he asked, "You don't know me, or even able to see me, how can you say I am not a bad guy?" Silence. You just said that out of kindness.. Nathaniel said to himself.

"Your eyes.. there was sadness in your eyes.. you know they said eyes never lie?" She said. Nathaniel immediately raised his head, and their eyes met. What.. what is this feeling? Nathaniel thought. "Are you framed? Which is why you are here? Don't get me wrong okay, I have met the Royal Family just now, the King has this like a scary dad face.. Oh but I heard from my mother that the king has two princes, but they were known as... wait I can't remember.." "Masked Princes?" "Yes! No outsiders ever see their real faces. I bet they are ugly that is why- wait. I think just now I only saw the Crown Prince.." Sara suddenly stopped and her eyes were pasted on Nathaniel mask on his face. It was slightly similar to the one she saw on the Crown Prince. "Shoot..... I AM SO SORRY YOUR HIGHNESS I DID NOT KNOW YOU ARE THE OTHER PRINCE" Sara said while being on her knees. Her hands were shaking, afraid that she might have offended the prince. "Please stand up.. and just call me Nath, please?" He said. "I wouldn't dare, your highness.." she said, while bitting her lower lips. She was scared. Nathaniel thought.

"I am a nobody, Sara.. All the name or status of me it was all lie," Nathaniel said. He lowered his face. "Wh- what do you mean?" "Have you ever see a glamorous royalty being held here? In this lonely, dirty place?" He asked. Sara shook her head. "I always wanted a friend, at least before I die.."

"I can be your friend.."

Their eyes met. Nathaniel's heart beat faster. This wasn't his sickness. This was something he never felt before. 'What is this?' Nathaniel said to himself while holding his chest. "Are you sick? Are you okay?" She asked. "Yes.. did you said that we are friends now..?" He questioned with his head lowered. "Yes! I mean I might be here for a long time since my mother needs to complete some painting and you know how long painting takes time? And I don't think I could talk to other people here, the Crown Prince is scary, I don't really like him- wait he is your brother I shouldn't say that" Sara said while slapping her lips. "I understand why you say that" Nathaniel answered as he giggled. "But he is a good brother.." He continued. Sara portrayed a face full of questions. "Good? How?" "He-" "Sara! Lee Sara! Where are you?" A loud voice hit both of their ears. "Shoot... it's my mother.. I need to go.. I will come and see you again okay? Bye!" Sara said while waving at Nathaniel and ran up the stairs. Her footsteps disappeared followed by a shut door sound.

-

In the hidden depths of the abandoned dungeon, where shadows danced along the stone walls and echoes of forgotten tales lingered in the air, Nathaniel and Sara found solace in their secret meetings—a sanctuary away from the prying eyes of the palace.

Their rendezvous became a ritual—a whispered promise exchanged beneath the cloak of night, a shared moment of respite from the constraints of their respective worlds. With each clandestine encounter, Nathaniel and Sara delved deeper into their shared refuge, discovering new ways to fill the silent spaces with laughter and joy.

Their meetings often began with Nathaniel's soft footsteps echoing through the darkness, his heart racing with anticipation as he awaited Sara's arrival. And when she appeared, her presence a beacon of light in the gloom, Nathaniel's worries melted away, replaced by a sense of peace that only she could bring.

Their conversations flowed freely, unburdened by the weight of royal obligations or societal expectations. They spoke of their hopes and dreams, their fears and insecurities, their words a whispered symphony of longing and understanding.

"Tell me about the outside world, Sara," Nathaniel would say, his voice a gentle murmur in the silence of the dungeon.

And Sara, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, would regale him with tales of her artistic endeavors, her passion evident in every word she spoke. Together, they would imagine worlds beyond the confines of their reality, painting vivid landscapes with their words and dreams.

But their meetings were not solely confined to conversation. Nathaniel and Sara delighted in exploring the hidden corners of the dungeon, their laughter echoing through the empty corridors as they embarked on adventures both real and imagined.

One day, they stumbled upon an old chest tucked away in a forgotten alcove, its contents a treasure trove of forgotten trinkets and relics. With eager hands and curious hearts, Nathaniel and Sara sifted through the treasures, marveling at the stories they held within their weathered surfaces.

"This must have belonged to someone important," Sara remarked, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings adorning an ancient pendant.

Nathaniel nodded in agreement, his eyes alight with excitement. "Perhaps it holds the key to unlocking the mysteries of the past."

Together, they pieced together the fragments of history scattered among the relics, weaving tales of valor and romance that echoed through the dimly lit chamber. And as they unearthed the secrets of the past, Nathaniel and Sara felt a bond strengthen between them—a bond forged in the crucible of their shared adventures.

As the days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into years, Nathaniel and Sara's secret meetings became the highlight of their existence, a fleeting moment of happiness in an otherwise bleak world.

In the hidden depths of the abandoned dungeon, amidst the echoes of their whispered conversations and the laughter that filled the air, Nathaniel and Sara found solace in each other's arms—a sanctuary where their love could bloom, unfettered by the constraints of the outside world.

I only know two things; the dark is coming, and I will stand against it to my last breath. — Nathaniel, 2010.