The Princess, the Witch and the Pirate

The Bride Blooms

The morning after her victory, Olivia opened her eyes sleepily to discover her dainty bride wrapped in red silk, sitting at the little, rustic desk. She appeared to be hypnotized by a tiny mouse grooming meticulously under the sunlight streaming through the window. Olivia took the opportunity to stare at the distracted princess. She's so cute! Her hair shines like onyx in the sun. And her eyes. Mikey was right. I've never seen eyes like hers. She looks like a painting or something.

"Isn't he cute?" said Ansa. "I found him eating a little bite of cheese on the dresser. Did you leave this sock by the window for him on purpose?"

Caught, Olivia got up rubbing sleep from her eyes and neared. She crouched beside Ansa, admiring the mouse's thin whiskers and itty-bitty hands. "Yeah. I rolled it up to make it into a little nest."

"And that bottle top is for his water?"

"Yeah. Aren't you scared?" asked Olivia perplexed.

"I think he's adorable," said Ansa, leaning closer to the little rodent, elbows on the desk, chin resting on her palms. "Is he your pet?"

"No way! I wouldn't put him in a cage."

Olivia sifted through drawers, rummaging. She went to the chaise and found her jersey and shorts. "Shall we name him, though?" Olivia sniffed the jersey, then, ensuring Ansa's eyes were on their little guest, swapped out her PJs for athletic wear.

Ansa whispered to the mouse then put her ear to its little face. "Her name is Baffi."

"She's a girl?" Olivia neared and greeted the little mouse with a finger. The little mouse took Olivia's finger in her bitty hands in turn. "Nice to meet you, Baffi." Ansa smiled at the miniature handshake.

Olivia sought her soccer ball under the bed, by the desk, on the dresser, only to find it in her trunk. "What would you like to do today?"

"We will do as you wish, of course."

"If we're going to be friends, we should get one thing straight. I don't really believe in this, eh..."full possession" business. You do as you like." Olivia found a small clearing in the room and begun bouncing the ball from one knee to the other, keeping it in the air while she spoke. "I mean, we can do all kinds of things. You can show me around your castle, we can make a house for Baffi. We can go on a walk. If you want to be alone. That's okay too. I'll get out of your hair. Just say the word."

"Would you like to be alone?"

Arresting the ball with her hands, Olivia answered, "No way! I've been dying to meet you."

"I would like to spend the day with you. If you don't mind."

"Lucky me," said Olivia, smiling brightly.

The other contenders were already at breakfast when the victor strolled in with her bride. She noticed an additional chair between Katia and Mikael; Serge's empty. The boys stood politely while the new arrivals found their seats, Olivia by Katia, Ansa by Mikael.

"Everyone, this is Ansa. Ansa, this is Katia, that's Arthur, and the beautiful boy beside you is Mikael."

"I didn't know he was your type," teased Arthur.

"Mikey's everyone's type," rejoined Katia, squinting her eyes at the vain young man across the table.

"Nice to meet you all," replied Ansa, at last.

Breakfast was served. As they ate, Ansa's attention was monopolized, unsurprisingly, by Mikael, who had a hundred questions about the island, the town beyond, and the castello.

"Ms. Ansa. Do you know? How old is the castello?"

"Well, the original structure..."

"Because there are two additions, by my research, and some restorative work done, so it's hard to tell but, by my estimation..."