The Red King and the Witch

Dreams, Readings, and Other Nonsense

The wagon rocked slowly along the open grass, the sky was bluest of blue, so far and away yet  close by the enormous clouds that touched the horizon.

Amanda took a deep breath in, rain, grass, and earth filling the air around her and she couldn't stop the quick smile that passed her lips, fighting to hide it away.

It was a beautiful day and the horses pulling the cart made the ride almost feel like flying. As if it wasn't even there at all, but she could see him, she could hear its hooves clopping deftly on the grass, gently neighing to it's commander, who was as silent as a rock. 

"Does he have a name?" she prompts, jutting her chin to the great beast, yet the boy gives her no response, staring straight ahead, quiet as the grave.  

It was disturbing to see a face so morose out in the open country, Amanda couldn't stop her head from clocking sideways in confusion at the boy's mood. The sun was bright and the air was fresh and crisp. 

Budding wildflowers and tall grass blossomed in the field around them, the boy remained as still as stone. Eyes blue as the sky looked stormy and miles away in a way which made Amanda's heart ache.

He looked so lonely, his mind heavy, staring coldly off into the beautiful distance as if off to his grave.

Amanda couldn't bear to see that expression, she couldn't bear to see that pain.

No one deserved to see such beauty yet look and feel so sad. It was an affront to the wonder that surrounded them, such life and luxury that Amanda wouldn't allow to pass him by.

So she stood up from her seat on the wagon, not giving a care in the world for how fast it was going, and jumped off into the sea of grass, laughing at the screeching curse the silent boy let out as she rolled on her back to finish her stunt.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCKING HELL! WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO THAT WOMAN?!" the boy shouted, his face thunderous, fear and relief quickly following up in his eyes as the girl laughed and laughed at his reaction.

"Oh God, you should see your face!" she snorted and cried, rolling in the grass on to her belly then standing up to laugh some more, her knees bending back a bit as her head tilted to the sky, tears now leaking at the corner of her lids.

"That was extremely dangerous, girl,"  the boy fumed as he leapt off the carriage, tying his horse to the nearest tree.

As Amanda tried to reign her laughter in, she watched him parade march across the grass, stomping back towards her once the beast was tied up.

"Oh please, that buggy was going at least fifteen miles an hour, and besides, I wasn't gonna sit next to your sour face all afternoon, so chin up, my boy. We're going on an adventure." Amanda supplied, giving the boy a hard punch to the shoulder, causing him to grunt, as she bound off into the grass, making her way down the slow incline, as the boy scoffed behind her.

"You've not got the proper shoes for this, come back, let's keep moving." he pleads, but she doesn't listen, continuing her journey while removing her white heels, then her skin colored stockings, slipping her feet into the green grass.

"Haven't you learned to walk by now, boy?" Amanda grouches in a fake Irish lit, causing a look of astonishment to pass over the boy's entire stance.

He stood up straighter at her teasing question, blue eyes widened in shock then arousement, causing Amanda to let out a hearty chuckle, as she swept herself away in the tall grass, heading towards the open horizon.