The man watched the princess stare me down but he had a huge advantage. He nodded to Prince Arthur and he slid her onto the dance floor. He walked around in circles as they danced and made sure she did as told.
The man spotted many guard members looking my way and decided he needed a new little hiding place. He spotted several doors that most likely led to the organ lofts. He tried several with little success. He found a storage closet to shelter in for now. He watched through a crack as a worker disappeared through a door on the other side of the room.
He glanced around and saw no sign of the princess or attentive guards so he picked his way through the crowd and found his place in there. He walked up several wooden staircases and found himself on a railing surround the ceiling where rose petals were dropped during cleansing ceremonies.
He watched as the guards looked for him without a clue. He spotted one nearly flopped into the cleansing pool and gave a hearty chuckle. Several guards glanced up and he pressed himself against the wall, hoping his powder blue tuxedo would not be a beacon.
He sighed with relief as they abandoned the thought of anyone upstairs. He heard a gasp and turned to see a surprised worker.
“Can I help you sir?” She asked in a cheery voice. The man smiled.
“I’m just watching the festivities from up here. I love to see the people dancing. I like to remove myself from the action and watch it all play out, quite like a story,” He said.
“Well, I’m sorry but guests aren’t allowed up here,” She said.
“It will be our little secret,” He said and she opened her mouth to protest but stopped and glanced around hazily.
“Where am I?” She asked.
“You’re in the loft to the church on the last day of Festival of Green. I found you had fallen asleep and brought you here for some peace. The stairs are that way and you never saw me here,” The man smiled. If only that spell lasted forever, the man thought. It would last long enough to cover his traces though.
He watched as the guests began to trickle home and he signaled to Prince Arthur as he left. The prince smiled and left without a word. The man didn’t fully trust the prince and his motives. He was always sleeping with one eye open.
He sighed and began to leave when he noticed the princess leading hungry commoners. He watched for a while as she threw them a wonderful party and he felt a pang of guilt for the compassionate princess.
He was about to leave when the king and queen drifted past the main entrance and he slid behind the grand door.
“Young lady, you have been out all night! It is nearly dawn and you have not returned home!” He saw the queen say to her daughter.
“I was throwing an amazing after-party,” She shrugged and handed some dishes to a servant.
“We were worried sick!” The queen said.
“It took you long enough to come looking for me,” She snorted.
“We looked everywhere else!” The queen hissed.
“I have Terence here with me. He wouldn’t let a soul lay a harmful hand on me,” The princess said. Nor would I, the man thought silently.
“What if Terence wasn’t here?” The queen asked.
“I am very capable of handling myself,” The princess looked her in the eye.
“You can’t trust every poor soul you stumble upon Tara!” The queen said.
“They are our people mother! I have to try!” She said with disgust very clear in her voice.
“We’re only looking out for you darling,” The king chimed in.
“I appreciate that, but I know what I’m doing,” The princess replied.
“You are only fifteen!” The queen groaned.
“I’ll be sixteen in under a month!” The princess argued.
“Then we can marry you off and have you gone!” The queen said and went sheet white. The princess put down her plate and left.
“Tara Anne, please wait! I didn’t mean what I said!” The queen chased after her desperately.
“Leave me alone!” I heard the hurt reply.
“Let me talk to her Julianna,” The king said and ran after his daughter. The queen sat down and put her head in her hands. I slipped outside and followed behind as they talked.
The princess said something and marched away as her father watched. The man felt danger lurking so he followed behind her and watched as a dark figure grabbed her. He was about to cast a spell before she kicked him and ran off. He slunk into the bushes in immense pain. I sensed an ambush.
A guard had reached the princess but it wasn’t enough. The man began muttering a spell and the men began writhing and screaming in pain. He had given them aneurysms and they would die painfully for their crimes of treason and he felt another pang of guilt.
He spotted the dead body and cast a spell of good luck for his soul finding his final destination. The man stole one last glance as the princess heroically picked the man’s body up. He could no longer stand to watch and he walked away in shame.
