The Queen and the Crystal Vol. 3

Ch. 2 The Guardian and the Witch

It all began in the beginning of spring, Princess Octavia was engage to a Prince. Prince Arthur. It was love at first sight. Octavia's mother was occupied to observe the Princess and Prince so she ask one of her sentry to watch over them. In that time Ben was a knight before a guardian he was the youngest one knights that the Queen had in that time.Having Ben around, he was an entertaining gentleman to be with they said. Everywhere they went, he would follow. At first he seem to be a serious guy but Octavia and Arthur somehow was able to break his mold.

For weeks they been enjoying time together but Ben was sensing something. He began to think he was a third wheel. At times, when the day was over Arthur and Octavia would be alone, talking at this hidden lake about a mile or so away from the castle. Ben would listen at time to time from a great distance but the one conversation made him realize he was nothing but a busy body.

"Arthur stop!" Octavia said giggling.

"Oh come on! I love to see you smile!" Arthur said to her and he would tickle her feathers.

"You come on!" She mockingly said, "This is serious. I want to talk about Ben." Arthur look at her confuse.

"Ben? What about him?" Arthur ask, "Don't tell me you have feeling for him or something."

"No it's not like that. You know you are my only love. Forever mine." Octavia said as she gave him a kiss.

"It's just I realize he always with us and he over there by the horses waiting for us."

"You mean he's lonely and doesn't have anyone to cuddle while we're over getting to know each other well." Arthur said as he kiss her cheek. Then began to stroke her hair, her long golden hair. As his finger would stroke her hair, it felt like silk.

"Yeah. I mean he a good looking guy, I just don't want him to be gloomy while we're over here being in love."

"So what should we do?" Arthur ask, "Force him to marry someone...like us."

"Force!" Octavia exclaimed, "No one force you to marry me!" then she stood up and walk away from Arthur. Arthur understand what he did so he went after her trying to make up.

"Wait Octavia! That's not what I mean!" he finally caught up to her.

"What do you mean then?"

"What I was trying to say was, trying to make him be with someone just because we saw him sad. I mean we should talk to him."

"That's not you meant." She said as she stare at him.

"I just don't want you to be mad at me. I hate it when you're mad. I love to see you smile." He said then he drew her closer to him. She giggle.

"Even though you meant something else, you're right. We have to talk to him first before we assume something." She said. They stay there until the sun set, holding each other.

The following day, Octavia and Arthur mount up on a horse and took Ben out to the village hopefully to found out his misery. It was a crowed day, even though it was a weekday. Octavia and Arthur would try to speak with Ben but with all the voices and pushing they couldn't get a word of edgewise. It was too much for Octavia's horse that it got frighten and haul her off.

Arthur heard her scream as she fell off the horse. He saw that her horse ran back into the castle. She stood up but as she did, people recognize her as the Princess. They crowd it over her trying to speak to her. Arthur would call out for her and she would call out for him. Then he saw a huge mob gathering in one spot. He wasn't sure what it was but he had to stop it. The next thing Octavia notice the people began to pull on her and her clothes. She beg them to stop but it seem that they were in their own world. Arthur saw that people mobbing Octavia so he charge right in making the people move back. He then grab Octavia and rode back to the castle.