Fire and Ice

Nightly Tag

No matter what I was doing or where we were, my eyes always made it back to the window of the carriage.

We were now out of the city and in the country side. Grassy plains covered the landscape. Of course there was still the occasional tree we would pass but otherwise that land was flat and green.

"Do you need anything, Princess?" Mira asked me.

"No." I said with a sigh, turning to her. "Actually. . . can you make time go by faster?" I said with a small laugh. Mira gave a small chuckle as well and continued on her knitting project.

I looked back out the window. The Sun was slowly going behind the horizon. The sunset was beautiful! The sky filled with many colors that were slowly turning into the night sky.

As I watched the sinking sun our carriage came to a halt.

Someone knocked on the little cubby door which Mira swiftly opened. It was Norman.

"We are stopping here for the night." He informed us, then proceeded to jump off of the riders perch.

Norman went around and opened the carriage door. I quickly leaped out ignoring Norman's stretched out hand to assist me with the step.

I made my way through the crowd of soldiers and out to an open field nearby.

I sat there in the grass and watched as the moon and stars replaced the Sun. Night was drawing near and I didn't want the day to end with me just sitting in a carriage all day.

I ran back into camp as fast as I could but when approaching the tents I slowed my pace. I saw that soldiers were dispersed everywhere, they were either eating or talking but all was at a low volume.

I looked around for my first victim. I saw a man sitting on a edge of a log next to the camp fire with many other soldiers next to him.

I slowly came up to him quietly so I wouldn't attract the attention of him or others until the right moment.
When I was about a foot away from my chosen soldier I slowly tapped him on the shoulder.

"Tag, you're  it."

I stepped back to see what he would do. He clearly heard me because about thirty seconds later the soldier reacted out to the soldier on his right, smacked him on the back of his armor and said,
"Tag, you're it."

The second soldier then did the same with the next soldier. This wasn't what I expected but I'm glad they reacted. I'm mean, this is not really how you played the game but it was good enough for me.

The soldiers tagging continued at the same pattern until it got to the last soldier at the camp fire.

The last soldier was young probably as young as Norman, with blondie hair and brown eyes. When he was tagged, he smiled and looked up at me.

I looked at him with curious eyes as he then proceeded to put his finger up to his lip.

I was confused about his actions until he stood up and creeped up behind Norman. Then I understood. The blonde soldier tapped on Norman shoulder and said the same as me.

"Tag, you're it." He laugh and scurried over passed me so he wouldn't get tagged again.

I laugh and then watch what Norman would do. He understood what we were doing and made is his way to Mira.

"Mira." He said getting my lovely maid attention.

"Yes Norman, did you need something?"

"Oh no I just wanted to inform you that the princess has started a game of tag." He said quite smugly.

"Oh has she now." Mira said in a smug tone as well. "And who's it at the moment?"

"Well. . . " Norman began, putting his hand on Mira's shoulder "you." He said jogging away from her.

I laugh really hard after Norman's trickery. And so did Mira.

We continued our game of tag for quite a while. Many more of the soldiers joined in making the game more fun.

I think Mira was tagged the most because she had to run in a long dress but she looked like she had a good time.

It fun but it was getting really late and everyone began to hit the hay.

"That was fun." Norman panted as he drew nearer to me also out of breath.

"It was." I panted with a wide grin.

"Ok Miss Nashi, time for you to get ready for bed." Mira said with a hanky in hand wiping the dirt off her face.

I yawned and nodded in agreement.
"Good night Norm." I said waving as I walked away to my tent.

"Good night Princess Nashi."

I made my way to my tent which I shared with Mira. I got into my night gown and hopped into bed. Mira later joined, laying down in her bed.

Looked up at the top of the tent with a smile. I haven't had that much fun in years. But then a wave of worry washed over me.

"Mira, do you think my parents are ok? Do you think they are safe?"

"I have not doubt in my mind Princess that they are safe and well. Now rest, get some sleep. We have more traveling tomorrow." She stated in a calm gentle voice that made me feel a lot better.

"Thank you, Mira. Good night." I said rolling over.

"Good Night Nashi. Sweet dreams."