The Secret Princess

Chapter 6

Mother's pov

The two boys chasing the boy with Miranda crawl out of a hole, dripping wet and coughing. "I'm gonna kill him." One growls. "Oh boys!" They look up and withdraw swords. "Oh calm down! Looking for this?" I toss them the bag with the crown in it. They fight over it then the one holding it smiles. "I could tell you how you can get 100 crowns." They look up at me. "While getting revenge." "We're listening." He says. I smile.

Jason's pov

We were resting in a grassy field. She was singing. Man she's amazing. We should get going. After a quick lunch, we get back to trekking. I stealthily hold her hand. She smiles up at me. We get to the kingdom. I keep my hat pulled low so they don't see me.

Miranda's pov

Wow! So many people. A bunch of street vendors were selling things. The colors and sounds were beautiful. I kept close to Jason so we didn't get separated. "Hey come look at this." He says, grabbing my hand. He hands a coin to the vendor and gives me a cute little purple flag with a sun on it. I am having so much fun! I see a beautiful mosaic design of a woman, a man, and a baby in the woman's arms. "Who are they?" I ask, pointing. He smiles and tips his hat up. "The king and queen and the princess. But she went missing when she was a baby. Nobody ever knew what happened to her. That's what the lantern thing is for." I turn around confused. "The lanterns?" He laughs softly. "The floating lights you so desperately want to see." I smile. "Tonight is gonna be so much fun!"

*later*

Jason was renting a boat. I sat on a rock to wait. It was starting to get foggy. I saw a figure walking in the distance. "Jason?" Oh my goodness! "Mother?!" I gape shocked. She was so mad! I back up. "We are going back to the tower!" "No! Mother! I don't know what you were so afraid of! Everyone I've met has been so nice! And this boy who's helped me.... I think he likes me, mother!" "Ha! He doesn't like you! All he wants is this!" She tosses me the bag with the crown! My eyes go wide. "Give it to him and see how long he stays then." She growls disappearing into the shadows. "Hey you okay?" I freeze and hide the bag behind me. "Fine, fine." I shakily say. He smiles and holds a hand out to help me in the boat. "Thanks." I whisper. He rows us out to the middle. What will he do when he finds out? Will he take it and leave? Does he like me? I like him. A lot. I look at the water, dark and full of fish. A leaf skitters by and I brush it with my hand.

Jason's pov

"All those days... Watching from the windows.... All those years, outside looking in.... All that time never even knowing... Just how blind.... I've been." I stare at her, my hands in my pockets as she sings this song. "Now I'm here blinking in the starlight.... Now I'm here suddenly I see... Standing here... It's all so clear.... I'm where I'm meant to be!" She looks at me. "And at last I see the light and it's like the fog has lifted! And at last I see the light and it's like the sky is new and it's warm and real and bright and the world has somehow shifted.... All at once everything looks different.... Now that I see you." She whispers the last line. I stare at her jaw dropped. Suddenly I think of what to sing myself. I smile and hold her hands. "All those days, chasing down a daydream, all those years... Living in a blur... All that time never truley seeing..... Things the way they were..... Now you're here.... Shining in the starlight.... Now you're here... Suddenly I know.... If you're here.... It's crystal clear..... I'm where I'm meant to go!" She joins in. "And at last I see the light and it's like the fog is lifted and at last I see the light! And it's like the sky is new.... And it's warm and real and bright.... And the world has somehow shifted... All at once.... Everything is different.... Now that I see you..... Now that I see you." We were standing up now. I stare at her. We both lean in for a kiss but then the floating lanterns start filling the sky. "Whoa!" She whispers. We sit back down, watching them... They are pretty. I never took the time.

Miranda's pov

Jason taps my shoulder. I look over at him. He's got two brightly glowing lanterns! My heart soars. He hands one to me and we both fly them into the air. I hug him.

Jason's pov

I hug her back. "Jason...... I have a confession." Huh? "What?" She pulls my bag out! My eyes go wide in surprise. But I don't even care about that stupid crown... I found a much better reward. I hold her hands and kiss her lips. The bag dropping in between us. "Thank you so much." She whispers. I smile. "No problem." I row us back to shore.

Miranda's pov

"Wait here. I'm gonna go return this boat." I smile and sit on a rock.

Jason's pov

I return the boat and when I turn around, Donny and Kevin are behind me! I back up, hitting the shack. "You guys can have it." I say, tossing them the bag. It just bounces off of Kevin's chest. They both smile. "G-Guys... What are you-"

Miranda's pov

A few minutes later, the two guys who were chasing Jason walked over. I screamed and backed up. One grabs my arms. "We could get a lot of money for you!" "No!! Jason!!! Help!!" "Scream all ya want girly... He's not coming!" "Yes he will!" "Really?" He points out onto the lake. I'm shocked to see him rowing away! "JASON?!" I cry horrified. Suddenly someone hits them in the head and mother stands behind them! I run into her arms. "You were right mother." I whimper crying into her chest. "It'll be okay. Come on. Let's go home." I can't believe he left me.