Desire

Chapter 7

 Arianna’s P.O.V

I quietly tread my way back to the blossom tree I had begun to call my home, filled with bliss but there was still a tinge of sadness. Damen had said he needed to go and discuss his marriage with his parents and although he promised that he would only ever marry me, I knew that we were never meant for each other. Briny tears seeped from my eyes until I could taste them on the corner of my lips, whether they were happy or sad, I couldn’t possibly say.

Suddenly I heard slow, heavy footsteps gradually approaching me. I felt my pulse increase and I silently gulped in fear but to my surprise I saw a frail, old woman stumbling and desperately clinging on to a battered stick.

‘Arianna’, she croaked, I instantly flinched at the mention of my name in a voice, foreign to my ears.

‘How do you know my name?’ I managed to choke out between sobs as I began to discreetly back away.

‘You are crying my dear, I come to aid those in need and no matter how much you may deny it I know that you, young one, are in need. Now tell me your problem and I may grant you the solution.’

‘It is the Prince, we are in love’ I uttered, ignorant to the fact that I was easily discussing my secrets with a mysterious witch of a woman who was tactfully avoiding my questions. ‘I want to live in the palace as he does, but here I am, alone in a forest with no way of competing with all the rich ladies of the land for his marriage.’

‘There, there dear’ she replied ‘I can make a fine princess of you, with one small but vital consequence, by midnight, you, and the prince must be engaged. If not, you will face death.’

I was aghast, could this haggard woman really grant me this one, huge favour as simply as she said. I was too blinded by love and craving to feel any qualm. Without a second though I candidly pronounced that one word of agreement which often leads to nothing but suffering.

‘Yes.’

Damen’s P.O.V

I waited and waited, the rough bark of Arianna’s blossom tree prickled my back as I inhaled her sweet scent. I was full of apprehension and I could not wait to tell Arianna the news that finally we could retreat to the forest and marry by midnight, an unknown and secret but love struck couple for the rest of our lives, with no worries or regrets all because of the feeble old woman who solved my problem.

Arianna’s P.O.V

I sat on the plush lounger on the balcony with a glorious view across the landscape. I waited. I was now a princess and soon I could be Damen’s bride since my wish had been granted and I was now a rich, agreeable young lady fit for a prince. Then I saw him.

He sat against the blossom tree, my blossom tree, bathed in moonlight with an ecstatic smile plastered across his perfect face. He wore tatty rags and decrepit boots and there was a prominent absence of his crown. I realised in horror that this would be the last time I would ever see his face again and that desire and lust had devastated both our lives, leading us to believe that everything we strived for would instantly come true. I had been naïve and selfish, and now, it would cost him his life.

I picked up a small, sharp dagger and watched silently as it glinted hostilely in the light. I raised it to my breast and plunged it into my heart. As I lay there dying in my own blood, my lips formed a faint smile, I had made mistakes and desire had cost me everything, but the day I died, was the best day of my life.