The Quest

The encounter

"Leaving so soon?" The prince asks.

"I'm not needed here anymore." I reply.

"Look I'm sorry, but I didn't want someone who was perfect. That's the definition of you. You are perfect in every way, but that's because you shaped yourself to live up to people's expectations. In all reality, who are you? I'm always surprising people, and that was my plan tonight, to prove to people that they don't know me anymore." The prince says. Tears spring to my eyes, I must not cry in front of the prince.

"Well I'm not shaping myself to live up to people's expectations, I have no choice to live this life. I'm not just a proper lady, I'm a cursed girl. Doomed to die along with her family. I have to be this way, and if you don't understand that, then we aren't meant to be." The prince looks shocked, sympathy forms in his eyes, he reslises what he just said, without knowing me at all.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know you were cursed, I just wanted you to know that your perfect, but still flawed. I would have never said those things. I'm truly sorry, please forgive me." I don't want his pity. I want to leave, and start working on my next quest. I lower my head and look at the floor.

"I don't need your pity, I've been living with this curse for years now, I can handle it." I say, on the verge on tears.

"If you can handle the curse so well, then why is it not gone? I'm just trying to help, that's not pity." The prince replies. He reaches down and lifts my chin, until my eyes meet his. He's making it hard to think, the depths of his eyes, staring into my soul. His hand goes up to my face, my heart races. The memories of the past weeks flash before my eyes. The touch of a hand, eyes meeting from across the room, late night dance lessons, and our first and only kiss. My heart shatters, we can never be like that again. He's engaged, he should'nt be here. I break my eyes away from him and step back.

"I'm sorry I have to go." I say quickly.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

"Home, from there I'll keep traveling." I reply.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is this curse exactly? What do you have to do?"

" I have to marry a prince, by the time I'm 21." I look up and see his expression, it's between shock, and realization. I finish packing my bags, while the prince stands there frozen in thought.

"Goodbye." I say, and rush out of the door. I go to the stables, and take my horse Juno. I get on him, and off I go. Trees fly by, darkness surrounds me, a leaf brushes my face and I wipe it off. As I brush the leaf off, my face is wet. All this time I've been crying, and hadn't realized it. Hours past, until it's daylight, and I can see my house from here. Time to face my family, time to tell them that I failed. Time to face my fear.