Princess Warrior [ON HOLD]

07

"Only in the darkness,
you are able to see
the stars."
-Martin Luther King.

Lemuel said softly into my ear, "Can I have this dance princess?"

I stared up at him. My drunken state was exaggerating his good looks. The world was whirling and Lemuel expected me to dance. I shook my head.

Lemuel said, "I won't take no for an answer princess. Besides, people are staring and if I let you go, they'd figure out you were drunk and that would soil your reputation. So let's have one dance and then escape to somewhere quiet where you can clear your drunken head. Besides, why would you take ale in the first place?"

Although I was drunk, some part of me registered what Lemuel had said and I couldn't help it but smile. He was worried about my reputation. Mine!

He didn't let go of me as we joined the dancing party. I wasn't a terrific dancer or a terrible one. Just in between and I was lucky because Lemuel was a terrific dancer. His skills matched with my average ones made for a wonderful match. I felt like I was walking on the clouds all the time.

People stopped dancing and started watching us. I noticed this and couldn't help it but smile. I smiled broadly. On a normal day, under normal un-drunk circumstances, I would have been embarrassed because everyone was staring at me. But now, it was different. The liquor was giving me false confidence and I was loving this feeling.

I think I saw Father talking to David while still staring at us. I think I heard Father say, "Perfectly suited don't you think. They'd make an handsome couple."

I should have cared that Father was playing match maker or that I was actually doing something pleasing to Father for the very first time in my entire life. But this ale. It was not making me think straight with my heightened senses and false confidence. Like I said earlier, I felt like I was walking on the clouds.

When the music was about to end, Lemuel ended our dance by turning me around and I due to my heightened every thing, I gave an elegant twirl and ended up in Lemuel's arms. Staring into his face and looking at that scar. The whole room exploded into cheers and applause. Lemuel bowed and lucky for me I still remembered how to curtsy, which I did.

The attention on us reduced as people returned back to their previous activities which included dancing or chatting. Lemuel led me over to the entrance of the hall. When it dawned on me what he was doing, I stopped in my tracks. Lemuel rolled his eyes when he noticed my resistance and said, "I'm not trying to kidnap you Princess. You wouldn't like the whole court room to see you in this state right?"

Despite my state, Lemuel's words still registered in my head. I had to agree, he was right.

Lemuel grabbed my hands and we started walking out of the hall hand-in-hand. He said, "Besides, society would expect me to lead you to some place and whisper sweet words into your ears. So you wouldn't be missed much."

I swallowed. I was about to tell Lemuel that even if he wasn't there to lead me out of the hall or say I just left the hall on my own, I still would not be missed. After all, I was useless Keren.

Lemuel led me out of the palace into the night. The air was quite cold and the night sky was amazing. We both walked in silence still holding hands.

The walk had cleared my head a bit and I could feel all my heightened senses begin to return to normal.

We finally stopped and I was quite reluctant when Lemuel let go of my hands. I loved the warmth I felt when we held hands and I didn't want to stop feeling that warmth but then, I couldn't say that out loud to him. I looked around and noticed that Lemuel had brought me to the field where we met. My drawing tree was just behind us.

I sat down on the grass not thinking about my dress and I stared at the stars. Lemuel sat next to me. I said, "The stars are so beautiful."

Lemuel lifted his face skyward and stared at the stars. He said, "Yes, they are beautiful. Sometimes, I wish I was one of them."

I sighed and said, "Being one of them would be really wonderful." I was silent for a moment then I said, "I envy them. I envy those beautiful stars. "

Lemuel stared at me quizzically and said, "Why do you envy the stars?"

I said, "Well, you know like they know where they belong to. They are just so beautiful in their individuality. They know where they belong to and are welcome there. I mean, look at how they light up the sky. They just shine so bright. They even have a place to welcome them. A place to truly come home. A place to belong to unlike me."

I sighed once again. Then I said, "I don't know where I belong to. I'm not beautiful individually or even with my sisters. I don't know where I should be and I don't belong anywhere. I'm just me. Useless and stupid me."

I lay back on the grass still staring at the sky. I had absolutely no idea why I was opening up to Lemuel. But I guess you can blame it on the drink or whatever. But I was tired of keeping it to myself. I wanted to tell someone. I wanted to share my burden with someone.

Lemuel broke the silence. He said, "Well, you did shine brighter than a star tonight." I gave Lemuel a weird look.

He chuckled and said, "Well, I mean everyone was staring at you, amazed at your skill. I mean, they even gave you a loud applause."

I couldn't help it but smile. Lemuel was trying to lighten the mood. I said, "I had a very good partner and a very high feeling of confidence thanks to ale but if you insist, thank you. I did shine tonight."

Lemuel chuckled softly. I tore my gaze away from the sky and stared at him. He said, "You know something Princess?"

I said, "I know what?"

Lemuel smiled. Then he said, "Someday, you will shine brighter than the stars. Not just due to having a great dance partner or alcohol but because you are you."

He turned his head and smiled at me. I stared deeply into his eyes and I saw something. What I saw reminded me of what I had seen somewhere else. In another's eyes.

I remembered Comer. When he told me that the sun, moon, stars and other planets were at my feet, I had seen this same thing I just saw in Lemuel's eye.

I had seen Faith.

Not faith in an object or in God. But faith in me.

Faith that I could amount to something better than what I was now. Faith that I could be a cooler version of myself. Faith that I would perform exploits. Faith that I would be incredible. Faith that I would be awesome.

Faith that I lacked in myself.

A/N: Hey guys!! I know it's been like ages and I'm sorry. I'll try to remedy that.

Also please tell me what you think about this chapter, I am not very comfortable with it.

Anyway, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MORE THAN 100 READS! I didn't start writing for the reads or anything but it gets depressing when you put so much effort into something and not even someone acknowledges you or your work or even appreciate the effort you put into such work. But knowing that over 100 people almost 150 read my book, I mean that's something for someone like me who probably has shown only about four people in the whole world her books.

Anyway, thanks so much! Don't forget to vote if you like and then a comment would also be cool.

Xo.

Lohluh.