Roll With It Short Stories

Day Five

Day Five

Word Prompt 13: Petals in the Foam

Word Count 4: 400

Alanasia swirled the warm water of the palace canal. She hummed a giddy tune watching the evening sun cast handsome shades on the water. The young Princess smiled, reminded of her lover's red laced hair. All day she had been immobilized by thoughts of him, knowing soon he would be before her. He would try to tell her of things he had saw but she would stop him before long. Soothing the hardness from his brow and heart with her love and song as was her purpose.

All the Kingdom knew their story, the trials he had faced to bring them together. The son of simple banker, he had seen her briefly in the window of carriage. He became so obsessed with wanting to meet her, he used all his family's money and bribed a noblemen of his clothes and invitation to a ball. Their conversations lasted until sunrise and he grew ever more determined to make her his. He knew tradition would never marry a ruined banker's son to a Princess and that must prove himself better than any man. He went to war with her in his heart, though not a violent man he quickly ascend rank through repeated victories. Songs were sung and the man had become a Hero to the people, inspiring a desperately needed wave of patriotism. The King finally recognized his incredible achievements, asking before all in the Kingdom what it was he desired for his valor. Without a moment's hesitation he asked for his eldest daughters hand and revealed his long standing adoration for her. The King agreed so long as his daughter accepted the proposal, knowing she had been dissatisfied with all other betrothals and had convinced every suitor not to marry her. When Alanasia saw him she accepted without hesitation, to her father's surprise.

Their love would be one all the world would remember, she smiled. She fell asleep watching the sun fall and fires light, waiting for her betrothed to come over the hill. She dreamed of their marriage, her veil became a sweet smelling snow that floated up the waterway. When she awoke she was still alone, white petals from the Kingdom's surrounding forest were stuck in a foam to sides of the canal. She followed along the dried waterway as the smell of smoke and death slowly came to greet her. Her body shook with every step as she came to the canal's gated end. She gripped the thin bars, violently shaking them as she saw the pile that clogged the water's flow.