Nameera

As I walked through the shallow pools in the back garden of my summertime manse in the Golden City I couldn't help but think that it was the end. I looked down at the crystal clear water and wondered how such a terrible thing could happen in such a beautiful place. That was when I decided that I would not die there. I couldn't bare to desecrate such a beautiful haven, so I ran, I ran as fast as I could, my bare feet pounding against the crisp morning grass. I could hear them shouting, my so called protectors. The cities inhabitants saw them as men who were willing to give their own lives in place of mine but in reality they were my captors, waiting for the order of my execution to come. I ran down the garden, through the woods, jumped over a low wall and tumbled down a grassy hillside. Suddenly an old man appeared out of nowhere and grabbed me, covering my mouth before I had time to scream. He lifted me up and carried me into the middle of a forest, where his black stallion was waiting. As he set my down on the ground he explained that he meant me no harm but he would be forced to gag me if  I tried to scream. Slowly he removed my gag, watching me cautiously for any sign that I was going to scream. He began to repack his saddle bags, he had obviously been camped here for some time. After what seemed like hours I finally managed to work up the courage to ask him who he was.

''What's your name?'' I asked in a voice too timid to really belong to me.

''My name?'' He replied, studying me with curiosity.

''Yes sir, your name, what do people call you?'' I said, feeling as though he was making a jape.

''I know what a name is'' He said rather indignantly, '' I'm just wondering why a highborn Lady such as yourself would want to know the name of a humble old fool like me''

''I wish to know the name of my new captor so that I may seek revenge once I have escaped.'' I snapped back at the self-proclaimed fool. 

He looked at me with obvious amusement before he said '' I am no captor, my Lady, I had hoped to be your saviour and win your fair hand in marriage.''

I stared blankly at him for a few moments before stumbling out my answer '' I-I'm s-sorry but I must have misheard you, I thought I heard you ask for my hand in marriage?''

''No, you heard me correctly'' He chuckled. His face full of amusement at my distress. When I failed to answer him he spoke again, ''You have no idea who I am do you?''.

''Of course I don't, we only just met''

''No, we met long ago in the great city of Atari. I was a young boy who dreamed of being a famous warrior who won many wars and conquered barbarion cities, you were a young girl who dreamed of nothing more than marrying a handsome prince from some far of land and living happily ever after.''

''Octavion'' I whispered, suddenly remember the little boy who used to protect me from little the bullies who wished to steal my things, all he had ever stolen was a kiss.

''Yes Nameera, it's me'' he said, his big blue eyes staring at me, I wondered how I hadn't notcied before. Blue eyes and bronze skin, such an unusual combination.

''But you look so old,'' I said,confused' ''I don't understand, you are no more than a moons turn older than me''.

''Atari is famous for its decptions is it not?'' He said with a smile that reminded me of the boy I once new.

''Of course'' I replied, smiling along with him. I heard footsteps approaching and the sqeals of the hunting dogs that had found my scent.

''Quickly, over here'' Octavion whispered. I ran over to him and he lifted me up onto his stallion, swinging himself effortlessly up behind me. He wrapped his arms around me to reach the reigns and suddenly I felt safer than I had in years. ''Hold on tight'' He whispered as he urged his stallion on. We galloped through countless fields and woods, jumping over streams and hedges until we reached a small town where we slowed to a trot.