Enchanting chapter four:
It was indeed a lovely day for an execution.
Norward loved them. When somebody who served him was unsatisfactory, he thoroughly enjoyed watching the blade connect to their fleshy neck and their bloody head fall to the ground until it landed on the stone floor, like an animal dropping. One of his servants was getting executed today for serving him the wrong type of wine. Normally he would have loved to watch him die.
But today he had other things to do.
The other night, he hadn't been able to sleep. Thoughts of the enchantress had kept him awake all night. He wondered if she was beautiful, like his father said her mother was. He had heard the great story many times. How his great father had saved their villiage and as a surprise they all came to the castle on the day of Norward's birth. They were said to be more beautiful than any woman ever seen in the villiage. Also, her shop was said to be quite a hit with the commoners. Not that he cared much what commoners did, but she had built quite a buisness from next to nothing, which he admired. He pictured her in his mind. Perhaps she would be a redhead, with flaming hair that burned into his mind like a stray torch. Or perhaps she would be a brunette, with hair to the floor and q smile so white it could blind a man.
Whatever she looks like, he thought to himself, I bet she'll be the best lay of them all. And with the bet made in his mind, he set off for the shop.
The building itself was dingy and looked abandoned. If not for the great glittering sign and the line of customers out the door, he would have never guessed that an enchantress lived here. As he approached, many of the young women in the line grew excited. "Oh, prince Norward!" some cried. Or "Look, it's the prince!" was another. "Hush, you silly girls." was his only reply. It silenced them well enough. There was only one door, and it was blocked by the line of customers. "Move, you commoners!" he shouted. The single command sent them scattering to the winds, terrified to disobey him. As soon as he was inside, he announced "I am here to see Eldrevedora." the line of customers moved tithe side, allowing him to see the woman behind the counter.
Norward had been around the world and had seen many beautiul faces. But never in his life had he seen such an abnormally beautiful female. Her ringlets framed her gorgeous face like a halo of pure gold. She was dressed like an angel too, in a spotless white dress that billowed and flowed as she walked yet hugged her curves so gracefully that Nroward nearly fainted upon the sight of her. The blue of her eyes stabbed the onlooker like two great swords into the heart. As soon as he saw her, he knew she was to be a good lot of fun. He smiled his favorite smile at her. The one that had sent many a woman weeping onto the floor.
At the sight of him, the reaction was quite different though. Her eyes narrowed and she turned away from him. "Im sorry sir, but you'll have to go to the back of the line."
Norward grew angry. "I am the prince of Niull. I wait in no lines."
"I am the owner of this shop and these customers have been waiting longer than you have."
"I could hang you."
"I could turn you into a horny toad. If you want to see me, you will wait in line, sir." She turned to her customers and an angelic smile spread across her face. "Please, don't let this rude man bother you. Form the line back up. And Prince Norward, there is a lovely place waiting for you at the back of the line."
Alright, Norward thought to himself. I'll play along with her. Besides, she did have a fair point. She could turn him into any array of creatures and there wasn't a thing anyone else could do about it. Not even the king.
As he walked towards the end of the line, he heard various conversations about him. For example, an eldrely man was conversing with a young woman a few people away from the end.
"That woman sure is something." the old man observed. "She made the high and mighty majesty himself wait behind us commonfolk."
"You daft twit!" the young lady hissed. "She would never do such a thing! He's waiting at the back because he is kind and fair as any prince should be. Oh, what a glorious heart he must have. I envy the girl that one day captures it."
"Any girl that catches a glimpse of that heart would find it hard and cold as ice in the north pole. He killed my brother practicing fencing!"
"Well, your brother was a silly man. If he'd joined the army that wouldve never happened to him. As for Norward's heart, im sure if he knew me I'd quickly melt it."
"No girl I know could melt that son of a bitches heart..."
At this, Norward simply drew his sword and held it to the old man's throat. "You will hold your tongue sir, or else face the wrath of my father and his kingdom."
"Im part of his damn kingdom. Which by the way isn't yours yet so if I were you, I'd lower that bloody blade."
"Kneel to me and take back the vile, untrue words which you have spoken and I shall be merciful. I am in a most peculiar mood today and you shall benefit from it."
"Id rather rot than bow to you, royal scum." the old man spit in Norward's face. "I've led a good long life, now it's time to join me brother."
Norward lowered his blade. "You show spirit, old man. You shall be on the front lines in our next war. Our army could use your courage and valor. Of course, you'll die quickly. But I guess that's kind of the point."
"I fight, but I fight for the kingdom, not for you."
"Understood."
As Norward walked back to his place in line, the woman who had been conversing with the man cried "Oh, my precious Norward! You are so noble. So forgiving, so MERCIFUL! You will be a most excellent leader for our kingdom, your highness."
"You are telling me things I already know. Now get back in line and shut your mouth, stupid girl."
"At once, sir. May I also say that you are looking most extraordonarily handsome today."
"What you have said is obvious to any onlooker, especially myself. Your overactive tongue could get you executed. You know I'd do it."
"Yes, sir. I shall hold my tongue."
Why couldn't the woman in the shop be as obediant as this one? Maybe she was like the other man, but it was usually only the eldrely that dared disrespect him so. Besides that, she was a woman and she didn't look too much older or younger than him, so she shouldve been under the spell that made her fall in love with him. Strange creature, she was. He was determined to know more about her. Norward sighed. So this was what being a commoner was like. Maybe it would be an interesting experience.
...
Interesting? More like perfectly horrid. He had been waiting in line for hours and still wasn't inside the shop. He felt like shouting "HURRY UP, YOU GODDAMN COMMONERS!!" but he feared that would get him turned into a horny toad, which he didn't want. "Next, please." Came the angelic croon that signaled for the next person to step up. It was the first time he could hear it, so that was a good sign. The rest of the line moved quiickly, as if they knew he was at the back. Soon enough, he was at the front. "Next, please." as soon as she looked up from her work, she saw him and her eyes narrowed again. "Im sorry, sir. We're closed for today. Come back tomorrow if you must."
"Thats fine. I'm not a customer. I'm just paying you a visit."
"Why? You don't know me."
"Id like to."
She narrowed her eyes. "You will leave me be, sir."
Why didn't she immediately fall in love with him like everyone else? It was so bizarre. Even more bizarre was the fact that it made him want her even more. "You will come to the palace for dinner tonight. We're to eat in the nook. I'll send a summons for you later."
Norward strolled out of the shop, determined to bed her before next week.
