A Treasured Love

Meet Gerald

Once upon a time, in a far off place, a princess loved a man with all her heart. Alas, this love was not meant to be. The princess could only marry a man her father approved of before her 21st birthday.

 The soft click of heeled shoes echoed throughout the halls. Princess Nina Maria Ellis was called into the throne room for, yet another, prince meeting. She holds her skirt high as she moves briskly through the castle. Her hair was firmly pulled into a regal bun with silver ribbon in the center to make a bow. Since her kingdom's colors were silver and purple, her dress was flowing purple with silver details. Her snow white hair perfectly highlighting the silver of her kingdom as she entered the throne room.

"I'm sorry to be late father," she said as she fixed her dress so she looked like a princess, "there was troubles with my hair. Please forgive me."

"You are forgiven my daughter," her father, King Cedric, echoed throughout the room.

Her father was a well built man with thick shoulders, a muscled body, bountiful hair, and a booming deep voice to pull it all together. He looked down from his silver throne with pride filled eyes. His daughter was the most beautiful women around and had grown into a rare flower. He knew he would have to find a proper suitor for his little girl, but he was too protective of his daughter to let her decide.

"My dear Nina," He said with a loving fatherly tone, "I would like you to meet Prince Gerald from the southern islands." Her father motioned toward a bulky fellow with a serious face. He was good looking, but all Nina saw was another guard like figure. Gerald was dressed in a deep blue shirt and brown pants. His deep blue eyes were flawless against his light brown skin.

 Nina smiled toward him and gave a polite curtsy. "What an honor to meet you, Prince Gerald."

 "The honor is all mine," He approached Nina, took up her hand, and placed a soft kiss against her skin. "Princess."

"Do call me Nina in my own home." She said with a firm but sweet voice, "It would only be a bother to call me princess all day and night."

 "Do forgive me. It won't happen again," He released her hand and nodded to her, "Nina."

 Gerald said no more to Nina, until King Cedric placed a hand on Nina's shoulder. "Isn't she beautiful, my lad? Fairest of them all."

"She is most beautiful, your highness," Gerald proclaimed. He looked at my father in a serious, business like, tone and said, "I'm sure the night sky is missing a star tonight."

 Although his words were kind, his voice was dull and uncaring. Nina didn't care for prince Gerald in the slightest. Her father and the prince talked about Nina as if she wasn't in the room. "She enjoys the beach...." "She surely is a smart one....." "A man will be lucky to have her..." She soon escaped her father's grasp without any notice and left the room.

She hated the stuffy castle she lived in and often visited the beach only a few feet away. Her father told her the beach could wash away any stress she had, and it usually did. Recently she had been coming to the beach about every day. She knew her father didn't like her going alone, but she was never alone unless she was at the beach.

She removed her shoes, held up her skirt, and stuck her feet into the cold natural water. She giggled as small fish swam by her toes. /all her worries were taken away with each wave that hit the shore. Before she knew it, it was the evening and her maid had come running after her. "Lady Nina! Lady Nina!"

"What is it, Moria?" Nina chuckled and faced her maid.

"We have to get you ready for the ball tonight." Her maid spouted in a panicked fashion.

"A ball?!"