My Childhood Sweetheart

Chapter Three

Days, weeks, months, and years had passed, but no Phillip came back Anaka. In two decades, Anaka had completely transformed into a more beautiful, enchantress princess of Lake Arnia. Still waiting for Phillip. She had continued to refuse the suitors that the king had offered to her. The king had no idea why she has not picked her husband yet. She often wonders wonder how would Phillip looks like. Ever since the day she cried, the Spanish moss had turned into white. They glitter like crystals during the night when the moon shines on them. She was sitting by the rock when she opens the Phillip's letter. She had read his letters more than a million times. She keeps smiling and mesmerizing along the lake. The sun was not shining that much, so no one can really see her. She watches a group of teenagers throw pebbles by the lake. One of them wanted to pee on the lake and she stops him by blowing a breeze by the Spanish moss. It looks like as if it moved by itself. There was no breeze that morning. The guy felt as if he just had a goosebump, and then a glowing light form from around the lake. They ran as fast as they can away from the lake. Anaka's father, King Atheius is watching furiously. As soon as the teenagers were far, Anaka went back to the rock and starts to read Phillips letter again. She is unaware that the king is watching her from the back. He saw a letter addressed to Anaka, he knew it not from his kingdom. 

"Princess Anaka!"

"Father. How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to watch you chase those teenagers."

"They were acting like a fool, that's why."

"Are you sure it's them?"

"What do you mean, father?"

"Hand it to me." He demanded Anaka to hand the letter to him.

"No father, I can't."

"Why?"

"I just can't."

"So this is why you have been refusing all your suitors."

"Father, please."

"GUARDS!" Yells the king to his royal guards and they came right away.

"Take that letter away from her hands and give it to me."

"Father, please. No."

Her father read the love letter and she can see from her father's reaction towards the letter is not so good. 

"You have disappointed me and disobeyed me as your father, as the king of our kingdom. You have put our people in danger, and for this you need to be punished."

"Father, pleased."

"Guards, call for Queen Attelle."

Within a moment queen, her mother arrived. Her mother is a spitting image of Anaka. But her hair is dark, as the night. But when the moon shines on her hair, it gleams. Her eyes are the same as Anaka, even her lips. She saw her daughter, Anaka and, she knew even before that Anaka was warned. The queen stays beside her king.

"Queen Attelle, I summoned you here as the queen of the meadows. The princess had committed a treason, and for that, she needs to be punished."

"What are you going to do with our daughter, Atheius?"

"I'm going to let her live like them. So, she can have a taste the life outside our kingdom." "Atheius... It's such a different world out there and she could be hurt."

"She had all ready put our people in danger with this." He gave the queen the letter and she reads it.

"Anaka. When did you get this?"

"Long time ago."

"I'm sorry, your father is right."

With that, the King strips her off from royalty, and becomes like a regular, normal person. Her hair that had a tinge of sunlight, is now brown. Her eye's remains the same, but her complexion will no longer gleams with the sunlight. The whole surrounding of the lake has changed also. As if it only looks alive with her. Anaka started to speak and she was horrified by the way her voice sounds. She covers her mouth in disbelief. Her mother felt sorry and worry for her.

"Atheius, she sounds horrible. How will she manage outside our kingdom?"

"She will learn to speak their language in time. Anaka, you are stripped, as the Princess of Lake Arnia, but you are still my daughter. Do you understand?"

Anaka just nods her head.

"Everything will come back once you learn how to act unselfishly for your own good."

After that, they banished her from the lake and ended up someplace. She has no idea and no recollection of everything. 

Anaka has to learn how to speak their words, and this is why Phillip couldn't hear her. She can talk in her own kingdom, but outside, she needs to learn like a baby. 

There were cars honking, and the noise coming from the crowd scares her. She has no idea where she is and why she is here. 

In that same moment, Phillip is driving his car. He notices a woman, standing in the middle of the street. Another car is coming, and he tries to get out of his car to save her from getting hit. So, she grabs her and pulls her close to him far away from the incoming car. There he sees her, and Anaka looks at him. For awhile, Phillip thought, she looked familiar, but then when she started to speak, he thought wrong.

"Eeyoew... "

He smiles back at her and almost chuckles. 

"Is there something wrong with your tongue?"

She shakes her head right away, looking confused.

"Well, I guess that's the way you speak."

She nods back at him looking disappointed.

"Are you from around here?"

She raises her eyebrows, thinking... Then she comes up with nothing.

Phillip drew a huge sigh and asks her to ride with him.

"C'mon, I'm taking you to my place."

She suddenly tries to get away from him, but Phillip insists on taking her to his car.

"If I leave you alone here, something will happen to you; So, let's go."

Inside the car, Anaka looks around and starts touching everywhere. Phillip couldn't help but notice. Suddenly he thinks she's crazy.

"Look, whatever you do, do not turn this knob. The music is playing and the volume is just right. " Pointing to the volume of the car stereo.

Anaka just listens to him and let out a huge sigh.

"Do not worry, I'm not alone in my house. My mother is also there, staying with me."

Not a moment longer, they arrive at his house. Anaka's eyes widen with excitement. She has never seen a house like this before, everything is so new and she has no idea why she feels that way.

Back in her kingdom, the kingdom looks tot he horizon feeling sad. The Queens joins beside him.

"Atheius, I cannot blame you. You are the king and Anaka is the future of our kingdom. She is still your daughter no matter what. She will always be a part of both of us."

"I will never forgive myself, if something happens to Anaka. What must I do?"

"We can send for a convoy, but she must not find out about it."

"Yes, you are right. Why did I never think of that before?"

"That is why I'm always here right beside you."

"Guards, summoned for a Herund."

A Herund is a royal dwarf, He never get's old and he has been guarding the meadow ever since. The king explained to him what had happened to the princess and Promise his highness to watch and guard Princess Anaka.