Powers of a Stranger (working title)

Ch. 1

       I was sitting alone in the garden holding a daisy twirling it around in my fingers, just watching it turn when I felt someone sit down beside me.  I didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

“So what are you doing here little one?”  

Taking a breath, not wanting to be bothered, I shrugged.

“This is the only place I go to really be alone.  You have your servants and the rest of the country side spying on me.  Where am I to go?”

      He chuckled, “Sorry you feel that way.   But… If you ever want to be alone.  You can come find me and we can go anywhere you want to.”

     “Yeah like that’s called being alone.  Being alone is actually when someone is by themselves you know.  Why are you really keeping me here?  Am I an object you keep tucked away and when you get bored, you visit?  You bring me here to your beautiful home then leave me with your servants.  Am I to be your servant?”

His eyes narrowed and his jaw twitched.  “Trust me when I say this, if you were here to be my servant, and when I say servant, it’d be my Personal private servant.  You wouldn’t be allowed to leave my bedside or room and you would be there for me to do as I pleased.  You would heed my every beck and call.  That is what I would wish from you, only you, if you were my servant.”

     “Oh…umm… Okay.”  Clearing my throat, and not knowing how to respond, I looked down at my hands.  After a small pause, I asked.

       “So what am I then?”

“You are going to be my wife.”

     “What!  You can’t be serious!”

“Yes, my wife, my Princess, my little Queen.  Why else would I keep you?”

     “Umm… I truly thought those were just pet names when we spoke.  Anyway, why me?  I am a foreigner in this country.  Wouldn’t it be best for you to choose someone from around here?”  

Turning to look at him, I was drawn to his eyes.  They twinkle when he smiles and oh what a beautiful smile.  What am I thinking?  This man wants me to be his wife and I barely know him!

      “Yes well, the question is why not?  When I first laid eyes on you I knew.  You were so beautiful and so independent; it was only obvious that you belong to me.  Plus, there’s something about you.  Like I know you from somewhere before.  In a dream perhaps?  Hmmm?”  His smile grew.  “What do you think my princess?  Be my wife?”

     “You can’t believe that I belong to you because you think I am beautiful or even from a dream!  You think I knew you from a past life or something!  This is crazy!  And please stop calling me your princess, queen, or… what ever!”

     “Why?”

     “Because first; I am not royalty.  Second; I am your regular average woman.  Last; I don’t belong to someone.  I am not an object you can take or buy.  I need to be given a choice.  I am only human and I have feelings.”

    "I know you’re human.  It wouldn’t work out for me if you were some sort of animal.”  With a mischievous wink, he added, “Though I find some people do portray animal like qualities.”

“Oh don’t be dense.   You know what I mean.”

     “Ok, so you say that I don’t treat you like a human being?  I believe you are free to roam where ever you wish.”

     “Yes.  But there is always someone with me.  I can’t go anywhere beyond your land boundaries.  If I do, you’re there.   I can’t even go to the market alone.”