Time for the Truth: a story of a sleeping beauty

When the truth leaves you bare

I placed a pin in my hair, locking the last of it up, away from my face. My soul felt heavy and light. I was free, but I couldn't be sure that I wanted to leave more than I wanted to see the people I loved. Did I love Rior?

I had gained strength in the last few days, but because of my refusal to see anyone except Rosernan, the King had decided to put the final leg of courting into effect.

I had three more weeks to find out if I did love him. This was the deal the king was forcing upon me.
In accordance to the Morijdian people's customs, I must be able to make an informed decision about my husband. I needed to get to know my betrothed within several months (almost nine for me) and then I would spend a three week period away from him. ( I couldn't get over the fact that Rior was the prince! the few times I had met the prince he had been solemn and hidden and refused to speak, only asking that I tell him a story. The one time he tried to ask me to sing a song, and I told Rior I couldn't sing to someone I didn't know, and then I sang for Rior... oh god! what an idiot I had been.) I would be able to see my family and meet other possible suitors so that I could be 'tempted.' then I could return in that time period, or I could leave forever. he would be spending three weeks away from me as well, but if he decided he couldn't do without me it didn't matter because he had asked me originally.
I wasn't sick anymore, but I still wasn't as healthy as I used to be, and the king had manipulated the customs to his liking. he had made it so that the only face I could ever see was Rior's, and the only people I would interact with were my future family members.
I wasn't willing to tell them now that being engaged was what people had been waiting for my entire life at home.
Just like the king wasn't willing to play fair. I could choose not to go, but I missed home as if it were my very heart. so to try to influence me the King ordered that I could not have an escort into my country.

There are bandits and rogues all over the city and countryside and I had to find my way to the castle as quickly as I could.

Checking my reflection in the polished metal across from the trunk containing my clothing, I began latching it.
"Truth?" Rior's voice scratched right behind me. I didn't turn. his hand caressed my shoulder. I brush it off, mixed up and lonely while I wanted to both tell him off and talk to him.
"Please, let me say my good-bye in case you do not come back." This makes me whirl around.

My reaction makes me question if I am planning on coming back, because it feels like I was. Like the words, 'don't say such things' were on the tip of my tongue.

He is closer than I thought, and he pulls me in, so warm against his chest. He does not shake or stutter, but seems sad and worried. Meanwhile I am a mess, and I am barely holding back my tears. I force a smile as I clear them from my throat.

"I know that you are still mad at me, but can you forgive me so that we may part as friends?" his words make me realize that I have forgiven him, damn it anyways, and that makes me even more unsure.
"No, I can't." He moves to pull away from our hug to look at my face but I cling to him and his warmth. Is that the only reason I hug him?
"If I do Rior, then you would be so... confused if I don't come back."
"If?" I step away and continue packing, and folding. "If is better than being sure you won't."
"Is it? it feels cruel to say it." Rior grabs my chin and looks into my eyes.
"Do not be ashamed of your confusion. you were... manipulated and forced to live a life that is not what you dreamed of."
"Why must you always be so understanding? I know that is not how you feel! I won't listen to more flattering lies." I feel it now, the bubble of anger in my chest that threatens me with crawling skin and itchy fists.
"That is what I am supposed to say." he sounds so blissfully unaware, just the way that males always seem to be.
"You don't get it. Love isn't supposed to be anything. it's unexpected and real and often accidental and hopeful and silly and fresh. it's not being forced into thinking of one person all the time because you are kept from the family that you do love. I don't know that you will ever get it." I finally look at him and he looks grave, with a muscle twitching in his cheek.
"I understand that. Love to me is also trying to work through differences, even when you want to scream and hit anyone in your way and run after the girl that you always dreamed would come along, even if she is different and so much better than you ever expected. " he started growing louder. "But you don't think to try with
Me because you're so caught up in the choices you didn't get to make that you forget it wasn't chosen by me either. but now..." he became dreadfully quiet "I do choose you, I want you to be able to choose me, because I love you.
But I cannot keep a caged bird, you need to love me back." his voice was hoarse again, his accent stronger in his anger.

I realized that he had gotten closer, so close I could see the beautiful ice blue of his eyes. I reached to smooth the hair that had fallen into his face.

"You love me? Surely?" he put his arms around my waist and scooped me closer.
"I love you, you are my Truth. Surely." his accent made everything sound beautiful and made me feel so as well. he leaned in and kissed my lips, tasting wonderful and raising the hair on my neck. My hands curled around his neck and pulled his body closer to mine, to breathe his breath and feel his strong, soft skin. His lips tasted like dreams and honey and moved against mine so that I forgot everything except him. How could I live without this?

The current between us broke with that thought and I moved to rest my head on his shoulder. He waited for me to speak. My voice feels ragged at the edges when I do.
"Don't. you're only making it harder." I shudder with a concealed sob. His calloused hand smooths the tear I thought I hid so well off of my cheek. His voice was a sexy grumble
"It's supposed to be hard, but I want it to be easy. for you." his hand came up to stroke my cheek. he began to move towards the door, but I grabbed his long fingers.
"Please. what if I do decide that ..." I want to choose my words carefully So that Rior doesn't think something that I am not sure of yet. "That you do choose me?" He brings his head close to my ear, sending chills across my right side.
" There is a forest by your home, called the enchanted forest. You know of this from your story?" his words have a hypnotic effect, and I can barely breathe. I nod. " you must go far enough to where there are signs of magic. I will wait there for you." He moulds a kiss onto my frozen lips, leaving my insides like melted ice cream. He smiles with his sideways smile and closes the door behind him. Then it occurred to me that I had told the prince, not Rior this story, and my heart shook all over again.
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Whoops... this was supposed to be posted before a journey... my bad! Xoxo