In The Village of Crows

F O U R

"Every single day I seem to have been seeing you, Little Dove, what has changed?"

I smile, soaking up every minute of our interactions, knowing I won't have much longer to spend with him.

"It just turned out that my time has freed up a bit."

He gives me a small smile, but I can see the faint worry lines on his head. His brows are slightly furrowed, and he continually wipes off the same glass piece, so I can tell something is wrong.

"Resai, what's wrong?"

He looks up from what he's doing and gives me a small smile, open his mouth to say something, shakes his head, and looks back down at the violet hued glass. "It's nothing, Little Dove. Hadn't meant to worry you."

I tilt my head and furrow my brow. "No, tell me, for real, Res."

He exhales a long breath and finishes wiping down the glass. He sets it down with a soft click on the counter and puts his cloth away.

"I just feel like this isn't going anywhere."

"Oh." Even though I knew this wouldn't last forever, my stomach sinks.

He reads the look on my face and immediately back tracks. "Oh, no, no! I want it to! that's not what I'm saying. I feel like it's not, but I want that to change."

"Oh," I say again, unsure of his direction.

He laughs a little. "Little Dove, it's been three years."

"Yeah, I know,"

"And I don't know your name. And we've never been on a date."

Heat flares up in my face and I start to feel guilty for even getting involved with him in the first place, knowing he probably blames it all on himself.

"I know,"

He places his hand on top of mine, a kind look in his eyes. "And I would like to do those things with you."

"As would I."

"So then we shall."

"Resai, you know I can't just divulge all that. This has all been for a reason and not of my own accord."

"Little Dove, don't you think it time to live life to your own, then? Don't tell me you don't feel the gap between us too. Like something is missing."

I sigh and look at my feet.

"We could take care of that, get married."

My head snaps up so hard I hit it on the shelf above me, sending the glass pieces that rest atop it clanking together. I rub my head and set my hand on the shelf to stabilize it. I quickly realize I have no idea how to formulate a response. My mouth opens and closes in an attempt to find words, but my vocal chords remain silent.

He gives me a closed eyed smile and a laugh. "Not something we need to worry about now. You can think about it."

He holds out his hand to me. "Come, we'll go for a walk."

I reluctantly take it, considerably overwhelmed by the situation I find myself in.

The market is quiet now, and a cool air breezes by every so often, taking my mind with it. I find myself three years prior, walking the same streets, only alone. My first time out in the town, all alone. The beginning of my deceptions towards Jaimie. Never before had I seen such bright, vibrant colors. I hadn't even been outside castle walls at this point, and everything was so new and exciting. I remember seeing all the trinkets and being just as enraptured with them as I am now.

I remember seeing a young Resai for the first time, and being just as enraptured with him as I am now, too. It was a glint of mischief in his eye when he smiled at me that drew me to him. As timid as I was then, a young unsupervised girl with no experience in the outside world, I held no inhibitions when it came to Resai. It was something, that as soon as I made eye contact him, clicked.

Ever since then, I had always came to the market to see him.

Res squeezes my hand, brining me back to the real world.

"What are you thinking about, Little Dove?"

I smile at the memory. "Just about how we first met."

He grins and drops my hand, pulling me closer to him by wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "Oh really?"

I nod my head, not really wanting to elaborate more. It pops into my head that it might be a smart idea to begin to distance myself from Resai, much as the notion leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I think it would be best, that it would ease the inevitable hurt coming our way.

I study his form as he talks to me, telling me about a thousand other wonderful memories. I stare and I stare, almost in awe of the innocence and ignorance he's blessed to have. Or maybe not. While I know the whole expanse of the situation, and can accept it for what it is, when he sees the princess presented to the kingdom with her new prince husband he'll be in for a rude awakening.

I remember that my time with him is limited and that I need to make it count, so I try to move my mind from the dreariness it seems to gravitate to. I try to hone my attention on to the words he says.

"...And my favorite time was the time you had run into the stall and you looked so worn down and tired and you just kissed me and then I hugged you and you told me you felt better."

I smile, wishing that I hadn't been so zoned out that I missed the first half of what he said, but nonetheless appreciate the sweetness.

"Yeah, I remember that day." We turn a corner and his hand lowers to my back, then he takes my hand again and looks at me.

"Maybe we could start closing that distance? You could tell me why you were so upset that day."

I smile and mentally let out a big sigh, glad for an easy way to appease him. I know I can tell him the truth for this one. "It was my brother. He is older than me, and I'm sure you know how older brothers are. I can't recall specifics, I just remember that he was especially antagonizing that day. He's like that a lot. He's practically my boss. I had just had it with him."

He smiles widely. "See? Was that so tough? Feeling closer already."

"Yeah, I suppose it wasn't so awful."

"I'll wear you down yet, Little Dove."

By this time it's dusk and the stars begin to settle in their places in the sky.

"Res, It's getting late."

"Yes, l suppose it is."

He takes me back to his stall, where he locks it up for the night.

"Goodnight, Little Dove," he kisses my cheek and I can see the weariness in his face. "I'll see you tomorrow, yes?"

"Hopefully so, Resai."

"Don't forget about what I said earlier. I meant it. Even with your secrets, I couldn't see my life without you in it."

I smile and feel my face flush, the ground suddenly becoming extraordinarily interesting. "I will." And with that, we part ways and trouble follows me all the way home.