Cailleach

Chapter IV ~ Adrian

I'm on a hunting trip, when I see a carriage. It's nothing special, believe me, but there is something about it that I am drawn towards. Perhaps it is the screams coming from it. These screams aren't that of someone in pain, but someone who is angry.

I see a window with shattered glass and decide to look through it. What I see is incredible. A girl who looks no older than me (I'm 16, by the way) and she's trying to get out. Being the prince I am, I create a foolproof plan to rescue her.

I stand on top of the carriage, which really is the floor of it, but it's upside down, so no one's defying physics. Then I stomp on the floor. The screams stop, which must mean she knows I'm here. Other than that, the stomp doesn't do much, but that doesn't deter me. I stomp again, harder this time, and I hear a crack. Finally, my plan is showing promise. Repeatedly stomping on the carriage, I eventually make a hole.

"Hello?" the girl asks, looking up at me. This time, I actually take a decent look at her, and realise she's quite pretty. She has wavy light brown hair, with the most striking green eyes. Her dress isn't that of someone in the middle class, as it looks just as my kingdom's idea of an expensive dress.

"Uh, hi, are you trapped?" I reply, as though she isn't, well, trapped.
"Yes, I am. Thank you for noticing," she says in a sarcastic manner, "Who are you, anyway?"
"I am Prince Adrian of Lower Dous. Delighted to make your acquaintance, Miss..." I say, indicating she should say her name.
"Yes, well, get me out of here!"

Stupid girl, who can't understand simple social cues, and yells at me like I'm not a prince. I think the world would be better off without her, but-

No, there's something about her. It could be her glare, or maybe her bluntness, but she's the worst person to ever exist, and yet... she's awe-inducing.

"Well? You think I'm going to get out of here on my own? Help me!"

Also, the way she yells at me is kind of cute. Whenever I think of what her name could be, I get butterflies. This must be love.

"Oh, you're just going to stand there? That's cool, it's not like I'm starving. I've been in here for four days, but it's cool."

I muster all the confidence I have to be assertive towards her (what is wrong with me? I'm becoming wimpish because of some kid).

"What's your name, and where are you from?"
"Why is that necessary information?"
"Because I want to know."
"Good enough. I'm Princess Cailleach, of Upper Dous."
"Hold on, you're a princess?"
"Yes, but right now, I prefer the term damsel in distress. So now would be the perfect time for a prince to save me."

"Oh, uh, yes... I shall save you, Princess!" I shout, looking my most valiant. I look around for a rope, unsuccessful. Then I see my horse, still tied to the tree. "Hey, you're not to run away, okay?" I whisper to him, when I untie him to use the rope.

I tie the rope around one of the rocks, then I let the rope down to Cailleach, expecting her to say something like, "Aren't you going to come and get me?" but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she tries to climb up the rope herself while clutching a book. It doesn't work.

"Just ditch the book," I call.
"No, I can't!" she cried.
"Why not?"
"Because it's my favourite thing in the entire world."
"Look, I need to get you out of here, so hurry up!"

Cailleach stops trying, and contemplates something. She drops the book, and starts climbing the rope. To my surprise, she actually does.

"Can you lead me back home now?" she asks, "I don't know my way back."

I really want her to love me, so I agree.