Moonflower

Chapter 61: The Poignancy of Wonder at Life's Simple Pleasures

Nuri had the afternoon off. A rare treat. She had pleased the kitchen-master last night, so he had given her a few hours off to roam among the royal gardens. She shuddered as she remembered her time with him last evening. Then she pushed such thoughts far away from her. She would not think of them today. This was her chance to be alone. To enjoy the sunshine on her face and the breeze in her hair.

She entered the garden and pulled on the ribbon ensnaring her long locks. As her midnight tresses fell to flow around her waist, she walked towards the ornamental pond. It was her favorite part of this beautiful garden. She found a seat in the shade of a tree and leaned her head back against its trunk. Then she closed her eyes and simply drank in the peace surrounding her. And wished she had a dream to dream.

That was how Hobi found her a few moments later. Her captivating face upturned towards the blue sky. Her eyelids still hiding the magnificence that was her pair of beautiful, obsidian eyes. Her glorious, gleaming hair brushing the ground around her.

He didn't want to startle her, so he approached slowly. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with her. He'd been thinking about it for two weeks. He hadn't been able to forget how pained her movements had been. How she'd limped along on that tender leg. It had truly broken his heart.

He wished to set her free from every restriction and teach her to dance with joy. But he had no quick remedy for her. However - thankfully - he had this opportunity to see her again.

The king had loved Hobi's dramas as well as his comedies. King Yoongi and Queen Moonflower had both enjoyed Hobi's humor and his fine gift for dancing. They had invited him and his troupe to perform daily for all who lived in the palace. He and his players had even been given rooms here. Hobi had never before entertained such royal favor. He was being cautious not to lose it.

But there was one thing he wanted enough to explore the palace grounds...the girl with the magnificent, midnight eyes.

Hobi was in want of a wife. Most men his age had already married. He had never before found a girl he wanted to delight in. But there was something about the little lass he'd caught walking down the hallway the first day he'd stood before the king. Hobi just hadn't been able to get her out of his head. She broke into his thoughts several times a day.

He had spent two weeks searching for her in his free moments. But he wasn't allowed to roam far in the confines of the palace. Most hallways were off limits to him. However, he had received an invitation from the king to peruse the grounds of the garden. In consequence, he had finally found her again.

He stopped and stood, staring down at her lovely countenance for several silent moments. The sunlight was streaming through a break in the tree branches. Its glow was causing her raven locks to gleam and highlighting the roses in her cheeks. She was ravishing. He suppressed a sudden urge to bend down and brush his lips across hers.

What an inviting mouth! Really, her whole face seemed to beckon to him. And her tiny body seemed to call out to him to envelop her in his arms and shield her from the terrors that someone larger and stronger than her might unleash upon her on an evil whim.

Why did he feel that so strongly? Was she at particular risk because she couldn't flee quickly? He pondered this mystery as his eyes traced every lovely feature of her mesmerizing face. Just then, those amazing eyes fluttered open, and she gasped.

"I'm so sorry," he murmured. "I didn't mean to startle you."

She stared up at the kind man who had helped her two weeks ago.

"I haven't been able to get you out of my head," he admitted a moment later.

"What?" She gazed up at him out of those huge, dark eyes.