Catharina

Chapter 10

"Asher, if you could do anything what would you do?" I asked as we traveled through the tall grass. The burning sun glazed down on us and Littlefoot. "What kind of question is that?" Asher replied.

"A question of curiosity," I said. Asher paused and looked back at me. "I would like to live in a grand castle all to myself with piles of riches around me, but that's really only my childhood fantasy," Asher told me, "I guess having my own land, my own place to call home. I've never gotten to call a place home, just traveling from place to place. Having my own place would be a dream come true, but we all know dreams don't come true no matter how hard you wish." He turned back around and continued to walk. I couldn't imagine going from place to place not calling a place home.

I may have left my parents and family but I still had a place to call home. "What about you, Princess? What would you like to do with your life? Probably the same stuff you're doing now right? Live in a castle, have servants to-"

"Travel," I interrupted. Asher looked back at me. "I apologized, continue," I said. Asher shook his head. "No, go on," Asher said.

"Well, like I said that night you let me get on the back of the horse, I want to see the world. I want to see other kingdoms and far off places," I told him.

"Huh," Asher said.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing. I was just thinking." He turned around and continued walking. "About what?" I asked curiously.

Just-," Asher paused, "just how we should switch lives."

"You being a princess? That's a sight to see," I giggled as Asher started to walk through a large mud puddle.

"Thanks for the support, commoner." I rolled my eyes. "I hate that term. The people of Adelidon or any kingdom for that matter shouldn't be labeled as what class they're in. People have personalities, characteristics, things that make them who they are. Whether you're a king, lord, or a commoner you are still a person," I explained.

"And that right there is what will make you a good queen for Adelidon," Asher told me. I stopped in surprise, at the edge of the mud puddle. "What did you say?" I asked. Asher looked at me, offering his hand. I took it and lifted the skirt of my dress some before I stepped into the wet, slimy mud. Asher dropped his hand and kept walking. "That you'll be a good queen of Adelidon," Asher said . I didn't say anything as Asher stepped out of the mud, his pants filthy.

"You think I'd be a good queen?" I asked.

"You think you'd be bad at it? Princess, look at you, the way you act towards villagers and commoners is incredible. Social status doesn't matter to you and you talk about Adelidon with so much care and gratitude- Princess, there's no way in hell you'd be bad at it," Asher explained. I looked at the mud,feeling my cheeks blush. "Thank you, Asher, that's very kind of you to say," I said.

Asher shrugged. I felt my foot slide deep into the mud. "Uh- Asher," I said trying to wriggle out.

"Huh?" Asher asked.

"I'm uh- I'm stuck," I stated. Asher smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. "Aren't you going to help me?" I asked.

"Who knew the Princess could be so demanding."

"I apologize. May you please help me get-"

"I was merely joking, Princess." Asher reached out for my arm and started pulling me. "I thought I told you not to call me that," I scolded.

"It's kinda grown on me," Asher admitted. He gave one more tug before we were both out of the mud. "Thanks," I said.

"No problem, Princess," Asher replied pointing out my name. I smiled at him. He started to walk away when suddenly my foot slipped on the grass and I started to fall. I screamed and grabbed onto Asher's shirt sending us both backwards and into the mud. I wiped the mud from my face.

"Quite graceful, Princess," Asher stated. I laughed and tossed a pile of mud his way. "Oops, my hand slipped," I told him.

"Oh yeah?" Asher grabbed a handful of mud and tossed it right at my face. Asher and I started a mud fight, laughing and tossing mud back and forth until we were completely covered in the wet dirt.

********

"This is your fault you know," Asher said before he grabbed the ends of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

"Blaming a royal are you-" I stopped and took in his muscle physique. "What?" Asher asked. I shook my head, getting rid of my hypnosis. "Nothing, nothing. Are you going to wash first?" I asked. We had conveniently found ourselves a small waterfall that poured into a lake. "No," Asher objected, "ladies first." I smiled and headed to the lake.

I stripped myself of my gown and let it soak in the water before I walked over to the waterfall. The water was perfect, not too cold and not too hot. I closed my eyes and let the water drape down through my hair and down my body. Soon enough the mud was gone. I held my breath and sank into the water, returning when my lungs were about to burst.

I gasped for air and took one last dip before coming back up and walking over to wear my dress was drying, sprawled out in the sun. I got dressed and headed back to Asher. He was sitting shirtless on a rock, sharpening his dagger. The dagger that has almost killed me that night at my debutante.

I walked up to him. "Why didn't you kill me that night? At my debutante? I know a simple deal wouldn't stop even the fiercest assassins out there. Why didn't you do your job?" I asked. Asher stayed focused on his dagger, sharpening it a point. It was quiet and still in the air. After a while I gave up on a response. I sat down in the leaves beside him.

"It's your turn. The water is nice," I said. Asher got up, setting the dagger down, and walked away towards the lake. I sat quietly within the leaves before looking over at the dagger. Its blade sending a sparkle in the setting sun.

Time passed and soon Asher returned. When he came back, I was sitting up in a tree. While he was gone I had figured out how to climb a tree but, I had been too afraid to go any higher than a couple of branches. "I fell into a spell," Asher stated as he buttoned up his shirt.

"What?" I asked jumping down.

"I had become hypnotized by something stronger than anything in this world and I couldn't stop myself. It was too strong and I didn't know the the cure," Asher said.

"Who did this to you?" I asked.

"You," Asher answered.

"Me? I don't know- how- I don't do hypnosis," I argued. Asher walked over to me. "Wrong. You can do one thing that will always stop me from hurting you."

"And what's that?" I asked. Asher took a flower from my braided hair that I had placed together while he was absent.

"Making me fall in love with you." I opened my mouth slightly, shocked at what he said. "You- you-" I struggled to find my words.

"I may not be best for your kingdom, but as of right now you aren't in your kingdom, are you Princess?" Asher replied. I smiled. Asher held my face and gently placed his lips on my own. When he pulled away I smiled again. "You've become my favorite reason for running away from home," I told him.

"And you're my favorite reason for going into that kingdom of yours, Catharina."

"It's Princess, actually."