The Choices We Make (Snow White With Red Hair Fanfiction)

Chapter 21

Things were starting to return to normal. It had been a month since Akarozu woke up. All other suitors had left long ago. Shirayuki would of course visit her sister everyday, but not longer spent every day with her. Izana was almost fully committed to his work once again, almost. "Is she out there again?" he asked an aid, as he rushed through the palace of the halls.

He did not need to be answered, as one glance out of the window and he saw her. Everyday, without fail Akarozu would find her way out to the gardens. It was always the same bench too, as if she wanted it to be known where she was. Izana felt a small relief in seeing she was wearing a cloak today. It looked to be the cloak she wore when they first met. A dingy dark color, with a feat pelt lining.

Izana had wondered if she even had any of her own clothing, as she usually wore those new dresses gifted to her by the court. All tried to gain her favor once words got out she'd be engaged to the crown prince. None cared she was in a comma, nor that she'd turn her nose up at such actions. Izana was sure she wasn't even aware of where such clothing came from.

"I'll return after lunch," the tpuncr informed, before changing his destination. Now he walked the halls alone.

He found her where he had ladt seen. The bench just into the beds in the garden. There wasn't much to look at with the approaching winter, yet her gaze was locked beyond. Glazed over as if she wasn't even paying attention tot his reality. Sitting in her lap was a note book. Something she had stacks of he noticed when they brought her things from the woods. Yet whenever he see her, they'd be closed.

"It's getting rather cold these days," he said, sitting down next to her on the bench. "I'm sure the first snow fall will be here before we know it." Izana longed to hear some sort of response. From a simple Humm in agreement, to some unknown fact buried in the depths of her mind. He just wanted to hear her voice. Akarozu has not said a word since she had awoken, at least none he knew of.

Her gaze was still set ahead, byt the glaze on them had disappeared. Akarozu knew the prince was there, as well as paying attention, just not as one would expect. At begining he thought he was talking to a wall, but he learned the different looks in her eyes. All lacking something though. "I was thinking of going for a ride before the weather takes a turn for the worst," Izana told her. "Would you care to join me?" He stood up and offered her a hand.

Akarozu's gszr fell to her feet and she stood. His heart lifted, usually she'd only reaspond to coming in for meals. He leaf the way to the stabled, with a slower pace for Akarozu to keep up. " They brought you horse here from the house in the woods," he informed her, "Zen had told me her name is Gypsy." The prince hoped speak of something dear to her would nudge out a response from her. While none vocal, there was now a hop in her step anyone could miss.

At the stables Akarozu crept down the isle until she came to the stall holding her white mare. Not carrying for the stable hands opinion, or the delicate dress she wore, she tore open the pen and went in to be with her horse. The girl buried her head in the white mane, stroking it with her right hand, while her left was being graciously muzzled by the horse. Any rider would long for such a bind with a horse.

"Would you like me to prepare your hose for a ride, M'lady?" the stable hand asked, hesitantly. Akarozu turned her rubby eyes to the man. They almost seemed to be holding a glare. The most expressive she had been in months. The hand took the hint and back away.

" You may prepare mine,"the prince told the servant. With a bow the man scurried off.

Akarozu was also in action, preparing her own horse. On the barrier of the stall sat a saddle, her own saddle. Not many would notice the flowers carved into the leather, nor would they expect something for Akarozu. She was a fight, but few realize she is also a lover.

Both the girl and the horse were anxious to get out, both speedy getting the horse ready. "Akarozu, if you want to go change I can wait," Izana told her pointing out that what she wore would not work for riding. It was a nice dress of white floor lengthed skirt, tmwith dark blue accents.

She said nothing as she walked her horse out of the stall, and out of the stable. Not shortly after Izana was handed a set of reigns and came out to heat a loud rip. Akarozu had torn the skirt up at the side seem, now with her leg out for the world to see.

Without a care she saddled onto her horse, as if she hadn't lost any physical strength during her sleep. Izana smiled at the sight. Somewhere in there was still the Akarozu he knee, he just needed to grt her back out.

Izana saddled as well, not wanting to keep Akarozu impatiently waiting. She would leave without him if jet took too long. Before he was fully set to go she was off, already in the direction of the royal forest. The prince watched in awe as both silver hair, white skirt, and a dark cloack trailed back in the wind.

Akarozu felt free. Got the first time since she woke up. The stuffy dress was destroyed, Wind was in her hair. Best of all, no one was watching over her, like she was helpless. She never wanted to be helpless, and she never was.

She was free. Akarozu let it ring our. Nothing fancy of the stuffy palace. She just screamed, from her gut, from her lungs, from her heart. She let it all out.