Love is Like a Raven [ON (POSSIBLY PERMANENT) HIATUS]

The Kingdom By the Sea

Annabel and Montresor had been walking around Church Hill for the past five hours. The sun was setting and they were laughing, each of them holding half-empty cups of soda.

"Please tell me you're joking!" Annabel laughed.

"No, I'm serious! Fortunato would always wet Mother's bed and I was always blamed!" Montresor chuckled.

"I'm so sorry! That's terrible!"

"It's alright! Really!"

The duo had finally gotten over their humorous storytelling as they sat down on a brick wall. Dead leaves littered the ground.

"Actually...Fortunato has always been favored by fate. For as long as I remember, he has succeeded in everything I have failed in. He is always more noticed, he gets the most friends, and most importantly...!"

Montresor's voice trailed off and his rage was hidden in the lowness of his voice. "I didn't hear the last one," Annabel said. Montresor sighed.

"...he always gets the girl..." he muttered.

"Oh..." Annabel blushed.

Montresor looked down and watched the wind blow a leaf across the ground.

"I haven't shown you my favorite part of Church Hill. Come with me," Annabel said. She grabbed his wrist. She walked him out to the most serene place in all of Church Hill--the sea.

The sea was a calm, deep blue. It blew a salty breeze into their faces. Montresor looked at Annabel. "It's beautiful..." he said. Annabel smiled.

"My house is right by it, too, so I can see it anytime of the day."

"'A kingdom by the sea'..."

Annabel smiled. "It's not much of a kingdom, really."

"Why? It's home to a princess, is it not?" Annabel blushed.

"Montresor..."

"It's true, my Annabel Lee. You're a princess."

Annabel never felt so flattered in her life. Montresor started to stutter a question.

"W...will you...be...my...princess?" Annabel was as red as a cherry. Montresor looked away. "It's stupid to ask you, I know, since you'll probably just go off with Fortunato, but I-"

"Yes, Montresor."

"What?" Montresor was dumbfounded.

"I will be your princess." He smiled.

"Fortunato will take you away from me eventually..."

"I don't like Fortunato. As soon as I set my eyes on him, I hated him."

Montresor smiled. "Maybe I finally succeeded at something."

"Maybe you did..."

Annabel held onto Montresor's hand. They watched the sun set over the sea, and walked back to the kingdom.