Eleven Years Ago

Ten-year-old Darryn ran with his friends, laughing and panting, loving the feeling of his heart racing inside him. The cold air of Querencia blew through his hair as he ran, chasing his friend. The playing came to a stop though when the orphanage matron, Miss Evans, sharply whistled, demanding the children’s attention.

Dutifully, the children stopped, circling Miss Evans. She smiled at them.

“I have quite a surprise for you children. Today we have a very special guest.”

The children’s eyes widened, and curiosity filled them. Darryn only stared up at the matron, not quite believing her.

The orphanage he had lived at ever since he was a toddler, was a small orphanage in one of the poorer villages of Querencia. Nothing truly exciting ever happened there. It wasn’t very luxurious, but it had heat, a roof to stay under and food. Just enough to keep them alive and healthy.

The other children collectively asked “who”, encouraging the matron to continue. She smiled wider.

“The king and queen of Querencia are coming here to choose someone to work for them and live in the castle!”

Darryn’s mouth dropped and he felt his knees go weak. The matron was giving some extra information, but he, nor the other children, were really listening anymore.

They were whisked inside and ordered to change into their nicest clothes. When they came back downstairs, standing in the doorway was King Christian Binet and Queen Gloriana Binet. King Christian was tall, reaching 6′6 and had a gaze as intimidating as his build. His dark brown hair was ruffled like he had just gotten out of his bed, some stubble lining his strong jaw. Gloriana was quite a stark contrast, having an average height of 5′6. She was thin, with small, graceful curves. Her ebony hair flowed to her waist, her eyes golden and had the warmth of honey.

Darryn stared up at them in awe, butterflies swirling in his stomach.

The King and Queen started talking to the children and soon they approached Darryn. They smiled down at him and he watched Gloriana’s mouth move as she asked him something, but her words were a dull buzz in his ears. Darryn was jolted out of the dazed state by a firm squeeze on his shoulder. He looked to his right to see the matron glaring down at him. He blushed and looked up at the king and queen. The queen smiled, speaking once more:

“The matron told us you’re one of the oldest kids here, Mr. Ward. How do you like it here?”

Darryn shrugged. “It’s alright, I guess. I have a couple friends,” he said shyly.

The king kneeled, so he was eye level with the boy. “What do you like doing, Mr. Ward? What are your hobbies?”

Darryn smiled a small smile. “I like playing tag with my friends and playing with the toy swords.”

The king glanced up at his wife, shooting her a grin. He returned his gaze to Darryn, the grin still there.

“Toy swords?! Don’t tell me you want to be a knight when you grow up?!” he asked.

Darryn blushed, nodding excitedly. “Yes sir, I do want to be a knight. I want to be brave and strong and fight bad people.”

The queen kneeled to look at him also, placing her hand on his shoulder. “You know, fighting bad people isn’t the only thing knights do.”

“What else do they do?” Darryn asked with a frown.

“They also protect princesses. Keep them safe and make sure no one hurts them,” she answered, tilting her head.

“I have my own princess at home that needs protecting. Do you think you would like to do that?” the king added.

Darryn’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t believe his ears. Were they really offering him a job?! He nodded exuberantly once again. “Yes sir, I would love to do that!”

The king chuckled. “Are you sure? It wouldn’t be easy, and you’d have to do a lot of training. And you’d need to be very brave and strong. And maybe fight some bad people.”

Darryn continued nodding. “Yes sir, I’m sure. I could do it. I know I could,” he said determinedly.

The king and queen laughed, standing to their full height. They looked at the matron, smiling at her. The queen spoke to her:

“Darryn is at just the right age. He’s not too young to think about this type of responsibility, but he’s young enough to still have many, many years of training. We would be very grateful if you allowed us to have him live with us in the castle and train with the knights of Querencia.”

The matron smiled widely. “Darryn was always one of my favorites, but I think I might be able to bear letting him go,” Darryn blushed at the matron’s words as she leaned down to hug him tight. “Go pack your things, sweetie. You’ve got a new home to go to,” she said.

He ran up the stairs quickly after she let him go.

This was to be the happiest day of his life.

***

Eight-year-old Jesika stood in the large castle fields, swinging her toy sword, fighting an invisible opponent. She noticed from the corner of her eyes, her dad watching, making her only swing harder and be more calculated in her movements, wanting to impress him.

“Looking good sweetie!” Her dad yelled to her.

Jesika felt her cheeks redden and she paused, turning to grin widely at him. “Really daddy?!”

He chuckled, nodding. “Yes ma’am. Just a couple more years, and you’ll be training to be a soldier like your daddy.” Jesika’s grin widened at his words. Her father closed the distance between them, ruffling her hair. “Come with me. There’s someone I want you to meet,” he said.

Jesika nodded, following him to the front of the castle. They mounted his winged lion and Jesika wrapped her arms tightly around her father’s waist.

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They took off into the sky, soaring over the kingdom. Jesika smiled down at the kingdom below them, the civilians looking like little ants to her. She squinted against the brisk, cold air, but felt warmth from her arms around her father and the lion below her.

Soon, they gracefully landed in Wimborne, the heart of Querencia, in the training grounds. Her father dismounted and helped her down, then instructed her to wait while he got the lion put away. Jesika did so, looking around at her surroundings.

To her pleasant surprise, the soldiers were training today, sparring against each other. There were varieties of ages, genders and races, sparring. Her eyes stopped on what seemed to be the youngest of them all, a boy looking only a few years older than her.

He fought a bit awkwardly, she could tell he had probably just started. Yet, she still found herself enchanted by watching him, marveling at the skill he possessed at such a young age. Would she be that skilled at an age that young too?

Her father returned, and to Jesika’s surprise, he was approaching the young boy she had been watching. He kneeled to talk to the boy, before taking his hand and leading him to Jesika. Jesika smiled at the boy once they had reached her. The boy, however, did not return the smile, instead glancing away. Jesika looked up at her dad.

“Who’s this, Daddy?”

Her father smiled. “This is Darryn. Darryn doesn’t have anywhere to stay, so in order to stay with us, he is going to be your bodyguard once he has trained enough. He’s going to watch over you,” her father paused, looking at Darryn, “don’t be shy, young lad. Introduce yourself.”

Darryn seemed reluctant, but took Jesika’s outstretched hand, shaking it.

“It’s nice to meet you, Darryn!” she said excitedly.

The boy quickly withdrew his hand in response, lowering his gaze. “Nice to meet you too,” he mumbled.

Jesika ignored Darryn’s standoffishness, looking again to her dad. “Is Darryn going to be my new friend?!”

Her father laughed, glancing at Darryn. “Of course, if that’s okay with Darryn.”

Darryn’s head shot up. He opened his mouth to say something, but Jesika cut him off, throwing her arm around his waist. “Of course, it’s okay with Darryn!” she paused, looking at him, “we’re gonna be best buds, right Darryn?”

Darryn stared at her for a long moment, then finally shrugged. “I suppose so.”

And so began, very slowly, a beautiful friendship between the two kids.

***

Three Years Later

Eleven-year-old Aquila waited nervously at the training grounds. Today would be her first day training to be a soldier, in order to help provide for her peasant family when she was older.

Soon the rest of the soldiers in training arrived, including the princess, Jesika. Jesika walked alongside a young teenage boy, giggling loudly and talking. The knight training them, Sir Reven, noticed Aquila and waved her over. Aquila slowly made her way to the group.

“Why don’t you spar with Jesika? She’s the same age as you, but she has a tiny bit more experience than you.”

Aquila nodded, going to stand before Jesika. Jesika grinned at her.

“Are you ready to lose?” Jesika challenged.

Aquila’s eyes widened, shocked slightly at Jesika’s playful tone. Then she giggled. “I’m afraid that won’t be happening, Your Highness,” she retorted, raising her training sword. And so began their friendship.

After an hour of sparring, the knights took a break for lunch, going to sit with their friends on the bleachers. Jesika grinned at Aquila.

“Would you like to eat with me and my friend, Darryn?”

Aquila smiled, nodding. “Sure,” she said.

She followed Jesika to the bleachers where the young boy from earlier sat. She felt her cheeks warm as she looked at him. He had pretty, blue eyes and ruffled brown hair and a kind expression on his face. Jesika sat next to him, and Aquila sat on the other side of her. Jesika turned to Darryn, speaking:

“Darryn, we have a new friend. Darryn, this is Aquila, and Aquila, this is Darryn,” she said.

Darryn smiled at her and reached out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Aquila. I watched you spar with Jesika. You’re pretty good.”

Aquila’s face got even hotter as she shook his hand shyly. “Thank you, Sir Darryn.”

He laughed, wrinkling his nose. “I’m only a couple years older than you. Just call me Darryn.”

Her smile grew and she nodded. “Alright, Darryn.” Aquila turned her attention to Jesika. “So, what’s it like being a princess and living in a castle?” she asked.

“For me, it’s just how I’ve always lived. It doesn’t feel amazing or anything because it’s simply what I’m used to,” Jesika said with a shrug.

Darryn leaned his elbow on his knees, looking at Aquila. “I live in the castle with her,” he said with a grin.

Aquila frowned. “But you’re not a prince... Right?”

“No, I’m not. I’m training to protect her,” he said with a chuckle, gesturing towards Jesika.

She huffed, rolling her eyes. “Like I need protection.”

Darryn looked at her, a smugness adding to his grin. “Hey, your fighting skills might be improving, but I still can easily win against you.”

She glared back at him. “You better watch out, Sir Darryn. It won’t be long, and I’ll be beating you.”

His grin dropped its teasing edge, and an earnestness came to his eyes, a look that Aquila found hard to look away from. “I’m counting on it, Miss Jesika,” he said softly.

Aquila looked away, her stomach sinking a bit at the way they looked at each other.

***

Four Years Later

Fifteen-year-old Jesika was in her room studying when there was a knock on her bedroom door. She came to open it to see Darryn standing behind it, looking just as nervous as the day she met him.

“Can I help you?” she asked, tilting her head. He nodded.

“Jesika... You and I have been friends since we were young. I have enjoyed protecting you and would--”

Jesika cut him off, laughing. “Oh my gosh, you sound like you’re talking to my parents. Come on, lighten up. What’s going on?” she said, grinning.

He seemed taken aback a moment, but he cleared his throat, before trying again. He gazed at her a moment, then smiled. “Jesika... I talked to your dad, and he gave me permission to ask to court you.”

Her eyes widened and she blushed for what felt like the first time in her life. She studied his handsome appearance, the way at seventeen, he had grown to be a strong man, already following her father’s footsteps. She smiled, stepping closer, pulling him into a hug as she said:

“Yes, Darryn. I would be honored to court you.”

Her smile grew as he sighed in relief, hugging her back.

***

The next day, Aquila sat with Jesika on her bed and watched Jesika hum to herself as she brushed her long, black hair. She frowned.

“What’s going on with you, Jes? Rarely, if ever, have I seen you acting like this.” Aquila paused, reaching out a hand to feel Jesika’s forehead. “Did you come down with something?”

Jesika only giggled, tossing the brush and laying back on the bed. She closed her eyes and continued to hum, singing quietly:

“I’ve got a beau.”

Aquila’s heart flipped and her thoughts quickly went to Darryn. She restrained from gulping, asking:

“Who?”

Jesika’s smile grew and she once again hummed:

“Sir Darryn.”

His name coming out of her mouth gave Aquila the sensation of falling into a pit. Utterly out of control and nothing to grab onto to stop the fall. And when she hit the bottom, there was nothing to cushion the landing.

With all the strength she could muster, she blinked away the tears threatening to flow, saying:

“Really?! Congratulations, Jesika! I’m really happy for you!!”

***

A Week Later

Jesika didn’t understand what the strange feeling was in her stomach as she got dressed for her first date with Darryn. The two of them were to go horseback riding in the safer parts of the forest that surrounded Querencia.

She pulled on her long boots and braided her hair to the side. She waited in her chair as her headmistress did her makeup. Once she was ready, she exited the castle to see Darryn waiting outside the doors, holding the reigns to his horse, Lazlo and her horse, Storm. Jesika smiled at him, allowing herself to admire his appearance. His usually mussed brown hair was combed to the side and he was wearing a wool tunic and a big, fur coat. He smiled back at her, admiring her a moment also.

“You look very beautiful, Miss Jesika,” he said with a charming tone.

“And you look very handsome,” she returned with a smile, reaching up to hug him, placing a small kiss on his temple.

He hugged her back. Once he released her, he mounted Lazlo and watched as she easily mounted Storm. Together they rode off into the kingdom, Jesika smiling widely, her heart feeling as light as ever.

As the days and months went by, they continued to be almost just as perfect as that date. Light and carefree, with not a worry in the world. That is, until one fateful night in the year to come.