Princess from a Peasant, (Edoa)

[E'doa A'nii]

It was a good thing Mirai could see it. Because Idris had long forgotten he had a heart. His mother was throoughly conviced about his brainlessness, and his girl friends were too brainless to notice anything was wrong with him. If anyone could rescue our charming prince, it was the gentle and fair Mirai.

Idirs actually blushed. His pride winced that she'd noticed he liked the soup. But once the initial sting was over, he gave a nod. He grined goodnaturedsly at her kiss, and the rumpling of his hair. She was comming round. Well, that was good to see. He would soon have an obedient little wife in no time.

She was learning her place quite well.

And somehow, Idris didn't mind if she made the stew a little more often. She was very delighted about the horse. A fact which pleased Idris. He was not loosing his touch by any means. He nodded affirmatively. She really would have her very own horse. "THank you", he muttered. Of course he was kind. He was Prince Idris.

He was quite surprised when his former shrinking violet returned to his side and placed her pretty head in his lap. Our charming prince put his spoon down, and set about quite gently stroking her hair. Yes, his mother had told him not to touch her... but she was touching him so it was only fair.

Her question was as unexpected as her behavior. He blinked. She touched his cheek with her soft white hand. She really did see him as a monster then. It hadn't been her shock talking, back there in the throne room. For a moment Idris was speechless. Trying to think of why he got angry, and why it mattered so much that this particular girl cared.

The question was becomming annoying. Especially when she asked another question just as difficult to answer. Idirs stopped stroking her hair. But he wasn't looking at her, he was staring off into space. Which was probably for the best, because Mirai might have lost her edge if he had seen the look in her eyes.

Finding the answer was not easy for our charming prince. His mind, unusued to suchserious thoughts rebelled at the prospect and our prince found himself having to start over again with his train of thought. He was rapidly becomming frustrated. So, at length he simply shrugged in a cavalier manner and helped himself to some of the soft, chewy bread which Mirai had made.

Feeling rather whimsical, and wanting to forget the nasty thoughts the beautiful Mirai had brought to his brain. He tore off little bits of bread and held them to her lips to eat as he said, rather uncertainly, "No I wouldn't hurt you, my dear." And then very certainly, though perhaps the certainy was a little forced, "Of course not. Your much to sweet to damage."

Idris hadn't actually hurt anyone in his fits of rage. He threw things a lot; and maybe threatened to hit a girl or two. But he'd never actually been that angry before either. It was hard to say. He didn't think so. But then... he didn't really want to think about it anyway.

[Renna]

Mirai felt at once that she stood on dangerous ground; Idris had told her plenty but there were just as many new mysteries to try to solve. Aelf seemed approving from his corner, and the prince seemed to be softening judging by the hand in her hair, but she'd hit a sore spot. Something had troubled him, and until she learned what exactly it was she needed to be careful. But at long last compassion aroused in her heart, so when her betrothed offered her some bread from his fingers she accepted it shyly. The healer blushed and put her lips to his hand, taking the food a little uncomfortably but with new determination in her soul. At this moment, she could forget that she had promised to marry the horror that was Prince Armel. At this moment he was only Idris, and suffering of some of the gravest wounds she'd ever seen. They were invisible and convoluted and hidden, and unless she stepped in to heal them it would be a soul lost instead of a life.

So she looked up at him with eyes sincere as the summer sky, and quietly closed her hand around his. "I will never hurt you, Idris." Mirai's other hand went up to touch a finger to his lips, holding him silent while she offered him everything she could. "Don't laugh. I know you don't think I can, and you're right, to a point." She removed the finger and batted his shoulder, playfully, then smiled. "I could hit you for hours and not hurt you, I think. But I meant different kinds of hurt."

She was serious again. "I know you don't really want to get married. I don't either. I'm not ready for it, and you?" The healer pressed his hand, folding her fingers more tightly around his. "A wife will get in your way. I know that. You're young and full of life and it's too soon to have one woman and babies to care for and a kingdom on your shoulders. Too soon for me, too, but I was born with an old heart so it doesn't weigh as heavy. I'm sorry to be in your way." Mirai shifted a little to cuddle more closely against him. "But I promise not to hurt you, and by that I mean this: when we're wed, I'll turn a blind eye to other women and parties and let you be as free as you can, as long as you don't forget me. I know you don't love me. You don't have to, sir, not ever. But it would make me happy to have a friend in you; someone to trust--much happier than someone who pretends love when, really, he wants to be somewhere else. I would rather you called me Mirai than 'my dear'."

She closed her eyes, forcing herself to trust the temperamental young man holding her near before continuing meekly on. "That choice, of course, is yours. But I make you my promise: you are safe with me, for I will serve you as best I may, and guard your every shared thought or secret as a dragon guards his treasure. I keep hearts very well, and if you will entrust me with a little bit of yours I swear before all the gods that you will never once regret it. I will be a good wife, but if you can see in me a person and not a 'dear' I will also be a good friend."

Mirai drifted off for a moment, then continued in a whisper. "...Have you ever been flogged, Your Highness? I have, more than once." The girl let that sink in a moment. "There are no words for how much it hurts. When your mother mentioned that you might be flogged for taking me, of course I was horrified. Flogged, disowned, and then made to marry me---" She broke off, but her eyes opened and she looked up at him with softness and regret in her face. "Too harsh, and it would have been all my fault and you would have hated me forever! You are so strong; but they would have kept hitting until it hurt and then your pain would be on my hands. I'm so sorry."

She was, because her free hand moved up to touch his shoulder--hesitantly, but Mirai smoothed it down just once as if to check for cuts, then dropped it back to her lap. The lass blushed at her daring. "And now you have a shy and blushing bride, for which I'm sorry as well. You must think me so boring." But the girl took a breath and smiled and looked up at his face, taking the plunge into the blind trust and responsibility Idris so desperately needed. "But you may teach me."

The peasant sat up. "I know you won't use me ill, so you may teach me. If you want me to wear red for you, I will. If you want me to dance, I will. If you want to give me my first kiss, you may have it, for you are my master and I trust you to be a good one."

There. Mirai realized that she was trembling and quickly curled her hands into the fabric of her skirt to still them, waiting with baited breath for the prince's answer.

[E'doa A'nii]

Idris playful smile vanished to one of suprise and then one of slight amusement. Of course she would never hurt him. He kissed the finger she put to his lips. She was too small. He squeezed her hand. The lady need not--Oh. She meant that sort. Idris almost huffed. The world in it's kindness had been hurting him since he could remember. Who was to say she wouldn't either?

He did shake his head at that next question. Marriage!! That was like threatening a cat with water, or children with spiders. Some part of him was glad that she was not ready. That took off such a burden. He almost asked right there, "Want to break it off?" But she was talking and he did not feel like interrupting.

Her, sorry? That was new. Since when had women ever worried about being in his way, or holding him back. And since when had one ever offered to let him carry on with other women? Maybe Mirai was mad. He still wasn't certain of that. His new lady was very confusing. Ah well, she probably didn't mean that. Women could get awfully jealous. So, he was to call her Mirai now. Some part of him ran away at that. 'My dear' was a good term. Safe. Meaningless. Endearing. 'My dear' never acknowledged, yet acknowledged so much. There was no name, no person. But the other person always felt loved that way. Felt a sense of belonging, and somehow, that was safe too. Someone who belonged was less likely to hurt too much.

He wasn't sure he could call her Mirai.

But he nodded all the same. He would try once in awhile, since she had said she would like him better. He didn't know why that mattered either, and it irked him. But she was talking, and he didn't feel like interrupting. Oh well, he would have to start calling her Mirai anyway. Obviously she could tell that he didn't mean it. Women. She actually swore by the gods! Idris did blink at that. That was a very strong oath. Breaking such was almost like playing russian roulet.

Did wonders never cease?

It was at this moment that Mirai stopped talking and Idris was about to say something, but she picked it up again. She was whispering about being flogged. And if he ever had been, and how many times she had. Idris was not quite prepared for such an abrupt change in topic. His poor feeble mind, unused to such heavy thoughts as Mirai was talking off was having quite a bit of trouble keeping up. As it was he was still processing the first half of their conversation. She was actually upset for causing him the threat of flogging! Maybe at some point she would make up her mind as to whether she liked him or not.

She touched his shoulder and blushed and muttered on about being a silly goose of a girl. But Idris did not find her boring. he found her confusing, and maddeningly thought provoking. All those long buried wounds were comming back, and he was begginning to wish the date was over or that he was a thousand miles away where the lovely lady couldn't torment him with her kindness.

But she sat up, and some part of him regretted that. And she was asking for her lessons. Something else winced at the term 'master', but he let that slide too. Truth was, he was much too confused to be angry at this moment. He had no idea whether he was upside down or sitting up and he didn't really care because making sense of it all was too much trouble.

Which was probably for the best.

There were a few moments of silence while Idris waited to see if Mirai was going to speak again, and while he worked his poor overtaxed brain to find something to say. It was at this moment that he remembered his promise of the horse, and finding it a good excuse to get out of an awkward situation, He said, "How about that horse?"

He stood up, and extended her a hand to get up as well, and prepared to walk out to the stables and show her the horses.

[Renna]

"....Oh." The hopeful look in Mirai's eyes faded, and she turned away with a little sigh and a dejected shrug of her shoulders. "Yes." That was all she said, rising up out of her seat to follow behind the prince, pale as the moon as she ghosted along.

In the stables the young woman was not much better, for while she looked at the pretty horses and cooed a little over them, a cloud was in her eyes and veiling her smile. At length Mirai chose herself a pretty blue roan mare, immediately letting her new horse nuzzle into her cupped palms. "I like this one, please." She was shy again.

[E'doa A'nii]

Idris wasn't sure why the sudden change of demeanor in his young lady, but she was puzzling enough anyway so that it didn't bother him over much. Mirai chose a beautiful velvet blue roan horse, more commonly known [I think] as a dappled grey appaloosa.

"Then it is yours." Our charming prince said. He would have one of the stable hands put her name over the top of the stall and have her choose the saddle and tack. When they were both mounted and well on their way through the woods to hunt rabbits, our charming prince broke the silence.

It was about time.

His poor brain had been working very hard over the night's events till he finally had a slight headache and a few answers. Serious contemplation was a strain on our charming prince.

"... Mirai..." He began. The name sounded a little foreign and just the tiny bit hesitant. A timid little turtle peeking out of his shell. The next part was a genuine effort. Apologies could come back to haunt you for a long time if you gave them to the wrong people. "I...am...sorry, for, for all of this." He did not look at her as he said it. For one thing it was hard enought to get the words out, much less meet her eyes. And for the second, our charming prince was afraid what he might see in those eyes.

"Oh look! A rabbit" Back to his old self again. THe white creature flitted in and out among the bushes nibbling a leaf here and a stalk there; not a care in the world.

[Renna]

((close, but not quite. Roan is a color and Appaloosa is a breed. ))

Mirai didn't know what to say. The prince was apologizing, which was a good thing, but he seemed like he would rather not say anything at all, which was bad. Worse, he was sorry for 'all of this', but for once in her life the girl couldn't just say 'it's all right' or 'no worries'. It wasn't all right, and a brief and hesitant apology would never make it be all right. She settled with leaning over in the saddle to put her hand to his, but it seemed like Idris wasn't interested in talking any more, because only a moment later he was sitting upright and back to his usual chipper, obnoxious self. "Oh, look, a rabbit!"

The healer glanced and saw the little creature hopping about, and it was less than half a moment before her soft heart gave way for the animal. Mirai wasn't a vegetarian, not exactly; she would eat chicken and fish without complaint and occasionally with relish. But it was too much to see such a small animal so blissfully unaware that death was so close at hand! The girl pulled her new mare gently to a halt and swung her leg over the horse's back, sliding out of the saddle to kneel, quietly, on the grass with her hands outstretched. She didn't dare to breathe. The rabbit froze, his ears twitching, then the new princess let out the faintest of whispers, a soft 'come here'. Her hands remained still, but the bunny in question left his stalk and hopped slowly forward, pausing only to sniff the outstretched fingers. Mirai let him have a whiff, then snatched him up quick as a wink and held him tight in her lap.

The rabbit thrashed a moment, but the young lady holding him only smiled and whispered something very soft, and in a very small amount of time he was still and content as Mirai stroked a finger down a velvety ear. "Would you like to pet him, Your Highness? He's very soft."

[E'doa A'nii]

(right. Thank you.)

------------

Idris was about to draw his bow and make some attempt at shooting the rabbit--he was a relatively decent shot; though not exactly soldier quality, he could occasionally hit what he was aiming at--when Mirai was down on the ground luring the rabbit. Our charming prince smirked. It would be quite the feat to catch a wild rabbit by simply requesting it to come.

Idris leaned himself on the pommel of his saddle and watched with great amusement. Our charming prince's amusement changed into great amazement as the rabbit actually did hop forward and allow itself to be grabbed and stroked much like any other housepet.

Idris practically gaped at her question. Well, more accurately, he gaped at her and what she had just done. He did have to shut his mouth to answer her question and that was when he realized it had been hanging open. His teeth clicked shut.

"What?--Oh, I mean--NO,--er no thank you." He blinked several times, stumbling over his words as reality sunk in and his brain reconciled itself to the fact that she really had just caught the rabbit without any real effort, and that she had really just asked him if he wanted to pet it.

One didn't pet rabbits one intended to eat. Well, not normally anyway. But then, one didn't just scoop rabbits up out of the woods either. At least, not without a lot of bother and time, anyway. ...yes...soft... rabbits generally were soft. That's why they tasted so good in stew and roasted with vegetables.

Our charming prince wasn't sure how to react to this development. SHould he be angry because she obviously had no idea how hunting worked? Or should he be impressed and inquire as to how she did that?

There was a moment of silence while our charming prince actually engaged in a moment of thought.

"How did you do that?" He tried not to sound too incredulous.

[Renna]

Mirai smiled at Idris, cuddling the rabbit close to her heart as she stood. "I'm a healer. I heal human and animal alike; I don't know how they know that but they know it." The girl shrugged and moved back to her horse. "The god gave me a gift; I suppose that it's him who helps me get my patients as well. Otherwise, I don't know. I didn't do anything special." But the healer looked up to Idris, blue eyes softly pleading. "...I don't like hunting though. It breaks my heart to see him, just hopping about, not knowing his life is about to end. Isn't that how we all are? We go on living, with no idea what the gods might throw on us next. Life one moment, death the next---I can't bring myself to intervene like that for another creature. It's too sad." The girl snuggled her prey, running a hand along floppy ears. "Please don't kill him, Sire? Please? OnO "

[E'doa A'nii]

Mirai had a nice smile. It reminded Idris of something warm and cheery. What in particular he didn't know. Her smile caused an image to flicker across the empty void between his ears. And then she was talking and whaever the image had been was replaced by the sound of her voice.

Oh that's right. She was a healer. How had that escaped him? So modest. Healers were rare indeed. Highly prized for their skill, very much sought after, and hard to get. Even the military was permanently understaffed on healers. You'd think she would gloat a little more about her skills. But Mirai was a rose among flowers, and she was too pure of heart to gloat.

Touching. All that pleading for one little rabbit. Idris wasn't sure of how to deal with that. Didn't the village girl eat meat? They had just had some sort of meat stew back there. Our charming prince shifted in his saddle. A distant headache knocked on his feeble consiousness as his brain attempted to digest this new information.

It didn't make sense. She ate the stew quite heartily and yet cried over one little rabbit. Prince Idris had never met anyone who didn't mind eating food that they hadn't seen breathing prior to consumption. Alright... he would humor the silly thing.

"You can keep it." He nodded. What was a rabbit from a forest of rabbits?

He would find another one.

Of course, she had totally sucked the fun out of hunting. Just like a vacuum sucks up dirt. Woosh! Thrill gone. It would not be any funt ot hunt things, if she was going to keep rescuing them.

"Why don't we...uh...forget hunting and ...go for a ride?" He suggested. Riding was better then nothing at all; and she could get to know her new horse a bit better. They could keep the rabbit in her room, if she liked. A pet. Idris suppressed a sigh. Having a female companion was really crimping his style. He could just imagine having a wife.

Perish the thought.

He turned his horse down a little footpath in the woods, and tried to ignore the growing sense of anxiety and despair.

[Renna]

At the end of their exchange, Mirai realized that she needed to slow down. Haughty Idris was not ready to deal with her as she really was, not yet. For all his fancy ways, Prince Idris was a simple creature, unused to thinking and unused to dealing with people who did. The healer didn't consider herself a particularly complex person, but she supposed that even a simple little healer would be hard to handle for someone unused to considering anything weightier than his reflection in the mirror. There was still the matter of the bunny, however, so Mirai thought a moment before speaking very carefully.

"Thank you, milord." Mirai stroked a finger between the rabbit's ears, marveling at the softness of it. It would be such a shame for such wonderful silky softness to end by a hunter's knife! Well, she wouldn't let it happen. Idris had already promised to leave this one alone, but she needed to convince him to leave it alone without making it a pet. "But I don't want to keep it. It makes me happy to see him free in his own home, in the forest. He'd be safer with me, it's true, but he's happier here. Anyway, I don't know if he has a wife and babies to worry about and I'd rather not risk parting the family. It's very kind of you, though."

The maiden knelt and opened her hands. Her new friend sat quivering between her palms a moment, tasting the air, then was off without warning in a flash of sun-dappled fur. Mirai watched him go, thought creasing her brow. Then she stood and turned back to Idris, smoothing out her skirt with a sheepish smile. "I'm not a very good hunter."

That sparked an idea, and Mirai continued on with sudden inspiration. "I'm not a very good rider, either. We had a horse once, but we mostly used him for pulling, so I've really only ridden once or twice."

The unwilling bride managed a smile and a sincere compliment, admiration in her tone. "You're marvelous, though! I mean, I'm no expert, but you look like you belong in that saddle. Not like me. I feel like I'm going to fall off at any moment." This was true. Mirai looked graceful in the saddle, but she'd ridden the entire way with her slim white hands tangled into her horse's mane. "I can't even get on by myself. I'm too little."

This was also true. It wasn't a big deal to dismount alone, but now that Mirai was on the ground, the stirrups seemed impossibly high. But she smiled and rubbed her hand down her mare's neck, smoothing it of tiny flecks of foam. "Maybe you could teach me. I'm not afraid of falling, so I might be good after I know what I'm supposed to do. And it will be fun."

She walked forward to the man who would be her husband, stretching out her hand to softly close it around his own. "I'm sure you'll be a wonderful teacher."

[E'doa A'nii]

Mirai couldn't have been more right in her assessment of our dear prince. He found the healer to be a disturbing and complicated woman, who required more of him than he felt he ought to be. But seeing as how the previous women he'd dated weren't much different from himself... such an attitude was hardly suprising.

Fortunately for her, Idris was a man used to fickleness. The fact that she no longer wished to keep the rabbit did not bother him in the least. In fact, he was, strangely, quite relieved.

At last! Something he could relate to.

Perhaps she wan't so complicated after all. Idris waved his hand dismissively. She could let it go if she wanted. He nodded his head disinterestedly at her explanations and suppressed a yawn. Sure, sure. Whatever she said. ...Yes 'very kind.' He was such a wonderful soul; it was good to see that she was finally getting an idea of who and what he was.

Nothing like appreciation where appreciation was due.

Idris did laugh at her next statement. Of course she wasn't a good hunter. Her honesty was touching. His laughter turned into one of his dazzling smiles, though at the sincerity of her compliment. Something in the tone of it touched him, and our charming prince actually blushed faintly. (He was glad of the darkness.) His own reaction surprised him; surely he had gotten complements before. Women were always complementing him.

So what was the difference?

Oh well. No matter. He was indeed a wonderful rider. A flash of brilliance struck our charming prince: He could teach her! It was true that the stirrups were high. She was such a small thing. Short. And the large grey horse was a bit much for someone as inequipped as she was.. (Never mind that it was her suggestion. He was way to brilliant to have something like this suggested to him.)

Idris turned his horse around and dismounted.

She could read his mind! Idris closed his hand around hers and tried not to wonder if the mind reading was a good sign or a bad one. Should it even bother him at all? It was obvious that she trusted him a great deal. So maybe the mind reading was part of her magic? He took a step forward and kissed her on her forehead before leading her back to her horse.

On the other hand.. Maybe she trusted him because she was a scheming wench! Hadn't she been the one to trick him into this situation? How could he forget?! Maybe she was working her magic on him to succumb him into matrimony! Of course. The thought made his skin crawl. It was an effort not to yank his hand from hers. Instead he stretched her arm up as far as it would reach.

Her fingers could barely touch the pommel.

She could not mount on her own. And there was no servant out here to help her mount. Idris sighed. He was really going to have to exert himself. Ah! But wait! There was a much better way of doing this. He simply scooped up his little doll and wisked her into the saddle. With a roguish grin --She would have to admit sooner or later that she did enjoy being swept off her feet. That was what girls wanted, wasn't it?--He grabbed her horse's lead rope and ponied it to his.

Now he could teach her how to properly ride.

"Point your toes up. Straighten your back." And he moved his horse at a slow walk.