Chapter 3: One Moment in the Stables

Philip was leaning against the wall, staring out of the window, with the sun shining on his face. He could picture her, walking out of the stables, dirt coating her dress, ash on her face, and mud on her boots. He had watched her from this window every day since that fateful night at the ball. One day, he was not content watching her anymore, and he decided to see what she was up to. 

It was strange to see her standing next to his white stallion. His horse had a temper with most people. She gently stroked the horse's face and whispered something to it with a smile. It shook its head and snorted, which made her laugh. “Ashes doesn’t like people very much.”    

 Geneva jumped back, startled, “Your Highness…”                                                                                            

 “I wondered why my horse is always in the best of shape – brushed and cleaned…” Philip took a step forward towards Ashes. “He is my pride and joy.”                                                                                      

 “He is handsome,” Geneva said.                                                                                                                     

   “As he should be if he is to be considered worthy of my horse. I am supposed to be the white knight after all.”

Geneva laughed.                                                                                                                                    

“Why are you laughing?”                                                                                                                                 

“No, Sire, it would be inappropriate.”                                                                                                      

  “What is it?” Philip asked, genuinely confused.                                                                                             

She tried to step to the side and avoid his question, but Philip blocked her path. “Come on, tell me. I won’t get mad. You are Geneva, right?”

 Geneva answered him. “I never quite pictured you as a white knight, not since the incident with that tree…”                                                                                                                                                            

“I swear to you, that was magic! The branches grabbed my shirt.”                                                                                                                                                                   

“Your Highness, from my point of view it looked like you ran straight into them,” she replied.            

  Philip shook his head and threw his hands into the air. “You always remember the worst things about me, don’t you?”                                                                                                                                    

  “Not always,” Geneva whispered just as Philip turned around. He stopped in his tracks and swung around.                                                                                                                                                                               

 “So, what is one dashing, and inexplicably charming moment you remember of me? Come on, that’s the least you can do after thoughtlessly insulting your prince,” he crossed his arms and leaned against the beams. It creaked and he stood up straight again.                                                                   

  “I suppose it was when you stood your ground with your father, with the farmer who could not settle his debts…and you had it settled for him.                                                                                       

“Oh,” Philip frowned. “How do you know about that? It was supposed to be confidential.”                 

“That farmer was my father. A month before he passed, he could leave us at home, knowing that we were safe again,” she said, as she stared at the ground and then back at the prince. “One act of kindness, Your Highness, changed the course of my life. I might be considered a lowly servant now, but what I might have been, had you not interfered-” Her words trailed off. “Anyway, I better leave, I mustn’t be caught alone with the prince. You would be caught in a scandal.” Geneva walked past Prince Philip who had remained still as he heard her story.

It has been three years since Geneva disappeared, but he could recount every memory of her as if he was seeing them play out in the present. His train of thought was interrupted, as his uncle, Windsor entered the room. Phillip straightened himself up. His uncle was a pain. He constantly reminded him of his lack of an heir and berated him for not getting over his so-called ‘silly crush’. However, Phillip could not lift a finger against him as long as he still had his status and support from the aristocracy. He would not falter if Windsor made a treacherous move, although he was doubtful if that day would ever come. Despite his sharp tongue, he was not known as a man of action. Luckily, just as Windsor started approaching, the door burst open to reveal Rowan following short on his heels. Talk about good timing.

“The scuffle between the Tudor families has thankfully been resolved, however, your soldiers’ chaotic conduct needs to be addressed, especially their commander’s-”                                                                                                                                               

 “Understand the difference between a sharp tongue and a sharp sword. No offense, Duke, but my men got the job done. Furthermore, some stray soldiers were caught from the Western Clan, Your Majesty. They seemed inclined to talk about the fire in the village south of us,” Rowan interjected.   

“Good work,” answered Philip. He stared at Rowan. “I Like the beard...”                                                 

  “Your Majesty,” Rowan muttered. “I had not the time to shave, as Windsor walked ahead of me to deliver his distorted bucket of news.”                                                                                                                

  “Hardly distorted,” Windsor muttered. “Surely, Your Highness, is not a ball in order? I have princesses from the Loria Falls eager to come to introduce themselves. Any of them would make a fine match for you,” he changed the subject swiftly.                                                                                     

  “Again, with this…” Philip started walking away.                                                                                      

“This kingdom needs to be secured with an heir, Your Majesty.” Windsor started. “It is time for you to forget about the common maid and find a suitable partner, capable of running this kingdom alongside you.”

Philip froze, clenching his fists to restrain his anger. He took a deep breath.                                            

“Am I interrupting something?” he heard the voice of his sister Kara. She stepped over the threshold into the room. Rarely did she suspend her trips to Willow Lake without good reason. Judging from her wide-eyed expression, lazy braid, and rumpled dress that was still coated with the history of her travels, she must have brought news. She would not even consider approaching most of the servants in this state unless she had other priorities at hand.

“Word has reached my ears in the Woodland village that a wizard of great magic has come to town. He is staying in the dark caves northwest of the village, close to a waterfall.”                                           

“Dark or light?” Rowan asked. A blush crept onto Kara’s cheeks. “I did not realize you were here too.”                                                                                                                                                                       

 “Dark or light, Kara?” Philip asked.                                                                                                           

 “Grey, but-” Kara said, before her brother or Windsor could speak. “He has been known to find the impossible. Magic or no magic.”                                                                                                                           

 “Such as green magic?” Rowan asked.                                                                                                     

 “Allegedly,” she replied.

Kara took a step closer to Phillip. “I know this is only a slight possibility, but as you said, if I come across any chance of finding her-”                                            

“You should take it,” Philip finished her sentence. He pulled his sister into an embrace.                    

“We will find her,” Kara whispered. “And we will bring her home.”