Huntsman: Love Will Find a Way (3 page)

“What’s Christmas?” I asked hesitantly, knowing from experience that asking either Angela or Samantha a question like that could send them into an excited, boisterous frenzy that could last for days
.

“It’s a holiday they celebrate on the Other Side,” Hatter said, quickly cutting in before Samantha had a chance to answer, thus keeping her excitement at bay
.
“Apparently, it’s a day when you spend time with your family and friends, exchange gifts, and eat as much food as you possibly can until you’re sick
.
”

Sam and I sat there for some time, silently starting at each other
.
I finally spoke, voicing my confusion
.
“I don’t get it
.
It just sounds like a glorified birthday
.
”

Samantha playfully slapped Hatter’s arm
.
“This is why we are having a Christmas party
.
” She laughed, turning to me, “And you are all invited
.
”

“Maybe you’ll have a pretty little thing on your arm to show off,” Wolfsbane chuckled, and I threw a croissant at him
.
He caught it effortlessly in one hand
.
“You never know, Mate
.
The party isn’t for almost three full moons, you could find someone by then
.
”

I sighed
.
“I don’t want to find just ‘someone,’ I want to find the one
.
”

Angie came around the table, giving me a comforting hug
.
“I understand, Hun
.
And they should be ashamed of themselves for trying to push you into something you’re not sure is right
.
”

A melody of ‘hey’s’ came from around the table
.
I chuckled, taking a sip of my tea
.
I was thankful that at least Angela understood where I came from
.
I didn’t want something that wouldn’t last
.
I didn’t want a week-long fling
.
I wanted something that was going to last
.
I wanted something that was real, that was pure, unadulterated love
.

After the tea, I made my way home, taking a shortcut thought the Middle Grounds
.
After my friend’s actions about me finding a date for the Christmas party, I didn’t feel in the mood for human interaction
.
When I got to my house, I didn’t even bother going inside, wanting solitude
.

I didn’t know that the river was behind my hut when I first built it
.
Between it and my home was about three or four feet of trees and low shrubbery, making it almost impossible to know it was back behind it all
.
But, since I found it, it had been my getaway from the Realm
.
If there was ever a time when I just wanted to be one with the nature around me, I would go down to the river
.

Taking off my shoes and socks before rolling up my pant legs, I wadded into the middle of the river where the water was about waist high
.
I let the palms of my hands barely skim the surface of the water, feeling the rippling waves underneath my hands
.
I closed my eyes, making myself forget about everything but the sand beneath me, water around me, and breeze above me
.

That night, I was making my dinner when there was a knock on the door
.
I didn’t usually get visitors that late, so I was cautious
.
Tucking a knife in the back waistband of my trousers and grabbing the lantern on the counter next to me, I hesitantly opened the door
.

What I wasn’t expecting was a royal messenger, delivering an official statement to me, of all people
.
As soon as he handed me the folded slip of paper, he bowed gracefully and walked back to where his horse waited for him patiently by the side of the main road
.
Putting the knife back where it went and setting the lantern on the table top, I sell into a chair and broke the wax seal that held both sides together
.

Inside was a statement of summons
.
I was to be at the castle of the Duke and Duchess of the Northernmost Kingdom tomorrow afternoon
.
While it didn’t give me the option to back out, I had a feeling that if I didn’t show up, it would be my head
.

I wondered what they wanted to see me about
.
I hadn’t been going over the tracking amount for the season, and had kept tallies of every animal I killed and brought home
.
I hadn’t been in the public eye lately, and was sure that if I had broken a law, they would have taken me in right then and there
.
They definitely would have brought something more than a gangly messenger, who looked like he was barely of age
.

With a sigh, I had gone back to preparing, and finally eating, my dinner
.
I wanted to understand, but I knew that I couldn’t let my patience get the best of me
.
Trying to keep my head off of the summoned, I ate as quickly as I could before going to bed early, praying a prayer of thanks as sleep overtook me almost immediately
.

Chapter 3
Lara

I was surprised when I was summoned by my father
.

I had been reading, a hobby that Vivian says is more of an addiction, in the gazebo
.
It stood in the very center of the mass garden that had been planted many years before behind the castle
.
It was home to every flower, tree, and bush that you could possibly imagine
.
The colors always seemed more vibrant to me in the garden than anywhere else, second in beauty only to my mothers clearing
.
I had been there since the breaking of dawn, the cool morning mist gently spraying the flowers and the tips of my hair which were pulled out past the edge of the covering with every breeze that passed my way
.

I almost didn’t believe the guard, Henry, I believe his name was, when he told me that my father requested to speak with me
.
My emotions ranged from surprise, to joy, before finally settling at fear
.
My father never spoke to me, so for him to want to see me surely meant he was angry
.
  I started to replay every action I had made and word I had spoken, trying to figure out what it could have been that I had done to make my father want to request my presence
.
When nothing came up, I began to worry even more
.
What if I had done something that I couldn’t remember? What if it was something horrible?

By the time that I had gotten to the library, I was shaking with worry
.
I was sure that my fear had a scent, and if let loose, the castles hunting dogs would be able to find me from a mile away
.
I tried my best to hid my concern, not wanting to give my father yet another thing to be upset about
.
Worry wasn’t becoming to a young lady, he would say
.

“We will have a visitor tonight,” he said simply, his back to me
.

“Yes, father
.
”

“If all goes well, you will be married within two weeks time
.
”

My heart stopped
.
“I…
.
I’m sorry?”

“Stuttering is not becoming of a lady,” he rebuked, a harshness dominantly present in his words
.

“Forgive me, father
.
What I meant to say was, what do you mean, married?”

“Prince Alexander is of age to take over the throne
.
Before he may, he needs a wife
.
”

“Prince Alexander, the grandson of Ella Charming?” I questioned in disbelief
.

“I’m not familiar with any other Alexanders of the royal line, are you?”

I felt my cheeks grow hot, thankful that he had kept his back to me all this time
.
“No, father
.
”

“You should feel honored that he chose you
.
There are many other very promising choices that he could have picked
.
Your sister, Vivian, for example
.
”

I could feel tears prick the corners of my eyes as he spoke of Vivian
.
I knew that he favored my sister more than me, but that didn’t make the sting any less whenever he mentioned it
.
“I suppose you’re right
.
”

“Of course I’m right,” he snorted
.
“Now, go get ready
.
He’ll be here at dusk
.
”

I gazed out one of the long windows in the room, noting the high, afternoon sun, and the fact that it was nowhere near dusk
.
“Yes, father
.
”

As I started to walk out, he called my name
.
I turned around to find him staring at me, an icy look in his stone-cold eyes
.
“This is a very good opportunity for you, Lara
.
Don’t ruin it
.
”

I wasn’t able to speak, so I simply nodded, hoping the gesture of respect would suffice
.
I concluded that it did as he went back to studying the portrait above the mantle, not another word said
.

I made my way up to my room, my silent footsteps carrying me swiftly up the rounded staircase
.
Once I found my solitude, I allowed myself to breath
.
The impending marriage was forgotten for a moment by my father’s cold face that had been permanently etched into my face
.
I had wished for so long that he would look at me, that he would want me as much as my sister
.
But, I never wished he would look at me like that
.
A look of distaste, of hatred, of contempt
.

A look of regret
.

I would never forget that look
.

Before I could move from my place near the door, it swung open, revealing a steaming Vivian
.
Her eyes held hate, and her skin was visibly red
.
Her skirts swished at her feet as she walked, almost as if they were afraid of the wrath they would face if they touched her feet
.
I watched silently as she paced my room, clenching her fingers in the folds of her skirt until her knuckles turned white
.

“How? How did you do it?” She finally spoke, visibly shaking as the words left her mouth
.

“I’m not sure I understand what you mean
.
”

“Don’t play coy with me,” she seethed
.
“I want to know how you did it
.
”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about
.
” I stated, reiterating my previous comment
.

She finally stopped pacing, turning to face me
.
“How did you get Prince Alexander to pick you? Do you know how long I have been pinning after him, doing everything that was within the boundaries of a lady to get his attention?”