A PROMISE OF OLD

"Why?" Zala asked him, not liking what she just heard from him. what is she going to do without him? "My family is moving back home" The older boy answers whilst watching the girl he likes' eyes flood with tears. "So you're leaving me alone?" She asks with her teary eyes on him. It physically hurt the boy to look into those pained eyes of hers. "I promise, I will come back for you." He says, desperate to get her to stop crying. But it only makes her cry more. He pulls her into a hug. Being 3 years older than her, he knows what this feeling in his heart for this girl is. He doesn't want to let her go, but he has to. "let's promise each other something." He whispers, pulling the young girls' face from his chest. Her eyes are puffy and her cheeks are tearstained. He wipes her tears away with a forced smile that makes the girl's stomach erupt in butterflies. "What promise?" She asks him through her unlady-like hiccups. "When I come back," He locks his pinky with hers before looking into those brown eyes of hers. "I want you to marry me when I come back." He continues. The boy, being older than Zala, has a fair idea of what marriage is, but Zala doesn't, still the thought of that word makes her heart feel funny. "What is marry?" She asks with a confused smile that makes the boy smile. And he can't help but think that his Zala is very cute. Too cute for her own good. "It means that let's be together forever." He explains simply for her. He knows enough to know that it's not simply about them being together forever. Everything that they are will be one. And the young boy wants that with his Zala. "Then I want that." She immediately agrees, liking that the boy wants to be with her forever. To her, it meant that they will have every day to play, every day to laugh, every day to hold hands, and every day to sit by this lovely lake. "Even knowing what I am, you will be with me forever?" The boy asks, even tho he knew that she will accept, he is still surprised that she accepted, with him being what he is. The girl vigorously nods her head. Then touches her thumb with his, sealing the promise. One she will hold onto till it is fulfilled. "I will wait for you." She says with childish glee, not knowing the depth of her words or the effects it has on the boy. 15 years later, Zala still waits for him to come and fulfill his oath to her. But her parents are tired of watching the only Princess wither away. Meaning to please her parents and still keep from getting married, she arranges 11 trials for all her 15 suitors, intending to make them all fail. Unbeknownst to her, it will be how Kevoy finally fulfills his promise to her. ----------------------