The Curse of the Moon

Nine

“I could bring you back here sometime, if you want,” Finn offered, catching my distracted gaze. Quickly I refocused back on him, shaking away the thoughts. No, I couldn’t come back here. This would be the one and only time I’d see this place, and likely also the one and only time I’d spend time alone in his company.

“Unlikely,” was all I could mutter back, already feeling the unusual pull at my heart as I wrapped my arms around his torso and hugged my body to his. My cheek turned, resting against his chest and he let out a sigh. Then we were off, once again racing through the trees and back towards the kingdom.

This had arguably been one of the best nights of my life, and it had been accompanied by a complete stranger. He didn’t feel like a stranger though, not anymore. The way he looked at me, like no one else did, his touch that sent shivers down my spine, it somehow felt as if I’d known him for longer than my closest friends. So when he pulled the bike over at the edge of the trees and offered his hand to help me climb off, the ache settled a little deeper in my chest.

“We should walk from here,” he explained, “so they don’t hear the bike.” I nodded my head, my feet feeling as if made of lead with each step I took through the long grass. Silence fell over us as we made our short trek across the field, each of our eyes glued on the horizon as we watched for my parents guards who would surely still be out searching for me. I wasn’t ready for the night to end, or to say goodbye to this conversation either, but I also didn’t seem able to form any logical reasons in my mind as to why we should continue our friendship. It was hardly appropriate for a woman of my status to be spending time alone with another man of dating age. Especially considering I’m supposed to be getting married today, a decision I’d already mentally agreed to follow through with, for real this time.

“Thank you, for walking me home,” I said quietly as we approached the back entrance to the stone fortress. In the distance, the sun was already beginning to rise, a new day dawning. My wedding day was upon us, and it was time to return to the real world.

“Of course, princess,” he smirked at me. “Besides, wouldn’t want to pass up the opportunity to see the castle up close. This may be my only chance.” He added and I rolled my eyes. Him and I knew damn well though, this castle was somehow nothing compared to the one we’d explored together tonight. This one may be well maintained and professionally decorated, but it was cold, unwelcoming, a fortress and nothing more.

Without a second thought, my hand found Finn’s shoulder and I pressed myself up on my tiptoes. My lips brushed so lightly against his cheek and I jolted back, surprised by the sudden spark that hit my lips, making every nerve in my body tingle. My eyes went wide, catching his staring back into mine with the same surprise and I wondered if he’d felt it too. There was no time for that though, the dawn of this very important day had arrived and I had duties to return to.

“Thanks again, Finn,” I spit the words out as quickly as I could, as if they might burn my tongue, then retreated back to the kingdom. Pushing my feet faster as I scaled the back steps, each step harder than the last as my legs made of lead returned.

“Lena,” Finn called out after me and my determination broke. I spun so quickly the world around me blurred.

‘Yes?” I breathed out.

“If I may,” he began, skipping up the stairs after me. His head dipped down for only a moment as if searching for the right words, but his confidence never wavered. “I’d like to offer you another option, albeit a little crazy, should you change your mind about your prince.”

I stared back at him dumbfounded, another option? Believe me, I’d already explored any other options and this was by far the most viable. Yet, then he spoke, offering something I had never even considered. “Marry me,” his words came so quiet, so unexpectedly that I knew I had to have heard him wrong. But the world around us was silent, not even the slight breeze enough to wash away what he had just said. My heart leapt out of my chest, in a way that had me more confused than ever. A response far too vivid for a man I barely knew. He was a stranger to me, a stranger to the majority of my village, and most importantly someone whom my father would never approve of to hold his kingdom.

Still, I was unable to find an answer for him. It should have been easy, putting all those years of etiquette classes to good use as I gently reminded him of my future husband sleeping just beyond these walls, of the commitments I’d already made to my family. For some reason though, my answer didn’t come easily. The sinking feeling had settled into my stomach, as if saying the wrong thing might leave me crumbling on these steps.

Finn took another slow step closer making my heart pick up in pace. “Your father wants a king and you want a throne. I will wear a crown, but I have no interest in a throne and certainly no interest in ruling. The kingdom will be yours to rule as you deserve to,”

“And what exactly are you expecting to get out of such a deal?” My voice turned a little sour as I spoke. His actions suddenly becoming a little more clear in my mind as Finn was perhaps turning out to be just another man in search of power and a title. He was right in believing my father would never hand over his power to a common man. I would certainly have to rule with an unqualified king at my side, should he ever even allow me to follow through with this. I, however, would not be conned into such an arrangement that was only meant to raise another man’s social status. Yet, that seemed to be exactly what my father wanted me to do in my marriage to Caleb.

“I have no interest in your kingdom or wealth, don’t mistake me Lena. I’m perfectly content with my life in the village, or at least I was until I met you,” he trailed off for a moment, his hand coming up to brush a lock of my hair that had fallen loose behind my ear. His thumb brushed under my eye and I felt myself sinking into his touch. Those blue eyes becoming a pool I’d enjoy drowning in. “Without any memory of my past, I’ve felt a little lost within myself. Never quite sure I’m taking the right path, in the right place, or with the right people. In fact, according to you the places I’ve been enjoying spending my free time have been all the wrong ones,” he joked and I couldn’t help but laugh a little in response.

He continued, “Meeting you tonight though, I’ve never been so certain of the right path, of what needs to be a part of my life. So, to answer your question, what I get out of such a deal, is you. Your presence, your smile, your laugh, just you.” My heart pounded against my rib cage, never having felt such a confession before in my life.

“Finn,” I fumbled for my own words, “I can’t just be marrying anyone.” Surely he had to understand that. My eyes remained locked on his, desperately pleading for him to give in on this, not quite sure if the tired and w reckless young woman I’d allowed myself to turn into tonight had it in her to turn this man down.

He refused to make this easy on me though, taking another step closer. The space between us now seemingly so insignificant as each rise of his chest with breath brushed against my own.“Of course you can, it’s your life Lena,” he stated, as if it were so easy for me to stake that claim. “You said so yourself earlier tonight. You can’t deny the connection between us. Us meeting tonight in the forest, you running into me? Believe what you will but I call that fate. I can give you what you want most in this world, and all I want is to have you in mine.”

His words seemingly sucked all the air out of my lungs, leaving me a statue of silence as he waited one more time for an answer. Surely, he couldn’t mean that, could he? “I can’t marry a stranger,” I blurted out, Finn’s gaze never wavered from mine.

“Do I feel like a stranger to you?” Came his only response and immediately I knew my answer to that question. No. We had only just met, shared one mistaken kiss but I had opened myself up to him more than I had any other person. He was an amnesiac though, more lost in life than either of us could probably comprehend and that was likely the reason behind this unusual attachment between the two of us. We’d shared one lovely, albeit crazy, night together and even though we were both grasping at straws to make it go on longer, I had duties to return to.

Leaving me with no other choice, I gather up my courage. Ignoring the pounding ache in my chest, I sharpened my stature the way my father had always shown me and spoke, “It’s a lovely offer, but I cannot accept it.” He opened his mouth to argue with me once again, but my saviour came as the flashlight of a guard caught on the grass out of the corner of our eyes. Both of our gazes darted in that direction, mine quickly turning wide with panic but Finn seemingly unalarmed. A reaction I, by far, could not understand. If I were caught I would simply be returned to my room with a lecture from my parents, whereas Finn would face a much harsher punishment.

“I must go, goodnight Finn,” I said in a hurry, splaying my hand out over his chest as I gently pushed him backwards. My eyes begged of his to run before the guards saw him, only hoping he would sense my own panic as I slipped through the back door before the guards neared us. Without a second thought, I bolted straight up the staircase, heading into my room and slamming the door behind me. I didn’t stop there though, making a b-line for the balcony doors. Through the curtain, I peered outside to watch as Finn ran back towards the trees. Disappearing into the woods just as the guards round the house, I breathed a sigh of relief.