Unicorn milk
1263 Words
*Mirabella*
“So Ben is coming to terms with being a father ?” The woman who owns the inn, Belle, is smiling at me from the other side of the bar.
I nod. “I actually think he is”.
“I have a feeling you had a big hand in this”. She grins. “So sweetheart, what can I get you to drink ?”
I look at the row of bottles, not really sure what to say. Mostly I drink sweet ale or watered down wine. “What would you suggest ?”
She looks at me, like she is somehow reading me. “I have just the thing for a gall like you… it’s called unicorn milk”.
“Unicorn milk ?” I have never heard of such a thing.
“No worries it isn’t milk and doesn’t come from a unicorn”. She grins.
I smile. “Okay, let me try”.
She grabs two glasses and then she takes a bottle from the rack behind the bar. And I watch in awe as she pours the liquid, it is the color of milk, but with a swirl of shimmering purple. Now I totally get the name.
“You will like it”. She c***s the bottle, but leaves it on the counter.
“It looks interesting”. I say looking at the glass when she pushes it in front of me.
She lifts her eyebrows and then her glass. “Oh it is… to new adventures and New friendships”.
“To new adventures and new friendships”. I repeat her words and hesitantly take the glass, touching it to hers. Then I follow her example, pouring it into my mouth.
It is hard to describe the taste, it tastes somewhat like milk, just sweeter and with a hint of vanilla, then the purple hits… it tastes purple… magic… like unicorns… honestly I lack something to compare it with. Then as I swallow it burns down through my throat, revealing the alcohol. But it isn’t an unpleasant feeling.
“Good, right ?” She says, putting the glass down on the counter.
I nod, putting my glass down. “Yeah… you were right, I like it”.
“Have another then”. She grins and re-fills our glasses.
“Yeah… another”. I mumble, glancing at Ben, but he is busy telling stories.
She lifts the glass again. “To love and life”.
“To..”. I swallow, feeling the well known sting in my eyes. “…Love and life”.
I throw the second glass down my throat, like it can magically whisk the pain away.
“So, where are you and Ben headed ? Interesting adventures ahead ?” Belle asks me, as she puts down her own glass.
“Not much of an adventure, beside our stop here”. I sigh, as I watch her refill my glass. “I am going to stay with my great aunt Deadra, being her… companion”.
She fills her own glass. “That sound …. Dreadfully boring”.
“Aweful”. I sigh.
“Let's drink to things turning out better than expected”. She grins, lifting her glass.
I lift mine too. “That I can definitely get behind”.
When the third glass is empty I look at the older woman. “So… you met Will when he was traveling with Ben”.
“I did”. She says with a small secretive smile. “I sure did”.
“You asked if I was Will’s Bella… Why ?” I ask, with my heart beating in my throat.
She nods slowly. “Yeah, he was always writing letters… ‘to his Bella’ he said. The most beautiful girl in the world”.
I swallow a sob, threatening to escape me. “He… he talked about me”.
“He did… he clearly loved you”. She gently touches my hand. “What happened ?”
I take the new drink she has placed in front of me, emptying it. “He … genmaden a mistake… a masculine mistake. He had to marry her. Everyone seems happy about it, because she is a princess from a far away land”.
“But he isn’t happy”. She says softly. “And you are not happy”.
“Done is done… there is no way to change it… so no need to be sad”. I mumble, looking at my hands.
She looks me over, refilling our glasses. “Well you can’t really tell feelings not to be there… but, when a door is closed, another is opened”.
“One that leads to a boring life entertaining my great aunt”. I huff.
“Maybe… Maybe not”. She wink at me. “Who knows where or what that will lead to… what the future will bring ?”
*Ben*
I have just said goodnight to my two boys, when I notice Bella and Belle… Dammit, the old wench has brought out the unicorn milk. I hurry up there.
“Hi Benny boy… done daddying for today”. Bella looks at me, grinning stupidly.
I give her a pointed look, then I glare at Belle. “Unicorn milk, really… she is only 16 you know”.
“Hmm so was Will, and you had no problem letting him have a taste”. Belle says, raising an eyebrow at me.
“If you are going to say that he is a boy”. Bella hiccups. “Then I will kick you”.
I raise one brow, looking at her. “Sure… but no, I was gonna point out that having a taste and getting drunk is not the same”.
“The girl deserves a bit of letting loose, Ben”. Belle says. “You should understand that”.
“Her father would not understand that… believe me”. I groan. “Come on Arabella, it’s time for bed”.
She narrows her eyes at me. “I like unicorns Ben”.
“Yeah I can see that”. I close my eyes for a moment. Well this is gonna be fun, and probably even more so tomorrow.
“But how do they milk them”. She bites her lip thoughtfully.
Belle laughs and I send her a, hopefully, withering glare. Then I look at Bella. “I will explain everything about it… tomorrow… come on, bed time”.
“Night Belle… Ben is being impossible”. Bella says. “He only lets himself have fun”.
“Night Bella”. The inn keeper says. “Remember you write your own story”.
At least she walks in front of me up the stairs, but suddenly she stops, swaying slightly, and I first think it is just the alcohol, until I hear the small sob. I instantly sweep her into my arms. “What is it sweetie ?”
“He sat here, writing to me… talking about me”. She sobs. “He broke my heart”.
“I know sweetheart… I know”. I tell her softly as snuggles into me. It is definitely time to get her to bed and let her sleep it off.
- Writer
