Nadine

34. Fishing

I stretch big. No one here. Maybe I can sleep for a couple more days.

I get up and stare out the window. It looks nice out. I can probably get Butter once I get out of here. Maybe I can go fishing. I haven't done that in forever. I was never good at it, but I don't think it would hurt to try again. I don't know if there are any poles here though. Zacier would know. I can always ask him. I feel the tears falling out of my eyes. I can make a fire. Sit by the fire and try to fish. Watch the clouds and listen to the water. Maybe I should do some paperwork while I'm stuck here. At least I could get something done. Strong arms wrap around me. I lean back into Tre.

"What are you thinking about baby?"

"Finishing paperwork."

"Are you cleared to leave?"

"No, but it really wouldn't be leaving. It's around the corner."

He kisses my head. "I'm sorry I was mad when you didn't come back last"

"Tre stop... I can't imagine what that must have felt like for you or the rumors you must have heard.. I understand if you were mad or hurt." I pull his arms tighter around me. "But the truth is, I ran from him. I thought he was trying to kill me. I was so scared. I saw the chains and I thought he was going to use them on me. I was running through the woods trying to get away from him. I didn't even know what direction I was going. I couldn't see. All I could feel was fear. I had no idea where I was. I'm lucky I didn't get us both killed. I'm sorry Tre. I'm sorry for the rumors I know you heard. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you. I'm sorry. And I'm scared."

"What are you scared of?"

"What if it happens again? What if it's you next time? Or my dad, or mom, or an advisor again. What if I see a stick that could hurt me. Where am I going to run next time? I had no control. It was pure fear."

"We'll figure it out. You've been through a lot. It's going to take some time. But you will be ok. I promise baby." He turns me around and hugs me. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Hi you 2."

"Hello Doctor. How is she?"

"She slept for a long time. So she's probably hungry and thirsty. But, other than that, she is free to go. And Nadine."

"Yes."

"You can come in and finish paperwork this week but no patients. You need a break."

"Thank you doctor."

Tre waits till he leaves and shuts the door. "What do you want to do after we eat?"

"You don't have to do anything with me. I need some time."

"I want to do something with you princess."

"Do you want to go fishing?"

He smiles at me. "Can I use a pole or did you want me to do it my special way?"

I laugh as he leads me out.

"I only want to catch 1 fish. Why can't I get just 1?"

Tre sits behind me on the ground. "Take a break and make a fire. I'll get us a couple fish for lunch."

"I want to get 1."

"It's been 3 hours baby."

"I don't care."

"Fine, I'll make a fire. You keep fishing." Tre makes us a fire and sets his line in the water.

After about 20 minutes, he gets a big one.

"Stop taking my fish. That 1 was mine." He laughs and goes to clean it.

I go out on the far boulder with my pole. "I am going to catch a fish."

Dipak and Frode go over to Tre. I don't care what they are saying.

"WHY DO FISH HATE ME?"

"We've been here for 4 hours. Yes, I'm getting lunch ready for her."

"HERE FISHY FISHY FISHY. COME HERE YOU STUPID FISH." I hit the water with the pole.

"Are you about ready to eat?"

"I AM NOT MOVING UNTIL I CATCH A FISH!"

All 3 of them start laughing.

"DIPAK GIVE ME YOUR SWORD!"

"That's not how you fish princess."

"I DON'T CARE!" I Swing the pole to hit the water again. This time I lose my footing. I fall all the way under. I am so surprised there are fish down here. I can grab them. I get a big one the 3rd time I try.

I come out of the water with my fish, they all stare at me. I'm holding a big fish up against me.

Tre says, "Told you so." to Dipak.

"I CAUGHT A FISH!"

"Well that's one way to do it."

I run over to them. "Now show me the next part."

"Oh you wouldn't want do that part princess. It's quite gross." Frode shakes his head.

Tre smiles at him. "One of you got a little knife? This one she will surely cut herself with."

"I can do it."

"I know you can, but this knife is really sharp."

I give him a dirty look. Dipak hands me his knife.

"Cut the head off."

"What?"

Frode and Dipak start laughing again. Tre raises his eyebrows.

"Ok here?"

"Yes."

I press down and fish goo squirts all over my soaking wet dress. "Oops."

"It's ok. Now cut here and here. Careful around the bones. You don't want to eat bones. Yes get all that meat off. Good. Now you cook that part."

I try to find a clean spot of dress to wipe my hands off. The dress is disgusting at this point.

"Why don't you go back in the water for a minute? It might help to rinse that dress off."

"No, I want to cook it."

He gives me a stick. "Put that big piece on the stick and go put it above the fire." He reaches for my fish.

"I will stab you Tre."

Dipak and Frode bust out laughing.

Tre moves his hands back. "I was going to help you put the pieces on sticks."

"Ok but don't mix them up though. That's my fish."

Momma comes up to us and rubs Tre's shoulder. "It's nice to see we're all getting along."

"Momma I caught a fish."

"Oh" She turns and stares at me. "Oh... That's... What's and this... What are you covered in this time?" She looks at Tre. "How long has she been acting like a 5 year old?" She said it under her breath to the boys, but I still heard.

I start to tear up and keep my back turned on them.

"She likes to fish and be outside. That's all. She likes to get messy. She always has. She makes a better fire than I do."

Dipak says, "She rides horses better than most of the guards."

Tre laughs. "You should see her with a bow. She'll hit a target from 100 feet."

I go back over to them eating my fish.

Dipak smiles and takes a piece of my fish. "Someone should teach you how to hunt. You'd be good at it, I bet."

Tre chokes on fish and coughs. "Yea that's all you. Not trying that again. I mean you seen the fishing fiasco, right?"

"My fish is all done... Everyone try it and tell me I'm amazing."

They all eat some of my fish and tell me it's good.

"You know what I should do... Combine horse riding and shooting my bow."

Momma nods. "You could call it horse shooting... oh that's not a good name."

I crack up laughing. "Not at all. Want to go horse shooting?"

They all start laughing at me.

"Are you ready to go back now princess?" Tre smiles.

"No, I want to catch one with a pole."

He turns to my mom. "Help me or she will keep me out here all night."

She laughs a little and fixes her face. "Nadine. You need to get cleaned up now. You're a mess. You're going to have to soak until dinner the way it is."

"But."

"No. You can try fishing again tomorrow. That's enough for today."

I glare at Tre.

"Nadine. Mary will meet you at the door and undress you. We are throwing this dress out too."

"Ok."

I stand there being mad at Tre.

"You can be mad all you want princess. We can't sit out here forever. I will take you fishing again tomorrow."

"Fine."

"Give Dipak his knife back."

"Sorry. I forgot I had it." I pull it out of my apron and it's about as nasty as the dress. I try to find a way to clean it. "Sorry I don't have a clean spot left to clean it on." I hand it to him with 2 fingers.

"That's fine." He wipes it off in the yard.

I watch him. "I wonder if that would work for the dress."

Momma screams, "NO!" She shakes her head. "No one will roll you around in the grass child. Let's go back."

The boys all laugh. I don't get it. "How would that even work? I mean... grab me by a foot and throw me all over? That's not what I meant at all mom."

"Yes, I realize that now, but it's to late, and now I need a drink. Gentlemen, I'm taking this one to get cleaned up. See you all for dinner."