Heart of Darkness

6 - The adored Princess

Things go back to normality when Mika wakes the next morning, feeling healthy and fresh. Everyone wonders what happened for her to heal over night, but Mika discards their suspicions saying it is a blessing from the heavens and they should just focus on what is next to be done instead of wondering about the past events.

I remain quiet about all this, still wondering if she does remember what happened. She never said anything else to me and treats me as if nothing had changed at all. If the void in my heart would not still remain, I would think it was all just a bad dream.

Everyone returns to their former routine as the cold Winter comes to pass and Spring arrives to take its place. Mika has succeeded in keeping everyone at the village alive through the harsh Winter, even though it nearly cost her her life in the process. I have returned to my desk work which was pilling up because I could not do any of it while Mika was sick.

One warm day, Mika comes to my office and requests I be the one to accompany her to the village. I look up at her surprised at her request. She has never asked me so.

“I have much work to do, my princess”

“Please, Lynus, it is just for one afternoon. It will be worth it”

Her insistence leaves me in curiosity, so I abide. She squeals in glee and leaves to prepare for departure. I wonder what this is all about. I set the papers aside and head to the stables where I find my horse prepared and ready for the travel to the village. I am not surprised to find her already on her horse, ready to leave. This reminds me of the first time I took her to the village, after she persuaded me to do so.

Once we arrive at the village, I am expecting to spend a long boring time watching Mika care for the patients at the village until it is time to leave back to the castle.

But I am utterly wrong.

I am met with a bunch of village residents preparing what seems to be a large fireplace and cooking food of all sorts in the middle of the streets. The streets are being decorated by the villagers with flowers of many colors and scents.

I had completely forgotten. The castle village has had this traditional day for many centuries. They call it Flower Day, where they celebrate the return of Spring and with it the return of the colorful flowers and heat. These people really do despise cold weather.

I realize this is why Mika wanted me to come with her today. Does she wish for me to celebrate along with all the other commoners? The girl can be a lunatic sometimes.

She manages to drag me along the village showing me all the decorations the villagers have set and explaining she actually suggested a few of the main ideas for the festival. She seems absolutely content with this event, and I have to admit this holiday truly does have her charm, as if it was made just for her.

I do not know how it happened, but I suddenly find myself helping the male villagers set the fire. Only Mika could have me doing something like this. But I do notice something I had not noticed before: the villagers do not hate me as much as they used to. Mind you, they still hate me, but not enough to completely ignore me or throw daggers through their eyes anymore. Instead, they are actually trying to communicate with me and endure my presence next to them. I am still a stranger among them, but they are no longer trying to exclude me.

Mika is certainly the reason for this change of thoughts.

For her sake, I try my best to accompany the village’s frenzy through the festival’s preparation and help with the decoration and preparation of the main fire. I actually find myself feeling content as I watch Mika smile cheerfully next to the village’s women and children while they prepare the food. I have to admit it is not a complete waste of time, this so called ‘Flower Day’.

Soon enough, night comes and the huge fireplace is lit. The village comes to life as cheerful music roars around us and people dance in a crazy motion around the fire. I tend to step aside, and simply watch them as they celebrate, my eyes scanning through the villagers trying to find the princess. It is hard to spot anyone in particular as people swirl hastily around the fire, each of them with a huge smile spat in their faces.

I nearly jump in my place as I feel a tap at my shoulder. When I look next to me, there she is, with the same cheerful smile spat across her face.

“Come dance with me” She nearly shouts, so I can hear her through the loud music.

“I am afraid I can’t, my princess” I answer her, trying not to elevate my voice too loudly.

“Come, I will teach you” And then she proceeds to drag me to where everyone is swirling frantically around the fire. I nearly halt in my steps as she pulls me by my hand.

“Mika…” I warn her. I really do not understand this kind of dance. It seems just a random set of movements which make no sense at all.

She ignores my warning and stands in front of me as she holds my hands in the same way the other villager couples do.

“It seems I am the teacher now” She has a twinkle in her eyes I cannot ignore. Suddenly, I do want to experience this type of dance. I allow myself to smirk softly.

“It would appear so, my princess”

She chuckles and smiles up at me. “On the count of three, we jump to the circle, and then you just follow my movements”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “That is not very specific”

She laughs as a response. I can’t help but admire her laughter. It sounds like music to me, not unpleasant like I always considered other people’s laughter. It is not loud or high pitched. It is just perfect.

“May be, but I am the teacher here” She smiles triumphantly and gets ready looking at the dancing couples behind us. “Just jump!”

And then we are engulfed into the dancing frenzy as we jump around like maniacs. Seriously, only commoners could invent a dancing where you sweat more than a soldier in battle. I actually have a hard time accompanying her among the frantic and random movements the dance requires, but Mika always pulls me whenever I am about to bump into another couple.

When we are through and the music stops, everyone starts cheering and shouting like barbarians and I know this is the part where they will start eating like pigs. I am sweating and panting worse than when I am done with extreme training. These people are crazy!

But as I look at Mika and see the glimmer in her eyes and her happy smile, all my discomfort seems to pass. She is happy among these barbarians. She feels like home, and when she smiles up at me, I can feel at home as well.

It makes it all worthwhile.

Mika is soon pulled back into another dancing, one in which only females take part while their boyfriends and husbands cheer and drink their beer. I just stand aside watching from the sidelines.

Mika dances happily among the other women and I understand she will never completely belong to royalty. A part of her will always be a commoner.

I watch her dance the night away until I decide it is enough. By the end of the night, I approach her and inform her it is more than time to leave. She protests of course, but in the end she has to admit she had her share for the night.

I escort her back to the castle, where I decide I need to take a warm bath before heading to bed. I smell and feel disgusting.

“Have a good night, my princess” I bow to her respectfully. I have noticed this is something she doesn’t like to have me do, but I cannot stop myself from doing it. However, this time, in her giddy mood, she bows back to me.

“Good night, Sir Lynus. Have a good night’s sleep” And then she smiles happily and giggles as she turns her back on me and heads towards her room.

I am left dumbfounded for a moment as I recall her smile in my mind repeatedly, wanting to keep it engraved in my memory forever.

That was the brightest smile she has ever presented me with. I suddenly realize I want to keep that same smile in her beautiful features for the rest of my days.

When I did change my opinion of her in such matter, I do not know, but suddenly, I just want to make her happy. I am more and more convinced that is the only way I will ever be happy too.

I must have been contaminated by those people. I am surely crazy…