Still with dripping clothes, we walked back to the castle. It was a wonder the princess could swim in that. Even just walking in that wet thing looked difficult. 

Her eyes suddenly jumped to mine. “My mouth is big and wide. Don’t get too close or you will die. My breath is fire. What am I?”

I looked back, confused. 

“It’s a riddle. Now what’s your answer?” 

“Well…a dragon I suppose.”

She grinned back. “Nope. Any other guesses?”

I shook my head. 

“A fireplace!”

“Ah, I see.”

“The gnomes love riddles. Do you know any?”

“I don’t believe so.”

She pouted. “At least make one up, can’t you?”

“I can try.” It took a while, but I felt proud when an idea came to mind. “What has four legs but no head?”

“That’s easy! A table.”

“I was actually thinking of a chair.”

“Yes, but that’s basically the same, isn’t it?,” she corrected. “Hmm…let’s see. How about…oh, hey, look! Your forest does have mushrooms after all.” She pointed in delight and instantly started to collect them. 

“Those won’t kill us, will they?”

“Trust me, I know my mushrooms.” 

When her hands got full, she handed some over to me. “This should be enough.”

Back at the castle, many servants and guards gave us strange looks but said nothing. 

“We better get changed,” I said, walking her to her room. “I’ll give the mushrooms to the cook.”

“No way! I’m making the soup myself.”

I was about to scold her for wanting to do something a princess shouldn’t but how could I when we just trudged through the forest in muddy clothes? 

“Alright. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

I got there first as expected since I knew changing into another dress would take her longer. First, ordering all the cooks and workers out, I waited, feeling a bit strange. 

Once the princess arrived, she set right to work on cutting the mushrooms as if she owned the place. 

I stood awkwardly about. “Am I supposed to do anything?”

“Nope.”

After a while, she started humming a tune to herself. 

I leaned my back against the counter and watched. “I’m guessing you did a lot of cooking back when you lived in the forest.”

“Of course. But we didn’t have any of this fancy stuff to cook with. But we still made huge meals. Gnomes love to eat. Especially mushroom soup.”

For the first time, I found myself not entirely upset that she had mentioned the gnomes. But this whole thing still didn’t feel quite right. Regardless, I fought back my kingly instincts and kept quiet as I watched her. 

It gave me time to notice how small and delicate her hands were. And the fact that her lips were naturally bright in shade. And the soft curves of her face, though youthful, were quite feminine.   

My eyes then scanned her hair, which now mostly dry, hung freely down her back. If I was being honest, I did find it a bit attractive.  

“I didn’t realize how much I missed it actually,” she said after a while, startling me out of my gaze. 

“What?”

“Cooking. Here, it’s finished. Try it.”

“But you were the one who wanted the soup.”

“Well yes, but I wanted to make it for you.”

Our eyes met, and I couldn’t believe how only hours ago, I had been so upset with her. Part of me felt so foolish for that, but yet foolish still for how I felt now. How had her smile and laugh changed everything in an instant? 

I guess even kings had their weaknesses. I couldn’t forget even my own father did towards my mother. So could I fault myself for that? 

She pushed a bowl closer to me on the counter. “Don’t let it get cold.”

“Alright. This better not be poisoned,” I found myself joking. 

She giggled back. “If I wanted you dead, it would have been done long ago.”  

“It seems that’s how you felt when we first met. But I can’t really blame you. I was…well… What I’m trying to say is that I’m-”

Before I got my last word out, she grabbed a spoon full of soup and shoved it in my mouth. At first, I was only surprised, but once the shock subsided, I realized that the soup was actually quite good. 

“Well?” She prodded with hopeful eyes. 

I wasn’t sure why she wanted to interrupt me, but I think she got the idea that I was trying to apologize. 

“Hmm…I won’t know until I try some more.” Taking the spoon from her, I took a few more bites. 

The next spoonful, I turned and brought to her mouth. Her wide eyes only questioned back at me. 

“You should have some too.”

As surprised as she looked, she finally took the bite. 

She then quickly replaced her unsure look to a smug smile. “I must say, this is the best I’ve made yet. Can’t be beat.”

“Is that so?” I gave a sly look as I finished the bowl. “I’m not so sure. I think it might be awful. But I need more to know for certain.” I filled the bowl full again with the remaining soup. 

“Hey, wait! Save some for me.”

“Nope! It’s all mine!” I held it high out of her reach and continued eating. 

She still attempted to grab for it. “Liar! You know it’s the best thing you’ve eaten in your life!”

I grinned playfully. “I thought you said you made this for me.”

“Yeah…but…” Her eyes truly looked sad.

I set it back on the counter. “You can have the rest.”

She didn’t hesitate to do so. Part of me was surprised she didn’t mind using the same spoon. But then again, part of me wasn’t. 

That night, my mind retraced all that had happened that day. More so the good parts. She seemed to really enjoy all my teasing and jokes. Who knew I could be so good at it too. Thinking back, I did feel a bit silly. But to see her so happy…it was worth it. 

It was starting to fully sink in finally. One day, she would be my wife. I still couldn't quite know why, but that somehow still felt unsettling. Though I truly had enjoyed the day, and was proud of the progress we had made, the fact still remained… We were like childhood friends playing, not that of adult affection. Could it ever be like that? Something deep inside wanted it to be possible. 

~*~

I found myself looking at the princess more often as she translated the gnome book during her lesson. She never seemed to notice. Or at least I hoped she didn’t. What else was I to do anyway?

“That’s enough for today. What would you like to do now? Perhaps a horse ride?”

“Oh, yes!”

I smiled at her excitement. 

She eyed me back with scrutiny. “You know…you’re different now.”

“Different how?”

“For one, you actually look happy sometimes.”   

“What happy? Never me…it’s not allowed for kings.”

She smirked back. “That’s why you shouldn’t be a king. Just be Kalin.”

There she was using my name again. I had no words this time. Was that her way of saying she liked the new me better? 

“Come on, let’s go!” She rushed out the door with excitement. 

This time, she let me help her on the saddle and didn’t seem to mind. When seated behind her, I allowed my body closer to hers. For some reason, it was the only thing I could think about. This whole situation could be quite romantic. But I’m sure that wasn’t a single thought in her mind. 

For a moment, I wondered if I should teach her to ride on her own. But wasn’t this way better? 

“Can’t we ever go faster?” She asked, reminding me she was only here for the thrill of the ride. 

Kicking the horse, we sped through the field. This time, I took another path that gave us a view of the mountains. 

When we stopped to enjoy the scene, I brought my arms a bit closer in around her. She didn’t seem to notice. 

“Vallenor?” I quietly let myself say her name for the first time. 

Though I couldn’t see her face, her voice sounded like a frown. “My name isn’t Vallenor.”

“It’s what your mother named you.”

I could feel her back stiffen against my chest. 

“I know, but…it’s not what the gnomes called me.”

This moment was going far from what I had hoped. But saying her false name didn’t feel right. 

“Well…anyway, how did you know my name was Kalin?”

She was deathly still and silent for a moment.

“Why wouldn’t I know your name?”

“I don’t think I ever told you.”

“That would be silly. Why wouldn’t you have told me?” There was a certain wobble in her voice that I couldn’t decipher. 

“I just wondered if you actually did remember anything. Back before you went to the fairies.”

She paused a moment. “I don’t think so.”

“What do you remember of when you were with them?”

“Not much. I was alone a lot.” 

Alone? Had her time with the fairies really been not that great? Is that why she had said the gnomes had saved her? 

“What about the letters?”

“What letters?”

“I uh…I wrote you letters. Do you remember that?”

“You wrote me letters?” Her voice lowered to almost a whisper as if she almost didn’t believe me. “What did they say?”

I kicked the horse back into a gentle walk. “I…well… That was long ago. I don’t remember.”

After more silence, I forged up the nerve to say what I once set out to. “The truth is, when you disappeared, I looked for you every day. For years… We all thought you died.”

“Did that make you sad?”

Her question surprised me. “Well, uh… Yes, I suppose it did.”

“I’m sorry.” There was an unusual tone in her voice. 

I chuckled nervously. “It’s not like it’s your fault… Were you actually happy with the gnomes?”

“Yes, I was.” There was definitely a hint of loss in her voice. 

But couldn’t she find new happiness with me? I wanted to do my best for her. 

“Did you never once wish you could be with other humans?”

“Not really.” 

“Not even wishing to wed?” I was surprised at my own question. 

“I didn’t think about it.” 

My hopes dropped a bit. Though, of course. Why would a child think in such ways…

With nothing left to say, I charged the horse back into full speed.