“Cetcily!” He called out to her when he arrived and finding her sitting upon a branch high up in a tree. He could make out a nest, straining to see better he noticed a newly hatched nightingale.

“He fell from the nest, I caught him just in time.” She said as she climbed down, soon her feat touched ground, and he was amazed at her skill… To climb so well! There was still so much he had to learn about her, like the very fact that she is not fragile at all! She was faster than him, perhaps not stronger, but she was agile enough to outdo him in most everything! He had offered to teach her how to defend herself with sword, and yet she was able to disarm him every time without the need of a weapon. It was after the twelfth meeting he came clean to her about his heritage, shocking her to the point she wanted to run! But he had reassured her that she was safe with him, and he’d never allow any harm to come to her, hesitantly she came to accept it and after a whole week, it was as if she completely forgot she was in the presence of royalty!

He’d also found she hated crowds after dragging her into town three weeks ago, she had been so on edge and when she saw soldiers patrolling through the market, though he did not know, she ran and hid in an empty alleyway, the crowd’s voices drowned out by the buildings surrounding her. It had taken him an hour to find her cowering, knees hugged tight against her chest and tears soaking her dress.

By this time he also knew she had traveled by herself until know, and she was unsure when she would leave… Not that he wanted her to leave…

“Cetcily! I have news for you! I have an invitation for you to come to the palace to witness my coronation in a week’s time! Please come! I know you hate being near other people, but I’m planning to introduce the whole kingdom to their soon to be new queen!” He said with overwhelming excitement!

“Queen?” She asked confused, fearing what he was implying.

“Yes! Cetcily, I love you, and I cannot imagen a day without you!” He took her hands holding it gently

“Leon… I love you too…” She still had words to say, but he interrupted her, with a kiss…

He could feel the heat rising beneath his collar and up his neck to his ears.

She too felt a burning sensation in her throat.

Their first kiss had ignited a desire within them they did not know they had!

“Please, Cetcily… Will you marry me? As the eldest Prince to and heir to the throne, I as a King, I can choose any wife I want! I want you!” He held her close to him… His hands cradling her waist as he spun her around and trapped her between him and a tree.

“Leon… I…” He kissed her forehead and the words caught in her throat refused to be spoken! His fingers went to caress her lips.

“If only…” The words she wanted to say still refused to be spoken, a single tear ran down her cheek.

“I love you Leon…” Sadness filled her, but she refused to let it show, she needed to be strong but how? How does she tell him all he thinks he knows about her is a lie?

Leon pulled Cetcily tighter against him, his hand now supporting her head as he pulled her in closer, kissing her endlessly his ferocity intensifying with every second that it lasted longer than before!

She could feel her hands nimbly moving about his chest, searching to find the bottom. She could not understand why her body acted the way it did! She could not control herself! She felt a pleasure about herself she never felt before! Arching into him as their kiss grew wilder!

Leon ceased action, he took a breathless breath, and it felt like forever since last he had drew air into his longs. Her unspoken words now lingered in the atmosphere of thoughts between them, their noses brushing against each.

But the fire within them did not dissipate! It refused to die just yet!

“Cetcily…”

“Leon I…” Their voices sounded in whispers.

Her skillful fingers soon found what they wanted; slowly she pulled his tunic up and over his head.

He too found the lace that tied her dress tightly at her waist, tugging at it gently it came undone. Slowly he plucked his finger up undoing her, as she was undoing him…

As soon as his tunic was off, he kissed her gently first on her for head, then nearer to her ears, still always hidden beneath her hair. Then more down to her neck, soon he found himself kissing her shoulder just as he started pushed her dress’ sleeve off. It intoxicated her more than anything she had ever drunk. She arched into every touch he made, as her dress fell to the forest ground. He pulled away only for a moment to stare into her mysterious eyes…

“I’ll forever love you! You’re my hope!” He said remembering part of what her name meant.

“Leon…” She felt that pleasure fill her again, it ached for attention!

He teased her slightly, touching her lips gently with his finger then moved in closer again, their lips barely touching…

He kissed her again, gentler than before! Once… Twice… Trice… And soon it grew more fierce than the firsts!

Again she could not control her own body her hands reached for his trousers and let it too fall to the ground.

The passion grew and they had made love there and then…

Night fell and Leon knew he must return.

“Come with me?” He asked her as they laid there watching the stars.

“I can’t.” She said, her eyes pleading with his not to push the matter further.

“Then come to the coronation! I’ll be too busy to come out here again, so I’ll see you then!” He smiled at her lovingly. In that whole time he had not even noticed her odder features, that she always kept hidden beneath her hair.

“I’ll see you then…” She said convincingly, but hating herself for the lie, always lying to him, again and again…

After they were dressed, he kissed her goodbye; little knowing it would be his last goodbye to her.

When she was sure he was gone she took out a note she had drafted the day before and placed it neatly where she knew he would find it again when he would come looking for her…