The stable was busier than usual. The other stable hands were freshening up the hay, brushing horses, putting tools in proper places. Something was happening for sure, the boy didn’t need to analyze these actions over much to understand this. The owner came to him and put his hands on his shoulders.

“The princess is coming today to choose a horse,” he said. “We all love you and we know you’re a good worker but…”

“I suppose someone like me shouldn’t be seen by someone like her,” the boy said.

“Don’t say it like that. It’s just I want to make the best impression on the royal family,” the man continued.

The boy didn’t think this was fair in the slightest, but what could he say? At the end of the day, he was a lowly stable hand and the youngest at that. His family was not rich, so though he came in clean clothing every day, it was old and worn. No need to make things difficult.

“I can do something in the fields today, if that’s all right,” he said.

“Thank you so much! You don’t know how much this means to us! You’ll get a raise for sure!”

He was not so gullible to believe that he’d get anything out of this. He went out to the fields. Fair or not, he could do his favorite thing: practice what little sword fighting he knew. The horses were safe, they didn’t need minding. So he took his wooden sword from behind the tree where he’d usually take his breaks, and got to work. He was just a few years too old to be training for knighthood, but he could dream. Maybe, just maybe he would be presentable before the Princess. Maybe she’d even want him to be her own personal knight. He finished his first set with a flourish of the wooden sword. What he wouldn’t give for the chance.

“You’re very good,” a small voice from above said. He looked up slowly, his face flushing. His eyes fell on a girl in a fancy riding habit, flowers in her hair. She kicked her legs idly as she watched him.

“How much did you see?” he asked.

“Everything. You’re talented. Why are you out here by yourself?” she asked. He put down the sword, his face was now bright red. How embarrassing.

“I’m watching the horses. What about you?” he asked.

She swayed from side to side as though she were listening to music.

“I was riding with my aunt and father and we stopped for lunch and I got lost,” she said.

“How did you get away from your family?” he asked.

She shrugged. “There’s always a lot of people when we go places. It was easy to slip away.”

Several things stuck out immediately. She didn’t say she was traveling with friends or family, she just said the others with her were “people.” Only people of higher class would travel with an entourage. Even if she were a commoner, which he was somewhat certain she wasn’t, she would have at least been very rich judging by her clothes, perhaps a merchant’s daughter. He already had a few theories as to who she was.

“I have another question,” she said. “You work with horses right?”

“Yes,” he said.

“Why are you out here? I thought horses didn’t need to be minded like sheep. Shouldn’t you be at the stable?”

“Well, the Princess is coming to purchase a horse and I’m much too shabby to be seen by her,” he said.

She snorted. “That’s stupid. You don’t look shabby to me at all.”

“It’s kind of you to say, but I just do what I’m told.”

She jumped down and he steadied her as she tried to find her balance.

“Why? It’s not fair, you shouldn’t have to do it,” she said as she looked up at him. She was small and doll-like up close. Her wavy green hair framed her rosy cheeks, her green eyes were bright and curious.

“Well, it’s just easier for them if I do as asked. They’ll get a sale and that will make them happy.”

“Well they won’t be getting one today if you’re not there.”

Ah, this was it, he’d finally be able to prove his theory if she kept talking.

“And why’s that?” he asked.

“Well, If you're not there I won’t–” The sky darkened suddenly and thunder rumbled. Her eyes widened and almost seemed to glow. “It’s too soon for this…”

He furrowed his brow.

“Too soon for what?”

“The storm. It wasn’t supposed to come until later in the day.”

A bolt of lightning struck near the horses. They darted in all directions at first but he saw them run toward them. A stampede. He placed her back on the tree branch.

“Climb up!” he shouted.

“What about–”

He didn’t have time to hear her. The force of a full grown horse hitting his side made it difficult to hear her cries. He could make out that she was safe up in the tree. He only wished she’d stop screaming and crying. If she was going to be the last thing he saw, he’d rather see her face, curious and peaceful. The feel of hooves crushing his body was indescribable. He was past pain and into numbness. Life was over before it even began. Soon the world seemed silent and still. He no longer felt the vibrations of the hooves. The girl ran over.

“Princess…” he croaked. She held his face. She did not correct him, so he had to be right.

“No! You can’t die like this!” she cried.

“I can. I got to live my dream. All I wanted was to protect you someday like a real knight and I got my wish...”

“No...you’re not done. You’re not done protecting me! You’re going to be a knight! You’re going to be my knight! You’re going to be the greatest, most decorated, most loved knight in the whole world!” she shouted.

Wishful thinking. He knew his body was broken. He needed to figure out how to comfort her enough to make her smile again. He couldn’t move his arms to touch her face, though. She hugged him to her chest.

“You’re going to be a knight. You’re going to live your dreams,” she said in a low voice. Her face relaxed. She was still crying, but her eyes glowed white. He’d only had minimal experience with healing magic, only to heal deep cuts now and then. The rush of this level of magic was intense, like he was falling only to be gently placed on the ground. His body felt light and he sat up.

He’d never seen a more beautiful person. Her face was serene, despite being in a sort of trance, she had a calm smile. She knew something good was happening around her and he couldn’t help but touch this beautiful glowing person, somewhere between a fairy and an angel. He held her hands and her smile grew. He looked around them. A magic circle had formed and was growing. The horses calmed, flowers bloomed in the meadow, the trees that were once barren bore fruit. What was happening?

“Oh no…” he heard a whisper from a distance. He saw a woman with white hair, her hands clasped over her mouth. A man with white hair joined her, his face awash with a mix of pride and horror. The King and the Archmage. Her father and aunt. Thunder rumbled again and a few drops of rain began to fall.

“Not again,” the King whispered. If her family reacted this way to seeing such a beautiful sight, this had to come to an end. Instinctively, the boy knew what he had to do. He squeezed her hands and pressed his forehead against hers.

“My Princess. Your knight has been healed. I’m safe. I’ll be here to watch over you from now on,” he said.

“Really?” she said in a distant monotone. The magic circle shrank little by little. “You’re not hurt any more?”

“Yes, you saved me!” he said. “You should look at me!”

She blinked her eyes slowly. He could almost make out her green irises despite her glowing eyes. She ran her hands over his torso, arms, and face.

“You are okay,” she said. The rain began to fall steadily now and her eyes returned to normal. It was as if the rain soaking her body grounded her. She smiled brightly, her eyes brimming with tears before she lurched forward into his arms. The Princess was light and he carried her over to her father before kneeling. The King wrapped his daughter in his cloak and smoothed her unruly curls.

“You will have to come back to the castle with us, young man. You are not in trouble, but you have seen something we’ve tried to keep quiet for a long time. We need to know what happened here,” the King said.

“Yes, Your Highness,” the boy said.