Hans was supposed to fall in love with the princess. That was how it worked. He was the prince. There were indeed princes and princesses even today. They were roles that people were born to. A princess was any girl with the power to heal. Evil always sought this power. So princes were born as guardians, able to break any spell placed upon their princess with a kiss and the innate skills to protect them from their foes. Hans had no problem rescuing his princess Caroline from trolls, ogres, or, on one memorable occasion, a dragon. The problem was Myriah, the witch.
Hans didn't know what it was about Myriah. She targeted Caroline more than anyone else. It was as if she had a personal vendetta. Despite all Myriah had done to harm his princess, Hans saw good in her. He once witnessed Myriah risk capture to save a small child. After that Hans realized that Myriah's actions only harmed Caroline. In fact, the witch's plots often put Caroline into direct contact with those who needed her healing touch most. People Caroline never sought out on her own. His princess didn't like to use her power. It exhausted her. Caroline never used it more than she had to. She was forced to when Myriah locked her in the basement of a hospital or dragged her to the middle of a war zone for some evil scheme. Hans was supposed to fall in love with his princess... So why was he falling in love with her enemy? Why was he falling for a witch?
Hans finally realized he was asking himself the wrong question. He needed to ask Myriah something else. Fortunately, Hans didn't have to wait long to see her. Within the week, Myriah had kidnapped and poisoned Caroline. Myriah left her like a trophy, sleeping in a glass coffin in the center of a town ravaged by plague. Hans went after Myriah, leaving Caroline behind for a short time. When he caught up to Myriah, Hans could ask her why. Why did she torment Caroline? Why was someone with such an obviously good heart (though he didn't say that out loud) a witch?
That made Myriah pause. She considered him before she answered. "I once asked the princess for help. My brother was sick. She slammed the door in my face and my brother died the next day." Hans was stunned into silence. Myriah turned and walked away.
Hans slowly returned to the village. He leaned over Caroline and, for the first time, he hesitated before he kissed her. His princess woke. Hans helped her up. "Oh dear..." She murmured as she took note of her surroundings and realized how many people she would have to cure. Hans knew Myriah had spoken the truth. Caroline would never use her ability unless someone forced her to. Myriah was the only one who could make Caroline use her gift... And Hans loved her for that.
Continued in The Temporary Truce, the second story of the Princess' Path.
Hans didn't know what it was about Myriah. She targeted Caroline more than anyone else. It was as if she had a personal vendetta. Despite all Myriah had done to harm his princess, Hans saw good in her. He once witnessed Myriah risk capture to save a small child. After that Hans realized that Myriah's actions only harmed Caroline. In fact, the witch's plots often put Caroline into direct contact with those who needed her healing touch most. People Caroline never sought out on her own. His princess didn't like to use her power. It exhausted her. Caroline never used it more than she had to. She was forced to when Myriah locked her in the basement of a hospital or dragged her to the middle of a war zone for some evil scheme. Hans was supposed to fall in love with his princess... So why was he falling in love with her enemy? Why was he falling for a witch?
Hans finally realized he was asking himself the wrong question. He needed to ask Myriah something else. Fortunately, Hans didn't have to wait long to see her. Within the week, Myriah had kidnapped and poisoned Caroline. Myriah left her like a trophy, sleeping in a glass coffin in the center of a town ravaged by plague. Hans went after Myriah, leaving Caroline behind for a short time. When he caught up to Myriah, Hans could ask her why. Why did she torment Caroline? Why was someone with such an obviously good heart (though he didn't say that out loud) a witch?
That made Myriah pause. She considered him before she answered. "I once asked the princess for help. My brother was sick. She slammed the door in my face and my brother died the next day." Hans was stunned into silence. Myriah turned and walked away.
Hans slowly returned to the village. He leaned over Caroline and, for the first time, he hesitated before he kissed her. His princess woke. Hans helped her up. "Oh dear..." She murmured as she took note of her surroundings and realized how many people she would have to cure. Hans knew Myriah had spoken the truth. Caroline would never use her ability unless someone forced her to. Myriah was the only one who could make Caroline use her gift... And Hans loved her for that.
Continued in The Temporary Truce, the second story of the Princess' Path.
Art: Of Saints and Sinners by Lyndsey Werner (March 8, 2013)
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