Princess, It's Me

Our Meeting

As the sun hid behind the distant mountains, the moon appeared in all her grace. Stars twinkled in the black sky as insects sang repeating songs. I longed to feel that weak connection once more for that meant that my mate was in her hiding spot. A closet. Emotions welled up inside me again. I shook my head to rid those thoughts from my head. Soon I will meet her and I will make it my priority to give her a better life.

I feel her.

"Yes, Xavier, I do too." The connection felt much stronger. I nearly ran out the door, but when my hand reached the door knob of my door, I stopped. I cannot rush to her no matter how eager I am to meet her. If I run to her then the guards patrolling the area will be alerted and she will get caught. I need to wait.

No. Go now.

"I can't. It's too risky. We need to wait just a little bit more."

GO NOW.

"Xavier, no." I struggled for a moment as Xavier tried to take control. "If we go now, then we could endanger her. We wait and go when it is safe. For her." With those words Xavier seemed to settle enough for me to take back full control. He was impatient as I was, but I refused to put her in an danger. She was already in danger sneaking in here, why put her in more?

I waited a couple minutes before slipping out of my room and carefully making myself down to the first floor. The castle was dark, which gave me the cover that I needed, and the only light came from the guards as they patrolled the area.

Once I got to the closet I stared at the door. How was I going to do this? I can't just barge in and say, "hello, you're my mate." What if she is human and can't feel the mate bond? What guarantees do I have that she will be willing to follow a complete stranger deeper into the castle?

We should just open the door. Stop overthinking and just act. She is on the other side of this door. Open it.

My hand went to open the door, but that's when the idea came into my head. The only way to trust a stranger is for the stranger to be nice and friendly and do everything on your terms. I had to win my mate's trust by letting her decide how we proceed. If I push her into doing what I want to do, then she won't trust me. She needs to be the one to decide.

I rose my hand once more and knocked on the door.

Knock Knock.

It was silent. No noise came from inside the closet. I pressed my hear on the door hoping to hear movement, but disappointingly even the mice stayed quiet. I attempted once more with defeated hopes.

"Hey. I know you’re in there and I’m not sure if you can hear me or not.  Umm… If you can, I’m not here to get you in any trouble. Well, actually it would be great if you can let me in before the guards come and patrol the area. Anyways, I am a friend. I know you have been sleeping here for a while. I don’t mean any harm. I want to help you. Please open the door.”

“This door doesn’t lock. Why don’t you just come in on your own?” she replied. Her voice sent shivers down my back. It was a voice so beautiful I wish I could listen to it forever.

“I need you to open the door. If I open the door, then I know that you don’t trust me. I want you to trust me. I need you to trust me. Only you can let me in. I won’t come in unless you let me. Listen, the guards don’t usually patrol this area, but there is a chance they might come this way. I would like to not get caught outside this door and then they go barging in and catch you. So please, trust me.”

She twisted the door knob and slightly opened the door. When I noticed that the door was no longer moving, I poked my head in to see her. The scent of lavender filled the air and it paralyzed me. For a short moment I stood there. After that moment passed, I slipped into the room and closed the door.

She was a tiny human. She was short and really skinny. Her hair was up, but it seemed like she would have maybe medium to long hair. I opened my mouth to tell her that she was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, but we heard a noise come from the hall. I turned to listen to hear where it was going. I'm pretty sure it was headed in the opposite direction so we were ok.

I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder, then a tug on my shirt. I looked at my mate and she motioned to me to follow her. She led me to a small opening behind the cabinet. I attempted to follow her, but I was way to big to fit in the small opening. As I tried to squeeze through something fell and hit the floor.

"Who's there?" was all I heard before I was pulled into the hiding spot. I barely made it though before the guard opened the door and searched the room. He left moments later. I stared at my mate who was inches away. I could see that she was younger than me, but only a couple years. Her skin was fair, no freckles or anything. Her eye lashes were long and curled. She was beautiful.

She began to squint her eyes excessively. "You ok?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just can't see where you are." she answered. I involuntarily laughed at her response. I lifted my hand to touch her. I placed my hand on her knee. Immediately she slapped my hand and backed away from me. I was a small slap, not hard at all, but it hurt more than anything in the world and her backing away from me in fear made that feeling intensify.

“Wait, wait, wait. I’m sorry. I just wanted to let you know I was here. I didn’t mean to scare you. Here, hold out your hand. It’s just so that you know I’m here, nothing else. Please?” I need her to trust me. I needed her to come back and not be afraid because the pain I felt was suffocating. After what seemed like an eternity, she extended her hand and I grabbed it. I treated her hand as if it was fine glass. She looked up at me with her squinted eyes which put a smile on my face. I wanted to help her, no, I needed to help her.

“My name is Stephan. I don’t mean to scare you in any way, but I’ve been watching you come in and out of here for the last couple of days. I am pretty sure no one has seen you aside from myself. I really want to make it clear that I am a friend. I don’t mean you any harm. On the contrary, I want to help you. I’m pretty sure you know that there is a ball coming up soon and I was hoping that I would see you there. What do you say?” After I got no reply I continued, "Listen, all I want to do is help. Since you’re sleeping here, then I’m going to assume that you have no place to go and probably no family or friends. I am offering to help. I am offering you a place to sleep better than this. Food in your belly whenever you want. Clothing of any color, shape, style, whatever. I am offering you help. I want to help you. In order for me to do that, I need you to be at the ball. I need you to accept my help.”

The ball is where I can make her official and guarantee that she will be the one I spend the rest of my life with. I wanted her to accept so bad, but she just kept staring at me. “Listen, I—" What more can I say to her?

Stop overthinking and just act was one of the things Xavier had said. “Do you trust me? Don’t be scared, just follow me, ok?” I got up, with us still holding hands, and attempted to get out of our hiding spot, but of course I got stuck again. She giggled as I struggled to get through. Once we were out I told her, “No matter what happens I need you to trust me and don’t let go of my hand, ok?”