Return To Me

Chapter 4 - Crush?

“What on earth do you mean?” I asked, looking at him funny. The whole village was looking at me like I was some weirdo the first thing I got here, and they didn’t even take a second to think if they were going to give me some food or not, but this dude  or rather, some stranger offers me food, AND said my name specifically.

He looked at me again as if I were a madwoman asking that question. “Clothing, the way you talk, and the way you look.” He recited. “That was oddly specific, sir.” I chimed. “Who’s there Benedict?!” A female voice shouted from inside the tent. He looked back at me again and shouted, “Natalia’s here.”

“Excuse me but why are you-”

“Who the f**k is Natalia?” The female voice interviened. I heard somewhat of a plate plopped down onto a surface and a head pops out behind the guy. “Who are you?” The girl says crossing her arms and glares at me. “She’s Princess Natalia of the kingdom  of Esmeralda.” Benedict, I pressumed was his name is, said.

“How’d you know that?” The woman scoffed.

“I wondered the same thing as well!” I chimed in as the woman rolls her eyes.

“Look whoever you are, please leave. We don’t want you here.” The woman said and returned back to whatever she was doing a while ago. “I’m sorry, about her.” Benedict said, looking straight into my eyes. “Its no problem. I should find shelter and food now, I don’t want to disturb you.” I said as Benedict was staring at me directly into my eyes. “Don’t mind my sister, you can stay here with us. The more the merrier!” Benedict suggested. “As I said, I don’t want to intrude. And I think I got the hint that your sister already hate me.” I concluded, folding my arms at him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose staring at me as if we were having a staring contest. “Yo, Ben why don’t you f*****g help out here!” Benedict’s sister shouted and Benedict just shook his head while standing up. “I’ll come looking for you.” He pointed at me. “I’ll stay hidden then.” I replied turning away from him and making my way back to where I made the fire.

I finally reached where I was before. ‘I guess I’m going back  to square one’ I whispered to myself. I started to create another fire with my gem as the sun is already setting. I sat down, laying back on the tree and stared at my  gem intensly. ‘Why won’t this thing summon food?’ I thought. I sighed and look back at the sun going down behind the snowy mountain.

‘I command you to summon me food’  I thought to it. I waited a minute and, obviously, nothing. I held the gem in my hand  and  closed my eyes, resting my head at the tree behind me.

I thought about how I’m  supposed  to get out of  here, how am I supposed to ear, will I  just die out here? Loads of questions flooded my mind then I heared footsteps along the snow, then it stopped. I instantly rememered a certain someone I met not long ago.

“How did you find me?” I said, still closing my eyes. “Just followed your footsteps.” Benedict said while starting to walk towards me. “What are you doing here?” I sighed waiting for his response. I opened my eyes just a little bit and spotted him right next to me. “Well, for starters I brought you some food.” He responded. I opened my eyes and see that he was holding a large paper bag. “You know you didn’t have to.” I glared at him.

“What do you want me to do? Let the future queen of Esmeralda starve?” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little at his sarcastic response.

I watched as he took out some food from the paper bag he brought and surprised that he brought a lot of food. “Don’t you think this is too much?” I said while he is still grabbing and taking food and drinks out of the paper bag. “Well, you could eat these through out the week.” He replied as he finally placed down the paper bag between us. “Does your sister know that you clearly gave your whole refrigerator to a stranger she doesn’t even know?” I asked him with curiousness written all over my tone. "No, and what’s all the questioning? I didn’t walk into an interogation room did I?” We both chuckled a bit on his comment and I started to eat some of the food he brought me.

It’s a bit sweet of him, but I don’t want her sister to get mad at him because of me.

---

I didn’t want to eat all of the food so I put back the rest in the paper bag. Benedict and I were just chatting and the whole time.

“I should have asked this a while ago, but why did your hand glow green when I got here?” Benedict looked at my hands then back to my eyes. “I don’t know  if I should tell you though…” I replied as my mind drifts from the stary night to what happened to my kingdom and the shadow-y figure that has been chasing me. “It’s fine, you don’t have to tell me about it if it’s a top secret royalty thing.” I gave him a little smile for his understanding then I stood up to clean my mess. “You know, my offer still stands.” Benedict hollered out as I was cleaning up my mess. “Whatever do you mean?” I didn’t really want to intrude their private space so I pretended to forget about the help he offered.

Silence arose as I’m almost finished with the mess, I could almost feel his eyes staring at me. “Don’t you have to go back to your sister? I don’t want her to worry about you.” I said, glaring at him finally breaking the silence. “It’ll be fine. She’s already asleep anyways.” He said, his eyes fixated on me.

“Could you stop staring at me?” I said anxiouly, turning away from him.

“You should go to sleep. It’s 2 am already.” He said, standing up and fixing up his coat. “And you should go back to your sister.” I glared at him. “Fine.” He rolls his eyes and I let out a little chuckle. “Good night Princess Natalia.” He winked at me. “Oh no need for the royalty-ness, just call me Tal.” I smiled at him. “Ok then, good night Tal.” He said then made his way back to the village.

I felt a burning sensation rising up to my cheeks. ‘Hold on, Am I blushing?!’ I grinned at myself and fixed my little spot. I layed down on the snow, and looked up at the stars. “Should I be feeling this?” I whispered to myself as I fell asleep with a little smile.

At the other side: Ratna’s POV

I cackle as I see King Krasis suffer, fighting for his life and his kingdom. “Just give up Krasis and hand over the gem!” I shouted as more of my men rush over to defeat Krasis.

“My Queen!” I hear someone shouting from behind me, oh boy this better be good.

“My Queen! Ludwig got the Amethian gem, and Kendrik got the Perrylium gem.” I grinned at the thought I already have two gems in this kingdom, and it’s going to be three, if this brat Krasis give the Esmaraldian gem.

“Oh, before I forget, did they already kill the princess of Esmaralda?” I asked, glaring at Krasis who is still fighting for his life. Pathetic.

“I believe they already killed her my queen.” He replies and waddles out of the dying palace. I assume he’s going go and grab my gems. I squel in excitement but I can get too excited! The girl.

‘Don’t they have any mirrors in this wretched palace’ I think to myself. Finally spotting a mirror behind me near the entrance of the palace, thankfully it isn’t broken yet.

‘Aren’t you a gorgeous woman’ Ah zip it Ratna focus! ‘Show me the girl’ I said twirling my fingers in a circle on the mirror.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”