A Walk in the Park {Part 2}

The time seemed to drag on. She felt like she had been sitting here for hours, when in fact it had only been minuets. However, it didn't matter, be it hour or minuets, because the pit in her stomach only grew. She was glad she had forgone eating breakfast, for she feared it would not have stayed within her. However, she now feared herself too weak to effectively go on the walk.

She tried to center herself with a deep breath of clean fresh spring air. However, in her nervous state she couldn't get the air to go nearly deep enough to give her peace. So she looked around herself instead. To her relief, she found that the mud that had marred the hems of skirts only days ago had now dried. The gardeners, although thankful for the rain, were once again beautifying the palace gardens, although today they were focusing on the rose gardens. The magnolia grove, where she now sat, was left alone for the time being. However, the gardeners did not keep the gardens from bursting forth with life in their absence. The fountains and reflection pool trickled and wondered lazily from place to place. It's gentle hum mingled with the chirping of the morning doves. Cumulatively, it forced a certain peace upon those who partook in the gardens so early in the morning.

In addition to her naturally calming surroundings, Anastasia forced herself to remember that the guards were there should something happen. Furthermore, she was strong and capable and had been in more than one situation that was fraught with tension that provided her with a knowledge her younger self would have envied.

However, this felt different. She felt as if she was a yoyo on a string being toyed with by Prince Taren, and others in his grasp. One moment she was being asked to give her hand in marriage, the next her kingdom was being threatened by war. What an odd time to be queen.

Lost within her musings, she may not have noticed the new comer as they approached where she sat. It was not until she felt her hair stand on end after hearing the gentle footstep that fell behind her that she stirred. She sprang to her feet and whirled around to find Prince Taren as he slowly approached from the opposite way she had suspected he would come from.

She felt her heart beat increase in speed as he drew nearer. Not even a minute into their stroll and he had already caught her unaware and had thrown her off-kilter. When he meet her eyes and saw her attention turn to him, he smiled. It was unnerving and the words of both Duke Phillip and Baron Weston rung in her ears. Never-mind that, she chastised herself. She tried to force a gentle smile as he neared until he was close enough for her to extend her hand. As he bowed, he took her hand in his and gently kissed the back of it.

"Prince Taren, thank you for meeting me on such short notice," She waited until he was rising to address him. This gave her just enough time to take a deep breath and feel the color rise in her face.

"It is I who should be thanking you for taking this walk with me." He was still smiling, but there was a look much deeper, much deadlier, laying within his eyes.

"I am simply repaying your kindness for the other day." She smiled, but it was forced as she strategically watched his movements. She noticed that the sword always strapped to his waist was there again today, but otherwise, he seemed relatively harmless.

She positioned herself to his right, which put her just a touch closer to her knights should she need them. She then encouragingly spoke as she positioned herself to be led by him should he so chose to take her innocently offered arm. "It's a lovely day for a stroll. The magnolia gardens are especially lovely this time of year."

He nodded, before taking the seeming offered arm in his. "I confess I have not been able to fully enjoy most of the famous Karthian gardens before now."

"Well it is an honor to be able to show you them personally. For I am quiet fond of my gardens and take great pride in knowing they are well tended to. After all, some of these trees are older than the kings who came before me three generations ago. "

They went on like this for a while yet, with her describing some detail about the garden, and him nodding along or giving a simple response in turn. However, it was obvious he was holding something back, and the longer he lie in wait the more afraid Anastasia became of what would come next.

However, she knew she would not have to wait forever before he would reveal his hand, and she was right. As they neared a bend that was stationed between two of her hidden knights, he took an even firmer grasp of her arm. Quickly, and with a certain urgency, he led her between two of the larder bushes that lined the paved walk. They were mostly hidden, but even more so the sound was muffled and the nearest guard was a good ways away.

Before she could panic to much, Taren taunted, "I don't know weather to be flattered or offended that you view me as such a threat."

Anastasia wanted to squirm from his grasp, but she feared looking inferior. Instead, she held her spine ridged and turned her stare stony as she addressed him. "What do you mean by that."

"I mean that only a significant threat to the safety of a kingdom would get half a squadron of knights lined up against the paved walk he takes with the queen." He seethed as he pressed closer, anger almost nipping at his tone.

"Do you take me a naïve fool?" She pushed back.

"No, I take you as a very smart and strategic ruler, but one that is stuck in a game they don't know they are a pawn in." He truly was angry, but Anastasia was confused as to why.

Cautiously she warned. "Watch your words, neither venom nor treason is welcomed in my kingdom."

He softened his gaze and his hold on her arm. His voice lost its edge, but was still grave when he next spoke. "You have to understand something your majesty, your kingdom is on the brink of destruction. Your enemies are amassing against you like ivy growing up an abandoned castle wall and you don't have any legs to stand on and you don't even see it."

She was taken aback. Ivy... did he know what he was doing? It didn't matter just now, she was in control still, or at least she feigned control as she bit back, "The only enemy I see here is you."

He sighed, fully letting her go as his posture and tone took on that of dejection. "You poor girl. I am the only friend you have, yet you claim me as a foe."

"What have you done to prove otherwise?" Anastasia asked in earnest oice rising nearly as oud as his had been but a few moments before.

Something in her statement registered within him, but he thought for only a moment before responding, "I've kept you alive this long, but if you keep working against me, I can make no promise."

"Is that a threat."

"No, it's a warning." He sounded sad as he moved on. He began to walk on the beaten trail again, but paused when he noticed that Anastasia did not follow along.

"Why did you demand to see me? To warn me?" Her voice was cold as she stared from her spot between the trees.

"I had hoped to help you see me in a different light." He answered honestly, before contemplating his next words and uttering rather solemnly, "But it doesn't matter how much light there is if a person only wears rose colored classes they will always only see rose."

His statement left Anastasia in state of shock. His tone was so soft, as if merely pointing out that a lock of hair had fallen from it's nested place instead of a tragic character flaw.

However, what was more unsettling was the fact that he did not wait this time before moving on leaving Anastasia with a choice. She could either follow him or go her own way.

For some inexplicable reason, she chose to follow him, but she did not again let herself be led by him. Instead she strolled exactly three feet beside him, taking a step with every step he did. Lengthening her stride when he got even an inch ahead, and shortening it when he was slightly behind her.

It was like this that they ended their stroll, and Anastasia made up her mind. She could no longer assume anyone in Karthia's court was her friend. At this point everyone was a foe.

Prince Taren of Dreterra may have been where this all began, but she would see it through till it's end.