A HAVEN

The carriage had been out for about a week and Sky finally came up with a plan. As the carriage rider was ahead, they poured out all the water they had on the ground and called out to the riders. "Help! The prince is dying!" Isabelle shouted and one rider came back to check what was going on. He opened the door and came in. "He hasn't drank water for a while now. He gave the remaining to me" Isabelle said and handed the gangster the empty pouch. As the gangster leaned in to check up on Sky, Sky pulled out the gangster's sword from behind and stabbed the gangster with it, then quickly, Isabelle cut Sky's rope. Hearing the screams from the gangster, his colleague came to the carriage and saw Sky about to untie Isabelle. Before he could lock the door once more, Sky kicked him away and jumped out, pulling Isabelle along. As he was much weaker than usual, the fight with the gangster became much harder. Suddenly, Isabelle stabbed the gangster from behind and dropped the sword. Her hands shook in fear as the gangster began to bleed. Sky seized the opportunity and stabbed the gangster once more. Sky pulled Isabelle along and jumped onto the horse. She took one last look back and saw the gangster fall onto his knees, then to the ground. They kept riding ahead where smoke had come into sight and by nightfall, they had got to another town.

They were taken in by the Arani people, who provided them with a place to stay. "You two can stay here" An old woman told them. The house was small and there was only one room in it. "How're we going to share the space" Isabelle asked, looking around the dusty place. "Share?" Sky asked. "Yes, share. We are both going to stay here" Isabelle said. "And that's okay with you?" Sky asked. "I guess you have never lived with someone who isn't of your gender. Don't worry, it's not as serious as you think. We'll only sleep in the same room" Isabelle said and laughed at Sky. The next day, they each went to different rivers to bath. Isabelle stood at the edge, unable to go into the river to bath, the memories of the storm coming back to her. She went to the well to fetch water and headed back to the house to take her bath. She came out, fully dressed in the local attire they had. She remembered how similar the ones they wore back in her village was to that of the Arani people. Sky also returned from the men's riverside, already dressed up, in their attire. Isabelle was speechless when she saw him. "My brother never looked this good" Isabelle accidentally spoke her thoughts aloud. "I bet he didn't" Sky said to tease her.

The Arani village

Sky and Isabelle stayed in the Arani village for a while. They worked to earn money for their journey back home, as soon as they figured out which direction their home would be in. After a few weeks, Sky and Isabelle woke up to the screams of the villagers. A man suddenly barged into their room, dressed like a low ranking soldier, and began to look through their things. Isabelle got up to stop him but he pushed her away, causing her to fall into the arms of Sky. Sky took the soldier by the arm and kicked him. Then he threw punches at the soldier who struggled to defend himself, then threw him out. Sky and Isabelle then rushed out to find out what was happening. "What is going on?" Isabelle asked. "It's the tax collectors. They're here to take money for the governor, but the problem is, no one helps us in this village. We are left alone to fend for ourselves and then the government just comes and takes away most of the money. It's got much worse after many of our young men left to join the gangsters to fight and none have returned. Oh what are we going to do?" The old woman wailed. Sky watched helplessly as the people had their belongings taken away from them. He knew the result if anyone revolted. He knew how the corrupt officials would cause further harm to the villagers. The soldier who was beaten ran to tell the tax collector. The tax collector, upset at the soldier's inadequacy, slapped him, dismissing his complaint. Sky sighed in relief as the tax collector left with his soldiers.

As the days then weeks then months passed, Sky felt what it was like to be a farmer, a brother, and a little more than a friend as he got closer to the villagers. They showed him the true meaning of family. Their smiles amidst their suffering, the true meaning of never giving up, putting hope in the impossible and working towards it. As he stayed with them, he helped them to set traps to irritate the tax collectors, faking landslides, pot holes, armies of insects, among the many ideas he came up with, with the help of Isabelle. He spent days in the farms with Isabelle, working till he couldn't move his arms in order to harvest food for them and training Isabelle on how to defend herself, getting caught up in the little intimate moments they shared. Gradually, he helped the Arani people to establish stable businesses, making their lives easier in a year than it had been all their lives.

On a fateful day, the village was holding their annual grand festival, celebrating the harvest. The villagers, led by the elder, who had had their hearts smitten by Sky and Isabelle, devised a cunning plan to unite their hearts. During the festival, the elder had added Isabelle and Sky to the list of young couples who would engage in the flower hunt. In the flower hunt, the men took the right side of the forest and the women took the left. Both would gather the most beautiful flowers they could find and the couple with the most beautiful set of flowers when put together, would get a price. To Sky, this was hard. He was the strongest and fastest among the men, but he was also the one with the least experience about flowers. He searched through the forest, following the other men to find the same set they did, but he kept getting confused on whether the colors mixed would make a beautiful combination. When the other men saw him struggling, they went to him to teach him how to pick the right colors. "Take these ones, bright colors like these" One man said to him. "Take these" Another said and handed some of his flowers over to him. Sky took the flowers and thanked them as he ran to find some more. Isabelle ran into the forest. She knew what colors to pick, but had no idea where to find them or how to get those on the trees. Seeing her in distress, the other girls came to her aid and offered her help. "Can I ask a question? Why're you helping me?" Isabelle asked them. "Because if we don't, you two will grow old and never confess your love for each other. The whole village has seen how you two look at each other, and even the elder said you're in love with each other" one girl said. "The elder is never wrong" another girl said. After a while, they went back to the village, and added their bouquets. The villagers erupted in cheers as Sky and Isabelle had the most beautiful bouquet. Isabelle got excited, seeing the bouquet.

The village elder came and presented them with two flower bracelets. "These are rare flowers, they can live for up to two hundred years, a testament of a love that will stand the test of time, an everlasting reminder that love, like nature, is timeless and beautiful" The elder said and gave them one each, to put on the wrist of the other. As Sky took her wrist, their eyes met. In Isabelle's gaze, a vulnerability emerged, unveiling the depth of her emotions. She stared at him as if he were the missing piece of her soul, the mirror reflecting her true self. She didn't realize when, but she had fallen for him. Over the past year, they had been through it all together, the good time and the bad. She had got to see a side of him she never expected, a side of him that she had never seen before in anyone. He had risked his life to save her, an ordinary maid and an irritating one at that. He had shown her love she wasn't worthy of, a selfless love; a love that knows no hierarchy or self worth. Perhaps it was then that she began to see him in a different light. As he put the flower on her wrist, Sky's eyes were like a magnet, for some reason, she couldn't look away. She didn't want to. She put the flowers around his wrist, reading Sky's gaze that held a softness, one that could melt even the most guarded heart, like hers. It was like the gentlest caress whispered in a quiet moment of togetherness. The delicacy, that made her feel at ease in his presence, the calm in him, that made her forget his title, as one who should be feared, and made her see him as the one she should love.

The love birds were drawn back into reality by the sudden eruption of cheers of the people. Realizing they were being watched, Isabelle shied away. That night, the people celebrated the harvest festival, eating to their heart's content. Sky and Isabelle were the special guests for the night. The people gathered around and sang, persuading them to take a turn around the bonfire. Isabelle and Sky went to the bonfire and danced around, lost in each other's gaze, everything else inexistent to them. As the dance came to an end, the elder approached them. "Now I have to bless you as the winners of the flower festival" The elder said. They walked around the camp fire three times, and then bowed to the elder, as he blessed them both, praying for their love to flourish, and stand the test of time. "I promise to laugh with you in moments of joy, to comfort you in times of sorrow, and to be your refuge through every emotion life brings" Isabelle said to Sky. "I promise to keep you safe from anyone who hurts you, and to protect you with my life, so you will everyday of your life with a smile on your face a smile that will never fade away" Sky said to her, writing the words he uttered on his heart, as his ultimate oath of a marriage they knew would never be accepted.

A soft, innocent kiss sealed the intimacy of the night. It was a kiss filled with promises and dreams, a gentle affirmation of their love for one another. Their love was a treasure, one they wished to cherish and nurture in a manner that respected the sanctity of their bond. As the night unfolded, they found solace in each other's presence, finding comfort and love in the simplicity of the moment.

The day after, the elder gave them a bag of gold coins, as their wedding gift on behalf of all the villagers. "We could go back with this" Isabelle said to Sky. "But I don't want to go back. I just want to stay here, with you" Sky said. "I would love to stay here with you too, but we have families and responsibilities. And you have a responsibility towards the people here too to put an end to their suffering in the hands of these corrupt officials" Isabelle said. "I know Isabelle, but what about us?" Sky asked. "Nothing. Everyone thinks we're lovers anyway. We have absolutely nothing to worry about, Sky" Isabelle said to him and hugged him. "Let's stay here a few days more" Sky said. "Sure, let's do that. I will treasure these last days here with you forever and I hope we can continue to be happy even when we return" Isabelle said to him.

On their last day, they went to the waterfall, which stood as a timeless sentinel, hidden deep within the embrace of the forest. It was a place where nature's artistry met the echoes of romance. The day was perfect, and as they ventured deeper into the woods, the sounds of the outside world faded away, replaced by the symphony of the forest, where the leaves rustled with secrets and the birds sang ancient love songs.

The path leading to the waterfall was a journey itself. It wound its way through a lush canopy of trees that filtered the golden sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. As they walked hand in hand, the cool breeze whispered secrets only lovers could understand, while the soft earth beneath their feet cradled each step in its embrace.

The Waterfall

The closer they came to the waterfall, the thicker the air grew with mist, carrying the scent of earth and water. As they stepped into a clearing, the waterfall emerged, framed by towering moss-covered boulders and surrounded by a lush, vibrant carpet of ferns and wildflowers.

The waterfall itself was a marvel, a curtain of crystalline water cascading from great heights, shimmering like liquid diamonds. It sparkled in the dappling sunlight, casting a captivating, ever-changing play of light and shadow. The gentle roar of falling water echoed the heartbeat of nature, a reminder of the timeless rhythm that had watched countless lovers before them.

They found a mossy, sun-warmed rock, the perfect place to sit and watch the waterfall's performance. Nature's music played as they leaned against one another, their fingers entwined, and watched the waterfall. The soft spray of splashing water on their faces. With each sip of sparkling wine and every stolen kiss, they celebrated the love that had brought them to this sacred place.

Time seemed to stand still, as if the waterfall itself had frozen the moments for them to savor. They exchanged stories, dreams, and whispered sweet nothings, their laughter mingling with the gentle splashes of water against rocks. They shared the solitude with the creatures of the forest, who seemed to bless their love with their ancient wisdom. As the sun began to dip below the treetops, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, they knew it was time to leave their enchanted havenhaven.