Should I do it?

"That is not your concern!" the magical creature blurted. "The only thing you need to worry about, oh king, is this – your castle or that troublemaker!"

"Have you no soul? To doom a girl in the bloom of her life?"

"You should have though about that before you sent your army here. Decide now, before I change my mind and ask for your wife instead!" she said coldly, crossing her arms.

Dazed, his majesty stood motionless for some time. Finally, he looked at the woodland creature and slowly nodded. Smiling, she concluded, "Then we have a deal."

The king jumped on his horse and left.

Some time later, in the royal garden of the old stronghold, the young married couple walked slowly down the path, encircled with neatly planted rose bushes. Princess Zora held her prince's forearm. With a solemn face, she subconsciously pressed into his muscle.

"Any tighter, my love, and I will be able to grade vegetables on my forearm," he said jokingly.

"Oh! I apologize," she blurted, moving it right away.

"What's wrong? You seem disturbed," he said.

She glanced at him distracted. "I'm sorry," she said. "I am worried about the forest guardian. She was so angry... And his Highness was unusually quiet ever since he returned. Do you think they came up with an agreement?"

Aidan shrugged. "I spoke to him. He said he had it all taken cared of."

The princess looked down, hiding her face. "Are you sure? I still feel... I don't know. As if something is not right."

"Of course things are not right. A tumbleweed with powers just threatened to make us homeless."

"Don't jest like that. You know what I meant! It is my fault she is doing this. I should have never. I told you I am not good at aiming."

"You cannot blame yourself for this! How were you supposed to know that those arrows would hit her? No one even knew of her existence!"

He continued, a little quieter. "There wasn't a single sighting of magical creatures in these lands over an entire century. Why did it have to happen now?"

"It is strange," she whispered, looking down. "Perhaps, this is some sort of punishment from God. I was so happy to get you as a husband. Perhaps this is his way of telling me that no good things last."

He put his hand on her chin and gently held it up. She turned her gaze to him with a trembling smile.

Looking straight into her eyes, he stated, "Listen to my words. There is no need for you to fear anything while under this roof. Do you understand?" he stated, to which she pressed her lips. His tone was serious, lacking his usual cheeriness. Observing his face, she nodded calmed by his sincerity.

The prince smiled. He slowly pressed his lips to hers. The stunningness of the loving couple was only amplified by the beautiful garden behind them.

As they continued their stroll, he said, "Now that the matter is settled, I beg you, let us talk about something else. This topic has occupied everyone's minds so much, it is as if there is nothing else left on this world to talk about. If I hear one more thing about that green monster, I think I will hang myself with the nearest grapevine."

His wife chuckled. "You are right. I think the mere mention of the word grapes can cause some people her to scream in panic. Me being one of them."

Together, they strolled along the rock arches under the stone walls of the large old castle. Above them was the throne room, where the king was alone with his brother. The muffled sounds suggesting an argument.

"Did you fall off your horse and hit your head on a rock! Did the sun fry your brain? How could you possibly agree to such a thing!" the senior prince shouted right after his brother told him about the deal.

The king put a hand over his mouth to make him quiet. "I didn't have a choice. She wouldn't have agreed unless she got what she wanted," he said. That troublemaker or your life. Those were her exact words!" he mimicked her angry voice.

"But Aidan!" the prince uttered before his brother shut him up again.

"He will have to accept it!" the king hissed. Putting his arm away, he straightened up. Silent for a somber moment, he said, "You know what I promised to our dying father. A castle that will be the pride and joy of the whole kingdom."

"I know-" the prince said.

"A fortress that will be able to resist any army!"

"I understand. However-"

"A place which will praise the family name for centuries to come! I must fulfill it!" he said passionately.

"Yes! But-"

"No 'but' about it! I am the king and I decide!" he bellowed turning towards the window. As he looked into the garden, in that very spot, the young couple carelessly strolled. Aidan was whispering something into her ear making her giggle and playfully pat his forearm.

King's shoulders shrunk as if trying to calm down his screaming conscience.

"Think before you act, my brother. Aidan will not give his beloved wife that easily. He has grown overly attached to her," the prince said cautiously.

A bitter ball formed in the king's throat. He contemplated in silence before yelling, "Guards!"

Immediately, their armors clanged and six of them entered the room.

The prince spoke, "We could cause an incident! The princess' father will not be pleased to hear his daughter's in-laws gave her to some creature as a sacrifice!"

"Get princess Zora and bring her to me straight away. I need to talk to her in private! Understand!"

His younger brother stared at him with worried eyes. The guards bowed to their king and rushed to obey their king's command. He slowly moved towards his throne and sat down. His face was tired. "Rest assured that I will think of something," he uttered.

Two months have passed from the meeting. Princess Zora was informed of her faith and warned not to tell a soul. She bowed her head to hide her tears and nodded.

The youngest prince was soon sent to a diplomatic mission to a very distant land, none the wiser. He waved to his wife as rode away on his horse. The young man could clearly see the tears in her eyes, but he could not even imagine what will happen to her while we was away.

Castle construction stopped and all the builders were relocated to the forest. The garden works were quickly coming to an end. Zora could only watch from her window as marble and other gardening equipment were carried up the hill each morning. It was all happening so quickly, she thought. She spent the days, locked in her room, sad and alone.