To Win a Princess

                                              **Awakening**

​     The abrupt "whick!" of Kelsey's karambit coming free from its sheath jolted Dustin from his contented slumber. It was immediately followed by the unmistakable thud of his hammock collapsing beneath him, dumping him unceremoniously onto the sparse grass below.

     ​"Gah!" Dustin brushed off the dust from his beard and tunic, blinking up at Kelsey, a mix of irritation and admiration in his gaze. Once a friend, then becoming estranged, now an almost haunting presence, she loomed over him, her icy blue eyes narrowing with determination.

     ​"Gods, Kelsey. Can you not mindful of a prince's rest?" He flashed her a boyish grin that faltered under the weight of her judgment.

     ​"Dustin, stop. We have work to do!" Kelsey crouched beside him, her light armor creaking softly. Once a princess bound by ballgowns and courting, she had transformed into a formidable guardian. Leaning closer, her presence radiated strength, just as he remembered – possibly even more so. The traditional leather half-mask she wore did nothing to hide the power behind her blue-eyed glare.

​     He wasn't supposed to feel this way. She was off-limits, a forbidden thought he wrestled against. He could almost sense her perceived judgment – how she had frowned when he had chanced to kiss her last year. "That would hit harder than a fall out of a hammock, certainly," he reminded himself grimly.

     Kelsey, perceptive as ever, snapped him from his reverie. "Stop daydreaming, Dustin. We leave now, and gods help you, leave that ridiculous girdy-whirly behind. I will not be subjected to that on the road!"

​     Dustin bristled at the demand. "Hey, it's a hurdy-gurdy, and I'm not going anywhere without my music!" The peculiar instrument scooped protectively from its resting place beneath what was left of the hammock, went over Dustin's shoulder, and hung on a worn leather strap. The prince knew well that Kelsey took her dislike of his musical style with the same grim seriousness as she did in her role as Dustin's guardian. He couldn't just give in to her on everything, no matter how much he wanted the princess to like him.

​     Perhaps it was a silly thing to dig his heels in on, he thought. It was about more than the instrument, though. It held memories, not the least of which being that kiss: he'd been playing it the night he charmed Kelsey into that shared moment.

     ​"Focus!" Kelsey's insistence brought him back to the present. "They're coming. Your days of hiding are over."

     Dustin's heart skipped. "What do you mean, coming? Who?". Her urgency left Dustin tempted to look into her mind. That was not going to help him win her back. In any event, his ability was more suited for inserting thoughts than for scrying them, so he waited for an explanation.

     Kelsey's voice dropped, bringing an urgency that contrasted sharply with his carefree life. "Elder Samuel staged a coup. Men are searching for you."

     The world spun as her words sunk in. The realization jolted him awake. His life of leisure, his performances, the simple joys—gone in the blink of an eye.

     "Why would Elder Samuel betray us?"

     "Because your existence, your gift, poses a threat. We need to move!" She grabbed his wrist, urgency radiating from her every pore as she pulled him toward the waiting horses.

                                            **Running**

​     With Kelsey leading, they dashed into the wooded trail, the whispering branches and thick foliage offering no safe path. Gone were the leisurely days of music and enjoyment; now it was only survival. He stole glances at her as they rode, her strength mesmerizing, and for a moment, he felt a longing he thought long buried. He saw again that indomitable heart. There was no one else like her.