Heart's Desire

Chapter 26

She almost had him. Approached him slowly. He was just sitting there staring at her as if he saw right through her to her core. It had given her the time she needed to just reach out and touch him. If only she had not over balanced in that, last second she would have had him. Then she would be in his lovely arms right now and not in this pile of brambles. She reached over her shoulder and pulled four large thorns out of her back. Ouch was an understatement. Her knees were scraped, her hands were bloody, and her legs were bleeding and brushed. There was not a single part of her that did not scream pain. She gritted her teeth and rose from the ground.

She looked up and saw the prince. He still looked perfect up there on his white steed. His black hair was blowing lightly in the wind. His uniform was unmarred by the dirt of the road. Myka sighed. Yes, he was her prince and he would soon be hers in truth. All she had to do was catch him. She tried to stand to start after him again. She pulled herself free of the brambles by sliding to the side. The edge of her lovely dress caught. She heard a load ripping sound as the fabric pulled away from her body.

Drat, she thought.

She looked down at her ruined dress. There was no way that it could be saved. The beautiful patterns and inlayed stones were beyond repair. It was quite sad to look upon. It made her want to breakdown crying right there. The only beautiful thing she had ever owned in her entire life and it looked worse than the rags she had worn on her journey to the Palace. She took a moment to morn for her dress then she looked at what was left. Well, she thought I can rip along her. And if I tare this piece off, it will lesson the restraint of the dress. It had been hard to run up the hill with all the swooshing going on. It was all the fabric that weighted her down. It was keeping her from the prince. This is a good thing she told herself. Without all this fabric in my way I will be able to run much fast. She took the extra pieces of the cloth and tied them around the gash in her leg and arm. She used a smaller piece of fabric that could not be used to tie off her wounds to mop the sweat and dried blood off her face.

The sunny was high in the sky by the time the dress was manageable enough for her to continue on the journey. She stared up the hill only to become off balanced and slide back into the brambles. The thorns cut into her palms as she tried to still her moments. Tears stung her eyes. This was no fun. But she was so close. He still waited for her at the top of the hill. She closed her eyes and breathed in the wind. She could smell horse and man alike. Sweet apples and cinnamon. It was heavenly.

She looked down at her feet to see what was causing her to be so off balance. One of her heels had finally busted under the pressure. She took off the beautiful shoes and flung them aside. Blood rushed back into her toes. The on slot of sudden feeling drowned her in a wave of pain. It felt like she was walking on knives instead of dirt. She gritted her teeth and ran. Here lungs burned, her chest heaved. Air came in short brief bursts. Blood dribbled slowly down the corner of her mouth. She had worked her body until her brain was beyond the pain. All she could think about was the man before her. His picture burned into her subconscious. Her prince all she need was one more step and she would be there.

Just have to get to the top of the hill she told her self. She him there, her brain prodded her. That one, on top of the hill. She looked up to star at him. Yes, yes I see him. Isn't he worth it? Yes, yes he is worth it.

I am worth it came his voice from on top the hill. I am worth it. Yes, you are worth it.

He was worth the pain, the blood, and the sweat. He was worth any amount of pain she would ever go through. She took one final step towards him and reached for the him of his cape. A breeze caught it and blew it just out of reach. She cried out in agony. It startled his horse who leaped forward down into the valley.

She looked down at the retreating prince and started forward again. Just to the bottom of the hill. That is how far she had to go. It was just one more hill. It was not that far. She was almost on top of him. She could smell the flank of his horse. She could see the beads of sweat that furrowed on his brow. She took the last remaining dredges of her strength and dived for him. He dodged just in time again. There was no catching this man. He knew her every move. He escaped her every trick. It was all worth nothing. In the end, she had fought and given her life for an impossible prize.

Myka landed on her feet, which gave out underneath her. She fell down to her knees. She did not have the strength to go any further. Her blood was pooling slowly around her feet. She head swam. Then she collapsed on the ground. She took one last breath and died.