Crowned

Chapter 1 - Derrick

"You will never be anything more than a farmer's son!"

Derrick wished his father's words hadn't cut him so deeply. After all, he meant it for the best and didn't want Derrick to get any fancy ideas. Or at least the idea to go off and make a fortune for himself.

"It's too late for that," Derrick muttered as his horse clopped along the dirt road.

Two nights ago he broke the news to his father that he was going to the capital to get a job and make enough money to pay off the farm land. Derrick thought it was a brilliant idea. After all, they had a chance to own their own piece of land and not have to grow crops for another man's table. If not, they would continue to live life in subjection to their Lord and his wishes. His father had, his grandfather had, his great-grandfather had, and who knows how many generations had worked for the same family. Derrick wasn't going to kiss the feet of some Lord.

He was going to make a fortune in the capital and pay off the land and own it.

Unfortunately his father thought it was a foolish endeavor and made his thoughts known quite clearly. "Nothing good will come from the capital. I've survived by just farming the land. So did my father before me. Why can't you be content to live a humble life?"

A humble life with barely enough money to scrape by? Derrick didn't want to survive or scrape by - he wanted to live.

His childhood was miserable so how could he expect things to get any better?

A roll of thunder sounded above him. He looked up at the gray sky. Great. He pulled his hood over his head. I hope Father remembers to bring in the cow before she gets scared to death.

His insides constricted at the thought of his parents. His father had slammed the door in his face and his poor mother looked torn between father and son. Derrick didn't want to be an unruly child. He just wanted all of them to have a better life. He wanted to work his way to great things. Not work so that another man would get all the credit.

He hadn't wanted to leave on such bad terms, but it was for their good. He would come back in a couple years with enough money to pay off the land and then they could be one happy family. They could even afford to hire some more help for around the farm. His mother could get the care that she needed for her persistent cough. His father could even have enough money to buy a real watch.

Yes. It was for their best interest that he was going away. If they didn't see it now, they would in the future.

Beads of water began to fall from the sky.

Drat. Derrick kicked his horse into going faster. Surely he was close to the capital now. It had nearly been two days of riding. The trees started to blur into one green streak as his horse went faster. He felt like he had seen the same trees for the past five hours. The rain began to pelt down in larger droplets.

Derrick didn't feel like getting wet. It was already cold and damp out and he had no desire to be even more cold and damp.

Pink? Derrick pulled his horse into a stop. What was pink doing amidst the trees? He turned his horse around and backtracked to where he thought he saw the pink.

As he drew closer, he realized that he not only saw pink, but a young lady strewn on the ground, wearing the pink.

His mother would skin him alive for calling it pink, as it was more of a blush or light rose.

Derrick hopped off his horse and crouched beside her. What had happened? Why would a young lady be out by herself? She looked dressed well enough to be attending a party. He held his hand to her nose. At least she's still breathing. He studied her for any clues about how she ended up on the ground. Her leg was partially exposed, allowing him to see that it was swollen. His cheeks turned the shade of her dress and her hurried to cover up her leg before he picked her up and carried her to his horse.

He hoisted himself on behind her and took hold of the reigns. "Hiya!" He dug his heels into his horse.

The rain seemed to reach a maximum of raindrops and was content to stay at a steady drizzle.

The young lady groaned and leaned onto his chest. Derrick cringed and slowed his horse down. His shirt was going to be turned brown with all the mud in her dark brown hair.

He looked down at her pale face. She obviously didn't spend her time out in the fields and sunshine, and yet, Derrick thought that someone like her wouldn't belong out in the fields.

He hoped the capital wasn't far away.

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When he finally reached the cobblestone streets of the capital, he didn't see a single soul out in the rain. Was this what it was normally like?

He scanned the streets for any available residents. He needed to find a physician, and quickly. What if she had hit her head and was permanently disabled? What if she never walked again? Surely he wouldn't get blamed for it. No, she had to be all right. He couldn't get mixed up with something so soon after reaching the capital.

Derrick spotted a street vendor throwing his goods into his cart to keep them from getting wet.

"Where can I find a doctor?" Derrick reigned in his horse and addressed a soggy street vendor. "This lady needs attention immediately."

The street vendor looked up at him, then at the girl. His eyes widened. Derrick wondered if it was inappropriate manners to be so close to a strange lady. Oh well. What was he supposed to do in such a situation? Leave her to be eaten by wolves?

Apparently that was not the vendor's concern. "It's the Princess! She's hurt!" He yelled anyone who would listen.

His voice carried through the dense rain and several citizens peaked outside to look.

Was she really the Princess? Now he was very embarrassed. He had even looked at her ankle. What would his father say?

Derrick hurried to get her out of his possession. The vendor helped the princess off of his horse and several others assisted the vendor in carrying her off, presumably to a physician.

Derrick's arms tingled. He had been riding with the Princess of Carenthia? What other princesses are there, you dimwit? He shook his head, flinging water everywhere. He was doused and needed to find shelter before he caught a cold.

Within the hour he had found a warm inn that served hot stew and crusty bread for a small price. It was nice to have a hot meal again. Even though he had been only two days without his mother's cooking, he still craved a good home-cooked meal.

He finished his food and retired in his room. I'll look for a job after I get some sleep and after the rain decides to stop.

He took off his shoes and hung up his clothes to dry by the fire. Was that really the Princess? What had she been doing out by herself? Didn't she know it was a dangerous world? Did the king just let her go wherever she wanted? Maybe she had been running away. Like Derrick. Derrick closed his eyes, hoping to rid her image from his head. Perhaps they were more similar than not.

Whatever the case, she was very striking.

Oh hey! I'm back. This time with a short story about Jack's mom and dad. Whoops, did I spoil the story? Well, let me know what you think!