FOUR----UNFORGETTABLE EYES

"You're what?" Melva screamed out at the same time a crashing sound was heard. Maree and Melva turned around to check where it came from.

"Sorry about that." A man apologised as he bent to pick up the items that had fallen. Maree stared at the man for a while as she tried to place where she had seen him before.

"No worries. It's okay." She said, bending down to help him pick stuff up. As she was about to pick a piece of cloth, his hand collided with hers and a jolt if electricity ran through her. She raised her head for a while as she stared at the man.

"Thank you." He said as he stood up and fixed his shirt.

"You're welcome. Say, have I seen you before?" Maree asked.

The man chuckled and held out his hand for a handshake, "Yes. When you were coming back. Hello, Princess Maree."

Melva gasped as Maree whispered,

"How do you know?"

"I'm not a dunce. I don't forget faces easily." The man chuckled out and withdrew his outstretched hand.

"Oh!" Maree said as a light blush appeared on her cheeks. "I don't mean to be disrespectful. Princesses don't shake hands."

"You follow royalty rules? And here I was thinking you were a city girl." The man joked casually.

Maree let out a chuckle, "I am, actually. But since I am here in Alvaria, there are certain rules I just have to follow. And it doesn't help that I'm about to be married." She said whispering out the last part. The man's sharp ears caught on to what she said but apart from the slight waiver in his smile, nothing gave him away.

"I understand. Alvarian rules are something else." The man said. Maree looked up at him in surprise as a question ran through her mind. Her eyebrows furrowed as she noticed a slight change in his appearance but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Aren't you Alvarian? The way you say it makes it seem like you aren't." Maree inquired as she gazed at the strange man.

The man looked at his watch and let out a small laugh before replying, "I have to go now. Maybe we'll meet some other time and I'll answer your questions."

"But- I don't even know your name!" Maree yelled but before she could even complete her sentence, he had already disappeared into the crowd of people.

"Strange," Melva muttered as she stared in the direction he had gone to.

"I know right." Maree agreed, shaking her head.

"Back to what you were saying. You're getting married or I didn't hear correctly?" Melva asked, turning to face Maree.

"Yes, Melva. I am getting married." Maree clarified.

"As per it's what you want or the Queen is forcing it on you?" Melva asked but deep down, she already knew the answer.

"The Queen wants it. There's nothing I can do about it." Maree said, shrugging.

"But there is. Reject it." Melva suggested.

"As much as I'd love to, I can't. This was the condition. She gives me freedom, I marry a man of her choosing."

"But-"

"No buts, darling. Let's hope it works out well. He's coming over tomorrow."

Melva sighed and was about to say something but Maree nudged her to keep quiet.

"Alright y'all. Let's go." Lena said, cheerily. She had a smile so bright that the sun would feel ashamed.

**********

"How is this possible?" A man asked as he paced up and down a room.

"Shh! Calm down, Calvin." A woman pacified.

"How can I? Enisa, how can I? I just found out my mate is about to be married to another man so how can I calm down?" Calvin yelled, furiously. His steely grey orbs had now diluted and changed into a black colour.

"Calvin, stop! I understand you but you're not understanding me. How do you expect to find a solution if you're thinking impulsively?" Enisa yelled back.

"Calm down, okay. We'll find a solution."Enisa said.

"I know she doesn't want this. I could sense her distress." Calvin said, lowly. He sat down and placed his hands by his head.

"It's okay, bro. You'll get your princess. I'll make sure of it!" Enisa concluded.3

★

"Come to where you belong, my child."

"Dad?"

"Come here, child. I'm waiting." He said as he beckoned to her. With each step she took, he seemed to travel further.

"Dad, wait! Explain it to me. Why am I this way? Who am I? What am I?" Maree shouted.

"Come- Maree!" He said finally.

"Dad!!" Maree screamed as she shot up from her bed. Her eyes had diluted a bit and her breathing was faster.

"Dad, come back." She whispered as a sad smile took over her features.

Maree stood up and walked towards her room desk. She picked up a framed picture and ran her fingers on the picture.

"I miss you, Daddy." She whispered as a tear slipped out from her eye. Maree sat down and let the tears out for a while.

"Maree!" Queen Regina said as she barged into the room. She looked at her daughter's shaking figure. Queen Regina let out a sad smile as she eyed the picture.

"Wait for me." She muttered as she stepped out of the room. Few minutes later, she was back with something in her hands.

"Your father said I should give you this when you're getting married." She said as she opened the box. Maree raised her head up and peered at it.

"Shall I wear it for you?" Queen Regina asked. Maree nodded and packed her hair to one side.

"There!" The Queen exclaimed.

"It's not a marriage of love. I don't want him." Maree murmured.

"I know. But he's a good man. Your father and I had an arranged marriage too, you know?" Queen Regina let out. Maree looked up in surprise.

"We made it work though. You can do it too." Queen said

"But-"

"Dress up, Maree. Your husband is almost here." The Queen said as she walked out of the room.

Maree held the necklace as she gazed at the closed door. She stood up and ambled to the bathroom to get ready for the meeting.

Maree filled the bathtub with water and stepped in. She soaked in the water for a while and closed her eyes to relax. She opened her eyes after a while and gasped,

"Why is the necklace glowing and why are there droplets of water floating?!"