IX. Pray tell me why?

"Are you sure?" The captain asked and even though it was almost pitch dark, save for the little light of crescent shaped moon Nä-ræl could tell that he was wiggling his shaggy eye brows.

"Yes, I am very sure of my self."

The duo rounded the corner and walked down the steps slowly talking about the previous wars the kingdom had fought and most importantly, won.

As they trudged on in silence, the captain also filled Nä-ræl on the current affairs of the palace asshe hadn't had time to attend any of the recently held meetings because of her mother was always planning one social event or the other.

Seeing that they were well away from the palace and now walking on the castle grounds, the chief commander of the kingdom army, Captain Œrlan stopped and asked. "Where exactly are you heading towards?"

"I really have no idea," she sighed, "I just needed somewhere to clear my head and to be alone which unfortunately I'm not." She said, looking at the captain pointedly.

Œrlan ignored her and sighed, looking around. "How about you abandoned garden? I heard there's a little stream which runs from the garden to the village directly beside the castle walls."

"Err," Nä-ræl said, scratching the back of her head as she suddenly remembered Rapha. "I don't think it's a good idea."

"Pray tell me why?" The captain asked.

Seeing that she wasn't going to give a reply Œrlan said. "Let's go,"

Nä-ræl had no choice but to follow because she knew if she objected, Œrlan would most likely know that there was something behind her not wanting to go there.

True, she had abandoned the garden about eight years ago because she felt like she had better things to do than sit there all day long, watching the stream flow and appreciating nature, but right now the case was different. She wanted to go there as often as possible to see the young servants face.

She had never thought of seeing him at night but the suggestion the captain made, made her think about it but even if she wanted to go there to see him it was definitely not when the captain was there.

She secretly wondered what the handsome servant would be doing.

Probably sleeping.

Oh how she wished she could watch the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as he slept and listen to his soft snores.

Captain Œrlan walked on in silence with Nä-ræl who had a goofy smile on her beautiful face. He ignored the smile and kept thinking if the report given to the king earlier.

What could possibly have gone wrong?

Was ñäɓouɠh truly angry with them.

Had they offended the other gods?

How?

Why?

Different imaginations raced through his mind. Getting tired of his own thoughts and the ghostly silence apart form the sound of crickets here and there, as they approached the princess's garden, he looked at Nä-ræl who had the same goofy smile on her face that seemed to widen.

"You've been... Smiling or would I say blushing?" He asked her.

"Oh it's nothing," she said, trying to conceal the excitement of seeing Rapha with her normal soft voice but unfortunately it sounded like she was choking with a hint of excitement in her voice.

The captain decided not to pry and kept his mouth shut in a thin grim line as they approached the small gates of the garden. Stepping forward and inspecting the short iron structure that wasn't so strong, Œrlan discovered that it was locked from the inside. Although, he could open it from where he stood, the captain was curious to know why and how the gate was locked.

He reached over to the other side, and felt about for a padlock. The padlock was attached to some metal chains which seemed rusty and easy to break. Captain Œrlan rustled and jiggled the padlock as there was no key, but the padlock was surprisingly strong and he couldn't open it.

"I think this was a bad ide..." He trailed off as he heard a voice from the other side of the garden.

"Aye, who there?" The deep sensual and smooth voice called out.

"Captain Œrlan and Lady Ræl," The captain called back. He was beyond surprised that someone lived there but thinking about it someone had to live there for the gates to be locked.

A few minutes later both the captain and the princess could make out a shape at the other side of the gate and rattling sound was heard as the person on the other side unlocked the padlock.

The gate finally swung open revealing a very handsome Rapha who gave a small bow even though he looked at Nä-ræl in confusion.

Captain Œrlan took a look at the young man and turned towards the princess questioningly. "Is not this the servant that..."

"Yes," Nä-ræl rushed not wanting to answer the question. She was grateful for the dark night which hid her blushing cheeks.

As the captain and Nä-ræl walked in through the open gates, Rapha eyed them curiously especially the captain before closing the gate.

He followed silently behind on the pathway made, glancing at the roses that were almost invisible because of the darkness.

The princess followed the path and decided to take the left path when the straight path forked into two. It was dark and she did not want to tread on the delicate roses since she could barely see with the light of the moon.

As she walked further down in silence, her breath caught in her throat as she beheld the beauty on both sides of the path.

Frye Jin flowers of different colours grew beside the path, glowing and blinking, lightening up the dark atmosphere of the garden. The rainbow coloured ones were the most beautiful and they glowed the brightest.

Captain Œrlan had his mouth hung open in shock, he had never seen something as beautiful as what he was seeing. To him, the palace was a dunghill compared to this place.

Rapha however remained unfazed by the beauty as he saw it everyday. It was because of him that all of the flowers bloomed and shone. He proceeded to walk forward so he could get into the cottage and watch the princess from there. As he walked past the captain and Nä-ræl, she called out. "Why don't you join us?"

Rapha's eye flickered to the captain who still had his mouth hung open in shock. "Feel free to join us," the captain said after a while so Rapha sat on the grass crossing his legs and the captain followed suit. Only Nä-ræl remained standing.

"Why don't you seat?" The captain asked looking up at Nä-ræl.

"Uh? It's.. nothing." She muttered. The only empty space was beside Rapha and she was afraid he'll hear how fast her heart was beating for him.

"Sit," the captain said gesturing to the space beside Rapha.

Praying silently to näbouɠh, she took a seat on the ground beside Rapha.