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Heart of the Tin Man, A Short Love Story

One knight, one warrior, one princess. Who will she choose?

Farren gazed out of the portal of the palace, her blue eyes touching over the green valley below. She felt a bit like Rapunzel, trapped within these palace walls. It had been forever and a day since she'd been able to escape to enjoy nature at its best: the animals that played in the forest kingdom, the sapphire-colored streams, and the never ending sky.

She released a pent up sigh. It wasn't much fun being a princess. She should have been born a peasant for she would have been eons happier. Delayla was. Farren had met her when she'd been on a journey with father one day as they had passed through the forest. There had been a great need for water, for father had become parched and suddenly stricken ill.

The coachman had hastily located the thatch-roofed house nestled within the forest. It was Delayla's little abode; a comfortable, clean little cottage that wasn't much bigger than the Court Jester's large feet. Nonetheless, Farren had been very grateful to this young maiden, for once she was apprised of the delicate situation at hand, she directed the coachman to a featherbed located in a tiny room that bled off from the core of the small cottage.

From there, Farren had worked her magic, masterfully tending to her father with the help of the precious herbs in her bag. She had a way with making people well; but being a Princess there were rare opportunities to put her abilities into action. The members of the Royal family found Farren's herbs quite mysterious. She had first began using them on sick animals residing in the palace stable. Word spread quickly when she saved Arial, her brother's beloved horse, bringing him back from the brink of death.

Afterwards, she had not been awarded with praise as she had expected. Instead, her mother and father ordered her never to use her magic outside the palace walls unless one of them was with her. They feared that she would be tagged a witch, and there was nothing like word-of-mouth where gossip was concerned. It was a bit like yeast when given water, growing quickly and out of control. Though it saddened Farren, she accepted her parent's orders without question. Her good intentions had been rewarded by confinement to the palace. She was no longer allowed to roam in the forest, or accompany her father on his royal journeys, or even mingle with the magnificent horses within the kingdom's stable. Her parents had become paranoid over her 'magical powers'.

Three weeks now. Farren didn't quite see how she could continue in this dreary state. At seventeen, it was a bit cruel to keep one isolated from the things that they enjoyed. Father had been a bit keyed up these days as it was. King Earl from the neighboring kingdom was hinting of pitting his army against him. The dispute concerned rights to the east end of the stream that ribboned through the forest.

Though father had tried his best to keep the tricky situation at hand, King Earl was very bull-headed and unrelenting. He demanded sole rights to the stream, but that was something that father couldn't condone. After the stream, what next? The next ten miles of land? Then the next - until it ended with father's entire kingdom? So, it was no wonder that he'd become so ill, regarding the affair that appeared to have no solution.

The sun was sinking fast over the horizon, the sky mixing with colors of a rainbow. Farren was growing tired, so she stumbled to her bed, pulled back the netting,then she slipped into the downy softness and drifted off into a deep sleep....

Hours passed. It was after midnight, the bewitching hour, and a bright moon was anchored high overhead, knitted within the blackness of the atmosphere. A deft noise emitted from her door, and Farren suddenly bolted into a sitting position on her bed. A silhouette blurred before her sleep-washed eyes, then a large hand was capped over her mouth. Struggling against her intruder was useless. Her tiny hands could feel the muscled torso as she attempted to wrestle free.

"Be still! No harm will come to you, Princess Farren. Your help is needed in the forest," her captor rushed out, his voice urgent, soft and deep. The smell of the woods permeated her nostrils as she picked up his scent. "Do you understand?" he asked, issuing a plea to her.

Her fear abated a bit and she nodded her understanding. She was slightly shocked as he withdrew his hand from her mouth. In a half-daze, she slipped out in a questioning voice, "You said that my help is required. Tell me more?"

"Aye. My sister is stricken ill; fever, chills - I fear she will die without your magic," he informed, his voice deep and sounding very concerned. "Please agree to come with me and save her?"

Farren was touched as he suddenly dropped to one knee, and bowed his head as he awaited her answer. His sword was stationed in one hand, the blade glowing under the strong rays of the moon filtering in through the palace window.

"I...how - how do you know of my magic?" she finally tossed out, confused amid her sudden arousal from sleep, as well as this warrior's knowledge. Heaven forbid that her parent's fear had come to rest on her shoulders. A condemned witch wasn't an appealing thought.

He simply said, "My sister is Delayla".

Realization struck Farren and everything suddenly crystallized. His words shocked her in another sense other than fear, for she had just been thinking of Delayla earlier this evening. Perhaps she sensed a cry for help? This thought disturbed her, but she refocused on the situation at hand.

The stranger continued, "We must hurry for I fear the window of hope swiftly closing for her. I beg of you-"

"Ssssh," she told him, touching a finger to his lips to silence his disturbing pleas. "I will go gladly with you."

Her eyes widened as he grasped her hand and delivered a moist kiss to her palm.

Farren's mind was suddenly pulled in ten different directions. Where was her bag of herbs? Could the sweet Delayla be saved? And how could they escape the palace walls without being noticed?

Kai was in charge of the knight patrol. He was as brave as he was handsome, and he had asked father for her hand in marriage only a fortnight ago. Though it would have been more lucrative to have pledged Farren to a prince, father had consented to the arrangement, for he owed his life to Kai several times over. Though Kai was good and kind, Farren did not love him, thus adding to her current state of sadness. A wedding was being planned for shortly after her eighteenth birthday.

Her mind rushed back to the situation at hand as she fought her spiraling thoughts. She told the stranger, "You must realize the danger that surrounds the palace? If we are caught, it could mean your life. My father would not take salt in my words of defense for you."

"Aye, young maiden. I have considered the consequences, but would give my life for my sister. Please hasten before the sun rises," he pleaded.

The smell of the trellised honeysuckle was light on the night winds as the stranger led Farren through the darkness. There were two very close calls, but soon they had slipped past the palace gates, escaping into the protective growth of the forest.

A white horse awaited in the distance, a mist of fog beginning to rise from the forest floor as morning was swiftly approaching. Farren was aware that time was of the essence. Her breakfast tray was delivered directly after sunrise each morning, so her absence would soon be noted. A massive search would ensue, branching out to the forest afterwards with Kai leading the small army in search of her.

Though these thoughts were alarming, she tossed her concentration back to the stranger. She was sitting behind him now on the magnificent horse, who appeared to be alert and waiting for his master's commands. Farren's arms sassooned around the muscular torso, his skin touching hers, sending a small shiver down her back for some reason.

"You do have a name?" she more or less requested to his back, noting how his scent had blended in with the forest's.

"Erik," he bit out impatiently, his concern for his sister obvious. "Hold tight to me, my princess, for we must ride like the Winds of March!"

With a touch of the flank, the white beast came to life, charging through the forest. Farren was seized with wonder as they sailed along, the morning light streaking through the trees and lighting the path. As they heralded along, she noted several birds taking to the sky who had been momentarily alarmed by their stride through the forest. She hoped they would manage to slip far into the undergrowth before the palace search ensued. If not, the Tower Watchman would certainly be searching the skies for hints of disturbances, and the birds would probably be noticed.

One hour later, they arrived. Farren adjusted quickly to the vaguely familiar surroundings, as Erik had drawn the horse to a halt. Then suddenly, his arm went back, lassoing her waist and gently, almost effortlessly setting her down to earth.

Unbustled, she glanced searchingly into the face of her captor, her eyes widening with what she found there. His handsomeness was mingled with a hint of ruggedness and she found her heart suddenly beating at a faster pace for some reason...

One knight. One warrior. Who will she choose? Time knew, as Time always knows all. Delayla responded well to Farren's magic and a fortnight later there was a wedding in the hollow of the secret woods....

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