The Lark's Pearl
Chapter Nine

I inhale softly, eyes closed and my face tilted toward the warm sun. The calm breeze caresses my cheeks. Loose strands of my hair whip to and fro. Such a lovely day. Of course, there is only one thing that could make it better.

“You came.”

I smile, turning my gaze to Elias as he steps out from behind a tree. The sleeves of his white shirt are rolled past the elbow. Black trousers folded just below his knees. He is barefoot and carries what appears to be a basket, and his hair is held back by a leather band.

“Coming here is part of my routine,” I say, moving toward him.

I am not sure what to expect. Does he intend to visit in human form from now on? Is this his way of courting me? Will he kiss me again?

“I’ve brought us a picnic,” he says, setting the basket on the floor. “I hope you like berry tarts.”

“You know berries are my favorite,” I reply, my heart pounding in my chest. “I brought them every day they were in season.”

Elias chuckles, “Yes, you did.”

He pulls me into his arms with a tight embrace.

“I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it has been for me to not see you,” he whispers as if someone might hear him. “I would have come immediately after you left.”

“I wouldn’t have been here to meet with you,” I reply as he pulls away.

“That is true; I spent the day convincing myself to have patience. Additionally, you have only just learned about me and who I am. I need to give you time to know me the way I know you.”

My cheeks grow warm. Elias smiles, holding both my hands between us.

“I told you so many secrets,” I whisper, staring into his eyes. “Things I would never tell anyone.”

“You know I would never tell them to anyone,” he whispers back, shaking his head. “And your secrets… I wouldn’t say they are dark secrets.”

“Childish whims.”

“No…”

“Ridiculous notions?”

He grins, “No, never.”

“What would you call them, then?” I ask, letting him guide me to the blanket I brought.

“You were doubting yourself,” he replies, releasing my hands to spread the blanket before pulling me down with him. “You were entering a new phase of your life and you were afraid to approach the subjects with other people. And, as my own father would say, it is alright to have questions. How else will we replace the answer?”

I tuck my legs beneath me, thinking over his words. Elias turns to the basket and begins to empty the contents before us.

“Does your father know that you come here?” I ask, “Or more specifically, does he know you come to see me?”

“Yes.”

Green eyes turn to me.

“After speaking to you in the throne room,” he goes on, sighing. “I told him you were the girl from the stream. That I was the one who gave you the pearls. He might have suspected it was me because you said a lark had given them to you… As far as we know, I am the only one who can become a Lark… What about your parents? Do they now know I gave you the pearls?”

I bite my lip and shake my head.

“Why not?” he asks; his voice becomes soft and he is holding my hand again.

“Truthfully, I do not know,” I shrug, turning my head on my shoulder. “My parents know you as the Lark. I haven’t even explained to my brother how I came into possession of pearls.”

“But you do intend to tell them, right?”

I sigh; my parents do have the right to know. They are my parents.

“I should tell them,” I say, nodding. “I just… what if they change how they treat me?”

“Why would they change their treatment toward you?” Elias asks, reaching into the basket for a flask. “Water?”

“Thank you… I don’t know. It is just a frightful concept…What exactly would I tell them? ‘Mother, Father; the prince can change into a sweet little bird and he is the one who has brought me the pearls.’”

He is laughing now. Pouring water into a small glass and handing it to me.

“It is not totally outrageous,” he says with a grin. “You eventually told your mother about the last pearl… I know it was the one you brought to court.”

“It was…” I trail off.

“What if I invite your family to the palace? They see us together, and I then make it known my intentions…”

“And what are your intentions, exactly?”

His smile is brighter now as if that were possible.

“I want to court you, officially.”

How does one go about the day knowing what I do? How can I contain my excitement and not give away Elias’ plan?

“Clara will be arriving with Erik, shortly,” Mother says as I help her in the kitchen. “He left early this morning to fetch her.”

“Do I wait for the wedding to give her, her present?” I ask, kneading the bread dough.

“You can give it to her whenever you feel it is right,” she replies, wiping her hands on a towel. “If you hoped for her to wear the earrings on her wedding day-”

“Oh, they would be beautiful with any dress she chooses!”

Mother gives me a side glance. I smile, hoping she doesn’t read my thoughts. Not that it is possible for her. Though there have been rumors of those who can hear thoughts.

“Something smells heavenly!”

Father enters the kitchen, wiping the sweat from his brow. He places his hat on the hook and comes to the kitchen.

“Oh, my two favorite women,” he says with a chuckle. “Are we expecting Erik and Clara soon?”

“Within the hour, I believe,” Mother tells him, taking the dough away from me and putting it into a tin. “I think Ariabella is excited to see her. She is quite jittery this afternoon.”

Father smiles, “That’s just her charm. She is always smiling, especially since her first visit to the palace.”

“Yes, perhaps that is what it is.”

Mother and Father go back and forth; my cheeks burn with embarrassment. However, I am saved by the sound of Erik’s voice and Clara’s laughter. I am quick to wash my hands, and I hurry to greet her.

“Erik told me about your trip to the palace. What was that like?”

Clara and I are in my room, waiting for supper to be ready. I am truly happy she is here.

“It was an experience,” I tell her, nodding.

“And you spoke to the king and the prince? What were they like?”

“The king was kind and went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable. The prince… He was a dream, that is all I have to say about him.”

Clara giggles, “There must be more! Was he handsome? Did he talk to you?”

“Oh, he talked to me…”

“What’s wrong? Was he mean to you?”

“On the contrary, he was perfectly charming.”

“Then what? Cat caught your tongue?”

I sigh and shake my head.

“I think I may have fallen in love with him,” I whisper, meeting her sapphire gaze. “Perhaps I shouldn’t be, but I am.”

Clara smiles, “Ariabella,” she says, squeezing my hand. “Is it such a bad thing?”

“Only if-”

“Supper is ready.”

We turn and replace Erik’s head in the doorway. The smile on his face brightens as he turns his gaze to Clara.

“It pleases me at how well you two get along,” he says as we stand to leave.

His statement warms my heart.