Chapter 5
Solveig POV
I was as nervous as a blind man in a fish market. I felt as though I would fall unconscious at any minute. I thought about what to say, as I walked to the place I told Freya to meet me at.
Halfway through I decided to just let the conversation flow , like Gunner suggested, and not rehearse it in my head.
As I neared the willow tree, where we decided to meet, I caught sight of a ruby-red haired beauty sitting against the trunk , sketching.
She had grown so much since the last time I saw her. She looked more womanly now and there was no doubt , she was just as beautiful as Gunner had described.
I watched her from afar as she sketched and smiled at what she was drawing. She looked so content and at peace when she smiled. Like she didn't have a worry in the world. My heart longed to smile like that one day.
Could I grow to love this person? I thought..
My thoughts were halted when she lifted her gaze , aware of my presence. She smiled and made her way towards me.
"Good morning my prince" she said as she lowered her head.
"Please.. call me Solveig "
"I rather not." She said as she blushed.
"I was quite surprised when you said that you wanted to see me. Forgive me, I did not have much time to prepare myself "
She was so polite in every sense. Gunner was right about almost everything.. she really did have a soothing voice.. the kind that would make you want to listen to hear speak all the time.. according to him. He seemed to be very accurate about all her descriptions.
"No the fault is mine. I apologize for the short notice, but I was hoping to spend the day with you. If that's alright. "
"It will be my pleasure and honor, your majesty " she said as she lowered her head yet again.
"Shall we?" I said offering her my hand , to lead the way. She smiled and joined our hands leading me in the direction of the lake.
I narrowed my eyes when our hands touched.
Just give it time..I thought..
We walked around the palace gardens and talked about the things we liked. I got to know a lot about her that was surprising.
She looked like a delicate girl on the outside but in reality she like a feisty little tiger. She could fight with the sword and shoot arrows. Much of which was the result of her father's teachings. According to him he believed that women should be independent and know how to defend themselves.
As much as we talked, I couldn't bring myself to open up and reveal anything about me. I felt like if I revealed even a slight intimate detail about myself, that it would all come crashing down on me.
"You're not as bad as I thought you were, your Highness. " she said as she sketched me ,to which might I add ,protested in the beginning, but after her constant pleas and sad blue eyes..I just gave in. I had a feeling I would be doing that a lot in the future.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing really in particular.. just that everyone always refers to you as the heartless prince, black hearted prince, soulless prince... shall I go on?"
"I rather you not" I said to which she chuckled slightly. There was a pause of awkward silence between us, that had me feeling uncomfortable and I searched my brain for anything to say in order to drown it.
"When did you start drawing?"
"I can't remember the exact moment, but I found myself one day, desperate to draw anything my eyes set sight one. It's like my fingers wouldn't let me do anything else until I sketched it." She said as she looked at me for a brief second before going back to draw again.
The more time I spent with her, the more I realized that she was more of a sister to me than anything else. I could relate to her in certain aspects but I didn't have that butterfly sensation Gunner kept talking about.
At first I thought it was because of my lack of experience but as the day progressed.. I realized that I just couldn't feel anything beyond a sisterly bond.
I walked her to her chambers,thinking about all of this.
Was there something wrong with me?? Am I not capable of feeling love?? Am I really soulless??
All these thoughts played on my mind till we reached her door. She smiled at me before she opened it and said." Good Night my prince. sleep well."
As she turned around to go inside..
"Wait!" I said as I took hold of her wrist gently and turned her around. She looked at me with a puzzled gaze waiting for me say what I wanted.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, just....Good night" I said as I lifted her chin upwards with my thumb and leaned down. I gently pressed my lips against hers and wrapped my arm around her slender waist. I felt her tense at my sudden movements, but relaxed afterwards .It lasted for a total of ten seconds before I pulled away convinced. There was no mistaking it..
I said good night to her and walked to my chambers. I had no sense of what was happening around me as I walked like a dead man.
I laid down on my bed and starred at the ceiling . As I contemplated the events of today.
Nothing...
I felt nothing when our hands touched earlier today. I felt nothing when she smiled at me. I felt nothing when she laughed so innocently.. I felt nothing when her cheeks reddened with her blush..I felt nothing when I wrapped my arm around her.... when I kissed her.
That's what I felt..... absolutely nothing... no sparks.. so fluttering sensation.. nothing..
I turned on my side and tried to fall asleep. I tossed and turned the entire night as I struggled to rid myself of that thought.... the thought that maybe...
Maybe I'm not meant to fall in love..