Liliana plunged into the chilly water letting it slide over her limbs. Sweat dripping down her temples and her face flush from running through her forests, she dove under. She loved the feeling of being underwater, the cool weightlessness of it, as though she were free. As though she could just swim away from this place and never return. She erupted from the water and drew in a great breath. And then Liliana floated, just floated on the water, listening to the birds cry and the water lap the shore. She had been here, on this island, for ten years. She was taken care of, she was fed and clothed, but no one spoke to her. Or touched her. But being in the water, wrapped as she was, soaked through as she was, this was close enough. The water moved over her as she floated, her arms extended, touching back.
She floated for a long time, lost in her daydreams, until a hawk screeched somewhere in the distance and pulled her back to her reality. Liliana dragged herself over to the shore and the stone steps that disappeared into the sea. She stood on the bottom step, picked up the hem of her gown and twisted the water away, her skin exposed to her knees. It was her lightest dress and still it felt like lead when she left the water. She never wore her underskirts while she ran or swam, she needed the freedom of movement. When no more water could be wrung out, she released her skirt and watched as it swept down, clinging to her legs.
Liliana was still dripping wet, her chestnut hair heavy with water sticking to her back in tangles. She grabbed hold of the balustrade to keep her bare feet from slipping as she ascended, the moss heavy on the stone steps. As she reached the top, she saw a man. A finely dressed man she had never seen before. Not a soldier and not a servant. He was slowly pacing back and forth in front of the path. He kept his eyes on the ground, though she knew he saw her, knew he had been watching her. He stopped suddenly, and looked at her. She looked right back, studying him as well. He seemed to regard her with knowledge, as though he knew her.
They stood like that for what felt like an eternity and then he said, "You shouldn't be out here alone," he then paused rather deliberately, as though he was used to people hanging on his every word, and slowly paced across the path. "Anything could happen."
She was nonplussed as she listened to his voice. She thought to look to see if someone were behind her, but she knew it was only the sea. No one had spoken directly to her in so long. She wasn't sure what to do. Liliana had occasionally sneaked down stairs just to listen to the soldiers and servants talking, laughing, sharing their days, but no one had ever spoken to her. She received nods and gestures, but no sound, no words.
So she just looked at him. Willing herself calm. She studied his clothes. Clothes are never scary. He wore fawn breeches and a red and gold tunic. He was handsome, with fine features and a rather distinguished nose. He was fair with golden hair that curled slightly at the ends. He looked like every charming Prince she had read about. He was older than she was, but young, or younger than Henry, her guardian. He already had gray hair at his temples. This man was lean and strong and had an air of authority that told her he was somebody.
She gazed back up and into his eyes, which he met with a look of his own, as if to say, "Did I meet your approval?"
She didn't like him. But she couldn't say why. She wanted to make him feel as she felt. After all, this was her island, not his. Or was it?
Liliana realized she wanted to get away from him, she wanted to run back to her castle. She wasn’t prepared for this. She was growing more frustrated with every second. She had imagined this day, the day someone came to rescue her, so many different times, but never had the man been smug and unkind. He stood facing Liliana and the sea, blocking any attempt to flee, his back to the castle just up the path.
She looked up to her beloved castle, then she smiled and straightened and said, "Certainly they might disagree with you." Liliana lifted her chin as obstinately as she could indicating something behind him.
He turned slowly, keeping his eyes on hers until the last second, afraid this might be merely a distraction. But there, on the parapet and in the trees behind him he saw a collection of at least two dozen men, their bows cocked and their arrows pointed directly at his heart.
He turned back to her and smiled. But his smile did not reach his eyes. Liliana shrugged and smiled back, her smile did.
"I have been on this island for 10 years, and still I am unsure why I am here, whether I am treasure or pawn. I have been lonely, but I have never been alone."
And with that she skipped past him, leaving him standing at the top of the steps, speechless.
He stood and watched the soldiers slowly lowering their arrows with every step she took away from him. And he watched their eyes following her as she made her way, barefoot, to the castle doors. She wasn’t at all what he had expected to find.
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