She's His Hero

Long ago, in a far away land, there lived boys who thought hair gel was great and that axe spray attracted princesses. A young girl that loved rock bands picked jeans over skirts was again called to save another princess. I know you’re thinking isn’t a guy supposed to save the damsel in distress? Not in this fairy tale, now let’s begin..

“Elaina!”  Not again, I’m  getting sick and tired of saving these princesses and hearing them complain about how “I’m not their knight in shining armor.”  “Yes mother!”  “You have another quest, please come downstairs.”  As I  made my way downstairs, I thought I swear if one more princess complains about me, I’m gonna fight them. “Elaina, this particular quest is different from the others, it’s not a princess it’s a prince.”   “What? Why can’t he just go and save himself!”  “Elaina..” My mother scolded me again for my attitude.  “Please, he is the heir to the throne from our  neighboring kingdom. The king and queen would be very thankful.”  

I sighed, “Okay, I’ll do it it’s only for you though.”  I ran back upstairs to go grab my sword and my bag. The things I do for this kingdom, it’s all for the people. If it was anyone else I’d probably decline every quest.  “I’ll be back in a week mother.”  “Have a safe trip and be safe Elaina.”  I walked out of the castle and went to the stables to fetch my horse Spirit. The smell of the stables was foul as usual, Spirit neighed in excitement when she saw me. “How are you girl?” I pet her nose and ran my hand through her mane. I got onto her back and left the kingdom with looking back.

Edith  POV (Point Of View)

I love Elaina, like she was my daughter, sadly enough she wasn’t mine.  I hope whenever she leaves for aquest she comes home safe. “Edith.”  “Yes, Jacob.”   “Please stop worrying about if she’ll come home.”  “When are you going to tell her?”  “Edith, you and I both know she can’t know. It would change everything.”  “But Jacob, we can’t keep lying to her, she has to know who her real parents are.”   

“That would ruin this family and you know it. But what about the kingdom Edith? Who would take the throne?”  “I would your highness.”  I turned around to see our nephew Sebastian.   “I would make a great a ruler and you both know it.”  In all honesty, Sebastian wasn’t an ideal choice for the kingdom. He was irresponsible, stuck up, and indecisive,  “Now Sebastian my boy, I know you would make a great king but you’re not in line for the throne.”   “But, you said I would be a great king.”  Sebastian didn’t give up easy when he wanted something and I have a feeling this is going to be a problem.  “Sebastian please understand that Elaina is the heir to the throne. She’s the best choice right now.”   “You mean that peasant child you so called “adopted” since your son was unfit?”   “Watch your mouth! You're speaking to the queen, know your place before I let you know.”  I watched  Sebastian walk away and slam the door behind him, he’ll learn one day.

Elaina’s POV

Spirit and I have been traveling through the forest for hours now. I brought us to a halt, I didn’t want to over work Spirit too much.  I could see the large tower from where we stopped, we were close.  I let Spirit rest as I walked towards the tower.  “Hello? Anyone home?” Only my voice returned the echo, this was strange, I normally got a response.  I started to climb up the side of the tower just to make sure they weren’t dead or something,

“Are you here to rescue me?”  I looked up at the open window to see beautiful hazel eyes fixed into a scowl.  “They honestly sent you to save me?”  “What’s wrong with that? What did you expect?  Some knight in shining armour that the princess gets?  Well boo hoo sweetheart, sorry your feelings are hurt.”  I continued to climb up the tower as he groaned, “Take my hand, please.”  He looked down at my hand then back up at my eyes.  “Fine, but I’m not getting on the horse.”  I took his hand and we leaped from the tower, while I landed on my feet, he didn’t.

Hazel Eyes looked at me with pity, he had mud on his face and grass in his eyebrows. I couldn’t help but laugh at him, I’m not surprised that he was stuck in that tower.  “Please get up, and wipe the mud off your face.”  Again with the groaning, he just wouldn’t give it up.  “How are we going get there? Walk?”  “For your information, I have an amazing stallion that will get us back to the kingdom.”    

I found the tree where I left Spirit, she neighed eagerly when she saw me but calmed down once she saw our visitor.  “Spirit, he’s the prince I have to bring back to the kingdom.”  I pet her nose in assurance, I looked at Hazel Eyes “C’mon, we should be back to the kingdom by tomorrow. ”   I climbed onto Spirit’s back and Hazel Eyes got on after me.

I should probably ask for his name, but I’m afraid that feeling of being anxious and nervous will come back. It was what I felt when I first saw his face.  We rode through the forest until the sun started to set.  I brought Spirit to a halt and climbed off her back, Hazel Eyes again, not being the graceful one, fell off Spirit. “Don’t go anywhere, I’m going to go look for some firewood.”   He nodded his head and sat down on a log.  As I walked away from him that feeling in my chest came back, except stronger now. I started to pick up pieces of wood until I had a pile. I was walking back to where the fire was and I tripped over a tree branch and crashed into the ground.  I guess me and Hazel Eyes are clumsy.  

“Are you okay?”  “I’m okay, I just scrapped my knee a little bit.”  He grabbed my arm and helped me sit down on the log.  He ripped the side of  his shirt to use it for  my bandage.  I looked up at him, “Thank you..”   “Christopher, or you can call me Chris.”  “I think I like Christopher better, my name is Elaina.”  I stared at him again that feeling kept coming back whenever I looked into his eyes. I dropped my gaze and yawned “I think it’s time for us to go to sleep, it’s pretty late.”   “Goodnight Elaina.”  “Goodnight Christopher.”  

I now knew his name and I felt myself falling for him, I usually don’t do this, not even with the boys in the kingdom.  Morning came, and I looked around and I didn’t see Christopher. I looked down to see Christopher sleeping a few feet away from me.  He started to wake so I layed back down and acted as if I was asleep.  “You’re so beautiful Elaina.”  I internally smiled and tried not squeal out loud.  I blinked my eyes and stretched, Christopher was staring at me, so I looked back at him. “Good morning to you too.”  “Oh, sorry I was just admiring the scenery.”  Or he could just say he was staring at me, that works too.  “We’re not that far from the kingdom,so we’ll be there soon.” I look at him for conformation, he just nodded his head.

Edith’s POV

Sebastian has been relentless since the falling out we had. He’s not allowed into the castle anymore, since then Jacob and I have been getting death threats from him.  If he keeps it up he’s getting banished or I will take matters into my own hands.

Sebastian is so engrossed with the idea of being king, and he should know by now he won’t take the throne. “Mother! I’m home!”  I raced down the stairs and engulfed her in a giant hug. “I missed you so much.”  “I missed you too.”  I released her  to see that prince Christopher had returned safely. “How are you prince Christopher?”  “I’m fine and well thanks to your daughter Elaina.”  

My heart sank at those words, if only it was true. “Queen Edith, if it’s by your permission I would like to court Elaina.” I looked up at Elaina and gave her a small smile.  “Prince Christopher, I think you’ll need to ask her yourself.”  I nodded at Elaina as he walked over to her.  “I’ll just give you to some privacy.”  I closed the door to the garden and went back inside the castle.  “My lady, you have another letter.”    “Thank you.”  It’s probably from Sebastian again.   I know you have my daughter, I want you to return her or the kingdom will know who her real parents are.-D.L  This isn’t what I expected at all, I didn’t think they would find us. I guess the truth does catch up, I have to tell her now.

Elaina’s POV

Christopher and I were now as you say dating, I still haven’t told him about when I heard him call me beautiful. “Elaina?”  My mother quietly knocked on my door,  “Yes? You can come in.”  “Elaina,honey we need to talk.”  “Is this about Christopher? Because I’m not-”  “It’s not about him, you know that I love you regardless right?”  “Yes..”   “I’m not your mother and Jacob isn’t your father.”  “How?”  This wasn’t making any sense,   they raised me from when I was a baby. “Your mother couldn’t take care of you, and I couldn’t have children. It was better for everyone.”

“So you took me away from my birth mother to help the kingdom.”  She slowly nodded her head. “Get out,”  “Elaina let me-”  “Get out! Leave! I don’t even know you anymore.” The woman who walked wasn’t my mother and neither was the one who walked out. I refused to go see her, I jumped from the tower to go find Christopher.

“You’ll never become king and you know it! Why can’t you accept that Sebastian?”   “Not if I can help it.”  I turned the corner just to see Sebastian strike Christopher with his sword. He fell to the floor with a thud, I felt my heart shattering and my world caving in.

I drew my sword and started to fight Sebastian, “You’re really going to regret this.”  “Bring it on,” In one swift motion he has cut my arm, I swung my sword back at him to stab him in his chest. I yelled for help as people rushed over, “Please get prince Christopher to the infirmary quickly.”  I watched them as they carried him away, tears spilling from my eyes.  

I got word from one of the nurses, he was going to be okay. I walked into the infirmary to see him sleeping quietly. “I know you called me beautiful when I was asleep.” I lightly kissed his forehead, as he opened his eyes.  “I’m glad they sent you to save me, I wouldn’t have gone with anyone else.”   “Will you come with me to find my real mother?”  “I would follow you anywhere.”  My eyes met Christopher’s as he pulled me into a kiss. This concludes our tale of a sarcastic heroine and her clumsy prince charming who loves her dearly.