T
Once upon a time in a far away land, there was a beautiful young maiden who lived in a small village, where she had spent her entire life. She was getting to be old enough as to cause the villagers to wonder why she hadn’t settled down to marry yet. All of the other women her age seemed to have no trouble securing husbands. Sadly, mostly all of the villagers were incapable of understanding why she had turned down what they saw as possible suitors. They just weren’t right for her, she insisted. There was no authentic attraction. That cannot be forced.
Not to mention she was anxious to leave this dull homeland behind and travel to somewhere out there in the distance, somewhere new and exhilarating and…not even remotely related to this dreadfully uneventful place.
One day on a solitary walk to clear her head from the thoughts that plagued her lovely brain, the young maiden stumbled upon a hidden scroll. It had been tucked beneath a large oak tree by the village’s shimmering and only body of water, the Pond of Desire. The scroll was rather faded, at least ten years worth of aging on its dry parchment. Intrigued, she began to peel open the scroll, peering at what lay upon its surface. Her eyes widened at the map she held taut in her hands. Yes, this scroll contained the markings of a very large kingdom, curiously the shape of a delectable fruit. Furrowing her brow as she studied the details of this strange land, she noticed it was made up of several largely populated villages. Why have I not known of this before? She mused. It was clear that the map had been positioned there for a reason…but what was that reason? The young maiden’s eyes suddenly sparkled as she gazed upon one particular village: Inamorato. Her pulse raced and her heart pounded with vigor. Could it be? The village seemed to be beckoning her presence. Perhaps…just maybe, her prospective lover resided in such a place, and was waiting for her arrival. Clutching the scroll excitedly against her chest, she took off running, giggles tumbling from her lips as a plan progressively unfolded in her mind. She would find this village. And she would find her man.
“Young lady, are you lost?”
With her back to the man who spoke, the young maiden knew he could not see the tears brimming as she sat on a lone, flattened rock. Months had passed since she began her journey to the new land. She was fortunate enough to encounter a handsome young man named Judah passing through a couple of the kingdom’s populous villages.Fortunate? She silently scoffed with bittersweet reminiscence. So she had wrongly and blindly thought. He took a liking to her right away. He taught her so much. And yet, the whirlwind romance—if one could call it that—ended as quickly as it had begun. Judah vanished without a word or prior warning. Their last time together gave no indication of such a rapid departure. It was true that shortly before he took his leave they had stopped such a romantic pursuit for the time being. Yet she assumed he still wanted her friendship, as he so plainly indicated. But he was gone. And so was a piece of her heart.Maybe all of it, she sorrowfully brooded.
Frantically wiping her dampened cheeks, she turned to face the man who had spoken. He seemed kind enough, but surely he was no Judah.
“I, I took a short rest. I’m trying to get to Inamorato, and appear to have stumbled through hell along the way.” She laughed dryly.
The unfamiliar man locked eyes with her unabashedly, uttering words that expressed the wisdom that came from age and experience. “I, too, have traveled through such a seemingly endless inferno. I may be still skimming on the outskirts, but I’ve learned to cope. I have responsibilities to handle in this land. I take my duties seriously.”
“I let my guard down, and look where it brought me.” She sighed. “I seemed to have lost my way. I don’t know which path to take.”
“Well, you’re in luck.” He smiled and stretched out his hand. “Come on, I have something to show you.”
She simply stared at his hand, giving him a small smile but uncertain whether she should trust this stranger.
“I promise, I don’t bite.” He flashed a mischievous grin. “At least not damsels as pretty as you.”
She couldn’t help but shake her head and snicker at his humorous attempt to convince her to comply. “I guess I could believe that.” She slipped her hand into his. Rising to stand face to face with him, she let out a soft gasp as she realized not only how perfect the fit was, but…when she met his gaze, he seemed to transform before her eyes.
“Who are you?” she asked with growing interest. A few more seconds passed before their hands drifted apart. She felt a familiar pang in her chest, the one that only Judah could have induced.
“I should be asking you that. These are my parts, I’ll have you know. My land. And the one who is trespassing is you. So, reveal yourself, woman!”
She giggled despite herself and the confusion she felt. How he managed to change so rapidly before her eyes was indeed an unexpected mystery. His very presence was intoxicating.
“Joella.”
“A pretty name to match a pretty face.”
His response was undeniably pleasing to her ears. “Thank you.” They moved on in silence as he guided. “Now, tell me yours,” she prompted.
“Oh, what’s in a name…”
“Please, I must know. You…intrigue me.”
He faced her with a grin. “Oh, is that so?”
She blushed. “I said it, didn’t I? So return the favor, as it’s the proper thing surely a true gentleman would do.”
“Ramiro.”
Ramiro. She repeated the name in her head, tongue anxious to taste its sweetness. But she dare not. Instead, she permitted herself to look into his beautiful irises. What was mere seconds seemed an eternity, as he appeared to be staring into her very soul. Had they even reached their destination? And here she was, considering the possibility that she had met a man who finally held true potential.
Ramiro stopped in front of two trees, branches overlapping with vibrant green leaves. Carried away with her thoughts, Joella practically fell on her face tripping over a root one tree had so graciously allowed to rise. At least, she would have if Ramiro had not swiftly caught her by the waist.
“Oh, thank you,” she breathed, hardly able to find her voice. His touch was making her weak, and it was incredibly distracting. “That would have, would have—”
“I believe hurt is the word you’re searching for? Flawlessly, I might add,” he replied, that impish grin spreading across his lips as he finally let her go.
“Yes. Your intelligence is astounding.” Good-humored sarcasm crept into her speech as she gave him a smirk, masking the thrill and her trembling nerves.
“Oh, I wouldn’t let that happen to you. God smite me if I ever did,” he said, bowing his head.
Joella laughed, a response his words invoked quite easily. As her eyes roved his stature, still surreptitiously studying him, she caught sight of something almost beige protruding from the left pocket of his trousers. It had the appearance of writing material, triggering a sudden memory. That parchment. So familiar…was that…did he…?
“Well, back to business.” Ramiro’s enchanting voice interrupted her questioning thoughts. Parting the tree branches gently, he briefly peered through, then turned back to look at her.
“We’re here, my dear. You ready?” With his hand outstretched once again, there was no hesitation this time as Joella took it.
“Ready.”
Not to mention she was anxious to leave this dull homeland behind and travel to somewhere out there in the distance, somewhere new and exhilarating and…not even remotely related to this dreadfully uneventful place.
One day on a solitary walk to clear her head from the thoughts that plagued her lovely brain, the young maiden stumbled upon a hidden scroll. It had been tucked beneath a large oak tree by the village’s shimmering and only body of water, the Pond of Desire. The scroll was rather faded, at least ten years worth of aging on its dry parchment. Intrigued, she began to peel open the scroll, peering at what lay upon its surface. Her eyes widened at the map she held taut in her hands. Yes, this scroll contained the markings of a very large kingdom, curiously the shape of a delectable fruit. Furrowing her brow as she studied the details of this strange land, she noticed it was made up of several largely populated villages. Why have I not known of this before? She mused. It was clear that the map had been positioned there for a reason…but what was that reason? The young maiden’s eyes suddenly sparkled as she gazed upon one particular village: Inamorato. Her pulse raced and her heart pounded with vigor. Could it be? The village seemed to be beckoning her presence. Perhaps…just maybe, her prospective lover resided in such a place, and was waiting for her arrival. Clutching the scroll excitedly against her chest, she took off running, giggles tumbling from her lips as a plan progressively unfolded in her mind. She would find this village. And she would find her man.
“Young lady, are you lost?”
With her back to the man who spoke, the young maiden knew he could not see the tears brimming as she sat on a lone, flattened rock. Months had passed since she began her journey to the new land. She was fortunate enough to encounter a handsome young man named Judah passing through a couple of the kingdom’s populous villages.Fortunate? She silently scoffed with bittersweet reminiscence. So she had wrongly and blindly thought. He took a liking to her right away. He taught her so much. And yet, the whirlwind romance—if one could call it that—ended as quickly as it had begun. Judah vanished without a word or prior warning. Their last time together gave no indication of such a rapid departure. It was true that shortly before he took his leave they had stopped such a romantic pursuit for the time being. Yet she assumed he still wanted her friendship, as he so plainly indicated. But he was gone. And so was a piece of her heart.Maybe all of it, she sorrowfully brooded.
Frantically wiping her dampened cheeks, she turned to face the man who had spoken. He seemed kind enough, but surely he was no Judah.
“I, I took a short rest. I’m trying to get to Inamorato, and appear to have stumbled through hell along the way.” She laughed dryly.
The unfamiliar man locked eyes with her unabashedly, uttering words that expressed the wisdom that came from age and experience. “I, too, have traveled through such a seemingly endless inferno. I may be still skimming on the outskirts, but I’ve learned to cope. I have responsibilities to handle in this land. I take my duties seriously.”
“I let my guard down, and look where it brought me.” She sighed. “I seemed to have lost my way. I don’t know which path to take.”
“Well, you’re in luck.” He smiled and stretched out his hand. “Come on, I have something to show you.”
She simply stared at his hand, giving him a small smile but uncertain whether she should trust this stranger.
“I promise, I don’t bite.” He flashed a mischievous grin. “At least not damsels as pretty as you.”
She couldn’t help but shake her head and snicker at his humorous attempt to convince her to comply. “I guess I could believe that.” She slipped her hand into his. Rising to stand face to face with him, she let out a soft gasp as she realized not only how perfect the fit was, but…when she met his gaze, he seemed to transform before her eyes.
“Who are you?” she asked with growing interest. A few more seconds passed before their hands drifted apart. She felt a familiar pang in her chest, the one that only Judah could have induced.
“I should be asking you that. These are my parts, I’ll have you know. My land. And the one who is trespassing is you. So, reveal yourself, woman!”
She giggled despite herself and the confusion she felt. How he managed to change so rapidly before her eyes was indeed an unexpected mystery. His very presence was intoxicating.
“Joella.”
“A pretty name to match a pretty face.”
His response was undeniably pleasing to her ears. “Thank you.” They moved on in silence as he guided. “Now, tell me yours,” she prompted.
“Oh, what’s in a name…”
“Please, I must know. You…intrigue me.”
He faced her with a grin. “Oh, is that so?”
She blushed. “I said it, didn’t I? So return the favor, as it’s the proper thing surely a true gentleman would do.”
“Ramiro.”
Ramiro. She repeated the name in her head, tongue anxious to taste its sweetness. But she dare not. Instead, she permitted herself to look into his beautiful irises. What was mere seconds seemed an eternity, as he appeared to be staring into her very soul. Had they even reached their destination? And here she was, considering the possibility that she had met a man who finally held true potential.
Ramiro stopped in front of two trees, branches overlapping with vibrant green leaves. Carried away with her thoughts, Joella practically fell on her face tripping over a root one tree had so graciously allowed to rise. At least, she would have if Ramiro had not swiftly caught her by the waist.
“Oh, thank you,” she breathed, hardly able to find her voice. His touch was making her weak, and it was incredibly distracting. “That would have, would have—”
“I believe hurt is the word you’re searching for? Flawlessly, I might add,” he replied, that impish grin spreading across his lips as he finally let her go.
“Yes. Your intelligence is astounding.” Good-humored sarcasm crept into her speech as she gave him a smirk, masking the thrill and her trembling nerves.
“Oh, I wouldn’t let that happen to you. God smite me if I ever did,” he said, bowing his head.
Joella laughed, a response his words invoked quite easily. As her eyes roved his stature, still surreptitiously studying him, she caught sight of something almost beige protruding from the left pocket of his trousers. It had the appearance of writing material, triggering a sudden memory. That parchment. So familiar…was that…did he…?
“Well, back to business.” Ramiro’s enchanting voice interrupted her questioning thoughts. Parting the tree branches gently, he briefly peered through, then turned back to look at her.
“We’re here, my dear. You ready?” With his hand outstretched once again, there was no hesitation this time as Joella took it.
“Ready.”