<span style="color: #8000FF">I laughed a bit it at all her questions. I couldnâ€™t help it; it was just so irresistibly funny. She knew exactly how I learned to swim I had told her while I was healing her ankle. That had been over three weeks ago of course so it was possible that she had forgotten or was just trying to think about something other than how nervous she was. I could tell she was nervous about swimming. I didnâ€™t blame her if it were my first time I would be nervous too. I hadnâ€™t really been nervous the first time I swam, but I was more afraid I would be stung to death by bees at the time. I decided I might as well indulge her though after all I was the one teaching and a teacher should always be supportive of their students. That wasnâ€™t how I was taught most of the things I knew, but I was taught most of what I knew by my grandmother and . . . well she was very particular in her ways. While my parents were still around they had taught me with kindness and support and I had to admit I had always learned things faster when they were around. I donâ€™t know if it was because of the way they taught or if it was because it was easier to focus with them. <br/><br/>I smiled as we reached the lake and sat on a large rock to take off my shoes. I would never dream of swimming with my shoes on they would be ruined and I only had the one pair after all shoes were expensive and I rarely needed them anyway I had grown accustomed to walking barefoot at the age of four. I thought through her questions one at a time. â€œWell girly you should remember from my story about the butcher and the bees and the bear, but I suppose the swimming was the least interesting part of that story really.â€ I thought again for a moment to be sure I remembered each of her questions before answering. â€œWell it isnâ€™t the easiest thing I have ever done, but it is like anything else, it gets easier with practice. I wouldnâ€™t worry Itâ€™s not like Iâ€™m just going to dump you in the deepest part of the lake and watch while you try to stay afloat youâ€™ll stay in the shallows today unless you want to go deeper. I wasnâ€™t taught by anyone I learned on the fly cause if I didnâ€™t I would have drown. I would not recommend learning the way I did. I was twelve as far as young I suppose that is up to you though I suppose to someone who is only nineteen twelve isnâ€™t very young it seems much younger to me . . . it feels like a lifetime ago truthfully.â€ I knew that it was because of everything that had happened when I was twelve and everything that had happened since, but that wasnâ€™t important at the moment anyway she didnâ€™t need to know that I had lost my parents when I was twelve besides that was something I didnâ€™t tell anyone even the people who already knew. It made me much to vulnerable and I had a feeling all I would get was pity and that was one thing that I really didnâ€™t want or need from anyone. I shook of the sad thought and smiled at her again. <br/><br/>I listened to her stammer a bit about not having proper swimming cloths and had to struggle to keep from laughing. I had been swimming for years and had never once even owned anything that could be considered proper attire for swimming. I wasnâ€™t even sure there was such a thing as proper swimming attire until today. I finally let the laugh fall from my lips, which Iâ€™m sure she was offended by, but I really couldnâ€™t keep it in any longer. She was so nervous already and the possibility of me seeing her in something less than proper only seemed to be adding to her nerves. I stopped my laughter as soon as I was able but the smile it evoked was still evident on my lips. I did my best to look serious though I doubt that I succeeded from the look on her face. â€œGirly tell you what if it means that much to you I can transfigure a pair of pants for you and you can wear m shirt.â€ I was going to be diving for fish and shellfish anyway and the shirt just made it harder to stay afloat once it was wet. It was thin, but it should add to her security of being fully covered. Kids in the village didnâ€™t care who saw them in what because we all just wore whatever we had which often wasnâ€™t much. <br/><br/>I placed my shoes a foot or two away from the shore to be sure they wouldnâ€™t get wet and motioned for her to do the same. I then stripped off my shirt and tossed it to her. â€œI promise I wonâ€™t look girly but get changed.â€ I started to climb a near by tree. I usually would have just waded into the water, but I felt kind of like showing off. I suppose my lack of money made me determined to impress her with something else. I admit that I did peek once or twice while she was changing, but Iâ€™m only human. I mean Iâ€™m a 22 almost 23 and she was probably the prettiest girl I had ever met so who would really blame me for a tiny peek? I figured it was fine as long as she didnâ€™t notice besides I was way more inappropriately dressed than her. I walked out balancing on the ***** of my feet on one of the stronger branches of the tree till I was almost above the center of the pond. I smiled down at her now fully changed and dived off the branch into the middle of the pool disappearing under the surface of the water with only a tiny splash. <br/><br/>I swam around the bottom of the pond for a while sure that part of my ability to stay under so long was magic, but as long as it helped me I didnâ€™t care. I finally broke the surface of the water again and tread water giving Katherine a roughish smile. I waggled my eyebrows a bit suggestively just to see her reaction before laughing to break the tension. I swam towards the shallows till I could stand and walked towards her extending my hands. â€œCome in the water is fine. You should jet get accustomed to the feeling of being in the water first anyway.â€ I held out my hands waiting to see if she would trust me enough to take them or if she would change her mind about swimming. I still wasnâ€™t positive how much she trusted me but this would be a true test of how mush she trusted a person who got from day to day doing something as dishonest as stealing from helpless women who wandered into his traps accidently. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF">I was over whelmed with my nervous that I had forgot that he had already once before told me about how he learned how to swim. I guessed he thought that I was stupid or wasn't paying attention the last time he told me the story have how he learned how to swim. But he didn't seem to mind telling me again and I was grateful the he did, because it seemed to ease my nervous or distract me from them anyways. As he took off his shoes and told me about his story he mentioned that I wasn't going to have the same 'learning' attempt as him. I was relived to find out that he was going to have me start in the shallow end of the pond before even tempting on going in the deeper areas, though I had already though that was where we was going to start. <br/><br/>His reaction to my clothing issue was some what unamused and it must have shown on my face as he tried not to laugh. Like I thought it was only a matter of time before his smile turned into a laugh. I guess I couldn't blame him to much, if I was in his shoes I may have found this funny to, but as it was I wasn't and he seemed to notice my lack of amusement. His laughter soon faded and he tried to look more serious upon the matter with little luck. I was blessed to find out thought that he would help with my issue and I let a small smile appear on my lips to show that I didn't take his laughing to heart and that I also was grateful for him trying to help me. <br/><br/>I watched as he placed his shoes away from the ponds edge and when he motioned me to do the same I did just that. Sitting on the stone that he had I took off my shoes and placed them down with his, away from any chance of them getting wet. As I stood up stair from doing so I found him tossing his shirt my way and I was quick to grab it before it landed on the ground. "Ok and thank you." I replied over to him as I watched him head over to a tree. I frowned at myself wondering why on earth he was climbing a tree, but I though it best to leave my wondering till after I had gotten change. Taking off my dress I could feel the warm sun warming up my more reviled skin. It was such a welcoming feeling to feel the sun on so much of my skin. I took a few moments stretching and enjoying the feel before I deiced to place on Gabe's shirt. It was almost a shame that I was to cover most of my newly reviled skin it back up again. <br/><br/>As I placed on his shirt I could smell him on it, as I should anyways as it was his. I found myself smiling and running my fingers along them hem of his shirt before drawing my attention back up to the tree that Gabe was climbing. It seemed funny but I felt save with his shirt around me, like it was almost protecting me in some way, which I knew was silly. Walking along the grass in my bear feet I smile as I looked up in the tree for him. All that was new that could be seen was my legs, up to my Knees a little more of my cleavage (But not a dangerous amount) and my arms as I folded up his sleeves a little. When our eyes meet I could help but giggle at the smile he was giving me. It was then, that I realized what he was doing up at the tree. He was showing off in front of me. <br/><br/>I found this fact both funny and sweet. I must admit he was a handsome site up at the tree with only bottoms on. I'm sure he had many women blushing over him, me included. I have had many men show off at me with there skills at fighting and leadership and none of the had never impress me much as much as Gabe dose already, even when he isn't trying. Like when he uses magic and even think of sweet little things, like sending me an Orange and some flowers. Although he had such little, he seemed to have much more then all the men I met, put together. I though I wouldn't admit it to him, he did indeed impress me a lot and when he tried it was ever more adorable. <br/><br/>As I watched him jump into the pond I placed my hands over my eyes, expecting a larger splash then what had appeared. I laughed lightly as a drew my hands down, expecting to see him there but there was nothing. I walked closer to the waters edge worried that something bad had happen to him. Then suddenly out of the blue he broke the surface, coursing me to jump a little. As he gave me a cheeky smile I tried to look mad at him but failed as soon as he started to laugh. I found myself giggling and rolling my eyes at him. Only him could make me worry one minute then laugh the next. <br/><br/>I slowly started to stop giggling as he moved closer towards me and holding out his hands. My hands where tightly close to my chest not wanting to reach out yet and the nervous that I had forgotten about had come flooding back to me. I wasn't scared that he would let anything bad happen to me but just the fact that I was trying something new and I didn't know how I was going to do. Slowly I loosen my hands and reached out to his out stretched hands, my eyes meeting his perfectly blue ones and never leaving there gaze. As I placed my hands in his and took a step into the pond feeling the cool water touch my skin. It was surprisingly not as cold as I thought it might be. With every step I took the water was climbing up my legs, from my ankles to my knees. "Don't let go of me..." I found the words slip from my mouth before I could even think of what I was saying. <br/><br/>Deeper and deeper we slowly went in and it seemed that my nervous where slowly fading too. So much in fact that I found myself smiling and even giggling again. The water was now up to just below my chest, though I was tip toeing lightly, which I didn't mind. As I bobbed along the bottom of the pond. This was quite fun. "Well I don't know what you was complaining about. This isn't hard..." I teased over to him with our hands still together. I gave off another little giggle before I suddenly felt something go pass my legs. I let out a squeal and moved closer to Gabe, placing my arms around his neck gentle. "What was that?" I asked looking around the water in a panic manner. Soon to my surprise I found him laughing. I looked over at him with my arms still around him. Clearly it was just a fish of some sorts and he was kind enough to point that out to me too. "Stop laughing!" I let one of my hands fall from hi neck and I splashed him playfully, in a bid for him to stop, though I was finding it hard myself to not laugh. <br/><br/>For a split second I watched him laugh he looked so young and handsome and then I started to feel my cheeks blush. I had just realized how close I had made myself to him. Our bodies where lightly pressed up against one another and I could feel his bare chest and muscles thought my clothing. This would have to be the first time I had even been so close to a man with such little clothing. I could feel my cheeks growing even more redder due to that fact itself and I only hoped that he thought I was blushed because of my over reaction to the fish swimming pass me. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #8000FF">She took my hands a bit of a thrill went through me. She trusted me. She at least trusted me enough to fallow me into the water. I lead her in slowly. I didnâ€™t want to take anything to fast. As her nervousness seemed to fade from her body I felt my own pulse getting faster and faster. It was true that propriety wasnâ€™t observed much in the lower classes, but still she was in her undergarments and my shirt and would soon be very wet. It wasnâ€™t the lack of clothing that had me feel the creep of heat slowly rising to my cheek but the fact that I knew from experience wet clothing had a way of clinging to ones body. She was gorgeous to begin with I wasnâ€™t sure what the sight of her in my shirt and her delicate undergarments clinging to her with moisture might do. I shook this thought away. I would just have to deal with that when it happened right now I should be concentrating on making sure neither of us drowns. There wasnâ€™t the chance of drowning yet since the water here was still fairly shallow, but we were steadily getting into deeper water. <br/><br/>I could feel as the water started to make her bob a bit. I wanted her to see how it felt for the water to flow around her and continue to ride and fall in the soft currents. The water had a naturally buoying effect on the body and as long as she was relaxed she could just float. The longer she spent in the pond she would surely feel more comfortable with the effect of the water. She didnâ€™t say them loudly and I was rather sure she hadnâ€™t even meant to say the words. â€˜Donâ€™t let go of me â€¦â€™ I wasnâ€™t about to let go of her. I took her hands and held them tighter giving them a supportive squeeze. I wouldnâ€™t let go unless she told me and I rather hoped she wouldnâ€™t. My heart jumped sending little sizzles of pleasure through our connected hands and I didnâ€™t want to be the one to end that. I felt like I was supposed to take care of her. I had been doing it since I met her after all. <br/><br/>My mind went back to that first day. I had cut her down from the net when I could have left her there. I led her home when she got lost at night when I didnâ€™t have to. The fallowing day I had used magic, something very dangerous, to heal her hand and ankle. The only thing I had done that wasnâ€™t protecting her in a way was when I had lost my temper about her deceiving me. I had to admit now in retrospect it did make some kind of sense though I still wish she had trusted me enough at that time to tell me. I had a feeling she certainly trusted me enough now. It was all past us though so it didnâ€™t really matter if she trusted me enough to have told me the truth now. She obviously trusted me to keep her safe at this point so she clearly trusted me more than she had when we first met, but I wouldnâ€™t blame her I had made a very questionable first impression on her after all. <br/><br/>I wrinkled my nose at her teasing remark. I rolled my eyes. It was easy for her to float there and say swimming was easy. I had been dropped from about ten feet into a deep pool of water chased my angry bees carrying a turkey. Our learning experiences were vastly different in case she didnâ€™t notice. She of course knew that my first swimming experience had been extenuating circumstances and hers was by far the preferred way to learn, but I couldnâ€™t help feeling a little bitter at her teasing of me. I had never taken teasing very well, but I tried to put it aside I knew she meant it in the nicest possible way. <br/><br/>I soon got her back for her poking fun at me in a way. She jumped in surprise and held onto my neck. She was obviously startled. I couldnâ€™t help but laugh. I knew what she was asking because I had been feeling it for years. The pond was always teaming with fish of different sizes and types. They were all harmless, but if you werenâ€™t prepared it could be startling when one brushed by your leg accidently. It was just so funny that a little fish had startled her so. I would be catching some later for the families in the village. She would see how harmless they were once I had a net full of them surely. I couldnâ€™t help but be slightly glad for the tiny fish though for now we were closer. It was almost like hugging. I had enjoyed hugging her more than I would admit if anyone were to ask, but the only person who even knew about the hug was her and there was no reason for her to ask anyway. She fussed at me for laughing and decided the best revenge was to splash me. <br/><br/>I shook the water she had splashed at me from my hair like a dog probably slightly spraying her in the process. I laughed again. I sobered rather quickly though noticing the blush on her cheeks. It wasnâ€™t till that moment I notice how close we actually were to one another. She was holding on to my neck and I was lightly holding her with one arm around her waist and the other resting on her shoulders. I removed my hands and instead held her hands again blushing I moved a bit away. It was one thing for both of us to be indecently dressed and to see it but it was something very different to feel it. â€œUm â€¦ well â€¦ I think you are comfortable enough to move on to the next step of swimming.â€ I was wracking my brain to come up with something to move us away from our embarrassment and back to our friendly banter. <br/><br/>I had to think for a moment what the next step of swimming should be. I supposed it was time to teach her how to stay afloat without holding on to me. Floating was pretty easy and should be even easier for her since she was smaller than I was. â€œOk now what I need you to do is let go and let the water support your body. Your body should naturally float up a bit. Iâ€™m going to go sit on the shore and hold out my arm for you to hold on to while you try to float. I promise I wonâ€™t let you sink girly.â€ I looked into her eyes to show her how serious I was. I swam over to the shore and took a few things from my bag so I could start making a net to fish with while she floated. I motioned for her to walk over. I lie on the shore and let my arms float on the water for her to hold onto. I smiled at her encouragingly. I felt her grip my arm and then using one hand and a rather nonchalant looking wave I set a few lengths of sturdy vines weaving into a net that would catch fish. My blues eyes darted between Katherine in the water and the progress of the net. <br/><br/>Katherine was progressing well but her legs kept drooping, which was of course natural. â€œOk now Iâ€™m sure you have noticed that your legs donâ€™t really like floating. Every time you feel your legs go under I want you to move is back and forth a bit slowly and it should propel the rest of you back up. I donâ€™t want you to kick but more like dancing. Fluid and smooth movements at a medium pace.â€ I didnâ€™t want her to kick since that would propel her in one direction or the other. We could work on locomotion once she felt certain she wasnâ€™t going to drown. I still let her hold my arm for the time being but I was watching closely for an opportunity to take my arm away and show her that she could stay afloat perfectly fine on her own. She had already managed to work out that moving oneâ€™s arms in the same fashion would help keep you above water She was catching on very fast. I was impressed with how well she was doing. She would be a pro in no time. I daydreamed a bit about lazy summer days swimming with Katherine in the different ponds and streams that dotted the woods. I would love to spend my summer like that just her and me swimming and joking and then laying on the shore letting the sun dry our skin and cloths just watching the clouds roll by. It was a nice dream, but I knew it wouldnâ€™t be more than that. The small voice in the back of my head wouldnâ€™t let me forget that she was Her Majesty PRINCESS Katherine Mary Woodville. Princesses didnâ€™t spend their free time with people like him, but she was here now and I was going to treasure that for as long as it lasted. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF">After I had splashed him a little he shock his head like a dog did when it got all wet. "Gabe!" I said though I was giggling as I did. He had so much character within it was always hard to stay unhappy with him. Even when we had that slight fallen out, I knew deep down that I was just acting to be annoyed by him and not to care about him. Well all that was in the pass now and I was happily with him, in the pond learning how to swim. Though at this moment in time we where looking into one another's eyes both out cheeks I notice where glowing very slightly. I was more then happy in fact for us to stay like this and forget about swimming all together. I rather liked being this close and in his embrace like this. <br/><br/>I had really notice the way his was holding me till I soon felt his hands leave my waist and my shoulder. Inside I feel a pin of disappointment run thought me but I made sure that a soft smile appeared on my lips. I didn't want him to now how much I liked being within his arms and close to. As our hands knotted together again my smile improved into a bigger and brighter one. At least we still had this connection, which I was pleased about. Was he blushing even more as he took a step back? Cute. Although he was a little older then, I was slightly pleased with the fact that I could make him blush. Wither or not I meant to didn't really matter, the point was I could and it was both a welcoming and a interesting thing. <br/><br/>With the pause between his words I could tell that he was trying to hind or change the matter away from his light blush on his cheeks. I happily bobbed along in the water as he spoke over to me. When he said it was time for me to let go of him a rush of panic went though me. I didn't want to let go of him and for more then one reason, but I guessed the time had come. After all I was meant to be learning how to swim and I couldn't keep hold of him, as much as I wanted too. The way he looked into my eyes, I knew that I was still going to be save and it even gave me a little encouragement. I could do this. Besides I would still be able to hold onto his arm so it wasn't like he was leaving me to it. I let go of his hands and allowed him to walk over to the sure. At this moment in time I was in the pond with just over the waist high water on my own and well it wasn't that mad. <br/><br/>When he motioned for me to join him I did just that. Taking small steps over to him was the water slowly become shallower. When he had placed himself where he could both work on the net and help me keep float I held onto him lightly with both of my hands and allowed my body to float. I had found part of the pond where there was a slightly deeper area of water but surrounded with areas. I like a hole within the shallow area so I Was able to have room to float and if need be, be able to stand if I got into a panic. I kept my eyes focused on him making the net though my mind was focused on the task at hand. I listened to everything that he told me, by lightly moving my feet under the water so it was easier for me to stay afloat. <br/><br/>The more and more I focus the less it seemed I was. I was fining myself only holding him with one hand now, while I use the other to float around and help me stay afloat too. Every now and then a fish would swim by me and I found myself giggling. When I court Gabe's eye and he was frowning at why I was giggling I am a rather bad impression of a fish. I had no idea what course me to do such a thing but I though it would add humor into what we where both doing. I laughed at myself, thinking of how childish I must had looked to him but it seemed to amused him no the less. "Fish keep swimming pass me." I explained just so then he didn't think I was completely crazy. <br/><br/>Soon enough I found myself with out his arm and floating on my own. "Ah look!" I couldn't hold back the excitement I was feeling as I spoke. I was floating in the pond all on my own for the first time. My hands and arms where lightly moving on the surface and my feet where gently dancing so that I wasn't moving in any direction. "I'm floating!" I added with a bright giggle as I did. I knew that maybe I was a little over excited but this was the most interesting thing I had learnt how to do in years and well I was having so much fun doing it to. After a while I stopped floating and tried to find my footing within the bottom of the pond. Once I had I jumped around a little, pleased with what I had archived already. <br/><br/>Once I was finished dancing around I looked over to him with a bright smile and my cheeks slightly red with embarrassment. "So...um...what now?" I asked trying to deflate the redness in my cheeks. Slowly I walked over to him allowing my fingers to skim the waters surface as I got closer to him. The fabric of my undergarment and his shirt was now sticking to me, showing off the curves of my body. When I had reached him I sat down next to him with my bright smile still placed upon my lips. I found my fingers running along the net that he had made. It was in fact quite well made. His ability to do things never seem to stop and they always seem to amaze me, but I wasn't going to let him know that, not yet anyways. "So your meant to catch fish with this?" I asked with both a light frown and teasing smile, to show I was only teasing him. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #8000FF">I found it a little hard not to laugh that she was so excited about floating on her own. I was glad that she at least seemed pleased with her progress towards swimming. She was actually getting pretty good at treading water. It wasnâ€™t much, but se would never have to worry about drowning so I had again made her safer in my world. It was an odd idea, but I couldnâ€™t help but think about how much more dangerous and more protecting she would need in my world. She lived in a palace where people would fall over each other to protect her. She had finally snuck out because she was too protected. Would she rather I back off and just let her deal with whatever happened to her on her own? Maybe I should help a bit less after all she had a knack for getting into trouble and I might not always be there to get her out of it. I would love to always be there to protect her, but that wasnâ€™t likely. If I was always trying to keep her safe though she might grow to resent me. There was the possibility that just like her parents I would end up too afraid she would get hurt to let her experience anything. I made a promise to myself here and now as long as she was with me she wouldnâ€™t be a prisoner. <br/><br/>I wanted to show her new experiences not keep her from them. I loved the look on her face every time She learned something new. The utter rapture that currently on her features that she could at least stay afloat on her own. Something about the way she experienced made me want to be there every time life surprised her from now till my end however long that might be. I had been cold to long new things no longer thrilled me, but to her everything was like a new discovery and she seemed to revel in each one. I found joy in the new through her. I would treasure that ability to find happiness in such small things like she did. I suppose it came from both her lack of experience and her lack of need. It is harder to find joy in small beauties and things of no value when you are just scraping by. It is true someone with nothing finds more joy in a loaf of bread, but by the same token the tranquility of the forest at night would be lost on a starving child. <br/><br/>I smiled as she sat next to me trying to pretend I didnâ€™t notice how the wet fabric showed off the curves that had been hidden under her volumous skirts. I shrugged at her question. I continued to work my lengths into the intricate pattern of a net tight enough to catch some of the smaller fish. It was a bit tedious, but I had nothing else planned for the day. I would trade some fish for bread at the bakers if I had enough luck early, but there was plenty to be had in the woods so there was no NEED to go to the market. I preferred the market on most days because it was less work to casual nick a bit here and bit there than to actually o out in the woods and scavenge for myself. â€œWell it is meant do, but I donâ€™t think you should be so skeptical of itâ€™s ability after all I caught you in a very similar net girly. Care to se how it works?â€ I held up the completed net. It wasnâ€™t as large as the one I had used on her but there was no need for it to be. It was woven close, but not too close. There were still spaces large enough that a fish not worth catching for itâ€™s minimal meet or young age would still be able to swim through easily. <br/><br/>I slipped back into the water walking my way along the bottom the net held above the water. I swam over to my bag and took out a handful of crumbs. I dropped the net into the water about half way down so there was plenty of room for fish to swim above and below it. I dropped some of the crumbs into the water and waited being as still as possible when I felt the rush of a few fish and saw the puckering at the water I quickly snatched up the net closing the two sides with my hand. I lifted it triumphantly with four fat fish inside. â€œSee it works after all if applied correctly.â€ I dumped the fish unceremoniously on the bank of the pond where we had left our shoes. I slung the net over my shoulder and swam back to where she was. I slowly tread water near the shore. â€œCare to give it a try? It isnâ€™t as hard as it looks, but it will probably take some practice.â€ I dropped the net next to her on the shore to see if she would take it up or not. I wanted to go diving for shellfish since I knew there were a number of them at the deeper end of the pond, but I didnâ€™t want to leave her with nothing to do. I was certain she would succeed at fishing if she practiced a bit. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF">I smiled over at Gabe as he reminded me that he had court me in one of his handmade nets. To think, if I hadnâ€™t walked along that path and took in no notice of what I was doing, I might have never meet Gabe. The thought was strange and unwelcoming. To tell the truth I have grown to Gabe I couldnâ€™t see my life without him any more. It was a wonder what I would have done if I didnâ€™t meet him, but I know that I wouldnâ€™t have had half the fun that I had had with Gabe already. He had already showed me to so many wonderful new things I life that I most likely wouldnâ€™t have founded out or tried. Each day I spent with him was a like an adventure. One that I hoped would never end. <br/><br/>As he held up is very well hand made net I nodded. I was quite excited to see how one was to catch fish. I never really got the chance to find out how people where to catch there dinner and from what I have found out about fish, the seemed to be slimy little things that could slid out of any hole. â€œI would love tooâ€ A bright smile was placed on my lips as I watched him get back into the water. As I did I just couldnâ€™t help but gaze at his perfectly toned body. I know I shouldnâ€™t but it wasnâ€™t like I got the chance to admire his form often, in fact any mans so in a way it would be a crime from me not too. Besides it wasnâ€™t like he was watching what I was doing and I wasnâ€™t doing any harm to anyone. I was just simple looking at the view that I was given. <br/><br/>After a while of just gazing at him I focus on the fact that he was meant to catch a fish. I watched him as he placed a few crumbs of bread onto the water. It was almost like he was feeding the birds; apart from I guessed that the bread was there to lure the fish closer towards him and his net. He was like a statue within the water. The only movement coming form him was his chest as he breathed in and out. It was odd as I found myself holding my breath in anticipation. Then suddenly he lifted up the net from under the water and held it triumphantly. I jumped a little as he did and let out that breath that I was holding. I smiled brightly over to him and clapped my hands together. I was pleasantly surprise that not only did he catch more the one fish, they where even a far size too. Much bigger then I thought they would be. <br/><br/>â€œWell done!â€ I cheered happily over to him, my eyes twinkling with delight as he started to swim back over to me. When he reached me, he asked if I would like go. At first I was a little apprehensive, I didnâ€™t exactly enjoy my first encounter with a fish but then I wasnâ€™t quite expecting it. I picked up the net and played with it for as while, debating on wither or not I should, but in the end my curiosity got the better of me. â€œOk Iâ€™ll give it a go!â€ I said brightly as I reached over and grabbed a few crumbs of bead and slowly entered the water. <br/><br/>I made sure that I did what he did when he showed me how to catch fish. With the crumbs that where in my hand I placed them on top of the water gently making sure that I didnâ€™t place them to far apart. Slowly I placed the net under the water making sure that it wasnâ€™t to low down or to height for fish to swim either side of it. Now I stood there, the water just above my waist and my eyes focused at the water for any tail tell signs of the fish appearing above my net. I tried to keep as still as I could, breathing as gently as I was able to. As soon as I saw movement by my net a flung it up and out of the water, getting myself socking wet once again. I looked at my net joyfully thinking that I court myself at lest two fish but only found some water plant instead. I gave a large huff and gently pulled out the water weeds from the net, making sure not to brake and of the threads. <br/><br/>Again and again I tried, failing each time. I was either pulling up more plants or missing grabbing on of the side so what fish I did catch just dropped freely back into the water. I few times I huffed under my breath, getting more frustrated with myself each time. â€œHe made it look so easyâ€¦â€ I muttered to myself as I placed the net under the water for what seemed like the 100th time. Again I focused hard on what I was doing. I hadnâ€™t much of a clue what Gabe was doing now as I was so focused on showing I was able to catch at least one fish, not matter what the size. All I knew was that he was grabbing some shellfish. I controlled my breathing and waited till I knew there was fish by my net. As I waited I didnâ€™t realize that I was mimicking a fish by opening and closing my mouth like a fish did when eating the bread. I waited and waited, not taking my eyes off the water or bread. <br/><br/>As soon as there was some nibbles I lifted up my net, making sure that I had all corners together and that it was plant weeds again. To my surprise and delight I had court a fish! Ok so it wasnâ€™t as big as Gabeâ€™s but it wasnâ€™t a tinny fish either. It had pretty little scales of greens and blues and I squealed with excitement at my very first catch. â€œGABE! GABE!â€ I said bobbing along the water over to him, making sure to hold the fish close to me in the net so it wouldnâ€™t have any chance of getting out. â€œLook! I did it!â€ I added as I stood next to him, the pure proud-ness and enjoy showing in my smile as I showed him my catch. <br/><br/>Carefully I slowly walked over to where Gabe had placed his over fish. Opening my net I allowed the fish to wiggle around with the other much large ones. I smiled down at my fish before turning around and giving a little spin of joy to my success. After my hard work and many tries I had finally got me a fish. I gave a well need sigh and relive and I decided that I would take a break from fishing for now. Who would have thought that fishing would take up so much time and energy? After neatly placing the net down I lay down along the bank of the pond and closed my eyes gently. I had a warm smile placed upon my lips with my arms and legs outstretched as I enjoyed the warm and welcoming feeling of the sun upon my skin. I only opened my eyes when I felt Gabeâ€™s presences next to me. <br/></span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #8000FF">I was positive it would take her a while to actually catch a fish. The first time I tried to fish I ended up wasting an entire day and only catch two fish and a lot of seaweed. I knew she would have some fun though. I probably should have told her not to throw out any plants she caught since a lot of them were edible. Oh well I could easily just grab some before we left it wasnâ€™t like the water plants were hard to find. I probably had more trouble getting the two water lilies I left for her than I would grabbing a bag of the edible water plants before I left but then I had looked at every single lily to find the best two for her and the edible plants werenâ€™t meant to be pretty though they would be just as appreciated if not more so by empty bellies. I watched for her first few tries doing my best to suppress the laugh. I wasnâ€™t really laughing at her I was more laughing in remembrance of how hard it was to catch fish with a net when you werenâ€™t used to it. My dad had taught me how to fish but that had been with a fishing pole. A pole took longer and only caught one fish at a time. I used the net because I caught more fish quicker and when I was feeding a while village more was important. <br/><br/>It was starting to get much to hard not to laugh at her so I started my own task for the moment. I swam over to the deepest part of the pool. I took out a basket I always used to collect shellfish. I took a deep breath and dived. The worst part about diving was that I couldnâ€™t open my eyes in the silty water. I had to feel for the shellfish, which could be dangerous, but as it turned out luck was with me today. I found a large rope of oysters right off piled them into the basket filling it almost to the top in one go. There were other times where I would dive down run my hand along the floor of the pond and only come up with an irritated crab pinching my finger. I would have to bear that kind of embarrassment in front of Katherine. It was deeply shameful that a crab with a brain smaller than a pea could best a grown man of 23. Coming up with a basket full of oysters was impressive; coming up with a crab attacked to oneâ€™s finger was not impressive. When I came up I noticed she still had not succeeded in catching a fish. She seemed very determined so I continued to dive until I hade two baskets full of fresh shellfish. One basket held oysters while the other was full of small clams. I would leave the clams in their shells for now they would keep better but I preferred the shell the oysters by the river since I could sell the pearlescent shells at the market the next day to certain people. <br/><br/>When I filled my two baskets I noticed that she was trying again. She seemed to be getting the hang of it now for the most part. She was intensely focused on the task, which I was pretty sure meant she was about to succeed. I plopped my baskets on the bank and turned to watch her. She was definitely getting the concept right. I watched careful as she went through the motions until she finally came up with a single bright and gleaming fish. I clapped for her in my own amusement. She swam over to show me her prize and I could help but smile. She always seemed astounded at achieving something I had come to learn as a way of life from a young age. Her joy was so infectious though that I found I didnâ€™t care how simple what she learned or achieved was I was just as happy for her achievements as she was. She was holding her fish like a treasure showing it to me proudly. I wondered if she showed the same enthusiasm for life at home in the castle. I was sure that there was more opportunity and use for enthusiasm out here but that didnâ€™t mean that there was no use for it in her everyday life. I laughed a bit at her gushing remark. â€œI saw you do it girly no need to tell me.â€ I hoped I hadnâ€™t offended her with my comment. I knew that my comments could come off a bit terse and derogatory sometimes and I didnâ€™t mean for her to get that feeling from anything I said. <br/><br/>I watched as she placed the fish with the others I had caught in my example. I noticed her indecision for a moment. She seemed to be considering. When she lay back in the sun I realized that she must have been deciding if she wanted to try fishing again or take a break. I didnâ€™t blame her for choosing to take a break; fishing was tiring when you werenâ€™t quite sure what you were doing. I also had a feeling she wasnâ€™t used to as much physically exertion as I was. Most people werenâ€™t used to the amount of physical exertion as me between walking to and from town everyday, hunting and gathering in the forest, and anything else I might find myself doing. I found myself smiling as I observed her. Since she wasnâ€™t paying attention to me at the moment it was a good chance for me to just admire her. I didnâ€™t like to admit it but she was definitely one of the most beautiful women I had ever met. She had a delicate grace to her that coupled with the way her lips curved when she smiled and her eyes lit at the chance for adventure was alluring to a person who lived such a dangerous life. I couldnâ€™t help but wonder if the people at the palace realized how beautiful she was at the chance for adventure. I doubt that she ever knew how beautiful she was. <br/><br/>I shook my head to rouse me from my musings. I took the chance as I swam back towards the shore to grab handfuls of greenery. Here were a few tough weeds that werenâ€™t edible, but I could use those for snares or nets I had a use for everything. I sat nest to her and I could tell that she sensed my presence. Not sure what else to do I started to clean the oysters. I thought about offering her one, but I had a feeling that a lady of her standing would not be interested at the thought of eating a raw oyster and they were an acquired taste. I started to clean them absentmindedly tossing the shells in a stack the iridescent interiors catching the light from the sun. I had been watching the clouds enjoying the companionable silence when I came across an especially tough oyster. I wondered for a moment. I realized a moment before I opened it why it was so hard to open. The hardest oysters usually had pearls. This was something beautiful something truly beautiful that I could give her. I had a feeling she would object thinking that I could sell it, but freshwater pearls were frowned upon in the market because of their different tints in color and ridged if smooth texture. I opened the oyster and set down the knife I was using to open the oysters. <br/><br/>I found I was a bit nervous. I wasnâ€™t quite sure why but giving her something of value, maybe it was because she probably had stings of fat white perfectly round pearls at home. I couldnâ€™t help but think she might prefer the unique beauty of fresh water pearls I preferred them myself because no two were alike. Thinking of this made me realize how to present the pearl in a perfect light. I grabbed her hands and pulled her to a sitting position pretty sure that I had surprised her with the sudden movement I couldnâ€™t help but give her a roguish smile. â€œI wanted the show you something. I held out my hand and opened it a ridged pearl slightly larger than a pea sat in the palm of my hand. â€œIt seems the oysters wanted you to have a gift today.â€ I placed the pearl in her hand and closed her hand around it. â€œI know you probably have plenty of pearls at home, but I thought you might like one thatâ€™s different like me. Iâ€™m like a fresh water pearl not conventional beautiful or worth much but still special in my own way.â€ I shrugged blushing. I hadnâ€™t meant to sound conceited calling myself a pearl I just wanted her to understand that I wanted her to have it that she might learn to see the beauty in the conventional things. She deserved more than the confining walls of the castle, but if she never had the chance to see the beauty that could occur in nature she would end up like all other noble women only impressed by large jewels and pretty dresses. She could be so much more though. She was a fresh water pearl just like me. She was my equal in that respect. That is what I should have said. I slid back into the water so I didnâ€™t have to look at her hoping the cool water would diffuse some of the red I could feel rushing to my face. <br/></span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF">I opened my eyes lightly as I felt Gabe come sitting over next to me. A warm smile automatically appeared on my lips without me even knowing it. Resting up on my elbows I watched him as he started to clean oysters that he had court while I was trying to catch fish. Oysters wasnâ€™t one of my favorite foods, I didnâ€™t know why, perhaps it had something to do with the way the cook made them or something but they just never really took my appeal. I know that I shouldnâ€™t be so fussy when it come to food, as so many people would have much less then me, if anything to eat at all but I would much rather a staving child eat them, then them being wasted on me. <br/><br/>After a while of just watching him I decided to lean back down and watch as the clouds went by slowly. Today had really been a beautiful day. Not just because of the weather or where me and Gabe where but more because it was spent with him. To think that morning I had wondered wither or not to go see him. To think wither or not I wanted to be around him. Gosh how I could have thought of things like that. I really, in all the lands and kingdoms, could not imagine my life without Gabe in it anymore. It was remarkable how much of an impacted he had made in my life and how much two people from very different backgrounds could fit so well together. Perhaps that was what made me and him fit. Because we where so different form one another, that we somehow became the same. <br/><br/>All of a sudden I felt him touch my hands and bringing me up to a setting position â€œOhâ€¦â€ It escaped my lips but I was unpleased with the fact he had drawn my attention. I smiled over at him as he gave me one of his roguish smiles. I drew my eyes away from his when he said he had something to show me. My eyes grew with curiosity as I looked down in his hands. Slowly he opened one of them and within his grasp was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen in my life. The pearl was no large then a pea but the colours it carried where stunning and breathtaking. My mouth opened slightly in shock as he gently placed the pearl in my own hands and closed it tight. I knew from that moment I never wanted to loose it. <br/><br/>As he began to talk more I looked up at him, the surprised look fading from my lips and being replaced with the most heart warming smile that could appear on my face. The more he spoke about the Pearl and how he saw it, the more I was falling in love with it and maybe him too. This very pearl in my hands was to me, the most precious thing in the world. It was more valuable then all of the jewels and money that the whole kingdom had, in fact the whole world! If something was to every happen t this pearl I knew I could never forgive myself. <br/><br/>His blush was cute and all I wanted to do was give him a hug or even maybe a kiss. But before I could decide on what I was going to do, he headed over back into the water. For a split second I was about to go after him, but then my thoughts quickly went onto the stunning pearl in my hands. Slowly I got up from the ground where I was sitting and walked over to where mine and Gabeâ€™s cloths laid. After a little rummaging I found the small pocket within my dress, so that I could place the pearl inside. Here I knew that it would be safe and sound. Free form me loosing it and safe from anything else. Standing up I looked back over to Gabe and a bright smile appeared on my lips as I thought of a little way to thank him, without it making him blush too much. Although I found it cute I was sure he didnâ€™t enjoy the fact he could blush in front of me. <br/><br/>Running towards him, I couldnâ€™t hold in my laughter or giggles. I splashed a crossed the shallow waters and when I was close enough to him I jumped up towards him. Wrapping my arms around his neck lightly and allowing my feet to left of the ground a dangle for a moment. â€œThank youâ€ There was so much truth behinds those two words and they werenâ€™t just for the pearl. It was for the whole day that we had spent together and all the amazing things he had hoped my eyes up to in just the short time we have known one another. <br/><br/>Letting go of him gently, I allow my feet to slowly find the ground beneath the water. I blushed lightly as I smiled up at him, not sure on how he was going to take mu bust of joy and excitement. Not wanting us to dwell on or blushing, an idea popped into my head, for the both of us to do. â€œI know you court a load of oysters and we have your two big fish and my amazing little oneâ€¦but I donâ€™t think that would be enough for the children.â€ I said over to him as I walked over to where I placed his net. â€œWhy donâ€™t we work together and catch some more, so we can sell some at the market? That way we could buy bread and some other yummy treats for them all and have some kind of feast and sit at a camp fire?â€ To be honest I was quite thrilled with the idea. The two of us with the young children, eating yummy hot food and telling them stories before they had all go to bed. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #8000FF">I was greatly glad of the distraction and truthfully I had a feeling she was just as happy as I was not to think about how very embarrassed we both were. I can only speak for myself of course, but I could just feel the tension so acutely I was fairly certain that she was at least as uncomfortable as I was. I did intend to catch more fish anyway five would never be enough to fill those empty bellies at home. I probably should have explained that most of the kids spent their dinner time at home with their family and I would never want to rob them of that time since there was no telling if they would have that time together the next day. I had been robed of my parents and time with them when I was only twelve I didnâ€™t want to rob anyone else of that kind of time. On the other hand though fish did constitute a special occasion. I suppose we could organize a fish fry. Sometimes when I had an especially good fishing day the entire village would get together children and adults and we would all sit around a big fire in the middle of the village cooking and eating the fish while we talked, told stories, sang old songs, and anything else we might want to do. With Katherine to help I should be able to have a good enough fishing day to constitute a fish fry besides she thought it was such a nice idea. <br/><br/>I motioned for her to grab the net. If we were going to fish the net was required after all. I could explain the concept of a fish fry while we got the required fish for the occasion. Frying was a good way to cook the shell fish as well now that I thought about it. I had a feeling explaining a fish fry might take a while after all she probably had perfectly pan cooked fish made by a world famous chef whenever she wanted it. The village had fish when they were in season and I didnâ€™t have anything else I needed to do for an entire day. There were after all a large number of mouths to feed and it wouldnâ€™t be fair to make some watch while others got to eat. This was the very reason I distributed the larger goods to familys window to window and made sure to have one piece of fruit for every single child. I gathered my thoughts about a fish fry. It would be so much easier if I could just show her a picture. I went through the motions of catching fish with her holding one side of the net while I held the other. We could spead it farther and snap it quicker this way allowing us to catch more fish. It didnâ€™t work the first coupld of times since we couldnâ€™t tell when the other person was going to try and snap the net closed allowing all the fish to escape on the side of the unprepared person. After about five or six unsuccessful tries we were able to read each other good enough to pull the net up from the water at the same time to trap the fish. We were catching four or five fat fish with every try and if this luck continued we would be done in no time. <br/><br/>It was maybe about an hour later when we had plenty enough fish both for the village and to trade in town for the other supplies for the fry. I didnâ€™t want to distract from the fishing so I hadnâ€™t tried to explain the concept of the fish fry instead we had just made very casual conversation of boring and uninteresting topics like the weather and everyoneâ€™s health. I made a joke about hearing the princess was feeling a bit under the weatherand hoping she hadnâ€™t caught a cold. Over all the conversation was uneventful but pleasant enough. Once we had the required fish I took a targe mesh sack from my bag and started to load it with out haul. It would be a lot of work to get this many fish back to the village, but worth it. I could have shrunk the bag, but when I produced fish from seemingly nowhere people in the village tended to stare. I had learned that lesson quickly, but also the hard way. I had been trading fish all day before I noticed people whispering and pointing. I had always delt with the heavy bag since it was safer. I could shrink it on the way home and then make it normal sized again before entering the village. <br/><br/>I sat on the rock where our shoes were still waiting to dry a bit before making the treck to the market. â€œI know you thought it would be nice to have dinner with the children, but I should probably explain what that entails in my village because chances are it is a bit different than you think. The first thing you have to understand is that it wonâ€™t be just us and the children it will be the families, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, everyone. The second thing you should probably understand is how fish work in the village. I donâ€™t know how you eat fish in the palace, but in the village us rustic types like our fish fried and that is the only way most of us have ever had it. I had it grilled once, but I prefer it fried I must admit. This means we will have to go to the market to get oil, flour, and eggs. I would also like to get a bushel of fruit for the kids they are always a little disappointed when I donâ€™t bring fruit. The fruit is good for them anyway especially when they donâ€™t get the best of nutrition due to limited food sources.â€ I wasnâ€™t sure if she really knew how bad things were or if she just thought she did. If possible we should pick up some bread as well bread is something we are always running low on in the village. The list was starting to get long, but she could go one way and I could go the other. She could be in charge of trades and I could nick the things that were over priced. She would have to work for her dinner today. It would be interesting to see how she handeled it. I was interested to see if she was comfortable with getting from day to day the way I did. I wasnâ€™t always comfortable with it but I didnâ€™t have any other choice. Would someone who could pay for things be able to come to terms with the fact that I couldnâ€™t. She knew why I stole, but still in a round about way I was stealing from her. <br/><br/>I looked at her. She was still in my shirt and we were both dripping wet. I would have liked to just lay on the large rocks and let my skin dry in the warm sun. I loved the smell of sun baked skin. We had other things to do though and I did need my short back to do them. â€œAs much as I do enjoy just laying ehre in the sun we better get a move on if we are going to cook dinner for tonight.â€ I used a quick spell to dry myself off and did the same to her waiting to her her small gasp as finding herself dry. I laughed a bit at it knowing it was going to happen. I handed her the dress she had traded for my short earlier and turned respectfully as she changed. â€œI was thinking we would split up when we go to the market. I was thinking about sending you to the baker and the miller with a few fish fit for trading. The bakers wife prefers dealing with girls and will give you a better deal than the baker himself and the miller has a soft spot for young girls because he has three of them himself. He doesnâ€™t like me much because he thinks I distract his daughters, but that isnâ€™t my fault or my intention.â€ I smiled at her a bit. â€œI was thinking that I would take care of fruit and eggs since they sort of have to be stolen since no apple no matter how good is worth an entire fish which is what they would charge me.â€ I got up and put my shoes back on handing hers over as I pulled on the shirt she had returned to me. I was disappointed to leave the beauty and peace of the lake behind but we had other things we had to do. I wrapped a few fish handing them to her for trading taking the rest with me slinging the bag over my sholder as I got to my feet. I extended my hadn to help her up. â€œReady to brave the market girly?â€ I smiled down at her thinking about the last market trip we had been together. I hoped this one would be better. </span>