<span style="color: #8000FF">It took me a whole week to forgive Katherine. I mean Princess Katherine. I had to keep reminding myself that she was a princess, which wasnâ€™t easy. I wanted to just think of her as Katherine, but that wasnâ€™t possible. She was a princess, eyes on her all the time and held to a completely different standard. I was not up to that standard. I suppose that it didnâ€™t really matter since she said she would never come out of the castle again. After the way I treated her on the road I wouldnâ€™t blame her for staying in. She might be caged in there, but at least everyone at the castle treated her with respect of course they all knew who she was so it wasnâ€™t like she could lie to them. I was still mad when I thought about it. I wasnâ€™t mad at her though that was the difference. I was mad at myself for thinking it made such a difference. Every if she was Princess Katherine Woodsville that didnâ€™t mean she wasnâ€™t also Katherine Woods. I knew Katherine Woods so just maybe I knew Princess Katherine too. There was only one way to find out though. <br/><br/>I couldnâ€™t remember the last time I apologized to anyone and it took me at least another week to get up the nerve to actually do it. I wasnâ€™t sure how to go about it. She said she was never leaving again so it wasnâ€™t like I could just seek her out in the market and tell her how sorry I was. I probably could have used the same hole in the wall she used to get out to get in, but what then just ran around the castle hoping to find her and what if someone saw me? That was ridiculous even by my standards but I had to find a way. If I didnâ€™t tell her how awful I felt I would just burst. It had been eating me up inside. I couldnâ€™t eat or sleep all I could do was think about her. I did my best to keep going for the kids and their families, but everyone could tell I was off my game. It is a good think I kept trying because I at least kept people fed enough to keep from dying, but there were more empty bellies than usual in my village for a week. <br/><br/>I finally figured out exactly how to apologize to her and it was actually one of the children that gave me the idea. I had a good hunting day and was able to gather a whole basket full of strawberries and nuts in the woods so I decided to skip the market that day and play with the kids instead. What really ended up happening was a writing lesson. People of my class donâ€™t really need to write long flowery notes or poetry, but it is always useful to be able to sign oneâ€™s name. I spent the afternoon teaching each of the children how to sign their name. One of the little girls after the lesson climbed up in my lap and looked up at me. She was one of the younger children and she watched as I thought the children after her. At the end of the lesson she asked what else could writing be used for. I started to explain about books and notes. I told her that writing was mostly used by the upper class. She smiled at that and asked if the pretty lady that fallowed me home could write. The remaindered of Katherine hurt a bit but I nodded. She nodded back and just as innocent as could be said â€˜You should write her a noteâ€™ before hopping out of my lap and skipping home. <br/><br/>At the time when it happened I had just shaken the comment off as the words of a child who didnâ€™t know the real circumstances. I couldnâ€™t just write her a note that wouldnâ€™t fix anything. The more I thought about it the more it seemed like a possibility though. Could I really just write a note telling her how sorry I was? Would she even believe it? Would she even find it? I guess I wonâ€™t know unless I try though. Iâ€™m no good a flowery words or flattery, but I do miss her. I miss having a friend someone who thinks the best of me even when I donâ€™t think good of myself someone who trust me even if I am a thief and someone I donâ€™t lie too. I was a hypocrite for being so angry that she lied to me, after all I lied to almost everyone just not to her. <br/><br/>It took me three days to get what I needed. I nicked some parchment a bit of ink and a slightly broken quill someone had decided wasnâ€™t sharp enough anymore. I was on my way out of the market. I passed a stall and the bright colored fruits on the cart caught my eye. I slipped around the back and grabbed two oranges one for myself and one to leave with the note. I climbed up a tree near the castle with my treasure and sat on a good sturdy fork to work. I took out my knife and sharpened the end of the quill back up making it perfectly usable again I couldnâ€™t imagine why it had been thrown out, but I wasnâ€™t going to scoff at a bit f good luck. I rolled out eh parchment and looked at it for quite a while. I didnâ€™t have enough parchment or ink to make any mistakes. I didnâ€™t have the luxury to start over. I had to think about what I would write very carefully. <br/><br/>Dear Lady Katherine Woods <br/>I met a girl a few weeks ago. She was beautiful and kind. I found in her a friend something I have been without for too long. I made a mistake though and hurt her. I suppose I have simply forgotten how to be a friend after so many years. I'm sorry for being a stupid pig headed moron. I was taught better manners than that and I can only cringe when I think of my behavior that day on the road. If you are ever willing to forgive me I will spend an hour at our tree (the one I strung you up in) every morning. I hope you come if it is tomorrow or a year from now I will be waiting. Please tell me I havenâ€™t lost that friend Katherine. <br/>Waiting, <br/>Gabe <br/><br/>I looked at the note once I had finished. It wasnâ€™t perfect, but it would have to do I couldnâ€™t really try again. I could only hope that she would believe it. I hopped out of the tree stashing my new quill and the tiny bit of ink I had left in my bag along with the note. I walked towards the wall before turning and running in the other direction. There was one more thing I wanted to leave for her. <br/><br/>I looked at the lake. I was glad to see several water lilies floating on the surface of the water connected to the lake floor. I took a deep breath and jumped into the water. I pulled up two lilies from the water. I took one with the shorter stem and tied it around the letter to secure it closed before writing Katherine Woods on the outside. I help the other one in my hand as I walked back towards the castle. <br/><br/>I sat outside watching the wall for a long time. Finally I saw the tell tail flash of white and long ears. I had shot enough rabbits in my time to know what they looked like even when hiding. I knew it was the same rabbit she had apparently adopted as I pet. I scooped up the rabbit and tied the other lily around him just so she would be sure to check the hole. There had been plenty of lilies when I healed her ankle so she should know it is a message if she is as smart as I think she is. I made sure he wasnâ€™t going to shed the lily with a soft sticking charm before I placed him back down with a soft pet to his soft head. I moved the brush away from the hole he and Katherine had used to exit the castle. I took the note I had written and placed it in the corner of the hole along with the orange. <br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~ <br/><br/>I went to the tree the next morning and sat on the lower branches eating my orange from the day before and rubbing my fingers over the cool surface of my mothers locket for comfort. I had no idea if she would come, but I couldnâ€™t do anything but wait and I would keep waiting till she came. <br/></span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF"><br/>When I had finally reached the hole in the castle walls I was unable to control my crying. The tears where just flowing down my cheeks faster then I could wipe them away. Although I was very upset I had to start to get a grip of myself. If I went into the castle like this people would ask question and they where questions I wouldn't be able to answer, which would only would course more problems. Taking a few deep breaths and pacing up and the road a little, I manage to calm down my crying and wipe away the tears. <br/><br/>Though I doubted that it look like I hadn't been crying. With no other choice I crawled through the howl to other side for what looked to be the last time. As I made it over to the other side I stopped for a moment tempted to look back behind me, but I had thought I would be best for me to leave it all behind me now. I knew if I did I would always be tempted to look back and then I knew I would be tempted to do more, to go back out there again and I couldn't risk doing that and hurting Gabe more. <br/><br/>And just as I indercated I hadn't left the Castle walls within the last two weeks. I couldn't have told you it had been easy, because it wasn't. Each day I would walk past the tree knowing that behind it was my escape. As much as I wanted to go though the whole I didn't want to bump into Gabe. I didn't want to course anymore pain or sadness for either of us. The freedom that I once had wasn't worth all that again, although I did find myself missing him deeply. <br/><br/>Why did I had to be so stupid and why did he had to make such a big deal out of it? Ok I know that I lied and that it was wrong for me to do so but a little part of me was slightly annoyed that he took it way to much to heart. I mean if he was in my footsteps wouldn't he had done the same thing? In a way he kinda did. With going out to the market with a disguise on all the time to the people that worked and would shop there. I had hoped that out of all the people that could have found out that he would have known why I did and understand but clearly not. <br/><br/>Within the two weeks I found myself doing more 'lady like' things that I needed to do more willingly. I had guessed that I was using it all as an excuses not to think about Gabe but every now and then my mind would just wonder off and I would find myself daydreaming about the times that we had shared with each other. I must really learn to get a grip of myself and learn to let go. This was no way for someone to be let alone a Princess. <br/><br/>I was out in the garden reading my book like I had grown used to do a lot more of. Instead of just reading for an hour or so I found myself reading till almost lunch time or even later. Books where a great distraction from my problems and thoughts, everything seemed to be less complected in in them and there always seemed to be an happy ending. As I turned over the page something from the corner of my eye court my attention. It was Sir Woodville, the rabbit and there was something slightly different about him. There so happen to be a water lily tied around him gently and it wasn't just any kind of lily. Unmistakably it was one from the lake where Gabe took her to make the potion that helped healed her ankle. <br/><br/>Looking around to make sure that no one was watching me I made my way over to the rabbit. "No why on earth do you have that around you?" I ask him, knowing full well that he couldn't reply back to him. I hand't seen much of my fluffy friend so it was a warm welcome to see him again. As I knelt down to pick him up he hopped away from me, closer towards the hole in the wall. "No, now don't be silly. You I can't go back out there." I told the rabbit trying again to pick him up, but there just wasn't any used. He hopped right out of reach yet again, heading for the gap in the wall. Tutting at him I walked right passed him and over to the hole in the wall. This had been the closest I had been there since the day I said goodbye to Gabe. <br/><br/>"See look. This is as far as I..." before I could finish what I was about to say my eyes court sigh of a bright orange. Now that took me be surprise. Ok so I thought that maybe Gabe was sending me some kind of message with the lily around the rabbit, though I didn't want to let myself believe that but now the Orange too?! This was just something I would have never suspected from him. "So this is why you wanted me to come here..." I said over to Sir Woodville as I knelt down and picked up the orange. As I did I spotted another water lily but his one was tied around something different. Although I wouldn't like to admit it, I did have a gently sweet smile across my lips at just the pure fact that Gabe had done all of this. <br/><br/>Taking another look around I slowly walked away from the hole, not really wanting to leave it this time. I made my way back over to the bench that I was reading, with the rabbit not that far behind me. As I took my seat once again I placed the orange next to me after I smelt it's sweet scent and picked up Sir Woodville and place him on my lap. Gently I untied the lily from him and did the same to the one that was around the letter. Carefully I placed them down next to the orange and gently opened up the letter to read what it said. <br/><br/>Dear Lady Katherine Woods <br/>I met a girl a few weeks ago. She was beautiful and kind. I found in her a friend something I have been without for too long. I made a mistake though and hurt her. I suppose I have simply forgotten how to be a friend after so many years. I'm sorry for being a stupid pig headed moron. I was taught better manners than that and I can only cringe when I think of my behavior that day on the road. If you are ever willing to forgive me I will spend an hour at our tree (the one I strung you up in) every morning. I hope you come if it is tomorrow or a year from now I will be waiting. Please tell me I havenâ€™t lost that friend Katherine. <br/>Waiting, <br/>Gabe <br/><br/>His words where soft and gently but yet I still found this ping of hurt going through me. It was clear that he was sorry fr the way that he had behaved but why could I not shake off this feeling I was having. It started to really bug me and I found myself snapping shut my book with the letter trapped within it's pages. The noise that the book made as I did that made the rabbit hop off of my lap. "Sorry..." I muttered over to him before I collect the orange and lilies and headed inside. I have no idea why I felt this way. Was I annoyed? not sure. Angry? nope. Upset? somewhat. But why? He had said sorry and I believed that he meant every word. Didn't I? Maybe that was the problem, maybe I just wasn't so sure if he meant it or not. <br/><br/>When I had retched my room I placed the flowers in a large bowl so that they could float within the water and placed the orange next to it on my window side. I then placed my book on my dresser and got ready for bed. When I woke from my restless sleep I had almost forgotten about letter till I pick up my book, after I had gotten dressed and it feel to the ground. I picked it up turning it over with my fingers. Should I meet today? I shock my head and placed the letter in my top draw. There was still this wired feeling and I didn't want to go see him without knowing what it was. The last thing I wanted to do was go meet him and start off another upsetting moment for the two of us. <br/><br/>For the rest of the week it seemed to play out the same way. One minute I had almost forgotten about it but then POP. There would be the letter. That night as I went to get my hair brush from my draw it was there. I then placed it away somewhere different and I found myself unaware that I was to meet it again just a few moments later. In the end, almost a whole week later since I had gotten the letter I sat down and really thought about why I was putting off meeting Gabe again. God knew I really wanted to see him again. I had missed him so much and thought about almost all the time. I guess that I was nervous and unsure what to do. But I had made my mind up. Tomorrow morning I was going to stop putting this off and go and meet him. After all I missed him and the worst he could do was kidnap me which I didn't think he could ever do. <br/><br/>~~~~~~~~~~~ <br/><br/>The next morning I woke up extra early so I knew that I would be able to meet him. I had butterflies in my belly as I got myself ready, dress in the same dress that I was in where I first ever meet him at the tree that he had sprung me up in. I thought it would a nice touch and ever make myself a little less nervous. As half of the castle was still asleep I made my way over to the hole in the wall. I stopped staring at it blankly for a moment. I had been three weeks since I last left the castle and even had seen Gabe. I know it wasn't the longest of time I hadn't seen him in, but with how we ended it the last time if made it feel longer. <br/><br/>I took a gentle walk up to the tree, taking my time and trying to calm my nervous before I had the chance to see him again. I was just a few feet away from the tree when I suddenly stopped dead. I couldn't do this. What if it was a trick? What if...what if...'Oh stop being silly! Do you really think he would do such a thing?!' The words rang in my head I knew he wouldn't, it was just the nervous getting to me. I wasn't sure how things where going to be with us both and I didn't know how we was both going to act. I just need to take my time and go one step a a time. <br/><br/>Just by doing that I made my way over to the tree. There seemed to be no sighting of him, maybe he had given up already. Thought that I wasn't worth his time. I walk around the tree trunk. Half expecting a trick to go off and me hanging from the tree again, but nothing happened. Then I heard some rustling coming from above me in the tree that made me jump. "GABE!" I shouted as I got over the fright. "Don't do that to me!" I was half having a go and half laughing. I had no idea why I was laughing but the whole moment just seemed funny for a moment. Either that or I was laughing because of my nervous. <br/><br/>As he made it down from the tree I looked over at him smiling but with a since of precaution. After a moment or to I found this over whelming feeling that I just need to get out. In one quick and swift movement I moved forward and wrapped my arms around him in a hug with my face barred in his chest. This was the only thing that I wanted to do, right there and then. I knew that this would more the likely shock him and I wasn't expecting anything in returned, but it had just been so long since I had last seen him or anything that I wanted this close contact with him. As I stood there, placing him in a tight hug I found words come out of my mouth before I knew what I was saying. "You could never lose me Gabe." It was part of the letter that got to me the most. The part where he he hoped that he hadn't lost me and I knew, even when I first read the words that he hadn't. "I'm afraid your stuck with me." I added with a giggle and at the moment I felt a warmth wrapped around me. Something that I hadn't expected at all, and it turned out to be the most welcoming feeling I had ever felt. <br/><br/>The warmth of his arms around me. I sighed happily as I loosened my grip around him but still stood there lightly hugging him. "Thank you for the water lilies and the orange." I looked over at him as I spoke and I had a gently smile on my lips. "And the letter. I'm sorry I didn't come the next day. I was just unsure about a few a things but I solved them all out and well...here I am!" I smiled bright to show how pleased I was to see him again, although I was sure he knew already how happy I was by the hug I impressed him in. All the nervous and panic I once had, had now faded and I was left to enjoy the time I was now spending with Gabe. Oh how I really had missed him. </span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #8000FF"><br/>I waited every morning for what felt like forever. It seemed it took her as long to believe I was sorry as it had taken me to realize I was. The first few days were very hard I wanted to hop out of the tree and just run. I wanted to leave and never come back. I wanted to go someplace where everything wouldnâ€™t remind me of her. This place especially was painful. I could see the taller turrets of the castle if I climbed high and if I were lower in the tree I could see the image of her hanging from the lower branches burned into my eyes every time I blinked. There was a space right in the middle of the branches where I could neither see where I had strung her up or the castle. The main problem was I couldnâ€™t see anything from there other than the surrounding green leaves of the tree. I couldnâ€™t see the road and if she did show up I wouldnâ€™t see her. I couldnâ€™t handle anywhere else in the tree without wanting to cry and scream at how stupid I had been though so I stayed where I was. <br/><br/>I spent most of the time on a strong branch lying on my back my eyes closed listening. With my eyes closed my other senses seemed to heighten. I could hear a bird land on a near by branch, a pig snuffling for truffles at the base of a neighboring tree, I would surely hear the footfalls of expensive shoes on the hard packed dirt road if she came. A small part of my brain said that I didnâ€™t want her to come. That part of my brain must be the part the insanity in my family came from. There was no reason for me not to want to see her. I had gone to so much trouble just to tell her I was sorry why would I not want to see her. I knew why. I hadnâ€™t forgiven myself yet even if she had forgiven me. I held a grudge longer than her. I had forgiven her but now I had to forgive myself. I was finding it much harder to forgive myself than it had been to forgive her. I would have to be sure to separate my anger at myself from my feeling towards her when she came; if she came. I had no guarantee that she would ever come. <br/><br/>I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that I almost missed the unmistakable sound of hand crafted designer shoes on the packed dirt. Only she would be walking down this road leading nowhere in shoes like that. I moved about a bit so I could get a better look at the road. I had of course been right it was her who else would it be after all. If the shoes and hair werenâ€™t enough she was wearing the same dress she had been wearing the first time we met. I found that a rather nice if unnecessary touch. She jumped from the sound the leaves made as I swung from branch to branch working my way down. I hadnâ€™t meant to frighten her it wasnâ€™t my fault she didnâ€™t look up. I shrugged as my feet hit the hard packed dirt of the road. I was trying to act nonchalant so she didnâ€™t know how nervous I really was. I was terrified she had just come to tell me what a moron I had been and not to waste my time waiting for her. <br/><br/>My fears were completely pointless as it turned out. I didnâ€™t know this till I found myself enveloped in a tight hug. It took a moment, but since she didnâ€™t let go the way she had last time I firmly returned the hug and relaxed into her embrace as she assured me that I couldnâ€™t lose her even if I tried. I wasnâ€™t about to try and lose her so as she said it did appear that we were stuck with each other if we wanted it or not. I personally wanted to be stuck with Katherine for a very long time. I loosened my arms a bit when she did. I refused to let go though cause I missed her so much. I didnâ€™t ever want to let her go. I knew I would have to and that it wonâ€™t be very long till I had to, but right now I didnâ€™t have to be without her. <br/><br/>I shrugged at her thanks. I wasnâ€™t used to people thanking me. I wasnâ€™t used to doing stuff for other people either. I think I had done more for Katherine in a few weeks than I had done for anyone else through my whole life. â€œIâ€™m glad you liked them. I wasnâ€™t exactly sure what to do but I knew you had to do something to tell you how sorry I was. I know it wasnâ€™t much but I donâ€™t have the financial ability to give you what you really deserve.â€ I shrugged trying to shake it off. I didnâ€™t want this to turn into some kind of emotional day where all we did was apologize to each other back and forth. <br/><br/>I finally let her go from the hug. I didnâ€™t want to but I had plans. I smiled and took her hand. â€œCome on Iâ€™m going to teach you to swim, besides I promised the kids fish.â€ She had said she wanted to swim and for some reason I didnâ€™t want to go to the market today and there were plenty of food sources in the forest so it was really just as well. I grabbed her hand and we started to make our way through the woods towards the pond. I was feeling blissfully happy for reasons that I couldnâ€™t explain. This was going to be one of the best days ever. I had my friend back and I wasnâ€™t going to waste it.</span><br/><br/><br/><span style="color: #00BFFF">I could of stayed in his embrace for ever, well until the point where really had to let go but even then I wouldn't want to. As he spoke I looked up at him, I had almost forgotten how he spoke, how his lips curled wit each word her spoke. It seemed strange to think but it was a soothing sound, one in which I could easily listen to for hours on end. I had almost been drawn into the way his lips moved when he spoke, that I almost missed what he was saying. Why would he think that I would he think that flowers meant less then riches, in fact I thought that they meant much more then riches. " The flowers where perfect Gabe." I said to reassure him and I meant every word I spoke. <br/><br/>Before to long I felt the unwelcoming feeling of coolness covering my back as his arms where drifting off of me. I tried not to let my disappointment show by still smiling warmly over to him. My disappointment had soon faded when he gave me that sweet welcoming smile and I felt the touch of his hand in mine. I tried very hard not to show the blush that was slowly creeping on my cheeks. But my worry of me blushing faded as he said he was going to teach me how to swim. My eyes light up with excitement at just the thought, "Really?!" I tried not to sound like a child at Christmas but I was finding it hard to contain my excitement. Without much more said we headed off towards the pond that he had taken me to when he needed to make a potion for my ankle. <br/><br/>As we walked I knotted my fingers with his more and smiled blissfully as we made are way though the woods. I gave a light, happy sigh. I was content. Although pin pointing why was hard, was I really this lost with out him? I hadn't a clue that Gabe had made this much of an effect on me, but I was pleased he had. Now that we where back to being friends I didn't want it ever to end. I really couldn't go back to those few weeks of not having him, it just didn't seem or felt right. Even when I was trying not to think of him I was and well, now I could think of him as much as I could, though I didn't really need to as he was here with me, at this very moment. <br/><br/>I couldn't help but gaze upon him a few times as we weaved in and out of the trees, passing wildlife and foliage. I didn't really seem to take in much of my surroundings. All I knew was that I was with Gabe and we where heading to the pond and suddenly my thoughts where brought back to the fact he was going to teach me how to swim. "Is it easy?" I asked looking across at him again. "Swimming I mean." Although I was excited I still had butterflies, flying around in my stomach. I know that I would be safe in Gabe's arms and that he wouldn't let anything bad happen to me but I just can't shake off being nervous. <br/><br/>The butterflies in my stomach were starting to to annoy me so I decided to distract myself from them. "If you don't mind me asking, who tort you to swim?" I asked as I gently lifted my dress with my free hand so it wouldn't get court on the fallen down branch. "How old was you. Was you very young?" I added as I stayed close to his side with are hands still knotted together. I knew by now that we where close from the pond, I could hear the gently sound of the water moving getting louder with each step that we took. Within moments we where there. I had almost forgot how beautiful this place was. All the flowers where in blossom, I could see more of those pretty water lilies that he had gave me in a little bundle on the bond. I can't quite explain it but this place always seemed to give off an enlighten feel, like your in a dream daze or something. <br/><br/>"It's so beautiful here" I said the words so softly that I wasn't sure if I had some them at all but it was true. I smiled over at Gabe, excitement overcoming my nervous by now. All I wanted to do was to dive right into the water, but I controlled myself from the urge, besides I didn't seemed to be dress in the right clothing to just go jumping in. I looked down at my dress and frown slightly to myself. "Um, I don't think I'm in the proper clothing for swimming." I drew my eyes up to his and I could feel my cheeks glowing very so slightly. "I have an undergarment on..." I added, my cheeks glowing slight more. I wasn't blushing for the fact that I was ashamed of my figure underneath my dress, but for the pure fact that Gabe would see so much of my skin. "I don't mind swimming in just that." <br/><br/>I know it wasn't like I was going to be naked, but I knew that no man should see me with such little on till I am wed but for some reason I didn't mind. My undergarment was made of fine thin threads which made it soft and almost like silk. There was straps to it but no sleeves, unlike my dress and it didn't flow to down to the grown either but finished down to just above my knees. It was pale in color, with the hint of lace around the edges. Yes this would be the most that any man had seen of me, but if it was to be any man to see me in just my undergarment then I would want to be Gabe. <br/></span>