I.VI. Magical

Flowers always seemed to smell better at night to William. He had picked the flower as delicately as possible to preserve its steam. Perhaps he had once been the captain of the guards, but that did not mean he was not a gentle person. It was nice to smell flowers and pretend he did not spend most days worried.

As he walked across the ground, leaves crunched under his feet. Autumn was upon them at last; the season he dreaded. Autumn itself wasn't offensive, it was the season that came after. Winter. Food would become hard to come by and the weather would be much too cold for his daughter to spend any time outside, even in the day. It would be extremely difficult for them to live their lives as they were.

Rebecca agreed with him on this, which was why she spent most of her nights in the community gardens, trying to harvest what was yielding before others came for it and before winter crept upon them. They were very close to getting enough money to bribe the guards but she had no idea if they would make it in time or not. It was best to be prepared she found. 

Morning was coming though so she gathered Claire into her arms and began to prepare to leave. There was still plenty of food left in the garden and she knew that she would be back a day soon to gather more for her, William and Claire. She was young yet and still a babe suckling at her mother's breast, but that did not mean that would last forever. Soon enough, young Claire would be a toddler and while she could still drink milk, Rebecca had already planned on beginning to ween her off on a diet of fruits. Not the best and not her mother's milk, but feeding her was already taking a toll on Rebecca.

The three of them spent the night in a camp ground, far from where most were. It was a nice area that they had camped at once or twice before already. It had been summer then though. The red trees around them only served to warn them further of the impending winter.

But they put those thoughts aside, as it was that brisk autumn morning that Claire would be aging up into a toddler at last.

They did not have much for her to wear, but young Claire looked happy nonetheless. She looked very much like her father, Rebecca thought. There was no mistaking who he was and that actually made Rebecca quite happy. She knew though, that she should cut her daughter's blonde locks but could not bear to. They were too lovely and in the end, she left them to lay on her shoulders.

By the time late afternoon had come, a storm had moved in on the family, soaking them to the bone. Rebecca still walked calmly with her daughter, trying to teach her that the rage of a storm was nothing to fear. There were much better things to fear in the world other than a little rain and the roar of thunder.

When they arrived at the fishing spot, she set her daughter down. They had gotten her a bear from a second-hand shop. It was worn and ragged, but Claire loved it dearly and hugged it close, ignoring the rain around her.

"I do not know if Claire could marry a Prince" Rebecca told her husband honestly. William just shrugged. 

"She couldn't. He is he cousin." He answered, the logic clear in his voice.

"Listen, Bec." William started. "Maybe her children could. We can't educate her at the moment because we don't have the tools. We could and we will try, but we both know it won't go far. Not far enough to have her marry the Prince. If we do our jobs, her children will be better off than she is. I know that means we may not live to see it, but I have a feeling if we do our best, our line won't forget your dream."

Of course he was right. She could only hug her husband tight and put a gentle kiss upon his lips. He was right and she loved that though his words brought the reality of her dream being out of her own reach, it would be accomplished by someone of her blood. 

They partly, only a short distance, to fish at their respective spots. He enjoyed the larger lake, while she stayed at the smaller one as she would then be closer to Claire in case she needed anything. She missed fishing with Claire yet in her stomach. Of course, she enjoyed spending time with her girl, but it did not give her the same sense of peace.

She looked up though and saw a light seemingly shining down on the fishing spot. She was curious as could be and followed it with her eyes and what she saw appear, she could hardly believe it- Could it be?

There a unicorn stood, not feet away from her daughter who was yet playing with her toy, not a care in the world. The Unicorn didn't even seem to mind the toddler playing on the ground, in fact he stood where he was, as if watching her while Rebecca watched him.

She couldn't help it, she approached the creature and before she knew quite what she was doing, she was offering him some of the produce she had in her pocket. At first, she thought he was going to snub the food.

He bent his head gracefully though and began to gently eat the food from her hand, even allowing her to stroke his silken fur. It was hard to believe she was really seeing this and she wondered if she happened to be dreaming. Unicorns did not exist, did they?

As if he knew her thoughts, he threw back his head and let out a loud whinny. A tree sprouted at his foot - she watched it! Surely a creature this magical had to have been spotted before, right? There was no way she was the first person to see him, right?

Just as quickly as he came, he turned himself and began to walk away, as if he had gotten what he wanted out of the encounter with Rebecca. She just knew that she couldn't wait to tell William. She wondered if he'd actually believe that she had this magical encounter?