The Curse and the Traveler's

[RedHairedandFriendly]

The morning sun shone down on Serena, the day was beginning, however she had been up most of the night, and was just waking up after having made sure Maximillion had received his medicine. The fever had broken sometime during the night, and he didn't show signs of getting worse. He still rested unmovingly, so she still was concerned.

She opened the door to her room, and ushered in the maid, that brought her some breakfast, and some more broth for Maximillion. Serena spooned the liquid into Max's mouth, and was pleased to see his throat swallow the warm soup down. After she had fed him half of the food, she moved to enjoy her own.

The maid returned and removed the tray, and the young doctor entered next, followed by two more men.

“Serena, I've spoken to the King, and you will remain outside until Maximillion is bathed and changed,” the doctor told her.

Nodding her head, she did as she was instructed, and within an hour, she was allowed back in. The two men left, and the doctor spoke with her.

“You should not have left with the Chosen one, you know your not to travel, and we are not to interfere in the lives of anyone!”

“I wouldn't allow his death, it was my fault, and I won't let him die!“

“He'll not die, you have saved him, but at what cost. Rumor is you'll marry as soon as your parent's return and no time for courtship will be allowed. The King and Queen are tired of your running around.”

Serena glared at him, “If Maximillion is okay right now, you may leave!”

He stood back, shocked by her anger, “You'll be a handful, glad I backed off when I had the chance.” He shook his head and left her there.

Shrugging her shoulders, she decided she'd deal with her parents later. She pulled the book from her drawer and sat next to Maximillion on the bed. “Max, I found this book, and I'm going to read it to you. Then when you wake up you can tell me why you never brought a book like this to me!” she looked down and brushed his hair from his brow. “Please wake up...” Serena opened her book and began to read quietly to Max.

The night wind blew across the trees, while the lone figure sat upon his black horse. He was watching her again. A shadow lurking like a thick blanket that covers over her bed, keeping her warm. He had received the missive from her father, he was to take her, bring her back to Lord Sinclair, and then leave. “Payment in hand and never look back.” That was his motto. Ducan McGregor climbed down from his horse and began the climb up the tree, that grew by her window. He had decided to take her tonight. The party was going on and he'd use the noise of it to distract the sounds he would make. Duncan entered her room, from the window, and settled himself into a dark corner. Silently he waited for the Princess Nicole to appear.​

Serena sighed and put the book away. “We'll read more later, Max.”

She moved from the bed, and pulled her journal from her bed. Opening it up she stared at the blank pages.

Where do I begin??? After David and Maximillion were injured... oh yes, that man came back and tried to do his worse again, but Max stopped him. Then somehow David was hurt, Max right now lies in my bed unconscious. He is getting better, Skye and I traveled to her world and brought back medicines, and a book for me to read to him. I started it tonight. It sounds very exciting! We went there and I learned, why Fairy's are almost extinct.... they don't believe .... well I shalt write it, for fear that one may die, just from my words. But we took some things, and everything was new and exciting, but Skye did become upset with me. There were huge monsters! She called them cars. They had beautiful colors on them, but very large mouths that screamed loudly. We were caught by one, but I hurried away, Skye helped me.... I think that is what she had wanted me to do. I turned my ankle but it is better. Just a bit tender. David came and rescued us, he brought us home, I'm not sure where he and Skye are now, but I am watching Maximillion get better! I will share more later.

Serena closed the journal, and rose from the seat at her desk, tucked it away, and then looked down, seeing David and Skye at the gazebo. “That is the way it should be,” her thoughts remembering the words of love that Maximillion had confessed about Skye. She had to see that David and Skye were together as often as she could, and make sure that Maximillion was getting his care.

 

[only_more_so]

It was late afternoon when Max finally stirred from his injury induced sleep. Very conscious of the pain radiating from his wounds, he moved very slowly. As he opened his eyes he was disoriented for a few moments. This wasn't his room... It was Serena's! His injury must have been most severe if they hasn't moved him to his room.

He slowly glanced toward the window where the afternoon light was pouring in. Serena sat in a chair in the pool of light. Apparently she had fallen asleep while reading the book on the table next to her.

Oh no! Where had that book come from!

Trying not to panic, Max slowly lowered the sheet that was covering him, revealing the bandaging over his left side. Gritting his teeth he pulled back the edge of the bandage revealing the wound. It was badly infected. Or rather it had been... Max's muzzy brain started putting everything together.

Neither the king nor David would possibly have gone to get medicine, they knew the risks too well. The queen might have given in to maternal instincts, but it was unlikely and wouldn't explain the book.

A groan must have escaped Max's lips as he collapsed back against the pillows, because Serena sprang to alertness and was soon by his side.

"What..." Max began before his parched throat prevented him from finishing the thought.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena heard Maximillion, and quickly laid the book on her chair. She rushed to his side and sat next to him. Her hand touched his brow, and she breathed a sigh of relief. He laid back down, and she covered hiim back up.

Her hands moved over the blankets and she waited for his breathing to steady and his pain to slightly decrease. She rose and moved to the table, grabbing a jug and a tumbler, she poured him a glass of water. Returning to his side, she offered it, and helped him drink the cool liquid down.

Setting the glass down she looked over his features. His coloring still pale, but a bit of his complexion was returning. "Oh, thank goodness, you've awaken Max." A tear escaped her eye, and she held his hand, "I'm sorry. I truly am."

 

[caela]

"I won't keep you long. I know you want to go back to Serena's side. She is probably with Max at the moment. I just thought, it would be nice to have breakfast together."

Skye smiled slightly between bites of her own breakfast. It hadn't been until she'd sat down and smelled the food that she'd realized just how hungry she was. Now she ate with as much gusto as David and enjoyed the food just as much as he did.

"I gave Serena pretty specific instruction for giving Max his medicine and she brought back a book to read to him while he's recovering. If they book doesn't make him get better quick nothing will. It looked like a fairly tawdry romance novel. No man will want to listen to much I'm sure."

Skye chuckled softly thinking about the book Serena had grabbed as well as the package of maxi pads and her eyes danced with mirth.

"Serena wasn't really so bad. Neither of us were at our best I don't think and we both owe you an apology David. You shouldn't have had to come hunting for us and I'm sorry."

 

[only_more_so]

Setting the glass down she looked over his features. His coloring still pale, but a bit of his complexion was returning. "Oh, thank goodness, you've awaken Max." A tear escaped her eye, and she held his hand, "I'm sorry. I truly am."

Max gulped down the cold water, which seemed to chill his entire body while slaking his parched throat.

"Serena," Max started slowly. He wanted to chastise her for going to another world, but he couldn't. She only knew it was forbidden and not why it was such a terrible thing. "I forgive you for going over, but you must swear to me that you will never do so again." As his said this last his hand gripped her wrist firmly and his blue-violet eyes bored deep into hers. Max paused to recover his breath then said, "so long as the curse remains."

Consciousness started to fade for Max as he sank back into the pillows. As his eyes were drooping closed he could see a confused frustration on Serena's face.

Max reached up and cupped her cheek. His thumb disturbing the trail the tears had left on her face. "You have a good heart. Never become as hard as me."

With a last stroke of the thumb Max let his hand drop back to his side. He forced his eyes to remain open for a few moments longer to see that she understood.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena looked down at him the touch of his finger still could be felt on her face. She smiled softly, touched his brow and pushed back a few stray strands of hair. "Your not hard, just my Max. Now go to sleep." She leaned over and placed a soft peck on his forehead.

She moved from the bed, and swallowed the tears that threatend to fall. Taking a deep breath she covered him back up and moved away from his bedside. She rang for a maid, and when she arrived she told her to stay with Maximillion, while she took a walk.

Picking up her book she placed it inside her trunk, along with her journal. She closed the lid, and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Serena walked through the halls, silent except for the occassional sounds of servents. Walking outside she pulled up her hair and tied it into a knot.

As she made her way to the small pond where her and Skye had taken a picnic with David and Maximillion, she thought of the last few days. She had managed to get herself almost violated, Max and David almost killed, Skye and herself almost stuck in another world, and now she was forced to recount the words of the young doctor.

He had said the King and Queen would marry her off as soon as her parents arrived. She wondered how long that would be, and if the man would even be willing to marry her. She wouldn't if she were him. She was a nieve woman, and she didn't understand much of anything. She had caused enough trouble that she knew she'd do as her parents asked and marry the man.

She sighed, and settled down beside the waters edge, picking flowers and weaving them into links of colorful strands, mindlessly staring into the water, and wondering when her life would change, for she was beginning to hate the one she lived.

 

[poohlive]

David shrugged his shoulders, "You thought you were trying to help. It was a noble but foolish cause. I suppose it's about the same as a young prince going up against some well built soldier for a friend of his, knowing he could not win. Noble but foolish is as good a reason as anything else, I suppose."

With breakfast done, David looked about the garden for a bit. It would be nice to go for a walk, and forget about the day's troubles.

He asked for a maid. A young Susan came up, bowing to them.

"Skye here would like to go see Serena now. If you could help her."

 

[caela]

"You thought you were trying to help. It was a noble but foolish cause. I suppose it's about the same as a young prince going up against some well built soldier for a friend of his, knowing he could not win. Noble but foolish is as good a reason as anything else, I suppose."

Skye looked at David strangely, as if she didn't know what to make of him and indeed she didn't. She didn't know if he was shrugging off her apology because he thought there was no need for her to apologize, if he was accepting her apology, or if he was saying what he thought was the right thing to say but was still angry with her. They'd had enough miscommunications that she simply didn't take what he said at face value because, in his case, her radar for reading people seemed to be radically scewed.

Before she could ask however he'd called for a maid and told the woman - who seemed nice enough - that she wished to be returned to Serena. Looking between both of them for a moment she offered the maid a warm smile before shaking her head gently and rolling her eyes as if to say : Men!

Turning her attention back to David she sighed softly before speaking, "Stop that please. If I were desperate to get back I would have said so myself and asked you to show me the way. Now since we don't seem to read each other very well, well I don't read you well anyway, explain to me what you meant just now. Are you mad and saying what you think you should? Do you forgive Serena and I for taking off without word to anyone? Or did you think that no apology was necessary because what we were trying to do - even if we went about it wrong - was a worthy goal?

I think for a little while we're going to have to be very literal with each other until we know each other better."

There hadn't been anything angry or accusing in her voice just a simple desire to know and a bit of tiredness from the events of a very long night. She knew from the way she felt that there were most likely dark circles under her eyes and her normally pale skin was probably paler than normal from lack of sleep. Her eyes were probably bloodshot as well. What she wanted more than anything now that she'd eaten was an answer, a long hot bath, and a nice long nap...preferably one she didn't have to wake up from until dinnertime.

 

[poohlive]

"What... what are you talking about?"

David had already forgotten about it, and turning around from his walk he seemed to examine Skye for the first time. He paused at the gentle curves of her body, and the tired look in her face. Lovely, but in dire need of rest. Perhaps that is why she outbursted so well.

"You are your own woman. Do you need me to accept your apology, or dismiss it, or ignore it? You apologized because you wanted to. If you want me to accept it for you, I will. But, I think you are just tired. Why don't you go get some rest. We can talk more about it when you're better able... ok then?"

 

[caela]

"You are your own woman. Do you need me to accept your apology, or dismiss it, or ignore it? You apologized because you wanted to. If you want me to accept it for you, I will. But, I think you are just tired. Why don't you go get some rest. We can talk more about it when you're better able... ok then?"

Skye sighed softly as a wave of irritation swept over her. She was going to chalk this up to being a difference in perspective for the moment because she knew she was exhausted and needed rest. Could it really be so easy here? Did people give apologies and really expect no reaction from the person they'd wronged in some way? Or perhaps he just really didn't care?

It was all too confusing right now. Turning without another word she followed the maid - who'd waited at a discreet distance - back toward the castle. Instead of going to Serena's chambers she had the girl show her to her own where she collapsed on her bed still fully clothed and was asleep before the maid had even made it back out the door.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena awoke her body pressed against the cool grass along the water's edge. She sat up and stretched, "Guess I was tired." The day was turning into mid-afternoon, and she got and gathered the small chains of flowers, and placed them in the water. Her eyes watched them float away, and she heard a distant rumble coming from the mist.

Her eyes looked toward the sound, and she knew it was just a change in the weather. She thought perhaps her parents were returning with her mate. She brushed the dirt and grass from her dress, and headed back to the castle. With a heavy sigh, she decided she'd best find David before, he found her. "It's always better to take your medicine voluntarily," she said to herself.

Serena went in search for the Prince, as the clouds began to toss a few sprinkles on her. She held her hand up and caught a few drops, but continued on her hunt for David, the rain was just a speck here and there, and the storm looked to be not quite ready to downpour.

 

[poohlive]

"Kinda weird huh?" David said, coming up behind Serena and giving her a nice warm hug. He was glad to have her here, present with them in the castle. She was his little sister, and he always felt that presence of protection over her, even as he barked her orders and chastized her ways.

"Max nearly gets killed saving your life, just so you can nearly get killed saving his. I don't think he'd like that very much. You can ask him though, as soon as he wakes."

David looked like he was about to yell at her, give her some fatherly speech about what she had done, but instead he just gave a loud sigh.

"I don't think Skye loves me. It seems like every time we get together we are either arguing, or yelling at each other. I feel like... I don't know like we're speaking a different language sometimes. I need help... I need your help. How do I speak to her? What do I do? What makes her so different?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Serena laid her arms on his, and sighed. Leaning back into him, she felt his warmth and welcomed it. "She wants to fall in love David. You fell in love with her, just by watching her, you never got to talk to her. We took her from her only home, and told her she was going to marry you. No choices, it was just done."

She turned in his arms, still wrapped within his embrace. Serena looked up at him, and sighed. Her fingers were layed on his chest, and she toyed with the material. "She asked me what would happen if she didn't marry you?"

"David, what will happen if she doesn't marry you? I mean, I've heard they have forced women to marry. Would you do that to her?" She continued to toy with his shirt, while he continued to hold her close. Serena felt the breeze hit her skin and she shivered against it. "What will you do if she doesn't fall in love with you?"

 

[poohlive]

"Then," David said in his most serious voice, "I'll have to kill her."

He gave a subtle look at Serena, before he burst out laughing, "I'm kidding hun. Oh, god. You should have seen the look on your face."

It took a moment for David, as he doubled over, and nearly fell on his ass laughing so hard. He had to catch his breath, one of those young sly grins on his face.

"I'm just kidding. You know me better than that. I won't force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. I mean, come on, it was hard enough forcing her to dance, you think I want to force her to marry me? I want her to be happy, that's all. I just... every time I think I'm doing just that she doesn't like it, or something gets in the way, or she turns it all around on me and it's somehow my fault. I am just lost, I don't know what to do, Serena."

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

She sighed, and watched him. No longer were they touching, his sick joke and then over zealousness at his laughter seperating them.

"Your trying to hard. You should just treat her like you do me, but... friendlier. Ask if you can hold her hand, or what she likes back in her world, and go get it for her." She stared down at the grass, and kicked at a few leaves that had fallen.

The wind was picking up and soon the rain would fall. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "I sorry, I was distracted. Your brother woke up for a short time, but when I left he was back asleep."

"David, if you just be you, she'll love you. I do," she leaned up and kissed his cheek, then headed toward the castle. "I'm going to read to your brother, come inside before you get rained on," she called back to him, a little tingle in her stomach from the freindly kiss she had given him. Shrugging her shoulders, "Flirting, that was probably what that feels like, funny." She thought nothing more of it, and headed back to her room.

 

[caela]

Skye yawned and stretched as she woke to the sound of raindrops pattering against her window. She didn't know when it had started raining and didn't really care. She loved the sound of rain on a roof or window. It was soothing to her. Rising from the bed she grimaced as she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her hair was everywhere, her clothes were rumpled and dirty and there were still circles under her eyes. She knew from experience though that it would take a couple days for those to fully go away.

Wandering to the window she leaned against the wall and just stared, sightlessly, out onto the now grey and cloudy day and tried to make sense of all that had happened to her. Taken from her home, being called a Princess, being threatened with having her clothes burned (o.k. informed not threatened), given a whole new wardrobe full of dresses made to specifically fit her, being told she'd was betrothed to a man she'd never heard of much less met, making a new friend, fighting with Prince's (well yelling at more like, she hadn't really let David argue back), a ball, having her friend be attacked and both Prince's injured, interdimensional travel back home than back to this strange world that she still knew nothing about....

The fact that she wasn't stark raving mad yet was a miracle! All that in just a couple short days. They were lucky she hadn't killed anyone.

Still everyone here seemed pleasant. Serena was a doll, a bit hyper and semi-highstrung but her heart was pure gold. David and Max were both nice, and certainly handsome, but she often felt like she and David were speaking two different languages. What she said and what he heard just didn't seem to mesh. She asked how she'd gotten here and he nonchalantly said it didn't matter (that still irked though she knew that too him it probably did seem inconsequential, to him what mattered was that she WAS here not the how of it), she told him she wanted him to impress her, and he threw a ball. O.k. yes that was impressive but not what she'd meant. She told him she thought that they needed to just speak bluntly with each other and he looked at her totally confused and told her she was tired.

She just didn't get him and it was obvious he didn't get her. It was obvious he was a good man but the miscommunication was fraying her already jangled nerves and they had to find a way to work around it or she was going to end up strangling him.

Max seemed more at ease with her but then again no one had told him that he had to marry her. She wondered if that wasn't part of the problem, maybe David didn't want to marry her, maybe it was just expected of him because someone had deemed her "the Chosen One."

Sighing softly she simply shook her head and pushed away from the window. She knew there must be a way to call someone to help her run a bath but she'd be damned if she knew what it was so she stuck her head out the door until she saw a maid moving down her corridor. With a smile she asked the girl to help her and soon had a piping hot bath filled for her. Wrapping her hair into a looks knot on top of her head she sank into the steaming water with a soft sigh of pleasure and closed her eyes letting all thoughts of anything drift away.

 

[poohlive]

David bit his lower lip as he stepped into the bath room. He could see it was empty except for Skye. That was good, he had hoped for privacy.

"Skye," he pushed a stool over next to her bath, gently touching her shoulder, "Skye? I think... I think we should talk. It's been so long and so much has happened. Maybe if we just sit here and try to figure some things out..."

 

[caela]

"Skye," he pushed a stool over next to her bath, gently touching her shoulder, "Skye? I think... I think we should talk. It's been so long and so much has happened. Maybe if we just sit here and try to figure some things out..."

Lost in her own little world she didn't hear David enter, nor did she hear him say her name so when she felt a hand on her shoulder she nearly lept from the tub and managed to douse the front of his shirt and pants in water, as she gave a startled cry.

"Sweet fucking Christ! David, you have to learn to knock."

Brining a hand to her face to push her hair back it dawned on her that she was sitting, very naked, in a tub of clear, pristine, water...and that no part of her was hidden from his view. She didn't need a mirror to tell her her skin was flushing nearly as red as her hair and she sank back into the water, pulling her kneed up and wrapping her arms around them to hide herself at least partially.

"I'm going to assume we have a culture clash happening here David. Where I'm from it's considered very, very rude to walk into a lady's bathroom while she's bathing unless you know her pretty damned well. You are right though, we do need to talk, so please do me a favor and slip back out into my room so I can at least put on a robe and be presentable while we talk."

How she managed to sound so calm she didn't know but she thought she pulled it off pretty well. She at least didn't sound angry and had managed not to snap at him. What on earth made him come waltzing int her bathroom?! Was that really acceptable here? Of course he might have thought it was since he thought of them as betrothed and probably felt like he knew her more than she knew him since, from what she'd gathered, he'd been watching her for some time before she'd been brought here.

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Once back in her room, she brushed her wind blown hair, and noticed the storm had finally moved in, and the rain was beginning to wash the dirt, and dust of the outside away. She liked the rain, and how it sounded as it hit the ground, as well as the thatched roofs of the villages that were housed within the mist.

Serena, sighed and looked over to Max, he was still resting, but she was bored, so she decided she would read her book to him some more. Picking it up from where she had last placed it, safely within her trunk, she settled down beside him; began to read softly to him.

"Let's see, we left, off where the figure was in the corner of the room, and he was to take back the Princess to her father, sounds very exciting, doesn't it Max."

Princess Nicole entered the room, her long, flowing tresses of copper-gold cascading down her back to rest under the cheeks of her... ​

"Oh, I can't say that," she looked to Max, his eyes still closed in sleep, "she's got long hair, we'll leave it at that." Serena continued.

Her hair was long, and shiny, (Serena interjected). She had undone the braid her ladies maid had worked hard to accomplish earlier that afternoon, and now it lay in tangles. She sat before her mirror and began to brush the mass of silk, when she noticed the figure imerge from the corner. Nicole gasped in shock, "Who are you, and what are you doing in my room." She was willing to assume the man was a drunk Lord, that had made his way into her room on accident, but in reality she knew he was not. She rose from her seat and looked at him, "Well speak up I'd like to know the name of the man that will die for entering my bedchampers." She reached to pull the servants bell, not wishing to cause a great alarm, the party below still underway. Her attempt was cut short, as a knife flew threw the air, and anchored the velvet pull to the wall. "Oh my," she whispered.
​

"Wow! A knife Max! What if he had missed, and gotten her hand? Well that wouldn't be a very good story would it? A Princess with a bloody hand," she smoothed back his hair, and watched him rest. Soon she found her eyes growing weak, and she was sleeping next to him, her head on the pillow, and her worn and weary body, resting on the blankets. Her book forgotten resting between them, curled tight in her hands.

 

[poohlive]

"If that's what you want," David felt as if this were the exact problem. A woman's bathing room? Was there such a thing? Well, the queen had her own room to bathe, yes, and some other royal women did as well, but most everyone else shared the single one being used.

Maybe Skye was just embarassed by her body. It looked lovely, as far as he could see. Soft and pale, with the right curves, and that wonderful red hair. All of her hair was red, that did please him. So many girls gave their hairs pretty colors, it was nice to see a woman with her real hair.

He sat on Skye's bed, waiting for her to come out.

"Is this better?"

 

[caela]

Skye desperatly wanted to laugh at the confused look on David's face and realize there was indeed a culture clash happening. Waiting until he'd left she finally allowed herself to giggle as she climbed from the tub and searched for a towel. She heard him from the other room.

"Is this better?"

"Yes it is!" she called back while vigorously drying her body. "Thank you!"

Finding a thick robe in one of the closets she slipped it on and tied the belt tightly. At least now she wasn't at such a disadvantage. Slipping into her bedroom she sank into a chair across from the bed and curled her long legs beneath her. Her damp hair fell around her face and shoulders making her look younger and more innocent than she was.

"You said we needed to talk, where would you like to start David?"

 

[poohlive]

"Tell me what's wrong," David said, as plainly as possible, "Tell me what is wrong with me, and I'll fix it. I swear I will. I like you, a lot, and I do want to be with you. There is something wrong with me though, because you are either arguing with me, or yelling at me. So, just get out with it. Tell me what is wrong and I will fix it."

 

[caela]

"Tell me what's wrong," David said, as plainly as possible, "Tell me what is wrong with me, and I'll fix it. I swear I will. I like you, a lot, and I do want to be with you. There is something wrong with me though, because you are either arguing with me, or yelling at me. So, just get out with it. Tell me what is wrong and I will fix it."

Skye blinked in surprise and then, she couldn't help it, simply burst out laughing. Never in her wildest dreams as a girl had she thought she'd one day have a Prince telling her he'd fix himself to suit her! It was just too surreal and her choices were to laugh or cry and she chose to laugh. It was slightly hysterical sounding laughter and she could see the worry that crossed David's face but she did finally manage to get herself under control.

Once she was calm again she shook her head gently and thought for a moment before answering, "David, there's nothing you need to fix. The problem between us isn't that there's something wrong with you, it's culture shock. We're from very different worlds, literally, and the things we simply take for granted as being normal simply don't apply to each other.

For example when I told you that you had to impress me, in my world what that would have meant to another person was that I expected them to impress me with who they were. Their character and personality. Because of your position here though what you heard was that you had to impress me with the things you can give me and so you threw a ball.

What I say and what you hear - and vice versa - simply aren't always the same thing. So I end up yelling because I have the temper as fiery as my hair, and we both end up unhappy.

I do like you David, and I'll admit you're very attractive, whether that can grow into something more or not I don't know. If we're to find out though we need to communicate better. Both of us, not just you.

I think until we know each other better we simply need to be very literal with each other and if we don't understand than we need to ask.

Sound good?"

 

[poohlive]

"Why don't I just take you back to your world then? It won't be a culture shock anymore. We will be in your culture, not mine. I can woo you however they do in your world. I'll do whatever it takes."

David licked his lips in anticipation. God, living in a whole other world. Wouldn't that be something? He only knew snippets and small things, stuff that would not get him killed or arrested, or considered weird, but he knew nothing of her culture, not so much as she knew.

"We can learn from each other, you won't feel so out of place, and you can finally see if I am worthy or not. Whatever you need to know, I will answer, and I will be honest. As honest as I can be."

 

[caela]

"Why don't I just take you back to your world then? It won't be a culture shock anymore. We will be in your culture, not mine. I can woo you however they do in your world. I'll do whatever it takes."

The offer was sweet and it made Skye smile that he was willing to jump into her world but she knew that wouldn't really work. That he offered though was what mattered to her. It was a kind and generous thing to do, expecially since he obviously didn't understand what living in her world would entail. Here he was a Prince but in her world he wouldn't be. He'd be just another guy trying to find a job, a place to live, things to do on a saturday night.

She suspected that his culture shock would be much worse than hers was and didn't want to subject him to that.

"We can learn from each other, you won't feel so out of place, and you can finally see if I am worthy or not. Whatever you need to know, I will answer, and I will be honest. As honest as I can be."

"David, that offer is perhaps the sweetest thing anyone has ever tried to give me in my life. We don't need to go to my world though. If we did we'd still be dealing with culture shock only it would be your culture shock instead of mine. Trust me, you don't want to live in my world, your's is much nicer.

As for what I need to know we could start with some explanations. Like the full story behind this "Chosen One" business and the curse? Why it is your people think I'm her? How I was brought here?

These are things you've grown up knowning and just take for granted but to me they're confusing."

Rising from her chair she moved over to the bed and sat down with him. She folded her legs indian style and made sure the robe covered everything before she leaned back against the wall to listen.

"Now that we have the time and privacy to really talk to each other, tell me about your world, David."