He helps me stand up and then does the same since he couldn’t see what I’m staring at while his back is leaning against it. There, on the trunk of the tree, about half way up is a heart. Inside the heart are our initials and the infinity sign. Astonished doesn’t even begin to describe the emotions coursing through me right now. A giddy excitement begins to bubble up inside me.
I've heard of rare occurrences where a tree will choose to commemorate an event it has observed. As a girl, I would daydream of a chance where I could inspire such a profound reaction in a tree where it would want to display a marking, showing it too had been present for the moment. I just never truly believed it would happen to me, but here we are. This tree has been privy to quite a lot between us today, and it’s telling us the moments are so momentous the event needs to be recorded.
Marcellus puts his arm around me and we just stand there staring at the work of art before us. After examining it for several minutes, I take a step forward and place one hand on the tree. With one finger, I trace the letters. My first glance didn’t pick up on it, but the M for Marcellus’ name is upside down making it look like a W. Tilting my head, I study the engraving from the side. Did the tree make some kind of mistake or is the mark supposed to be some sort of rotating art? A message of some kind? A symbolism of how upside down our relationship started compared to how it is now?
“What do you think it means, my initial being upside down?” he asks, lifting his own finger to trace the letters after me.
“I can’t really be certain, I just know this is a moment I’ll never forget. Even if your M is turned into a W. Warcellus has an interesting ring to it.” I can’t help but tease him, even as a tear escapes my eye from sheer thankfulness for this honor. My heart is so full it could burst. Today would’ve been memorable on its own, however this tree will make sure it’s seared into my memory as one of the best moments in my life. Just like it seared us into its bark.
I wrap my arms around its trunk. “Thank you. I appreciate you finding us worthy to adorn your skin with the event you witnessed.” When I finish my hug, I find Marcellus has stepped forward too and is tracing the lines of the marking with the tips of his fingers. I wonder briefly if he understands the magnitude of a tree doing this. I need to make sure I mention it later.
I thread my fingers through his hand hanging by my side, and rest my head against his shoulder while we gaze at the mark. I hope nothing ever happens to this tree and we can come back one day to see it again. A trip back some day is sounding even better when I think about us being able to repeat our adventure from the other day with the Blackfoot tribe. We can stay in this field and avoid Silas’ dungeon-like home altogether.
“If we’re going to leave tomorrow night, I think we should get back so it doesn’t seem like I've skipped training my men again. Keeping things as normal as possible today and tomorrow will prevent Silas from thinking anything is afoot. Plus, I’m getting hungry again. As much as I enjoy strawberries, eating them for two meals sounds unfulfilling.” Marcellus makes a great point. I nod my head and with one last glance at the tree, we head back to the castle.
We reach our destination after a quick walk back trying to make sure we aren’t late for the mid-day meal. We get there in the middle of the soldiers filing in, and find Silas already seated. Taking our usual spots, everything proceeds as normal. I’m ignored by everyone but Marcellus. This time though I’m not annoyed by the fact, nothing can bring me down while I am so filled with the joy of knowing we’re leaving soon.
I begin making a list in my mind of everything I'll need to get done tomorrow in order to be ready to leave. Briefly, I think about asking Marcellus to get some food from the kitchen, but quickly realize it would be a silly idea. We’ll be traveling in animal form anyways, we can just hunt for all of our food to get us through the journey.
Before I know it, my meal is finished. I excuse myself right away, since it’s the habit I’ve formed over most of the meals I’ve partaken in while being here. Yesterday, my afternoon was spent watching the training while sitting on a bale of hay. An acceptable place to observe, but I’d rather find a location in the shade and bring something to occupy my time. I can’t just stare at Marcellus the whole time... or could I? No, no I can’t.
I knock on my guard’s door and wait for one of them to answer. Frances is quick to open the door and I let him know of my plans. “I wanted to let you know I’m back. Just grabbing a blanket and my supplies to make carry-all bags and then I’ll head back down to watch Marcellus conduct his training.” I duck into my chambers hastily to do what I said, and then he escorts me down to the training yard.
I love being out in the sun versus being in the dark castle, but sitting in the direct view of the sun for hours sounds like overheating and tender skin. There’s an area with plenty of shade by the barn and I head over there with Frances in tow. He helps me spread out the blanket once the spot I want to use is picked out.
“Thanks for all of your help, Frances, I appreciate everything you do for me. Marcellus can escort me back once he’s finished for the day. There’s no need for you to stand here, I’m sure there are things you would rather do.” I hate being constantly watched over, and seeing as how we aren’t at my castle, I can get away with being more lax. My mate is just a few feet away with his whole platoon of soldiers at his command. If I’m not safe with him, where will I ever be safe?
“If it’s all the same to you, Your Highness, I wouldn’t mind spending some time with you while I can. I've hardly seen you the past several days, you’re always off spending time with your mate.” I peer over at Frances, surprised to hear him say that.
On second thought, maybe I’m not so surprised. He’s usually a lot more involved in my daily life. “Of course you may stay, Frances.” It’s been hard being here, removed from home like I am, but having him and Baxter with me has been a big help even if I don’t always recognize it in the moment.
“How’s everything going? I know things were more difficult several days ago, but it seems like your happiness has increased tenfold.” His question is laden with familial love. We might not be related by blood, but my guards are like family to me. My first several days here were spent with me pacing back and forth, fuming my thoughts out loud for Frances and Baxter. They both know about all of my frustrations since our arrival, most of which they’ve shared with me. I’m tempted to tell him about our plans to go home, but Marcellus and I agreed that waiting until tomorrow is best. Instead, I tell him a few details about how things have changed lately and how I think we hit a major turning point today.
Baxter joins us before long and our conversation turns to other topics such as how much we enjoy the scones here but the meat has been consistently over-cooked compared to home. Frances shows me his latest whittling project, an adorable fox to go with his daughter’s animal collection. He wants to finish it before we get home so it can be a present for her once he gets there.
“I got a letter from my little Rosalind yesterday. She told me all about how she’s working on her shifting and has chosen to focus on her fox form first. ‘I want to be just like my favorite Princess’ is what she wrote to me.” Baxter shares with us while smiling with pure adoration at the story of his little Rosalind. His daughter is absolutely adorable. Whenever she sees her dad while he’s on guard shift, she runs up to him and flings herself into his arms just for a quick hug.
It’s not always easy, but I try my best to be a good example for the children who admire me. “Psh, I’m the only Princess she has!” I can’t help but point out the obvious.
Both Baxter and Frances let out a laugh before the former gives his reply, “Well, that’s what makes it easy for you to be her favorite!” By the time we finish chatting, it’s almost time for Marcellus to be finished. Frances and Baxter leave with a parting word to make sure I let them know when I’m back in my room. I’m lucky to be blessed with so many people who care about me. I find myself concerned for Marcellus never having someone in his life that cared for him in that way… until now.
I don’t get very much work done on the current bag I’m making before Marcellus is offering his hand to help me stand. Placing my hand in his, he pulls me with such force that I smack into him before I’m able to catch my footing. My arms instinctively go around his shoulders and his go around my waist before I notice his mischievous smile.
The realization he did it on purpose, just as an excuse to hold me, causes me to gasp in mock outrage. “Can’t blame me for taking advantage of an opportunity, Darling. If I can’t give you a kiss right now, I need to show you some affection in other ways.” The last part he whispers in my ear before pulling away and offering his arm to escort me into the castle for our evening meal.
Chapter 20
Marcus
Present
If Alex and I hadn’t shared such a gut-wrenchingly terrifying experience his dream had given us, I would want to rip his face off for the picture he sent in the group chat. I was seething for several minutes and had to use his counting trick to get myself under control. Once the feat of calming down was accomplished, I was able to find some humor in it.
I thought Alex and I were as close as two friends could be, but now it’s like we’ve bonded on a whole new level. The jealousy I’d felt over him being around my mate previously has dissipated. I can sense his affections for her run just as deeply in him as they do in me. It’s actually more of a relief than anything else, to no longer feel jealousy, when watching him touch her. That doesn’t mean I won’t pretend like it still bothers me.
I grasp for any distraction I can find as I follow Derrick while he does his tracking voodoo. After flying and crashing the helicopter in the opposite direction from where Alex and Klaus traveled, Derrick and I started to make our way back in our human forms. We were making good time, conversing back and forth to help pass the time, up until shortly after we stopped texting back and forth in the group chat.
I've no idea how Derrick’s tracking skills work exactly, it’s almost like another form of magic similar to our shifting. I have an inkling Derrick doesn’t even have a grasp on how it works either. That’s irrelevant. What’s important is the fact that about an hour after we stopped texting back and forth, Derrick went as white as a sheet.
