Moments in time

General Rokeya stared across the opal ice of the river to the dark
trees beyond. The Sigma Orionis sun would set in less than an hour, and
then it would be cold enough to freeze her eyes open. She should turn
back, but something kept her there, pale grey eyes scanning the dark
woods. It was a memory, and it was more powerful even than the
cold.

Years had passed since that bright day when their sled had taken the
frozen river by storm, and she and Solomon had laughed and held each
other too hard, forging memories in their hearts. She had not seen him
since, but looking across the ice she could still feel the sharp cold
bringing tears to her eyes and an ache to her teeth, still smell the
smoke on the battletorn coat he wore, the gold of his general's stripes
gleaming in the sunlight.
She sighed and returned to her task; searching for her men wounded in
the battle. She had been a soldier all her life, in various guises. Now
she was here, in the frozen land she loved so well, searching for lost
souls not unlike her own. The ou say, but one thing's for sure, I'm not kissing you'
'I'll speak to your father!'
'Do your worst! I'm going to bed. Alone. And you can either hop off
back to the wild wood, or down to the kitchens, it's all the same to
me.'
'My, you're a hard woman, Princess'
She shrugged, 'Goodnight, Mr Douglas. Nice knowing you'
And she slammed the door behind him.
Much later, she lay awake, watching the clouds crossing the moon
outside. It was true, it had been nice to have company. At least the
frog had paid her some attention, which was more than anyone else ever
did. She was also curious about certain of his unusual features, such
as his impeccable manners, his knowledge of good wine, and above all
his
good humour. Perhaps he was a prince after all, or maybe a prince among
frogs.
She was also having trouble with certain speculations regarding his
tongue.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of something
shiny.
'I thought you might like a nightcap' came a muffled voice. Bea looked
across at the bedside table, where Douglas was holding two shot glasses
full of brandy. He had a rose between his teeth.
'Dammit!' she yelled, aiming a punch. There was a soft thump, a yelp,
and a wet thud as Douglas became intimately involved with the wall
opposite.
'Perhaps now I can get some sleep' she snapped, pulling the covers over
her head.
But after a few minutes she felt guilty, and she sat up and lit a
candle. There, sitting on the floor in a daze, was a man. He was
shaking his head and massaging his neck, but he looked up at her and
smiled.
'Who - who are you?'
'Don't you know me?'
'I've never seen you before' She pulled the covers up, though not too
high. He was, after all, very handsome indeed.
'We've just spent the evening together' said Douglas, standing
up.
'But-' she stammered. 'I didn't kiss you'
He sat on the edge of the bed, and handed the rose to her.
'You didn't need to. You did what the story required'
She took the flower, her heart suddenly pounding. 'What happens
now?'
'This, my dear Bea, is where we both live happily ever after'
And he kissed her. For a moment she had the horrible suspicion he would
turn back into a frog, but he didn't.
'I'll take you back to my castle, and you shall have anything your
heart desires!'
'Er. Ok' she said, 'but I'm not going to be one of those ladies who sit
all day doing boring tapestries'
'Oh' he said. 'Well, whatever you-'
'And as for wandering about looking dainty, uh-uh. And we're not having
the in-laws round all the time.
She paused, thinking.
'And waving handkerchiefs at knights is right out!'
He hesitated.
'Just so as you know' she added, helpfully.
Prince Douglas sighed. Perhaps happily ever after was not quite all it
was cracked up to be after all.

FROM THE DARK WATER
By
Jeanette McCarthy

21 Merrylees Road
Newbold Heath
Leicestershire
LE9 9NR
( 0794 1070174
E-mail: JCM1701@aol.com 1769 words