Etienne pulled himself up from the floor to see where she was. He turned to find her stood with her back to city wall. For the first time he could really take in her beauty, the moon lit her face. She was breathtaking. They stood a foot apart. Etienne was a head taller than her and he looked down into her sparkling blue eyes. “I knew you’d come back for me,” she said in no more than a whisper. Etienne paused he didn’t know how to reply; her confidence obvious, it attracted him even more. His mind let way to his body, to instinct. He leant forward and softly kissed her, his eyes never leaving hers. Their bodies shook as their eyes closed. She leant back against the wall to support her shaking legs, their lips never parting. Etienne lifted his hands and placed them on either side of her perfect face. Her hands closed in around his waist and she pulled him closer, their bodies had completely taken control. Etienne pulled his lips away from her, close enough so they were still breathing the same air; he looked her in the eyes, “I’m Etienne,” he said.
“I know,” she replied. “I’m Arlette,” their lips briefly met again. “Follow me,” she said as she took Etienne’s hand and started in the direction of the sea. Etienne knew he would be in love with her from this point for the rest of his life.
Arlette led him away from the city, past the edge of the forest and down into the dunes. The night was warm and silent, and a misty magic filled the air. They made their way in silence until they reached the dunes that Etienne used to play on as a child. Arlette sat down on the soft sand and Etienne sat beside her, they kissed again. “Who are you?” enquired Etienne. It was a question that had been running through his head since the first time he had seen her. Arlette looked back at him and smiled.
“I’m Arlette, daughter of a dressmaker, sister to my younger brother Sebastian, and you are Etienne, Prince of the Kingdom of Avalon, heir to the throne, hero to the people.” Etienne looked away in embarrassment, he had never got used to his lineage, probably never would.
“But why have I never seen you before?” How could he have lived in Avalon all his life and never have seen her? Arlette looked across the dunes out to sea in silence, the only other sound the mesmerising pulse of the waves lapping against the shore.
“Our paths have crossed before,” replied Arlette.
"But when, I would have remember?" Etienne was confused.
“You were walking with your father through the city giving out presents to the people." Etienne turned away from her embarrassed. "Please do not be embarrassed, it was a very kind thing of your father to do," continued Arlette. "We were around ten years old. You ran excitedly from your father’s side to the cart carrying food, taking handfuls and giving it out.” It was customary on the king’s birthday to hand out gifts to people of Avalon, but he had never realised in his excitable youth the arrogance of this gesture. “I remember doing this as a child, but I can not remember you, I am sorry.”
“Why should you have?” said Arlette trying to put Etienne’s mind at ease. “You ran up to my mother. She took the gift, and you smiled at her and said ‘thank you’. I was the young girl standing beside that lady.” Etienne searched his mind frantically for this memory but it evaded him. “My mother was taken aback, but not by your generosity, she told me later that she could see genuine honesty and humility in your eyes. She said to me that ‘there goes a very special boy’, but I already knew that. I knew that one day that special boy would come to find me.”
Etienne was lost for words. She had known back then what he had discovered just today, their paths were laid out long ago. It was their destiny to be together. “But why have I not seen you since?” asked Etienne.
“I have been caring for my brother. He is now two years old," Arlette looked from Etienne again to the horizon. "Unfortunately my mother died giving birth to Sebastian.” It seemed to Etienne that she was looking out to the starlit sky as if she was talking to her mother, hoping that she was sharing this moment. Etienne recognised this as he had tried to speak to his mother this way many times before. “I’m not sure how we have survived the past two years,” continued Arlette. “I think it is my brother’s energy and sense of humour that has kept me going.”
“But what about your father? Where is he?” asked Etienne.
“Sebastian’s father, who was not the same as mine, left soon after he was born. I feed and clothe us by sewing garments and making jewelry that I sell at market. I buy material to make tunics and dresses, and collect shells and make necklaces and bracelets. Our life is far from yours, but it is simple, and I am content, and I have ensured that Sebastian wants for nothing”.
Her determination for survival was inspirational to Etienne, he felt humbled by her spirit. They sat and talked until the sun began to rise. Without warning Arlette stood up, “We must go.”
“Why?” replied Etienne, he didn’t want this night to end.
“I have to get back before my brother wakes. He will be scared if he wakes and I am not there.”
Etienne took Arlette’s hand and lifted her from the sand. He didn’t let go of it until they reached the city wall. “I will go first,” Arlette told him. “You wait a while and then go back to the castle. You know where my home is, I will be waiting for you.” And with a kiss she disappeared back through the wall. Etienne watched her go and looked up at the last remaining stars sunken into the deep blue velvet of the morning sky, and blew out a chest full of air. Now he understood what his father meant went he spoke about that one person that you were put here to be with.
Feb
02
2010
