A Fairy Tale
Chapter 3: Shasta
Shasta didn’t want to be at the ball. He didn’t even want
to be in Vidalia. He would’ve much rather have been in his country, Conga.
And it really was his country because he was prince of it. Shasta thought
highly of himself and he considered everyone else to be ‘too low for him’.
He only went to the party to get away from his tutor and his studies. That
was why he was in Vidalia in the first place. He had to learn about the country
and its customs before he could become king. He was staying with his current
tutor while he was in Vidalia. After escaping conversation with their princess
he went and sat on one of the benches. He was looking around when he saw
the princess. He would’ve looked right past but then he noticed the girl
she was with. Shasta stared.
She had golden hair that fell in silky waves down her
back and a dress that distinctly brought out her blue-green eyes even from
where he was sitting. He was watching her when the girl looked over at him
he held her gaze and she turned and said something to the princess. They
talked awhile longer and then walked over.
Ashanti lost no time in introducing them but it wasn’t
because she was exactly eager to have them meet. “Lila this is Prince Shasta
of Conga, Shasta this is Lila,” she said in a bored voice. Not that it made
any difference to Shasta. At first he expected her to fall all over herself
when meeting him but she was different. After about a millisecond they started
talking and Shasta was happy to see Ashanti go. After awhile music started
playing. Shasta would have imagined dancing when he had got here, but now
it seemed the most natural thing to do.
“Do you want to dance?” Shasta asked. Lila seemed startled
and said, “I’m not a very good dancer.”
“Well, neither am I,” Shasta said. That wasn‘t true. He
considered himself a very good dancer. But she did allow him to lead her
onto the dancing floor.
It was almost comic at first as Lila tried to get the
hang of dancing, but Shasta’s skill made up for it and soon they relaxed
into the perfect dance. The music was pretty fast and so, after a few songs,
they sat down to rest. They began to talk when suddenly Lila said, “I’m really
sorry, but I must go.”
She began to go when Shasta called after her. “Wait! Lila!”
She turned. “Yes?”
“Will I...may I see you again?” Shasta asked, genuinely.
“Of course,” she replied, “but I really must go!”
After the party Shasta kept thinking about Lila. Finally
he decided to go ask Ashanti where Lila lived. He asked his tutor, Mr. Sulfas
if he could visit the princess. Mr. Sulfas was pleased at Shasta’s interest
and let him go.
When Shasta arrived at the palace the guards recognized
him and let him in. He went up to the princess’s room and knocked on the
door. “Ashanti?” he called, “it’s Shasta.”
He heard muffled talking and then Ashanti opened the door.
He stepped inside then spotted Lila sitting on a couch. “Lila,” he said,
surprised at seeing her.
“Hello,” she said, warmly.
“Have a seat,” Ashanti invited.
Shasta sat in a chair facing Lila and the princess. When
he saw Lila he had forgot completely why he was there. After about an hour
of friendly talking Shasta said that he had to go. He went back to his tutor’s
house and sat down to write a letter to his father.
‘Dear Father,’ he wrote. ‘Since I have been in Vidalia
I have made many friends including Princess Ashanti. I know you wish me to
be wed soon and I suspect you wish me to marry the princess. I write to tell
you that I have found someone that I believe I am in love with though it
is not Ashanti. Her name is Lila and she is kind and witty. I know you would
like her.
‘Mr. Sulfas said that I could write to invite you and
Mother to visit. It wouldn’t have to be for more than a few days because
I know you are busy but I would enjoy your company here.
‘I also want to say that I do not wish to marry Ashanti.
I do not want to disobey your wishes but I find little in common with the
princess and do not think we would make a good couple. On a larger scale
I believe it best for both of our countries to remain separate. I believe
that we would be better off as allies than to be combined. Please consider
this.
‘I also wish to ask you for a year long engagement when
I find someone I wish to marry. I wait here for your reply. If you approve
of Lila then I shall consider her. Now I shall concentrate on my studies
and on relationships here in Vidalia. I hope what I have said pleases you,
Father. Your son, Prince Shasta of Conga.’
Shasta copied the letter on clean stationary then sealed
it and sent it to his father in Conga. He put the first copy in a folder
where he kept all his letters, sent and received. The next day he received
a letter from his father. The King wrote that he had thought over what Shasta
had said and, after discussing it with the Queen, agreed. He also wrote that
he would come visit in a few days and was looking forward to meeting Lila
and Ashanti. Shasta went to the palace to tell Ashanti what had happened.
He arrived at the palace the same time as Fibro.
Continue to Chapter 4: Fibro...