A promise of Spring

A fantasy romance short story.

I wrote this one specifically for a monthly theme provided by a lit magazine. Sadly, it wasn’t accepted. Maybe it’s too cliché. I still like its premise. This sweet fantasy romance is clean and short, no spice, no cussing, just pure romance…

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The first stars smiled among the tiny emerald-green leaves of spring. All the winds had stopped their ragged breaths, the night was calm, the silence filled with anticipation. Or was the night completely ordinary and the only source of unrest was her heart? Princess Jewel couldn’t tell, as she tiptoed through the giant garden of the castle to their secret meeting place. Will he come? She did leave her usual sign - a crimson silk ribbon richly perfumed with rose-oil, like she did every time before their date. The sign reassured him - “father is busy and will not show up for his evening stroll in the garden, therefore, it’s safe for you to come, my dearest!”

She had seen her secret love among the arriving soldiers just this morning. The soldiers of Avem flew with the warm spring breeze every year. They came as birds, a graceful flock of blackbirds landed lightly in the courtyard of the castle, only to become stately soldiers with their Birdling magic.

A sign of friendship between two kingdoms - Hebeny and Avem. Birdling soldiers came to train and share their wisdom with the soldiers of Hebeny, who, sadly, possessed no magic of the old.

Here in the garden, they first met. A blackbird and a golden-haired princess. She fell in love with his lonesome song. She left her ribbon for him to return it the next day. And so, it went on - each Autumn he flew away, only to return with the birds each spring. The king would never give his loveliest daughter to a simple soldier. But the years went on. A beauty of twenty-two summers, princess Jewel was to be wed soon.

Will he still be faithful to their love this year? Jewel wondered hiding in the shadows of the orchard, until a sweet bird’s song filled her heart with joy. A blackbird flew down and a tall man dressed in a black uniform appeared instead.

“You left this behind in the rose bush, my Lady,” his voice sang softly, he held a red silk ribbon in his hand.

“I thank you, my Lord. I believe I have,” she replied, before both weaved their arms around each other as they had done many times over the last years. A kiss made their reunion complete.

“I am no Lord, though my dearest wish is to be one. Maybe then I would be worthy of you,” he said in the brief moment both lovers let their lips rest. “Nevertheless, I shall speak to your father this year. We cannot wait any longer. Even the Birdling soldiers have heard rumours of princess Jewel’s upcoming engagement to an Autumnian prince.”

“I haven’t even met him! Father has arranged our wedding to take place in six months.”

“Even more so – I must speak to the King!” he exclaimed.

“Oh, no! Let me prepare him first, my dearest. Let me find the right time for you to speak. Please, you must wait!”

The fragrant spring evening hid the sweet hours of their secret love – lilies of the valley, daffodils, hyacinths, tulips, apple tree blossoms, blooming linden trees, all flowers sighed in sorrow when the two finally parted in the black of the night.

One night gave way to another, days went by, still princess Jewel hadn’t found the right time or the courage to confess to the King. She observed the Soldiers of Avem marching in the courtyard each morning. She left her red ribbon in the blooming rose bush every other night. She hid her love in the shadows of the garden, lost in the secret hours of pleasure. Her love was a secret, and the princess feared it would end once exposed to the cruel light of day.

Time went on, until one day the garden sighed its farewell to summer, the first yellow leaves falling slowly like tears of bitter betrayal. Princess Jewel had decided – no more waiting! She was determined to speak to the King, when unexpectedly the King himself summoned his daughter to the garden. The murky evening crept from the dark corners like a thief of light. The King stood by the withering rose bush.

“My dear daughter, I found this in the thorns.” To princess Jewel’s fright the King held a red silk ribbon in his hand. “And a curious little bird attempted to snatch it from my hands.” One of Kings guards raised a golden cage with a blackbird trapped in it. The princess supressed a shriek of horror.

“Oh, Jewel! You thought your old father would never find out? A red ribbon…” The King smirked bitterly. “You may not trust me, but do you not trust your love?” He sighed. “For the life of a Birdling soldier’s wife may not be as featherweight as a young, careless love in a blooming garden.”

Princess Jewel stared at the blackbird beating its wings against the golden cage desperately.

Tears market her pale cheeks – a Birdling soldier’s wife would lead a lonely life in the treetops of Avem, waiting for her love to return to their humble shack. It would be nothing like the carefree life of a princess or a queen.

“The Birdling soldiers are leaving tonight. I shall set your friend free, but he would never be allowed to enter the castle grounds again. Corrupting a princess is a heavy crime. Should you decide to follow him, I shall not stand in your way, but you would be forgotten as my heir if you choose the life of a soldier’s wife. It’s for you to decide.”

Princess Jewel stared at the bird. It had calmed completely, observing every move on the princess’ face.

“Let him go, father!”

Princess Jewel watched as the blackbird sprung out the cage, up and up toward the August stars. Then it returned, sat above their heads, and sang its final invitation for princess to follow. After its song faded into the soft whispers of the wind playing in the leaves, the bird flew into the dark. Princess Jewel fell to her knees, crying her heart out. She did not follow the Birdling soldier, as he joined the others in the courtyard. A flock of blackbirds ascended upward to journey south to the land of Avem, but this time princess Jewel did not say farewell with hope. She had broken the promise of spring, and no red ribbon, no bird’s voice, no warm embrace, or a sweet kiss would greet her next year, when the stars would smile down on the garden, hiding behind the emerald-green leaves.