Aline and Junai

The strong wind was blowing the last of the remaining leaves from the branches of the trees while the rain tried it’s best to penetrate her cloak. Aline had never really liked fall, and now she was perfectly aware of why that was. Stupid, to volunteer to deliver some papers to Junai. Of course she wanted to see him. When the queen had asked her if she knew anyone brave enough to face the storm to deliver these damned papers to him, she couldn’t be more happy. But now she couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth it. She held her bag more tight as she walked on across the soaked road that led her through the woodlands. How long had she been walking yet? She should be there by now. She didn’t recognise anything through the thick layer of rain. As she followed  a bend in the road, she suddenly recognised the outlines of a house in the distance, and a light coming out of one of the windows. She couldn’t stop a smile from appearing on her face as she realised the house was indeed Junai’s house. Automatically, she began to walk a bit faster, and it wasn’t five minutes later when she stood in front of the wooden door of the new house.

It didn’t take long for Junai to open the door after she had knocked.
“Oh, Aline!” He gasped, as he saw her standing there, soaked and all.
“My, come in! What on earth are you doing out there in weather like this?” he asked, as she entered the house. Cold as she was from the rain, she couldn’t help but to feel hot inside when she looked at Junai. She felt as if he got more handsome every time she saw him.
“I came to deliver this.” She said, and she handed him her bag.
“What’s this? Oh no, you’re not telling me you faced that entire storm just for these papers!”
“I… I guess I did. Aren’t they important, then? The queen said they were and had to be delivered right away.”
“Oh, they are important alright. They contain her permission for me to sell goods on the trade route. But that’s not important enough for you to go out there in weather like this! Here, let me help you take of your cloak.”
Junai put the bag on the floor against the still unpainted wall, and helped Aline take of her cloak, which was so wet it stuck to her coat, which was wet by now, too. She suddenly realised how miserable she felt, being so wet and cold.

“There. Now, Let me get you a clean, dry blanket from upstairs. You go sit by the fire, okay?” Junai said with concern, and she obeyed him while he was already on his way to the stairs. So handsome, Aline thought as she slowly walked into his living room. Not much was there yet; only a couch, a wooden table with two chairs and a hearth. She walked towards the small fire that was burning in the hearth, and couldn’t feel happier when she felt the soft, warm air reach her wet coat. She suddenly realised that here she was, in Junai’s house, alone. How many times had she dreamed of this? She had met him a few times at the castle now, but they hadn’t been alone together since the day she found out about Stelline being pregnant. That was three weeks ago now. Unbelievable, how the weather had changed so fast so sudden. Yet it had only been two days of real storm now. But now that she was inside, and the rain was only something far away, hitting the windows of Junai’s house, she couldn’t help but feel nice and safe.

Her heart jumped as she heard Junai enter the room again.
“Here you go, it’s brand new and never been used. I’m sure it’ll make you warm soon. You want some tea? I got some nice herbs as a welcome gift.”
Aline nodded. “That would be nice.” She said softly.
It was so hard now, to keep focussed. Her entire mind was blurred by the feeling in her body. He was actually taking care of her. How she had longed for this moment, and yet she didn’t know how to behave. Junai smiled at her, and picked up a small kettle. He took it to a large barrel in the corner of his house, and filled the kettle with water.
As he walked back to the hearth, he asked: “So how is everything at the court? How is our dear princess doing?”
“Oh, everything is just fine. Stelline is doing great. According to the nurse that came a few days ago, everything is fine. She could feel the baby move, even. Apparently the baby will be born this spring, not even that far away from the child of Togli, wife of the heir of Kin.”
“My, my. Lots of babies coming up, then. I’m glad to hear all is well. Any word from the other two princesses yet?”
Aline sighed when she realised he meant Crystal and Twinkle Star.
“No, actually. They’re still gone. But that’s to be expected. Madash is far away. It could be they’ve only just arrived there. I just hope they’ll be back before winter comes.” She told Junai, but she felt her heart ache. Twinkle Star… she once again realised how much she actually missed her friend right now. She wanted to share her secrets with someone, her dreams, her crush on Junai… but there was no one who she could talk to. Sure, she liked the other girls at the castle, and yes, they had become friends, but they would never be such a close friend as Twinkle Star was to her.

Meanwhile, Junai had put the kettle above the fire. The water would be hot soon, and he had already prepared the herbs.
“Why don’t you come sit on the couch? It’s much easier than standing.”
“But I’m all wet, I’ll ruin it!” Junai laughed.
“It’s only water. Come, sit down. I want you to be comfortable.” She slowly walked towards the couch where he already sat on, her heart beating in her throat.
“thank you.” She said so soft, she wondered if he even heard it.
“So, how do you like my house?” He asked her, after she sat down with the blanket around her shoulders.
“Oh, it’s wonderful. You did such a great job.” She said, without daring to look at his eyes.
“I did, didn’t I? I’m still working on my shower though. I got my own little mechanism. I learned it at my parent’s house.”
“Really? How?”
“Well, there’s a reservoir where you put the water in, at any temperature you want. They you can pull a handle, and the water starts flowing softly. It’s rather easy, really. I’m just not done with the mechanism yet. I need some supplies, but I can’t get them in this weather.”
Aline smiled. Of course he couldn’t. Nobody was so stupid as to go out in weather like this, except some light-headed girl in love like her.

“So what was your family like?” She asked, trying to find a topic to talk about.
“Oh, nothing special, really. We lived at the border of a forest, as my parents were protectors of it. My older brother remained there, and I left to find adventure.” “And, did you find it?”
“Well, I’m sitting in my own house while it’s storming outside with a rather charming girl. Would you think of that as an adventure?” Aline was stunned. Did he just say that? Had he really? Fortunately, the kettle began to make sounds, which proved the hot water to be ready. Junai smiled at her, and got up to prepare the tea. It didn’t take him long, and before Aline was even able to think of an answer, he was back with two cups with delicious smelling tea.
“Thank you.” She said as he handed her one of them. She took a small sip, and she immediately felt a lot warmer. Quite some herbs.
“Works great, doesn’t it?”
“It does!” She answered him. After she had another sip, she slowly looked in his direction. He wasn’t drinking, he was merely looking at her. Her eyes met his, and for a moment she couldn’t think or move. Such pretty eyes…

“What do you want to do with your life?” He suddenly asked. Aline felt confused at his question.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you know… do you plan to stay at the castle forever? Or do you have higher ambitions?”
 “Oh, I don’t know… I mean, I do, but…”
“Oh, don’t be shy! What do you want to do?” He said, smiling at her.
“Well, I want to open my own hair shop, somewhere. Where I do other pony’s hair, make it pretty, color it, style it, you know, all that stuff. That’s my dream, really. But I guess I’ll stay at the castle for a while. They need me, especially with a baby coming up. They’ve been good to me, I don’t feel like abandoning them.”
“And you shouldn’t. They’re great ponies, the queen and her family. But I do think it’s good to hold on to your own dreams. I’m sure that if you one day find an opportunity, you can make them real. And the queen will support you, I’m sure.” Junai smiled at her. Once again, the pretty smile. She longed to curl up next to him, to hold him, to feel him next to her… It took her quite a bit of willpower to contain herself.
“Thank you, Junai… and what are your dreams?” she asked him, and he once again met her eyes with a mysterious look.
“Oh, Aline, that’s… something sometimes even I don’t know. But for now, I am content with my life. To live here, to trade on the trade route, to serve my fair queen… Once, I longed for opportunities and adventure. But now, I don’t know… I’ve had my share of them. I guess I want to have some rest.”

“Well, you got the right place for it, I guess. This place is great, really.”
“Why don’t you stay here tonight?” He asked suddenly. Aline only stared back. Stay here, with him? Alone?
“I mean, the weather’s only getting worse. I would feel bad about sending you back on the street. You can sleep in my bed, I’ll sleep on the couch.” He explained to her.
“Oh, no, Junai… I don’t want to force you out of your own bed. I’m grateful for the offer, but I can’t take it, I…”
“Sure you can. Please, just stay. Or I’ll be worried about you. And besides…” His voice faded. For a short while, all he heard was the sound of the rain hitting the windows and the sound of the small fire that was still warming her body.
“What?” She asked after a while, “Besides what?”
She heard Junai sigh, but he wasn’t looking at her. Why? What did he want to tell her? Aline wasn’t even sure she wanted to hear it, and yet she longed for his words.

“Besides… I want you to stay, Aline. I… I like being around you.”
 He looked up, and Aline suddenly noticed the blush on his face. A sweet side, something she hadn’t noticed before.
“Please. Don’t be offended by my bold words.” He said, and Aline couldn’t suppress a smile.
“I’m not offended, Junai. Only flattered and… happy. I like to be with you to. No… I like you. For who you are, and for what you mean to me… for the feeling you give me.”
She couldn’t believe she actually said these words, and yet she knew it shouldn’t be otherwise. She was here now, with him, and no one else. And it was all she wanted for now. She forgot how cold she felt because of the rain, she forgot how much she actually missed Twinkle Star, she forgot that at some point in her life she had to return to the castle. All that mattered now was that she was here, with Junai.

He didn’t respond to her words by making his own. Instead, he simply looked in her eyes, and as she softly nodded, he drew closer to her. Aline felt his coat touching hers, she felt his eyes looking at her, and in the end, she completely drowned in the first kiss he gave her. It was something she had never witnessed before, a feeling she couldn’t describe even with a thousand words. All she knew was that it was right, somehow. She felt how she lost herself in his touch, she felt his warm body against hers. She had never really believed, nor enjoyed, romantic love stories, but now she realised how they came to be, and why. And yet they only gave her a glimpse of what it was to he held by someone who loved you, someone who cared for you so much that he refused to let you go.
“You’re beautiful, Aline…” Junai whispered in her ear, as he held her. “From the moment I first saw you, I knew my heart was lost. You’re just… the one I want to be with.”

With that, Aline got completely lost in the moment. She didn’t even want anything else anymore. For the first time in weeks, she felt complete again, and happy that she decided to go back home instead of coming with Twinkle Star. It had it’s reason, after all. Yet even that didn’t matter anymore. All she wanted to do, was to enjoy the presence of the one she loved.