Seeker lay still, the sun warming his skin through the diamond-paned windows. For a moment, everything felt perfect. Then he sat up, heart racing. He hadn’t met Beautiful in their dreams last night. It was the first night they hadn’t shared a dream since he saw her in the wheat field. Had she waited for him by the stream? What would she think? She’ll understand. She always does.
He hurried down to the common room. She wasn’t there yet. He set out a plate for himself and placed another beside it. When he looked up again, she stood in the doorway, her posture graceful, shoulders back, yet her eyes were swollen. She’d been crying.
She moved gracefully across the floor and settled beside him. Her hand found his, soft and gentle. But sadness flowed from her touch. He had sensed her sadness that first day. But nothing like this.
“Beautiful, I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “I don’t know what happened. How long did you—”
She lifted a finger, silencing him. “Seeker, I couldn’t… I can’t—” Her voice cracked, dissolving into a sob. She tried again, softer, heartbroken. “Seeker, I can’t marry you.”
Her words hit like a slap. “What? Why?” His voice rose edging out the hurt. “You were happy—we were happy! What happened? What did I do wrong?” He stared at her, bewildered. “You didn’t even ask why I wasn’t there. It’s not like I stayed away on purpose!”
Lightning flashed in her eyes, fierce and beautiful. “Listen, Seeker,” she demanded. “Stop trying to put everything into words. Feel my heart. You have to learn how to feel my heart!”
The fire in her eyes vanished as quickly as it came. She leaned in, pressed a kiss to his forehead, then tugged gently on his hand. “Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s not be late to Kind’s teaching.”
The diamonds on her finger caught the light—and his eye. His chest tightened. What kind of game was this?
***
They walked the Narrow Way, hand in hand—but this wasn’t the Beautiful he knew. She didn’t try to run ahead. She felt distant, like she was somewhere else entirely. Her steps had no life in them.
“Hurry up, slowpoke,” he teased. No response. Not even that flash of lightning in her eyes.
He was miserable. He wanted to say something—hold her, comfort her. But everything he did just seemed to make it worse.
He was relieved when they reached the pasture. Kind hadn’t started teaching yet. Seeker chose a spot near the back. She sat down beside him and nestled close with a soft sigh. He’d learned the secrets of the ancients in the tower—but he’d never figure her out. No, not in a thousand years. Her hand gripped his arm so tightly it hurt. He didn’t pull away.
Kind read from his Book, “Do nothing through contention or vainglory, but in meekness of mind let every man esteem others better than himself. A faint smile touched Beautiful’s lips. Kind glanced her way, voice gentle. “Or every woman than herself.”
Seeker felt the flutter in her chest where she leaned against him. Kind spoke of the Prince, and she hung on every word. He ended with, “Meekness isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.”
When Kind’s teaching ended, the distance crept back in. They ate lunch together in silence.
“Seeker, I’m tired,” she said quietly. “I’m going to rest in my room for a while.”
They stood in the doorway. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Beautiful, I love you. With all my heart.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
He leaned in to kiss her.
She turned, offering her cheek instead.
