Chapter 3: What was Asked

                                    

                                          
Lucian's head snapped up to pay heed to the pleasant voice. He saw a beautiful, young woman with hair black as ink leaning out the window. That had to be the princess, right? 
                          
He let out a relieved breath. He'd been starting to think that maybe she had died in the tower or the dragon had eaten her. 
                          
She wasn't as old as he feared either. She appeared to be around his age. Fine, he was honest enough to admit to himself that the age thing had worried him, because, well, seemed far more heroic to rescue a young, pretty princess than an old maid. Was that ageist? 
                          
He frowned at himself. He hadn't thought that he was that shallow, but now that he really put his mind to it, wouldn't it take more effort to rescue someone old than young? One would have to carry them, but not be too rough with them and-
                          
"Hello!" She sounded slightly irritated. He blushed as he realized that he'd gone on somewhat of a mental tangent. His teachers and sword masters used to smack him over the head for that. 
                          
"Sorry! I was distracted.... by your beauty!" He grinned and winced on the inside, wow, I'm pathetic. 
                          
Yet, it seemed to have worked if her shrugging shoulders were the signal of a giggle. He hoped they were.
                          
"Who are you, sir?" She repeated.
                          
"I am Prince Lucian of the South Danhu. Who are you, princess?" 

"Princess Saren of Vano." She replied.
                          
"Princess Saren," he said, "I'm here to rescue you!" 
                          
She sighed and there it was. He was just another foolhardy prince with the mistaken belief that he should be the one to break "curse". She wasn't surprised. Same stuff, different day. 
                          
"At last, a hero!" She said dramatically. "Alas, Prince Lucian, how do you plan on rescuing me?"
                          
"I... uh... I'll climb the tower!" He said, impulsively.
                          
She rolled her eyes. They always started out so eager. She wondered how long this one would last. 
                          
"The tower is enchanted, dear prince." She said woefully. Truly, she was giving him some of her best work yet. "but I may know how to get you inside!" 
                          
"How?" He asked. 
                          
She contemplated which task to give him. It had to be something strenuous and annoying. Hard work was something of an oddity to royalty, she'd found out over the years. 
                          
"There's a certain weed that grows in the garden around the back of the tower. Pull all of them out and bring them to me! However, you must first sort them from biggest to smallest!" 
                          
She smiled to herself. That should keep him busy. She hadn't weeded her vegetables or flower beds in a while. Mostly because the task was one she hated it. It was infuriating for her to pull them out only to have them break in her hands, the roots remaining firmly stuck in the earth.
                          
"All of them?" He asked uncertainly, his voice wavering.
                          
"All of them." She repeated. "But be careful not to be seen if the Dragon flies over! If he finds you, he will kill you! Well, Good luck!" 
                          
And with that, she snapped shut the window. She giggled to herself. She knew that by the time the sunset he would have given up and left her to her peace!
                          
She headed back down and sat in her comfy chair. She settled deep into the cushions and picked up her book. She smiled as she delved into the story, shutting out the world in favor of another.