Sienna's tears were falling over her paper as she wrote her letter, the droplets smearing the ink. But she had to say this, had to get it out of her heart.
Dear Court,
I'm probably going to be hung for telling you this, but I don't care anymore. I know you're a prince, and I know you could never be with me. I'm just a stable girl, and nothing will ever change that. I don't expect this letter to change your mind or your heart or make you feel something for me. I even want you to marry Princess Celeste. I do. I want you to be happy, and you should be happy, and you deserve to be happy, forever. And I know this is probably going to make you angry with me, maybe even disgusted, but I just want you to know the truth.
The night you danced with Princess Celeste at the masquerade ball was a lie. All of it was a lie. You never even met her, at least, not that night. The princess was asleep, and they needed someone to pretend to be her, so they asked a servant in the kitchens with hair that looks so much like the princess' hair to pretend to be her.
And then you danced with a servant girl, a girl who doesn't even know how to dance. And you got lost in the castle with a girl who's never been in the castle. And you smelled flowers with a girl who likes to smell flowers because that's the only thing that's free in this world. And you went thestumponline.com riding on a horse with a girl who's never ridden on a horse before. And you ate cherries off the floor with a girl who thinks finding cherries on the floor is a feast.
And then you gave a girl who had never been kissed her first kiss and she can't stop thinking about it. And then you proposed to the girl and she wanted to say yes because she hates her life and she's tired of being a slave and cleaning out horse stalls and sleeping in the straw and shivering at night and waking up alone. And she said no to you because you weren't hers to say yes to. But for one instant, just a small instant, you gave her a fantasy, a dream of what it would be like to be loved by you, to be married to you, to be with you, even if she knew she would always only have her stall. And she decided she would take the stall and everything that came with it if she could just have you. But she can't. All she can have is the dream, and all she can give you is the truth, the truth that she loves you. Love, Sienna Sienna rolled up her paper, taking a candle and dripping some wax over the edge, pressing it closed, burning her finger. Then she went to Striker and slipped the scroll into the pouch of his saddle. She lay down in the straw, looking up at the barn ceiling. She put her hands over her eyes, fighting with her tears. Sienna, she whispered to herself, you're so stupid. You can't tell him. You'll ruin everything. She climbed up, digging into his saddle, pulling out the scroll. She brought the candle under it, but before she could burn it, the barn door opened. She spun around. Sienna? Court called. Sienna hurriedly stuffed the scroll under the straw, set the candle aside, and then opened the gate, stepping out. She bowed at the waist. Hi, Court, she said. I mean, sorry, your highness. He chuckled. That's okay. How are you tonight, Sienna? She stood up straight, looking into his eyes. He was so gorgeous. It hurt her heart just looking at him.
Good, your highness. You? A little drunk, he said with a sideways smile. I'm glad I caught you before you turned into bed—turned into straw. He chuckled at his own joke. Sienna smiled. He had such a great laugh. Your highness, since you're here, let me say I'm so happy for you. You and the princess are both so lucky to have each other. She's so, so pretty, and, and you are so, so handsome. You two deserve to be happy with each other. And I know you'll go on to be married and you'll have beautiful children and a long life together. And even as you grow old, you'll remember how you met, how you fell in love with her, how she fell in love with you, and you'll cherish those memories forever, even if you're separated. Not that thestumponline.com you'll ever be separated, of course, only that I'm sure neither of you will ever forget how much you love each other. Thank you, Sienna, that's kind of you to say. Princess Celeste truly is special. I am so very happy I found her. Sienna nodded, smiling. Well, did you want anything, sir? Does your room need to be re-cleaned? Do you have an errand for me to run? Shall I fetch you something? No, no, actually— Suddenly, the thunder clapped, making Court and Sienna both jump. He chuckled. Uh-oh, sounds like rain again. Yes, your highness, she said, gulping. Anyway, I brought you a gift
And then you gave a girl who had never been kissed her first kiss and she can't stop thinking about it. And then you proposed to the girl and she wanted to say yes because she hates her life and she's tired of being a slave and cleaning out horse stalls and sleeping in the straw and shivering at night and waking up alone. And she said no to you because you weren't hers to say yes to. But for one instant, just a small instant, you gave her a fantasy, a dream of what it would be like to be loved by you, to be married to you, to be with you, even if she knew she would always only have her stall. And she decided she would take the stall and everything that came with it if she could just have you. But she can't. All she can have is the dream, and all she can give you is the truth, the truth that she loves you. Love, Sienna Sienna rolled up her paper, taking a candle and dripping some wax over the edge, pressing it closed, burning her finger. Then she went to Striker and slipped the scroll into the pouch of his saddle. She lay down in the straw, looking up at the barn ceiling. She put her hands over her eyes, fighting with her tears. Sienna, she whispered to herself, you're so stupid. You can't tell him. You'll ruin everything. She climbed up, digging into his saddle, pulling out the scroll. She brought the candle under it, but before she could burn it, the barn door opened. She spun around. Sienna? Court called. Sienna hurriedly stuffed the scroll under the straw, set the candle aside, and then opened the gate, stepping out. She bowed at the waist. Hi, Court, she said. I mean, sorry, your highness. He chuckled. That's okay. How are you tonight, Sienna? She stood up straight, looking into his eyes. He was so gorgeous. It hurt her heart just looking at him.
Good, your highness. You? A little drunk, he said with a sideways smile. I'm glad I caught you before you turned into bed—turned into straw. He chuckled at his own joke. Sienna smiled. He had such a great laugh. Your highness, since you're here, let me say I'm so happy for you. You and the princess are both so lucky to have each other. She's so, so pretty, and, and you are so, so handsome. You two deserve to be happy with each other. And I know you'll go on to be married and you'll have beautiful children and a long life together. And even as you grow old, you'll remember how you met, how you fell in love with her, how she fell in love with you, and you'll cherish those memories forever, even if you're separated. Not that thestumponline.com you'll ever be separated, of course, only that I'm sure neither of you will ever forget how much you love each other. Thank you, Sienna, that's kind of you to say. Princess Celeste truly is special. I am so very happy I found her. Sienna nodded, smiling. Well, did you want anything, sir? Does your room need to be re-cleaned? Do you have an errand for me to run? Shall I fetch you something? No, no, actually— Suddenly, the thunder clapped, making Court and Sienna both jump. He chuckled. Uh-oh, sounds like rain again. Yes, your highness, she said, gulping. Anyway, I brought you a gift