Two weeks later, Luka saw the lady he had been waiting for arrive back at the beach.

       He frowned when he saw she wore some uncomfortable-looking boot over the bandage on her left foot and a slipper on her other foot. He watched her limp over to the box and lift the lid.

      He did not say a word so as not to frighten her.

   The young lady nervously lifted the lid. She had not expected that many letters. She sat down and wrote two letters. She pulled a bottle with a ship inside out of the pocket to the funny-looking sack she carried with her.

   She put the object and letters into the chest.

   She sat on Luka's beach chair since he stood up hidden behind a palm tree.

         She sighed. She did not know what she was to do. Her mistress was furious when she saw the wound and had forbidden her to leave the castle grounds. She had to be extra sneaky this time. She waited until the lady of the house had fallen asleep.

         She saw the small sandcastle not far from where she sat. Who had made it?  How had they added such intricate designs to it?

         She saw a bucket and a shovel. She smiled. She stood up slowly and picked up the bucket.

         She went and added ocean water to it. She added a trench around the sand castle and poured water into it. 

         She pulled out a rose petal from her sack. 

         She placed it on top of the very tip of the sandcastle.

           She hobbled back to the seat. She winced with pain with every step she took. She almost collapsed before she got to the chair. She looked up in surprise when she felt strong arms holding her.

        She looked up into his turquoise eyes and blushed. She had no idea why she reacted this way.  She saw the concerned look on his face.

        "You need to be more careful, Miss."

          "Hey."  

      "Hey there, yourself, fair maiden."

         She only nodded her head as he led her to the seat. 

              "You know, you have something in your hair."

                "I do not."

               "Yes, you do."

     He pulled a small stick from behind her left ear. Then, he brushed the leaves out of her hair.

        She felt she could scarcely breathe with his being so close. She had never had a man touch her before and felt he was gentle. Why was he looking at her in that way?

          Luka heard her sigh. He spread out his beach towel. He sat on the towel beside her and smiled. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. He saw her face turn a lovely shade of red.

         He winked at her as he lay down on his beach towel. 

           "Miss, what brings you here?"

          " Do you promise not to laugh or tell anyone?"

        "I promise."

       "I am here because I like the beach, but I am not allowed out much."

        "What happened to your foot?" He pretended he had no idea.

        "I hurt it the last time I was here. Some kind stranger helped me bandage it."

         Luka only nodded his head. He liked to hear her voice. It was like the voice of an angel to him.

         She reached into her bag. She pulled out two things. The first was a bottle of water. The second was a small easel and some paint supplies. She opened the water and drank some. She sealed it. She began to work more on the painting.

         Luka looked at it in surprise. He saw that the painting was of the beach with a view of the ocean, sand,  and the sky with the moon and stars above them.

          "You are an artist then, Miss?"

          "Yes, but everyone would think it beneath me if they knew because I am a princess. No decent princess would stoop to paint."

          "I think it is a splendid painting."

        "Thank you, young man."

        He noticed her facial features changed when the sun disappeared behind the clouds.

          "I must be going now."

         "Wait, will you come back tomorrow?"

             "I honestly don't know."

             Luka stood up and helped her to her feet. He held her steady as she packed the paint supplies and the now mostly dry painting.

           "Listen, if I do return I shall like to paint you."

          "I beg your pardon."

          "I want to paint a portrait of you."

      Luka assisted her as far as the gate outside the castle. He wished he could go inside, but now they must part ways. He lifted up her right hand and gently brought it towards his lips. He kissed it and whispered, "Dear Maiden, I shall be glad to wait for you even if it takes a million years."  He let go of her hand not knowing she missed the way his kiss felt on her hand.

        "I don't want to go."

        Luka heard her voice tremble. He saw the sadness in her eyes return as a tear formed in them. He longed to brush them away and heal her pain.  He waved to her as she entered the gate.

        She turned waved to him, walked into the castle, and closed the door.

       "Why is she so sad?  Why did she appear to be saying goodbye?"

       "Oh, dear love please find a way.  May you be blessed and remain as kind, and lovely as you are already."

        He spoke to himself how he felt because she could not hear him. He went home humming the same song he heard her hum so many weeks ago.

        The story continues in Chapter 5  No, no... tell me it is not true

    Until then, 

bye-bye, little owlets!

Summer out!