24
"Er-er," The doorman was gaping at the array of plants lying on muslin cloth covered table. Whatever he expected them to do together this was not it.
"Unless and until you want to be sent on a mission to find some aloe vera I suggest you leave," Damian looked heavenwards while the doorman spluttered away. Delilah suppressed a snort and started to sort through the herb pile.
"What is this supposed to be?" She picked up a scraggily looking weed.
"Valerian," Damian shrugged, "and judging from your expression I can safely say it is not."
Delilah nodded before sorting through the rest of the plants. She painstakingly separated the herbs and wrote down names and notes on the parchment the Prince had provided for her. The Prince tried to help but he kept mixing everything up so he decided to stand back and let her work. Delilah was copying down the last bit of information from a great, big, dusty tome in the candle light when she felt eyes upon her. She looked up to find blue eyes intently fixed on her.
"What is it?" Delilah murmured feeling warmth spread up her neck. The Prince just shook his head with a small smile.
"Everything is accounted for but the Valerian," She continued, looking away, feeling an odd sensation in her stomach.
"Remember the lake we had that picnic on. I was told by the gardeners that I would find the herb planted at the edges. My men apparently couldn't do such a simple task," Damian explained with his eyes still on her.
"Can't you send the gardeners to find it themselves? I'm sure they won't make any mistakes."
"I would rather only my trusted men handle this situation. The head gardeners know absolutely nothing except that the king is ill and even that bit of information cannot be trusted with those common folk."
"That is a harsh judgment, your Highness," Delilah replied firmly feeling quite offended, "Just because they do not possess noble blood does not make their tongues or loyalties weak."
"It is not just their blood that makes them weak. Money can make any man spill my secrets or poison medicines," Damian retorted.
"Why do you trust me then?" Delilah hissed, "I am nothing special; only a minor Lord's daughter. Maybe I shouldn't be trusted either especially with our history…"
"I know you!" Damian growled harshly.
"You most certainly do not," Delilah stepped away, "How do you know I am not plotting your untimely death at this very moment. My motivation could easily be revenge."
"Well, root lover, I think it's time to prove your loyalties to yourself. Come with me," Damian grabbed her elbow and pulled her towards the exit.
"Where are you taking me?" Delilah tried to pull away but the fingers around her arm were firm.
"It is now nightfall," The Prince stopped to explain, "We could easily use the cover of dark and retrieve the herb. I know secret ways to get out the castle not even the best of my men know."
"The moon has risen, the people are slumbering in their beds and you expect me to run after you on a blind mission. Have you not heard the rumours about us? Why are you so determined to ruin me?" Delilah whispered harshly.
"If you cared about what people said you wouldn't have come to the library in the first place," Damian accused her.
"I care, of course, I care but I also happen to care what happens to the kingdom."
"You only help me because you want to help this country?" The Prince squared his shoulders and asked sourly.
"I wish to see the King back up on his throne so the people of this country can live in peace for a few more years. They are not ready for your chaotic manners as yet," Delilah giggled abruptly and the Prince grinned back as they both imagined the ruin he would bring to the Kingdom in his immaturity. The tension between them dissipated instantly.
"Now follow me quietly and slowly. There is a passageway near the dungeons that leads to the lake. It will be damp and grimy so if you see a mouse please don't scream," The Prince ordered before leading her down yet another staircase.
_______________________________________
"My clothes are not going to survive this," Delilah picked at her dress morosely. The tunnel had been fairly wide but the walls and ground had been covered with filth and mud so splashes on her dress had been inevitable.
"Pity," The fair haired man next to her answered without an inch of sympathy. His own brown breeches and white shirt were in a worse condition but he did not seem to care. He marched ahead and stopped at a small pier on the lake that Delilah hadn't observed before. Apparently they were on the side she had not explored when the castle party had their picnic. A small wooden boat was tied to a large metal peg, firmly hooked onto the ground.
"Get on it," The Prince waved his hand carelessly. Delilah hesitated and gingerly stepped on the gently swaying boat.
"But it is so dark and the water so deep, I fear we shall drown," Delilah rocked the unsteady boat under her feet, feeling horrible in her stomach.
"I can swim," Damian brushed her concern away as if it were no matter as he tugged the rope from the metal nail so that they could drift away.
"Well, I cannot," Delilah retorted stubbornly and crossed her arms still unsteady on her feet.
"And I repeat, I can swim," He pushed his face much too close for her liking and blinked.
"I am only doing this because I trust you," Delilah warned him before sitting down on the wooden plank that was to be her seat.
"You do?" He turned around before propping the oar on the right and sitting down in front of Delilah.
"Of course, I hardly expect you to turn your head away and yawn loudly if I happen to fall in," She stated flatly.
"Annoy me too much and I just might yawn twice before jumping in to help you."
"Your advice is duly noted," Delilah answered crabbily. The stars and the moon were the only source of light and she was glad because she did not want to look at the man more than necessary. The Prince picked up the oars and placed them on both sides. He rowed silently until they reached the other side of the bank and onto the small island upon which the herb was supposed to be found. Delilah grimaced as her foot submerged into slick mud.
"This is such a terrible idea. How am I supposed to see anything?" Delilah flung her hand nearly smacking the Prince squarely on the face but he managed to duck while the Lady didn't even notice because she was too caught up in being horrified.
"I trust you," The man repeated and his tone of voice made the girl pause.
"Valerian has dark green leaves and pink or white flowers and most importantly it has a horrible smell," Delilah instructed before beginning her search.
"So, I gather we shall have to spend half the night sniffing out plants."
"Not my fault, your Highness," Delilah replied coldly, "This is an exercise which could be done with greater ease in daylight."
"Alright, mother, you needn't shout at me. Now start sniffing."
"Gladly!"
Delilah discounted all the plants that weren't the appropriate size and did not contain flowers but the Prince was shoving his face in anything green. She scrunched her nose disdainfully.
"Prince, I believe you've heard of poison ivy. Do I need to remind you of the hazards of putting your nose in unknown plants? "
"I used to come here as a child often so I know the dangers. If there was poison Ivy over here I would have encountered it many years ago," Damian looked up and his eyes shined vividly in the moonlight, "Not many plants on this silly little island and not many flowering ones either. I think we might be able to do this."
Delilah shrugged hopelessly and went back to bending over random bits of greenery. A few more pensive minutes passed by when the Prince broke the silence.
"You said it smells bad, so, how bad is it?"
"Like an old smelly sock," Delilah quoted what she remembered from the book.
"And the flowers still smell nice?" Damian asked curiously though his voice contained unrestrained excitement.
"Have you found it?" Delilah turned around and the Prince was holding a small pink flower bunch to his nose, "We must get tug it out with the roots. They're the most important."
"Already on it," The man grunted as he pulled the plant with brute force but instead he just fell down.
"Gently," Delilah tutted and got down on her knees to dig the plant out. She used her fingers to free the plant which was already displaced by the Prince's forceful ways.
"Told you we would get our work done," The Prince gloated.
"Indeed, now, can we please go back? It's late as it is," Delilah grumbled while the Prince helped her back on the boat. The man proudly placed the plant next to him and started rowing.
"It's a nice night isn't it?" He began conversationally while they were in the middle of the lake.
"It is beautiful if you think about it; ignoring the mess we're in. I can't imagine how I'll explain my state to my cousin," Delilah wondered with a sigh.
"Hmm, we should enjoy this night before it's finished?" The Prince announced brushing her concerns away and abruptly put the oars down, "Who knows when we shall be given the chance again."
"Why are you undressing again?" Delilah was horrified when she looked up. The man has pulled his waistcoat off and was now opening his first few buttons.
"I am hardly undressed. A couple of buttons undone cannot give you this much grief, although..." The man winked at her with a manic grin, "I can imagine your reaction to what I'm about to do next."
Delilah peeked from behind her fingers to find the Prince upright and on his feet with his hands quickly undoing the remaining buttons of his filthy white shirt.
"What in the name of heavens above are you doing?" Delilah thundered forgetting who she was talking to.
"It's a warm night, meaning it'll rain soon but that's besides the point. I thought I'd take advantage of our little rendezvous," The Prince shrugged his shirt off one shoulder and Delilah looked away with a harsh blush climbing her face.
"But, but," Delilah spluttered but he dove into the lake without a moment's notice. The resulting splash fromt the displaced boat hit the Lady directly in the face.
"Lovely," Delilah grumbled, pushing her half wet hair out of her face. "Are you absolutely deranged?" She hissed gripping the side of the boat. "We are here on a mission that requires tact and stealth but you've gone completely mad."
"Oh, learn to live a little," Damian grinned with no regret in his eyes, "I wanted a swim for ages but at first the weather was too cold and now I am hounded by all these women who want to marry me."
"I am this close to choking you, Prince!" Delilah's eyes widened as soon she realized who she was talking to and her hand hung limply mid action, "I, I apologize."
"Call me by my name and then I shall come back," Damian smirked, lazily floating on his back.
"You cannot possibly be serious," Delilah protested wringing her hands, "You are the Royal Prince!"
"And you think its okay to not do as I tell you?" Damian languidly ran a hand through his wet hair and grabbed onto the sides of the boat, “As you said I am the Royal Prince.”
"You have no shame," Delilah growled furiously deciding their situation was far gone for politeness or fealty.
"Why, it's hardly horrific," The Prince was nonchalant, "Beatrix calls me by the name and so do many of my friends."
"I am not your friend and we've already decimated the lines of propriety to your heart's content so please get back so we can get to the shore, Prince."
"What was that you said, I thought I heard something?"
"Fine! You win Prince Damian." He leaned in closer and for second Delilah though he was going to climb back in.
"Just Damian," The man ordered instead.
"What difference does it make?" She cried out, scooting back in an attempt to stay away from the man and keep the boat from tipping over.
"I wish to make you my friend," Damian announced quietly.
"But I do not wish to be your friend," Delilah answered spitefully.
"Your opinion does not count," The man spat abruptly and Delilah flinched at the sudden increase in noise level. The Prince let go of the boat with momentous push and floated backwards,away from the boat making Delilah panic.
"Damian, please come back so we can steer back to the castle and get back to our rooms," Delilah finally relented and called out.
"That's a good girl," The Prince looked up from his horizontal position with a smirk
