The dragonfly remained where it was. “It’s me.”
She glanced around again, this time scooting to the edge of the seat. But still there was no one there.
“Down here,” the voice said.
She peered at the small winged creature as its wings moved up and down in slow methodical beats.
“Hello,” it said, a smile in its voice.
How could a dragonflysmile?
“You?” Rosamund moved closer to inspect the creature.
It chuckled. “Yes, of course.”
“You can talk?”
Another chuckle. “All creatures can. You just have to know how to listen.”
Rosamund shook her head as she perched on the bench near the dragonfly looking at it in wonder. “Amazing,” she breathed.
“So, tell me, princess, why are you sad?”
She leaned back in the seat, her back pressing into the wood gazebo, and sighed. “I’m to be married.”
A small flutter of wings, then, “Is that so terrible?”
“It is when you’ve never met the other person,” she said, sounding glum.
“Ah, I see. And you do not wish to marry this person?” the dragonfly asked.
“Prince,” Rosamund said. “He’s a prince of the neighboring kingdom. And, no, I do not.” Again, she let out a heavy breath. “I suppose there’s nothing to be done about it, though.”
“Why not?”
“Because I am a princess, and I must obey my parents’ wishes.”
“Must you?”
Rosamund looked down at the creature. “You are a dragonfly. You don’t understand.”
It rose up and fluttered close to her face. “You could always leave.”
The princess tipped her head to one side. “Leave?”
“Yes. Pack a bag, leave the castle, never look back.”
Her heart picked up speed. “You mean, run away?”
“I mean find a life of your own,” the little dragonfly corrected. “The world is a big place, after all.”
Rosamund considered this. She stared down the path toward the castle, wondering if that was something she would be able to do. Pack a bag and leave. Never look back. Forge her own way. Live her own life. But how? She knew nothing of the world outside the castle walls. She had barely spent time outside them her entire life. Her father kept her closely guarded. He refused to let her ride alone. She always had an escort.
“Perhaps it is a bad idea,” the dragonfly said and alighted once more on the railing.
Rosamund’s pulse quickened as she thought of leaving.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” the princess whispered.
