The following summer a new Prince came to the castle. Eager for her to marry and start a family her father left them alone often. When they were together he was rude, and often ignored her. Sometimes he would look at her and in his eyes she saw a wild fury mixed with untamed lust. She was scared of him, but he hadn't hurt her yet. He came to her room one night and asked her to sneak out with him. She hesitantly agreed and followed him through the castle, dodging guard patrols and servants until they were deep in the garden. To her surprise he led her to the gazing pool. His eyes were tame but still held a lustful glint. He took her into his arms and kissed her in the most passionate embrace she'd ever experienced. She had judged him wrong she realized. She looked into their reflection in the pool and saw his gaze meet the eyes of the servant girl assigned to serve him. She was watching from the shadows and he knew it. This was a show for that girl, not for her. She knew a future with him would never be a future for her. She broke away and ran to her room. the next day the Prince left, and took the servant girl with him. She was devastated, and she begged the gods to not break her heart again.
The next summer no Prince came. She was afraid she was growing too old. But that fall, as the leaves were falling and the birds flocked south she sat by the gazing pool and stared. She started to cry and one by one her tears dropped into the pool. The ripples slowly cleared the leaves to the edges and she saw the surface shimmer. She saw herself, but not as she was that day. She wore a queens crown on her head and she was happy. She took it to be a promise from the gods and so she waited with newfound hope in her heart. The following summer another Prince came, but he wasn't the one. Too aloof and boring. And to her surprise a second Prince arrived, but he too, failed to win her heart. On the last day of summer her heart sunk, it was the end of travel season. But as the gates were about to close that night she heard the clack of hourse hooves on the pavers. She ran to her window. She hoped her promise from the gods would be fulfilled and as she looked she saw a regal company of soldiers flanking the most handsome man she had ever seen. A kings crown wreathed his head and as his entourage entered the courtyard he looked up at the castle and right to her window. He saw her and he smiled. Her heart fluttered at his smile, it was warm and confident. But he was a king, and kings have queens. She waited in her room and moped. A servant knocked on the door and told her she had been summoned to join her parents and their royal guest for dinner. He was standing as she entered the dining hall and the servant escorted her to the seat to his right. He smiled as the were introduced and took her hand in his as he gave her a bow.
He was charming all during dinner and dessert, kind and considerate like that first Prince all those years ago. He also had a fire in his eyes, subtle but there to see. Oh if only he didn't have a queen. She was dismissed after dessert and she went to her room and swooned over this perfect king she couldn't have. After many hours evening gave way to midnight and she was startled by her door opening unannounced. It was the king and he said nothing. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood as he silently walked right to her. He looked at her, put his hand on her cheek and wiped a tear away with his thumb. Come with me, he told her. He took her hand without waiting her answer and pulled her to the door. He led her straight through the castle, right passed stunned guards and servants straight to the doors to the garden. He took her straight through the garden to the gazing pool, not once saying a word. When they reached the pool it glittered in the moonlight, almost as if it were enchanted. He took her in his arms and kissed her without asking her permission. She melted, but what of his queen?! He looked her in the eye and she could tell he knew her thoughts, whether by magic or intuition, she could hide nothing from him. His eyes held a strong and controlled lust in them. His hands were firm but gentle. He told her he had no queen. He'd been betrothed to be married as a prince but she had fallen from a horse and passed before their wedding. Before he could find another princess his father fell ill and passed. The crown went to him.