After all his training was completed, Amir sat by the shore, watching the waves intercept into each other due to the wild wind and he was lost in thought. But as he looked at the waves something was moving in the water. And when he looked again, he saw a small white dog struggling in the waves. Without thinking twice, he dropped his sword belt, ran, and jumped into the sea.
He dance with the sea swimming against the wind until he reached the dog. When he came out, soaked and cold, he wrapped the dog in a dry cloth and looked closer. He was surprised.
"Sali?" he whispered.
It was Princess Callista's pet. The dog was shaking, and cold, so he made a small fire, to warm the dog, and placed it gently on his bed and covered it with a blanket. When the dog woke up, it ran up to Amir and started licking his face with joy.
Nikoloas walked in and was surprised. "You saved her? That's good. That dog's from the palace."
"She smells like it too," Amir said and smiled. "She's lucky." He patted the dog. "Come on now, Sali. Have some warm milk."
Meanwhile, in the palace, Callista was totally sad and wouldn't eat anything. Her dog had run off from her arms, chasing a fish and was swept away by the waves of the sea. She blamed herself. That dog had been her only friend since Amir left. It even slept in her bed.
Three days passed. The dog got better. So Amir said, "Time to take her home."
He and Nikoloas rode to the palace and as they approached the gates, Sali barked excitedly. From her window, Callista heard it. She rushed down the stairs and threw the doors open.
Amir stepped down from his horse, holding the little dog. As soon as Sali saw Callista, she jumped from Amir's arms and ran to her.
Callista dropped to her knees and hugged her tight, tears rolling down. "Sali! You're alive!"
Then she looked up at Amir and ran into his arms. "I missed you, my love."
Amir smiled. "I found her in the water, drifting. I had to dive in to get her."
Callista looked at him with watery eyes. "Your kindness always touches my heart."
After a while, Nikoloas stepped forward. "Your Highness," he said, "we must go. The path of a warrior waits."
Callista placed the dog down and held Amir's hand and led him aside. "Please," she whispered, "stay here tonight."
"I wish I could," Amir said softly. "But I made a promise to stay focused. You can visit me anytime."
All she could do is hide her sadness with a smile as she watched him climb on his horse. They held hands one last time and looked into each other's eyes for a while with the talking eye of love and Attraction which simply says, " I love you." They didn't need to say it. But even a blind man could feel it from afar.
Days passed. Callista couldn't stop thinking about him. She couldn't resist his good looks because her heart really wanted him.
One night, she couldn't take it anymore. She snuck past the guards, dressed in a dark cloak, and rode to the shore.
She found Amir sitting by a fire, roasting some kind of bush meat. When he saw her, he jumped to his feet in surprise. It was like a dream.
"Callista?"
"I had to see you," she said, out of breath.
He smiled and helped her down. They sat by the fire together. He handed her the seasoned bush meat and a cup of wine. She took a bite of the meat and nodded. "This is good! Who taught you?"
Amir smiled. "Nikoloas. We've cooked so many wild animals out here, I lost count."
They laughed. Callista leaned on his shoulder as he talked about his life, his training, his dreams. Slowly, her hand touched his.
Then she kissed him.
He didn't hold back. He kissed her too.
"Come with me," she said.
They walked holding each other's hands to the shore. She dropped her cloak, removed her dress, and dived into the water. The moon lighted up her skin and Amir stared for a second, then followed.
They met with a kiss under the water, holding onto each other, reaching the surface. He held her close and kissed her neck and she let out gentle moans. She wrapped her arms around him and kissing him with passion and desires.
"I want you," she whispered.
The waves washed them to the shore and they made love under the moonlight.
Later, they laid together on the sand. She ran her fingers across his chest, breathing steady.
"I love you," she said. "I'll be queen someday. Will you stand with me?"
Amir kissed her forehead. "I love you Callista. My heart belongs to you now and always."
They kissed again before he walked her back to the palace through a hidden path.
That night, something had changed between them, they had fallen madly in love with each other and the was no going back.