"Alice! Alice!"
Albert grasped the girl's hand, his shivering more than hers. Alice noticed this and smiled; she looked at his terrified expression and pressed on his hand trying to erase the fear from his eyes. He held her hand stronger than ever, knowing what she was trying to do, easing his frustration, like always made it even more painful as he kneeled down unable to do anything, surrounded by the darkness of that hollow place as its walls reechoed his question:
"Why did you insistent on coming with me? I could not even protect you!"
"What's with this stupid question? We made a promise that we'll see together what lies beyond this place; we'd said we'd do it together! We still can, right?"
Albert lowered his head as he watched the blood tainting her summer dress reaching his knees where he sat beside her. Words failed him; screams would not reach beyond these cold walls. All what he could do was to sit and watch his love breathing with difficulty, losing her cherry color, as she slowly withers away.
"Why? How can I ever live with this? I'll never forgive myself if you... "
"I won't... not yet!"
Alice interrupted him, her voice growing stronger once again though for few moments. These words resonated stronger than the cannonball that hit the place, it was like a lily blooming despite the wrecked soil.
"I've realized something just now, Albert... I think I'm in love... truly this time... not just a childish admiration that would never be returned..."
The cook closed her eyes sighing and attempting in vain to regulate her breathing so it would not feel painful. Albert was not upset by the sudden shift in the subject, if she truly wished to discuss this before something horrible happens to her, if that would make her thoughts flower with hope and warmth then let it be, even if it were to leave his hearts in shreds.
"I know this already, I'd have gotten him for you if I knew where he's..."
Albert muttered, he was always helpless, he could do nothing on his own, and now the love of his life, the friend of his childhood was raving with a wish that he could not make come true, just like their promise. Alice turned her face at him laughing at his silliness while he began sobbing thinking she was laughing at his weakness but he raised his head all surprised when she went on:
"But he's right here by my side, and that's why I'm so happy!"
The overly surprised boy couldn't believe what he'd just heard. These soft words were what he had sought since he was still a kid and hearing them all of a sudden made his heart bloom like a tree fruiting after years of aridity and he was just too afraid to pick that fruitage. Alice looked softly at him, struggling to keep herself awake, although sleep seemed to tempting to her at that moment. She mused to chase the darkness surrounding her cold body away.
"Perhaps I have loved Alex at some point... but I was unaware of the truth that was hidden in my own heart until this moment... I hated to see you disturbed and sad, I wanted to cheer you up but you were such a jerk! Still, I was always thinking of a way to ease things for you and now, I'm so glad you're here... I boarded the Amphitrite wandering when I'll see you again, I thought I'd find you in the sea and you followed me into the same boat... it's destiny that wants us to fulfill our promise!"
Tears as pure and transparent as the flowers dew watered her fading cheeks, but they were not her own. They were mirroring the devoted heart that couldn't stay silent any more so it finally freed the words reflecting the feelings he guarded for ten years:
"The day when we first met was the day we sold father's wrecked ship to repay at least some of our debts. I was so angry and depressed, I escaped to that wood thinking how I hated the whole world, I lost everything at that day but then I met you and you gave me hope and a new dream to look for... a precious promise to protect... I owe you everything I've become today, Alice!"
Alice face bloomed for a brief moment at the confession, at the meaning she had managed to give her beloved's life. She did not reply, not even with a smile. She merely tightened her heavy fingers around Albert's hand as the cheerful glittering eyes started to close slowly. Yet the hand trying to pump some warmness into the weak body woke them once more and then more every time she started to succumb into sleep. Albert sneered at his own weakness and incapability then noticed that despite said weakness Alice was still holding to his hand and didn't let go... Albert gently put her hand down then stood up. First with his sword and sheath then with his bare hands... he was determined to dig out their escape route through these hard walls, he'll never let her die, no matter what... even if these rough rocks will tear his hands he'll save her! His fists were strong then weakened as more time passed. He was only making small scratches like a kitten honing her paws. He tried changing the places he hit, looking for a softer spot. Eventually he managed to fine one, a wall feeling muddier and weaker in structures than the others but his persistent knocking and digging did not cause much, even in that fragile wall. This island was truly impenetrable. He hit one last time with all of his strength before collapsing on the ground panting with bleeding hands. He hid his head between his legs surrounded by nothing except the darkness that had not left their side for a moment.
Alice twitched her eyes as the boy losing all hope, she wanted to encourage him but there was nothing to say. And she was devastated by that fact as she realized it, he must have realized it too. There was no escape. They will buried few steps away from their dream.
Albert kept his had between his knees, afraid of looking. He closed all his senses to his surroundings. He feared he would suddenly be unable to catch Alice's breaths with his ears, that he would not feel her warmth with his hands. So he believed it would be better if he were to isolate himself from everything, maybe he go of frustration before Alice does. A creaking sound tricked into his ears but he refused to believe in it. He must hallucinating. The sound was growing louder and closer. Then he felt a light nudge. He did not respond until the nudge became slightly stronger. Albert moved his head feeling Alice's hand touching his leg. Her eyes were focused on the last wall he had been practically fighting against. He strained his eyes to look at the spot. The rocks had begun to crumble permitting few beams to pervade the place lighting the desperate man whose heart, not merely his body, was also over filled with these beams. Strength returned to the body it'd deserted and the young man rushed widening the small hole with his hands once again, screaming at the top of his lungs. The wall started to collapse slowly like a curtain uplifting and revealing in pieces the most beautiful oil painting his eyes could ever see...
"Alice!"
With the last remains of her strength, Alice turned her head at Albert whose eyes were filled with tears.
"So this is what lies beyond the Wilshire's territory..."
"There's no sign of the battle here, so this has to be it... what people believe to be the edge of the world..."
Albert confirmed her question as they both were taken by the sight exposing itself in front of their naked eyes. The sun bathed the two youngsters as it dominated the clear sky like a king ascending his thorn on a blue rug surrounded with his cortege of sea gulls flying over the salty refreshing breezes that saluted most gently the two dreamers with their snowy feathers. Their eyes followed the interlacing waves, chasing one after another to catch themselves in a unified embrace like a field of blue roses gently caressed by the wind, swaying their stems together and weaving their petals closer while it spread endlessly racing with horizon. That field had no thorns and its petals fragrance, though burned their lips a little with its saltiness, revived the youngsters' hearts just like hope, blooming most beautifully when faced with and overcoming difficulties and pain. Sheets of ice floating elegantly above the flowing blue graced their eyes, adding an aura of danger to the beautiful scenery, cooling the breezing seeking the warmth of the sun. They reflected sharp shadows over the clashing waves like a complicated tapestry. Although there was no signs of another land, no lights of any far lighthouse, he could hear the distant fuss of different cities, the bells of new towers, birds undiscovered yet humming the most beautiful tunes. He could see various ships crossing the new seas, harboring stories never told to his people before. New legends, new treasures, new languages and habits... all glittering in the distant waiting to be unveiled and seen.
Albert had finally knew the answer to the princess's question and wished deeply if she was at his side to hear it. Smiling, his heart beaten with these words: see is wide that we can never reach its end, that we always have a dream and a tomorrow to look forward to...