As Promised here is Another chapter today=P

Tomas was holding the picnic basket while pacing back and forth near the guard shack. Every now and then he'd catch them looking at him with pity on their faces. They knew, as did he, that the Princess was already 10 minutes late.

"I should have known. How could I be so stupid as to think she would change her mind and want to spend time with me so suddenly." he mumbled.

As he was facing away from the castle, he heard "MY GOODNESS!!! It should be against the law to look that cute!" from one of the guards.

He turned around and froze. He wanted to tell her how amazing she looked. He wanted to yet again declare his love for her. He WANTED her in the worst way. Of all the things he wanted to say and do at that moment, he picked the most intelligent, chivalrous thing that came to his mind.
He lost his mind the second he saw her so, of course, he chose to stand frozen with his eyes wide and his jaw dropping to the ground.

"You picked a nice day for a picnic, Tomas." she said, so sweetly you'd need an insulin shot just to process it.

"Uh.........I......er.............uh..........th.....th....thank you, Your Highness." he stumbled out.

"When did we become so formal with each other, Tomas?" she said in a pouty little girl voice that she had no idea, until just now, that she was capable of doing.

"Sorry......uh......I'm just a bit nervous, Trish." he explained.

"Why?" She asked.

"Um......well.....um ...look at you." he said motioning at her.

"Believe me Tomas, I have." She said sourly before returning a fake smile onto her face and declaring, "So lets be off to this fabulous place you've picked for us to have a picnic, shall we?"

"Yes Your Hi...............Trish." he corrected.

"Thats better." Trish said

It was truely a beautiful spot to picnic. Right next to a shallow creek with a great oak tree to shade them. You could see the castle in the distance. The creek ran through an area with beautiful green grass covered hills. Growing all around were Freguard poppies with their lavish purple pettles contrasting the green perfectly, just as her eyeshadow complimented her eyes.

They could see anyone coming long before they were spotted themselves, from the spot the Prince picked.

The Prince laid out a blanket, so as not to get grass stains on the Princess's beautiful dress.

They sat in silence while he served her. They ate in silence. Then just as the silence began to get awkward, the Prince worked up the nerve to discuss what he brought her here for. She beat him to the punch, though.

"Tommy? I get the feeling you brought me out here to talk. I'm willing to listen, but I will be more honest with my responses than you may like." she warned.

"That sounds fair, Patty." he returned

"Ewww, point taken. May I call you Tom, then?" she asked.

He smiled and responded with, "I insist on it, Trish."

"Trish? Why did you agree to come with me today after avoiding me every chance you get?" he asked sullenly.

"I made a promise to your mother." she responded honestly.

He nodded at that. He had figured as much.

"Why do you avoid me?" he asked sadly.

"Not so fast. A question for a question seems only fair." she said

"Very well, ask anything. Just as the Guardian cannot lie, neither can the Warrior Prime." he explained.

"How can you love a boy that looks like a girl and not even know them?" she asked

"Heh, you have it backwards, Trish." he said with a chuckle.

"Huh?" was her reply.

"First, let me answer the second part, then i'll explain it. I do know you, Trish. When we first saw you through Aldegard's seeing crystal, Even in male form I knew you for what you would become. The Guardian Spirit has been coming to me in my dreams since I was a young boy. It is how they determined that I would become Warrior Prime. Some folks think that the Queen decides who becomes a Warrior Prime. Not so. The Guardian Spirit decides. We grew up together, Trish. You may not know it, but it's true. I've dreamed of you every day since I was 12. We have flown and climbed and played with each other all our lives. It doesnt matter what you look like on the outside. I know you on the inside." he said with passion.

"I will always love you, no matter where you run away to or what you look like. I would give my last breath for you, Princess. Now as I said, you had it backwards, Trish. Your spirit has always been female, whether you want to admit it or not. It was decreed so 10,000 years ago. So, see? You have it backwards. You are a GIRL trapped in a boys body." he explained

"Now tell me, Trish, is it because I'm ugly? Or stupid? Or boring? Or creepy? Why do you treat me with such contempt?" he asked sadly

"Is that what you have been thinking all this time?" Trish asked, a bit shocked.

Tom nodded with his head low.

"You poor thing I am so sorry, I didnt mean to cause you...." she tried to finish

he cut her off with, "Please dont pity me, that hurts worse. Please just tell me why so I will at least know."

She started to giggle.

"Why would you laugh at me, so, when I hurt so much?" he asked

"Because, Tom, assuming makes an ASS out of U and ME. You never once even came close to guessing the real reason. I have told no one this, Tom. Although im sure your mother has guessed it. That is why she has made me promise to spend the last week of our engagement by your side." she stated

He brightened for a second then became sullen again and asked, "But you do not want to. Isnt that so?" he asked

"That is true, Tom, but not for the reasons you think.

"Why, then?" he asked, thoroughly confused.

"Tom, In Learity there are what are known as "Gender Roles". Our World is becoming more liberal as time goes by, but due to "Social Programming" Each sex has things expected of them that sets each other apart. An easy example is, Men forage and women cook. Here women are strong and independent so you cant fully understand, but you can sorta get the broad scope of it. Do you understand what I've told you so far?" she asked

"I think so. In your world, men and women have certain roles that guide them through life, similar to say a smith here. In a family of smiths, you are born into the family and expected to become a smith also. Am I close?" he asked, trying to understand.

"Yes! Very well done. Now say I was trained my whole life to be a warrior, but i was yanked from battle one day and told that I was now a Wizard. Do you think I would go along with it quietly?" she asked

"No." He said sadly, knowing she was right.

"You still havent answered my question, though." he reminded.

"I was working up to it. Bottom line, Tom. I've been avoiding you, because I'm madly in love with you. I ache for you Tom. I know.......You ask whats the problem then?" she said

Tom nodded in response.

"Social Programming, Tom. I was raised a male. I can look like a female, even act like one. Deep down I might, say, even desperately want to be one, but my male side says "FIGHT!" so I have been fighting you the only way I know how. By avoiding you." she explained.

This time Tom started to laugh. "All this time I thought you were avoiding me because you hated me and now I find out it was the exact opposite." he said while chuckling.

She stared at him for several minutes, getting lost in his eyes. This talk would be what triggered her doom. She knew that much. It helped her to see why she was fighting. It was getting too hard to fight anymore.

He closed in on her. She knew what was coming and was powerless to stop it. He leaned in to kiss her. She did what any respectable boy would do. She parted her lips and welcomed him.

If a bond like theirs were physical it would be like strings. The more strings that attached them, the stronger the Bond. Her willingness to his kiss, wove many strings around them.

NO!

The strings were snapping!

It hurt so bad.

Something was very wrong. Trish opened her eyes.

Tom gave her a confused look and fell over. Fang marks on his arm told the tale. She saw the Reaper snake race off. Reaper snakes were comparable in deadliness as the Coral snake was, in Learity. The snake never had a chance. Trish ripped it apart with her bare hands.

"Tom, Dont you die on me. Hang on Tom. Please Tom, I .........Love you." she cried out. She did the only thing she could. She picked him up and cradled him like a baby and ran like lives depended on it, because they did.

The guards saw something very wrong. The Princess was running for the gate faster than he'd seen any man run....and she was carrying the Prince.

Trish got to the gate. It didnt open fast enough. 2 tons worth of wood. She kicked it. It was no longer wood, it was kindling.

She ran straight for Aldegard.

"Please ......I will give you anything you desire........please help him." she begged.

"What happened?" The Matron asked.

"He was bit by a Reaper on the arm." she said sobbing.

"Oh dear. I'll do what I can." She invoked several spells slowing the poison. She couldnt stop it, though. "Child, give me your hand!" yelled Aldegard.

Trish didnt question her. She grabbed the wizards hand and helped her attain the power she needed.

Turning to the guards, the Matron said "Take him to his bed."

"NO! Anyone touches him and I promise they will die before they can feel the warmth of his skin!!! I WILL TAKE HIM!!" She yelled as she picked him up and carried him to his chamber.

Aldegard had mixed feelings. It was apparent that what ever happened before the bite had caused a bond between then. She could only hope he survived.

"Will he live?" Trish asked, in tears.

"I dont know, child. He would be dead already if it werent for you. He is in a coma. Only time will tell if we stopped the poison in time." she said sadly.

"Please leave us." said Trish

"Of course, Dear. I'll be right outside if you need me." Aldegard said.

"Ok, Thank you." Trish said in response.

as the door closed, Trish moved close to his ear and said, "Now you listen to me, you are not going to get even and avoid me, by dying, do you hear me?" she started to cry. Her wracking sobs could be heard throughout the castle. Everyone could hear the pain she was in.

She stayed by his bedside for 3 days with no sleep before the Queen ordered her to get a little rest.

"Yes Mam. Tom, I know you can hear me. Before your mother makes me get some rest I'd like to share a beautiful song from Learity with you."

She Began to sing softly in his ear:

if this world is wearing thin

and you're thinking of escape

i'll go anywhere with you

just wrap me up in chains

but if you try to go out alone

don't think i'll understand

stay with me

stay with me

in the silence of your room

in the darkness of your dreams

you must only think of me

there can be no in-betweens

when your pride is on the floor

i'll make you beg for more

stay with me

stay with me

you'd better hope and pray

that you make it safe

back to your own world

you'd better hope and pray

that you wake one day

in your own world

'cuz when you sleep at night

they don't hear your cries

in your own world

only time will tell

if you can break the spell

back in your own world

stay with me

stay with me

.......................

"TOMAS FIGHT........DAMN YOU......FIGHT!!!!!