Page 95 of Songs and Spun Gold
She twisted in his arms, staring at him with her mouth open. “You weren’t supposed to see that yet,” he gently chided, playing with one of her curls.
“But Axel—you brought me home!” Katy exclaimed. As she flung her arms around his neck, she faintly registered that his smile was a little dimmer than she would have expected. “Thank you! Thank you, Axel!”
He tightened his arms around her in response. “I thought you might like it. Happy birthday, Katy.”
“But my birthday isn’t for another week,” she protested.
“Yes, but my mother will be throwing a celebration for youonyour birthday,” he pointed out, “so I’m giving you my gift early.”
He settled his cheek against the top of her head. She allowed herself to enjoy the sensation for a few moments before drawing back, fighting the blush from his nearness. “Thank you. I love it!”
Axel finally allowed her to pull the curtains back, and she soaked in the view of the home she hadn’t seen in over two months; she hadn’t thought the king would let her return before the wedding. As they rolled past the first houses, people began to appear in doorways; the arrival of any visitor was cause for curiosity in Flussendorf.
First, their eyes would widen when they absorbed the dragon crest on the door of the carriage. Then their eyes would trace the guards, lighting up when they recognized Otto, after which they invariably noticed Katy at the window, waving and smiling. The reactions she received were split between shock and excitement. Cries of “Katy’s back!” mixed with “A royal carriage!” as they drove through the tiny market.
“Where shall we go first?” Axel asked as the driver broughtthe vehicle to a stop. They had brought only guards, so he opened the door himself and hopped to the ground before holding his hands out to her.
“The mill.” Setting her hands on his shoulders, she let him grab her waist and lift her down, neither of them bothering to lower the steps. As soon as he released her, she grabbed his hand and dragged him toward a smaller street. “This way!”
“Shall I find Liesl?” Otto called from behind them.
Without pausing, she turned to yell over her shoulder, “Yes, thank you, Otto!” She saw him shake his head with a smile and direct his horse toward the hilly slopes, but then she was focused ahead once more. She could barely contain her excitement. Her family was so close!
“Katy?”
She grinned at the sight of Adele standing in the open doorway of the mill, hands limp at her side and mouth slightly open. Dropping Axel’s hand, Katy ran forward and swept her unresisting sister into her arms. “Adele! I missed you so much!” Prickly as she could be, Adele was family, and Katy had spent many nights in her too-big room at the castle wishing for her sisters.
“You’re back.” There was a quiver in Adele’s voice as she returned Katy’s hug with interest. “You’re really back.”
“I am,” Katy agreed happily.
Loosening her grip, Adele leaned back and examined her. “That isnotthe dress you were wearing when you left.”
“No, it isn’t,” Katy acknowledged, blushing as she realized how out of place she was. “Did you expect me to walk around the castle in my old one?”
“But you’re back. Shouldn’t—” Adele looked over Katy’s shoulder and stiffened. “Who’s that?”
“The prince,” a flat voice answered. Turning, Katy saw Fritz standing a few feet away, glaring at Axel, who was hangingback to watch the happy reunion with a small smile. “I heard Katy was back. I didn’t realize you came with her.”
“Wearea package deal,” the prince glibly replied. “I thought you knew that when you left the capital.”
“She’s back. I’d hoped it had changed.”
“That’s enough, you two!” Katy cut in crossly. “I haven’t even been up to see my mother yet; you can wait at least that long before you start bickering again.”
Axel turned to her with an innocent expression. “Bickering? I’m not bickering.”
“Of course, you aren’t,” she grumbled. Huffing, she said a little louder, “Adele, this is Axel. Axel, my sister Adele.”
Adele’s eyes had been wide since Fritz’s declaration, but they grew further at Katy’s informality. Axel’s eyes twinkled at her fumbling attempts to curtsy, which he politely waved off as unnecessary. Bertram loomed behind him.
From there, Katy shuffled her sister and tag-along prince inside and up to the living area, picking up her father on the way. Fritz trailed behind; Axel ordered Bertram to remain downstairs. Katy applauded his wisdom in that decision, especially once Otto and Liesl showed up. The room above the mill was rather tight with all five members of her family plus three visitors. Especially when two of the visitors kept sniping at each other: Fritz, direct and protective; Axel, subtle and laid-back.
When Katy grew tired of it, she threw the prince out, shocking her parents with her treatment of him. His eyes sparkled less than usual, but he simply gave her an easy smile, kissed her knuckles, and said, “Anything for you, Katy,” before removing himself from the situation.
She felt bad about ejecting him, but she was a little afraid that if she sent Fritz away, he would get himself in trouble with the prince’s guards.
After spending a good long while with her family, Katymeandered out to visit her friends. Axel was polite as always. His eyes danced through most of the conversations, but occasionally, Katy caught a bit of sorrow in them when he looked at her.
