A Day at the Beach

          Darigan looked up from his book as the normally jovial Blumaroo slunk into the portion of Altador castle set aside for the court of Roo Island and, by some grace he was still struggling with believing, Lord Darigan.

          “I am bored,” the king whined, throwing his hands into the air and giving the ground a stomp that was so comical Darigan couldn’t stop the smirk from twisting his lips.

          King Roo stared at him, aghast, “I am bored, and now you’re mocking me!”

          Lord Darigan remained seated, lifting his own hands in the air in surrender. “I’m not mocking you, Roo. I’ve just never seen you so...chuffed.”

          Roo let out a huff, “We’ve been cooped up in here for who even knows how long. I’m missing the Blumaroo Day festivities. And no one here is any fun, besides you of course.”

          Darigan smiled, warmer this time, “Well, we could go somewhere. King Altador and Fyora haven’t bound us to this place. Leaders are free to come and go as they please. More than once I’ve seen Nabile and Jazan slipping off into town.”

          Roo’s eyes lit up and, almost too quickly, he was ready with a suggestion, “How about the beach? The shores of Roo Island are so close to Terror Mountain, our waters are frigid. Altador is so much warmer. I’ll have Augustina prepare us a lunch, we’ll leave in an hour!” And with that, he sprang off to dole out a menu to the chef.

          Darigan blinked, slowly, and realized he’d fallen into Roo’s plan perfectly. “Oh blast,” he muttered, setting his book aside.The ghost of a smile still played on his lips as he headed off to pack a bag.

          -x-

          Not two hours later, Darigan and Roo were standing on the sandy shore of Altador. In the distance, Darigan could see the dock they’d arrived at months ago. How quickly things had changed since those first days. When he had accepted the offer of passage to Altador he had assumed King Roo had drawn the short straw in some situation. But, their time together so far had been bordering on pleasant. Or, if Darigan decided to be honest with himself, the best days of his life.

          “Look at that water!” Roo shouted, shaking Darigan from his thoughts as he had a habit of doing. “And the sun! Feel that warm glow.”

          “Did you really have to wear those?” Darigan asked, staring at Roo’s heart shaped sunglasses. He’d declined a second pair, having to extend himself to his full height to prevent the Blumaroo from shoving them on his face anyways.

          “I have very sensitive eyes,” Roo shot back, traipsing towards the sand.

          Darigan rolled his eyes before following Roo down. He was carrying the majority of their load, two beach chairs scrounged up from somewhere and a full lunch spread “fit for a king”, Augustina had quipped as she chuckled and she wrapped up the meal in a large red checkered print cloth.

          The sand was pleasantly warm under Darigan’s feet, but with more give than he’d imagined it would have. With some effort, he was able to make his way down the sloping sands to where Roo was waiting. The chairs opened and lunch set out of the path of any rising tides, Darigan turned to Roo.

          “Well, what now?”

          Roo looked around, uncertain, “I’m not sure. Into the water, perhaps?”

          Darigan looked to the waves lapping the beachline and shuddered slightly. He’d never learned to swim, and this much open water made him nervous.

          “How about a walk along the shore,” he countered, “I hear there are many shells to collect.”

          Roo nodded, and began walking down the coast. Darigan followed him, quietly pondering a life so simple. Walks on the beach, lunch prepared and provided with a joke and smile, and true happiness. Could things really be this way? Could life be so easy?

          As the sun beamed overhead, Roo picked up shells from time to time. In turn, declaring them not shiny enough or not swirly enough or some other small imperfection that necessitated dropping them back into the sand with finality. Darigan was almost certain the jokester king simply didn’t want to carry anything.

          After a while of walking Roo suggested turning back around and so they did, heading back to the chairs for lunch.

          Roo carefully unpacked the parcel, setting out a mouth-watering array of sandwiches and pastries still holding on to their warmth.

          Picking up an egg salad sandwich, Darigan asked something that had been pressing on his mind. “Roo, your servants, you’re rather close with them. Isn’t that unusual?”

          Roo took a bite of his own roasted aubergine sandwich, chewing slowly. “You’ve shared a great deal with me, so I suppose it’s fair I do the same. My parents passed away when I was quite young, too young to take the throne properly. In the years between their passing and my coronation, I spent much time with the servants in the castle learning as much as I could about how it all worked. Augustina has been like a mother to me for most of my life now.”

          The air went out of Darigan’s lungs as he took this in, shellshocked at the revelation and honesty from Roo. He’d assumed a man like Roo hadn’t faced any hardship in life, had existed in a charmed space of comfort and joy that was unobtainable to someone like him.

          “I am...quite sorry to hear that, Roo,” Darigan said softly, shame burning in his chest at his earlier thoughts. Roo may have an easy life, but it was not without loss.

          Roo waved a hand, “It was many years ago now, but thank you. Because of that time, I try to be as close as possible with my servants. After all, I serve them as king as much as they serve me!” A laugh bubbled up from Roo’s throat as he took another bite, looking out at the waves.

          Darigan fell quiet then, enjoying the ocean sounds and the company of the man beside him. Time passed as they sat and ate, and the sun eventually began to sink over the horizon.

          With light chatter, they packed up and made their way back to the castle. As the night wound down and Darigan prepared to head to bed he remembered the small token in his pocket.

          “Ah, Roo, here,” he tossed the Blumaroo the cream heart sea shell he’d plucked off the ground earlier.

          King Roo caught it and looked down at it, then back up to Darigan in awe.

          “I hope it’s shiny enough,” Darigan said, with a teasing edge.

          Roo’s voice came out in a warble, “No, it...it’s perfect. Thank you.” His hands closed over the shell as he stared fully into Darigan’s face. “I will treasure it forever.”

          Darigan nodded and quickly headed to his chambers, hoping his deep blush hadn’t been too visible in the evening light.

     The End.