Slowly, softly she crept down the stairs as she usually did. Taking care to glance about to 
insure the emptiness of the hallway. Then with a small sweet smile she continued down to the left 
wing, to where *he* slept. Her witness smiled to himself and wondered how long these nightly visits 
had been occurring and exactly on what terms they came to be. For the past week the maiden had 
come from her quarters to visit *him* and then returning sometime before dawn. The fact that her 
witness even knew was purely accident.
	He was being plagued by a wakefulness that would not allow him a full night’s sleep and 
deciding to make good use of it, went to gaze at the sacred stars. As he was about to turn the 
corner he heard a sound from down the hall. Looking from where he had come, he saw the 
princess of mercury frozen like a frightened stag at the foot of the stairs. Not three feet from her lay 
a small object. When no one came to catch and question her she visibly relaxed, and picking up 
the dropped object, continued on her way down the hall to the left wing where he and his three 
companions stayed.
	The witness had often thought of asking the reason for her visits, but always thought better 
of it, judging the shy maiden would remain quiet and tell him nothing. He had asked the one he 
thought these appointments concerned, but even he seemed unaware. The way the witness 
learned whom it involved consisted of a silent wait in a dark corner of the outer room to their 
chambers. Indeed, it was whom he suspected.
	Now these visits had become an interest. Every night the witness would go and wait at the 
end of the hall, hiding in the shadows. Watching intently when she came, and feeling disappointed 
when she did not. This night she looked eager. She had not come the two preceding nights, and 
was being a bit careless. Neglecting to check at the bottom of the stairs and not quieting her 
footsteps as was normally done. Upon seeing this, he decided he would reveal his secret. 
Exposing his knowledge to her on the ‘morrow.
	He crept back to his room and was about to enter his quarters when curiosity whispered to 
him. He should find out everything before he ended it. Padding softly to the door, he opened the 
entrance a bit to be able to see. What he saw was nothing as he expected. Sitting on a chair at the 
side of the bed sat the princess. She quietly watched Zoisite’s sleeping form. He turned in his sleep 
causing a few loose strands of hair to fall across his brow. With care the princess rose from the 
chair and brushed them from his face, then resumed her careful watch. 
The beauty of it, caught the witness’ breath, making him long to use paper and pen to 
catch the moment. The elegant moonlight spilling from the open drapes casting both the sleeping 
man and his guarding angel in pale light. The soft look of love on her face almost melted his heart. 
He suddenly felt intruding and quietly crept away, only to lie thinking of what he had seen and of 
his own angel, long before sleep finally claimed him.
The next morning when he passed the princess of mercury in the hall, he said, “I know,” 
and made a sign to show his lips were sealed and the secret would be kept. She looked frightened 
at first, but learning her secret was safe she smiled. Each went on their way, but ever after would 
share knowing glances of the mutual concealment.
One afternoon found them in the garden, speaking of the secret they shared. The princess 
telling of her side, the witness sharing what he knew.
“The first night I could not go past the base of the stairs, my heart was pounding so loud I 
feared I wouldn’t hear if someone came stomping down the hall.” 
“Why did you not tell Zoisite?”
“Tell him? I can barely ask him the time. How then, could I tell him that I watch him in his 
sleep? And that he holds my heart?”
“I see. Shall I?”
“I could not lay the burden upon your shoulders, it is I who must tell him.”
“You are afraid,” he observed, “it is falsely founded. You should be more afraid of him 
never knowing.”
“Truly?” she inquired softly.
He nodded.
“Thank you, Nephrite… for understanding.”