by Janeal Falor
“But why do you not just follow my mother’s orders? She’ll be very cross with you when she finds out. Maybe I should try just so she doesn’t know of your disobedience.”
“No, my dear. Don’t worry about her actions toward me. I can take care of myself. If you truly wish to try, go ahead, but only if it is what you want. Please don’t do so just for your mother.”
I nod, looking at the floor. When I don’t speak, Constance continues, “Yes, well, you needn’t decide now. Plenty of time for that.”
Constance stands and puts the finishing touches on my hair. While she finishes, I think on her words. I close my eyes, and after a time, reopen them to look in the nearby mirror. It is true my face doesn’t hold the same former beauty, but I just can’t find it as hideous as Mother does. It’s a change I think I can grow accustomed to.
“Finished, my dear,” Constance says. “Go and enjoy your meal.”
“Thank you.” I stroll out of the room, fingers twisting in my skirt.
The food looks divine, but tastes dry and flavorless. Everyone around me is laughing and talking. I’m sitting as far from the main table as possible, in a corner. Occasionally, a noble peers around the piles of food to look at me and grimace. I force myself to always smile back.
The longer the night goes on, the smaller the piles of food get and the more people can see me. Everyone wears fine clothing of varying colors and styles, though the more detailed clothing like what my mother is wearing is most prevalent.
The grand hall holds three long tables around the edges of the room. Elves start gathering in the middle of the room for dancing. My parents laugh and chat with people around them until my father ushers my mother to the middle of the room. Music starts up, and they dance. Once they begin, others follow suit. After the first song ends, another starts, but my parents return to their place at the center table.
When enough time passes that I can leave without causing a commotion, I escape to the deserted balcony. Looking up at the stars, I attempt to ignore the faint chatter and music coming from the dining hall.
“Princess, I have been waiting for a chance to talk to you all night.” Reginald interrupts my solitude and makes me jump. A chill runs up my spine as I turn to him. I’ve never cared much for him, but my parents and Octavian cherish his advice. Pulling out my most congenial self, I smile but remain silent.
“What was it like? Changing your face, I mean,” he says.
My smile falters. “It hurt.”
“Interesting.” Reginald rubs his smooth chin. “What gave you the idea to change it?”
I choose my words carefully. “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer not to speak of it.”
Octavian appears behind Reginald with a scowl. “I think it would be best if you left now, Reginald.”
“Yes. Of course.” Reginald bows to me. “Forgive me. It wasn’t my intention to offend.” He nods to Octavian as he leaves.
Octavian’s scowl fades with his assistant. “Please forgive him. He’s a tremendous help but still has much to learn.”
“Don’t concern yourself over it.” I wave him off. My thoughts shift to his proposal of marriage. I shiver and work to rid the balcony of him as soon as I can. “What can I do for you this evening?”
“I’d like to have a word with you.”
It doesn’t sound like I can get rid of him easily, then. “What is it you wish to converse?”
“You.” A smile creeps up on his face, but his beady eyes look everywhere but at my face. “I’ve watched you these last few years. You’ve become a fine woman. I can live with your changed face. I hope to marry you soon.”
“I’m certain you do.” I try not let sarcasm lace my words. He is old enough to be my father. Of course, he’d be anxious to get married. It won’t be to me, though.
I turn back to the railing, look out to the dark but still beautiful garden below, and try not to vomit in it. He disgusts me. At least I don’t have to endure his leers since my face took on a new form. An unexpectedly good consequence.
“Marriage to a fine elf, such as myself, will help open your eyes to the way things could be done. Help you make decisions. You will accomplish much with me at your side. It’s time for things to change around here.”
I agree that things need to be different, but I don’t believe we hold the same feelings on what changes should be made. He moves closer, his breath on my neck sending tingles of discomfort through my body. I move to a chair facing him but drape my legs out in front of me in an unladylike fashion to keep distance between us.
I evaluate him during the silence as he stands with his brows drawn together. Gaudy jewelry adorns most of his fingers and neck. His clothes are of the latest fashion, tailor-made to fit his bulky form. He cares for things of status, not for me. It is apparent from looking at him that he’s too much like my mother.
“I do agree things can’t stay so close to war with humans,” I say. “We shall soon topple if we don’t resolve our differences.”
“Yes, yes.” He flips his jeweled hand. “But when we’re married, you can let me worry about such difficulties while you attend to more womanly matters.”
“Thank you for the offer.” Anger surges through me, but I have to be cautious as he’s a member of the court. “I feel, though, that this business with Prince Phillip is a big misunderstanding. If we explain things to the humans, maybe the betrothal can be pieced back together, and we can work on repairing the rift between us.”
I try to keep a smile on, but his eyes grow dark. Spiteful. For the first time, he looks directly at my face. He moves the bulk of his body toward me. He raises his hand, and I think he’s going to strike me. Instead he brings it down slowly to my cheek. His touch sends my body feeling achy and sick.
“We shall see.” His voice is venomous.
He storms off the balcony. I thought things couldn’t be worse, but this is. Much worse. It’s time for the feast to end, at least for me.
The gazes of the gathered nobles follow me when I reenter. I ignore them, concentrating on my parents seated at the head of the grand table. My hand tingles within the folds of my dress. I stop behind them, and my father turns to look at me. Mother stays facing forward, though conversation has stopped around her.
“Good night, Father. Mother.” I curtsy.
“Good night, Arabella.”
My heart flickers with a hope I’ve only found with Constance when my father looks directly at me. That hope is dashed when my mother won’t glance in my direction.
I turn and flee the room as fast as I can within the social norms. I wind my way through the empty halls, heading for my sanctuary. My feet pad on the thick rugs. The stone walls on the way to my room are covered with tapestries of my ancestors. I stop to look at one that hangs at the end of the hall. Ancient artwork, probably one of the oldest in the castle.
“What would you do if you were in my position?” I ask the painting. “I doubt you worried about anything for your face looks so serene.”
I turn down the adjoining hall and enter my suite several doors down. I shut the door behind me and lean against it in the dark. A headache is knotting itself in my head. I try to rub it away. I loath that I’m considering calling my betrothal back on. I became free of it only to desperately want it back.
I might as well try to do what is best for the people. My people. My stomach churns at the thought.
I move into the bedroom, running into a chair on my way. The low fire gives a soft glow to the corner of my room. Constance isn’t here, likely thinking I’ll be at the feast for some time. With difficulty and much reaching, I manage to change out of my dress and carefully drape it across the chair. I slip into my white cotton nightgown and pull my hair down. I look at my bed, longing for sleep, but I know it’s going to be a long, restless night.
Chapter
Twenty-One
&n
bsp; Constance came in earlier to check on me but left after she saw I took care of everything. Since then, sleep is more fitful. Giving way to the noise within my head, I slip out of bed, grab my white robe, and wrap it tightly around me. I shudder as the cool silk embraces my skin.
My room is dark, save for a little moonlight streaming in through the window. As I head toward it, there’s a noise in the sitting room. After the events of the last few weeks, knots twist up in my chest. None of the maids would come through the sitting room, and no one else would come this time of night. I head toward the washroom, where the servants’ entrance is, so I can hide.
I’m probably being silly. After all, there are guards outside my door, and I’m at home, but I go nevertheless. As I make it into the washroom, there’s the soft thud of footsteps in my bedroom. It sounds like they move toward my bed. I glance around the corner, trying to see while remaining out of sight.
A large dark figure is surrounded by moonlight. This is not one of my servants, though the burly man looks familiar. An urgent sense to leave grabs hold of me and yanks me backward.
I head to the servants’ entrance. On the way out of the dark room, I hit something and send it crashing to the floor. My breath catches in my throat.
“Ahh!” Captain Smythe’s voice rings out from the other room, sending a piercing chill down my spine. “Come here, Princess. I won’t hurt you.”
Fear grips my chest. I slide behind the tapestry covering the servants’ entrance and try to move silently. Hearing him enter the washroom, I run down the dimly lit passage, following the unfamiliar path that leads outside as best as I can. Finding help through the twist of hallways is improbabl since I don’t know where they all lead. I could very well wind up lost in a deserted part of the castle.
Stepping lightly, I continue through the maze of hallways, the echoes of footsteps fading behind me. Either he is falling behind or being very quiet. My guess is for the latter. The thought sends my body into flight mood. I try to calm my breathing as I continue forward, getting rid of as much noise as I can.
Turning the last bend, I pull up the hood of my robe and decide to put on my magical disguise, hoping it will help if he—magic forbid—catches up to me. My life is more important than any beauty I might lose. I could play innocent about the princess, though he may take Adelei, too.
My pulse pounds in my ears. Frantic thoughts race through me. I have to get away. The forest is closer than the front entrance. If I can make it there, I might lose him.
The problem is my white robe will be easy to see against the inky night. I glance behind me to see if Captain Smythe is chasing me out of the castle.
Thud.
I fall against a heavy mass. Strong arms wrap around me as I struggle to get free. My throat is closing up. Body screaming for freedom. A familiar scent fills my nose, urging me to calm down. A comforting, masculine scent.
Fear still grips me, moving my defensive training into action. I muster all my strength and run off. I pump my legs as fast and hard as I can until a groan reaches me, and I hesitate.
I look back to find Robert, holding his stomach. I should have recognized his scent sooner. Though, with whom I’m running from, I know why it didn’t register.
Robert groans again. “Adelei.”
“Robert.” I rush back toward him. “Captain Smythe is chasing me.”
He lifts an eyebrow at me, his face pain ridden. His lips move as if he’s about to speak when someone grabs me from behind, wrapping hefty fingers around my mouth. I try to scream anyway.
Robert punches the man’s face a foot or so above me. The man calls out and lets me go. I stumble to the grass but roll back to my feet.
I run up the hill toward the thin woods we had journeyed through to get to Amara. The thunk of two bodies hitting together sounds through the air. I chance glancing back to see Robert leaning over Captain Smythe. A dark liquid gushes from Captain Smythe’s nose onto his shirt. He’s moving on the ground, sword in hand.
I turn all the way toward them, trying to think of a way to help. Robert gives a fierce blow to Captain Smythe’s stomach, kicks the sword out of his hand, and takes off running. He motions me forward, toward the forest.
Feet pound on uneven terrain that cuts into my bare soles. I ignore the pain and press on. We run and run. There’s no sign of being followed, yet we keep going. Finally the sharp ache in my side becomes too much. I slow, and Robert follows suit.
I’m gasping for breath. Robert isn’t much better as he says, “I think we lost him.” He places a comforting hand at the small of my back. “I’m sorry you had to see that. I don’t normally kick a man when he’s down, but I feared he’d be too quick to follow.”
“I understand,” I say between puffs of air. “Thank you for your help.”
“What’s going on?”
“Let’s continue walking, and I’ll tell you. I don’t wish for him to catch up with us.”
He nods in agreement, and we walk toward the beach. The rush of the moment catches up with me, and my cheeks burn. I’ve been lying too long. “You know that the princess has been in danger.” He nods, and I go on. “I was placed in her room as a decoy in case anything happened. I don’t look like her, but at least someone would be in her place in case anyone was watching. I admit that I, too, couldn’t sleep.”
Gazing upon him, just being with him, stirs up all my feelings even more than when I’m not with him. No wonder I couldn’t sleep. “I had just gotten up and was about the pace around the room when I heard a noise in the sitting room. Frightened, I hid in the washroom and headed out the servants’ entrance. In my haste to leave, I knocked something over and Captain Smythe spoke. Eventually, I made it out of the castle where I bumped into you.”
He looks at me thoughtfully. I pull his jacket round me tighter.
“Tell me one thing. Why do they need a decoy? Why not place extra guards around her?”
“Well, uh… I suppose they wanted extra protection. There should have been someone standing guard outside the door, which has me worried for whoever that was supposed to be. They think someone on the inside is working against us, which may explain a lot. Plus, the attempted kidnapping frightened the king and queen into taking extra precautions. The cancellation of her betrothal also worri—”
Robert’s well-defined jaw drops, his face pales, and his eyes grow large. I place a hand on his arm. He relaxes a little under my touch, coming to look more like himself, but still in a state of shock.
“Have you not heard the news? I thought someone would have told you after we returned,” I say. He shakes his head, so I continue. “The king and queen decided to call off the wedding despite the serious consequences because of the ransom note they received. Thinking the pirates actually had m—the princess when they received it, they weren’t willing to wager on her life.”
He sits on a rock, and I stand next to him, wondering what he is thinking. He rubs his eyes and then the back of his neck. Maybe I’m right to want to restore the betrothal. He seems so upset by the news. If he cares so much, maybe others do as well.
I stiffen my back while I consider my other option. The human prince can’t possibly be as bad as Octavian. Can he?
After several moments of silence, Robert regains his composure. “I’m sorry. This news is such a surprise. I’ve never been one to agree with arranged betrothals, but I know what this will do to my people.”
“Your people? I like to think of us all being the same. Equal, whether we belong to the same race or not. Really, the biggest difference between humans and elves is magic and outward appearance.” My tone grows angrier with each word.
Frustrated, I storm off in the direction I hear the ocean waves crashing in. Robert catches up when the sandy beach meets the hardened wooden floor.
“Adelei, I’m sorry. He gently pulls me to a stop. He wraps both arms around me. “I didn�
�t mean it that way at all. I believe humans and elves are not all that different, but I know many feel they are. This marriage would have been a good thing for both races.”
His words enter my thoughts and make sense, but they barely register. The feel of his arms around me is distracting. I lay my head on his chest and breathe in his scent. The rhythmic movement of his chest soothes me. The warm, tingling sensation flickers within me, and then flames outward to the rest of my body. I look up at him, my lips aching to find his.
Betrothed.
The single-word thought stiffens my body. Heart feeling like it’s falling apart, ripping into tiny little pieces, and being stomped on, I push away from his warmth. Tears prick at my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall even when I turn my back to him.
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much,” I say. “I know the princess wants to make amends with the humans. She won’t tolerate something that will lead to war, especially not because of her, even if many would have her keep it broken off.”
I glance up at him, the unshed tears filling my eyes. His expression ranges through a multitude of emotions I wish to enjoy the time I have left with him, but I can’t. The sound of the sea beckons me, asking me to wait just a little longer.
“Come. Let us walk by the sea, and then we will return to the castle. Captain Smythe hopefully will be searching elsewhere by then.”
Robert nods his agreement and follows me the short distance to the beach. As the trees finish clearing, I look out onto the sea with longing. My heart urges me to leave with Robert and never come back.
Of course, he doesn’t even know who I am. I don’t even really know who he is. Just that we have a connection. And that connection is one I so desperately want to explore. The first step onto the sand is a soothing change.