by K. Lyn Hill
Approaching, she plopped her back to the ground, crossing her hands behind her head. Her face preened and stretched like a flower soaking in rays from the sun. A content smile fell across her face as her breathing grew heavy. He continued to watch her, forgetting that Carly sat beside them. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he glanced away.
“She’s pretty amazing, huh?” The affection was clear in Carly’s voice.
“Yes.” Was all he dared to say. He was pretty sure she could read his innermost thoughts judging by her knowing smile. He added for good measure. “She will be great for Damien.”
Carly raised one eyebrow in speculation. It was the first time he took notice of her eyes. They were a vibrant amber that glistened in the sunlight. Not as intoxicating as Aerity’s but they were unique in their own way. “I’m sure she would be great for anyone, my Prince.” Her tone changed while her posture straightened, making him think she remembered his title. The movement drew attention to the sleek curve of her neck and delicate shape of her shoulders.
He shook his head and changed the subject. “You went out riding with her the other day.”
“Yes. She took me to visit my family’s farm.” Then realizing what she had said, she stumbled. “I hooppe that’s alright.” A worried line creased her forehead. He smiled at the wrinkles it formed by her eyes. Her face was very expressive, he mused. The desire to smooth out those lines forced his hand out but then he remembered where he was and who he was with and pulled back. Carly’s cheeks went rosy.
“She disappeared that day and wouldn’t tell me where she went. I must admit curiosity got the best of me. Especially when I found out that she was with her chamber maid.” He regretted reminding her of her status as soon as it slipped out. Her shoulders became rigid and her back tensed. “I didn’t mean to bring that up. I want you to feel relaxed. It was just unexpected given the princess’s reputation.”
After a moment she composed herself, acting like nothing had happened. Her mouth opened and closed as if she had something to say.
“Please don’t be afraid to say what you’re thinking.”
She stared intently at the grass. “Don’t you find that odd?”
“Her befriending a chamber maid? Yes.”
She shook her head. “No. Not about that. Although I’ll admit, that is weird as well. I was referring to how she seems like such a different person than before.”
She bit down on her lower lip and peered up at him with hooded eyes. He wondered if Aerity had told her about being from another world and if she believed it. “Are you saying that she changed in the last few weeks or its almost as if she is a different person?”
Carly released a frustrated sigh. “Let’s speak freely. We both know she told you what happened to her. How she isn’t the princess. Is it so hard to believe?”
Her frankness surprised him but then again, he appreciated the honesty. She genuinely thought Aerity wasn’t the princess. Which made sense considering how close they seemed as friends.
“I understand it’s crazy, and I know the princess was known for being manipulative, but I offer her nothing. She gains nothing by befriending me.” Her words slowly sank into his mind. She was right. It didn’t make sense. If Aerity was playing a game, he had no idea what the rules were. But he did know one thing. One couldn’t fake true laughter. Aerity couldn’t pretend to have the sparkle in her eye that made his insides go ballistic nor the smile that seemed to catch the room on fire.
He needed more time to process things.
Blowing out a deep breath, his head swiveled back to stare up at the sky. A lot of time had passed. “We have to wake Aerity and get back to the castle for dinner.” Carly seemed disappointed in his lack of a response on the matter but nodded her head non-the-less. He would have given her a better answer but couldn’t. At the moment, he didn’t know what to believe.
Chapter Twenty-one
Aerity
“Aerity?” A soft whisper broke through her dreams.
Cracking open her eyes, she was assaulted by a bulky form hunching over her. She smiled at Siel, stretching her back. The damp grass underneath her body reminding her of where she was as she moved to sit up, her body groaning in protest. Their time at the waterfall was something unforgettable and she loathed the fleeing of the day. She hadn’t felt such peace in some time.
Unfortunately, Siel shattered the illusion. "We have to get back to the castle to prepare for dinner or Damien will have my head. Special guests will be dining with us this evening."
Her good mood vanished as she thought of sitting through a stuffy dinner but then realizing Damien would be there enhanced her mood. She would never admit to the little piece of her that was excited to see her fiancé. Then she recalled her last encounter with him at the hunt and her excitement turned to anger.
Remembering Siel’s comment about guests, she glanced at him inquisitively. "Who?"
Siel reached out to help her off the ground. "The count of Erlington and his sister lady Maria. A charming pair. Enough charm to make my brother want to jump out of the nearest window."
She scoffed, adjusting her disheveled clothing that sat in every direction but the one it should be facing. The sun had helped to dry it a little bit but the dampness still clung to her skin. "That good huh? Now I'm super excited for dinner." She pulled a section of her top back only to have it suction cup against her chest. Silence had her glancing up, finding Siel in a momentary daze.
He shook his head and shot her another smile. "I'm sure you'll woo them with your tales and splendor."
"And if all else fails, I'll show them my bow and arrow skills." She sent a dramatic wink his way and turned back to in the direction of the castle.
"I would hold back from that. It is very un-lady like for a princess to use weapons. Not to mention, you actually need to hit the target to impress." He joked, offering his arm. She smirked, eagerly gripping it. Anything to feel closer to him.
"Well then, I guess it's a good thing I'm not a princess." She punched him in the arm with her free hand and squeezed the forearm she held playfully. “And with enough practice I’m going to become a bow and arrow master.”
He seemed to hesitate before speaking again. She didn’t realize what she had said until mentally replaying the words. His stare seemed to pierce right through her searchingly. She couldn’t tell if he found what he was looking for or not.
"Well they think you are.” He paused. “The princess that is. You'll be expected to smile," he reached over to pinch her cheeks. "and be the cute little dove you are."
It didn’t escape her notice that he hadn’t argued with her about not being the princess. The thought churned her curiosity, but she thought better than to press the issue. "And here I thought you knew me better than that."
The little dimple made an appearance on his face when they felt the first drop of rain dribble down their cheeks. "You’re nice to children and small animals."
She chuckled and plucked more leaves off that had stuck to her clothes as they walked back at a quicker pace now that the sky had begun to darken gradually. "Oh yes I do believe that will win the heart of some snobby count and his money-grubbing sister." The drops now came down heavier and at this point, what did it matter if they were caught in the rain? Her dress was already wet. No harm. No foul. The end scene to THE NOTEBOOK came to mind and a blush crept up her face. No, it was not appropriate to think of kissing Siel in the rain.
"So quick you are to judge them, my dear." Siel’s voice brought her back to reality and her face grew hot from her previous thoughts. Hopefully Siel didn’t notice.
"I can't help the fact I know people. Mark my words, she is going to be giggling and drooling over Damien and her brother is going to be trying to schmooze me just like every other court member." She just didn’t want another girl touching Damien. The thoughts swirled in the back of her mind. What a hypocrite she was. Thinking about kissing one brother while refusing to think of someone else touching the oth
er brother. Harrumph. She was so messed up. This place was doing something to her.
"You think so poorly of us royal folk. We can't help our birth right." Siel placed a hand on his chest in playful offense.
She smiled, shook her head and made her voice go annoyingly shrill, bumping him with her shoulder. "Then don't fit into the stereotype."
He feigned horror. "Your sweat is going to stain my expensive clothing! How dare you touch me! Where is the nearest slave to wipe my garment off?!" Siel glanced around as if searching for a servant. Carly glanced up but then realized he wasn’t referring to her. They all settled into comfortable laughter. She honestly had forgotten that Carly was even there. What was wrong with her?! Thinking about heavy make out scenes while a friend stood right there. The urge to rub a hand down her face and shake it violently to clear bad thoughts was ever present.
Carly excused herself to get to chores before dinner, her speed much faster than the one they had been doing. Aerity waved as Carly disappeared over the hill and turned back to Siel. She should have paid more attention to Carly while at the waterfall but once again, another mistake could be added to her ever-growing list.
"What if I pretend to be sick? Do you think I could get out of dinner?" She asked trying to drag herself back to the conversation and not dwell on how screwed up she currently was.
"The girl can knock out guards, come to a new universe, but heaven forbid she need to wear a dress with a royal for an evening. It has her running for the hills." Amusement tinged his voice. Yet again, he played along with her story. He stopped short as if realizing what he had said and practically dared her to make a comment about it.
She ignored it. "I didn't say I couldn't put on the show. I just don't like pretending. I am who I am. No royal will accept me." She was who she was except when around Damien and now apparently it was creeping in when she was around Siel too. Not cool.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Siel asked.
"You fit into your own category. You’re gullible and believe everything I say." She shoved her tongue out at him.
He pursed his lips. "Are you saying I shouldn't believe your grand story about being from a different world?"
"You will never know." She replied, sticking out her chest in a way she hoped seemed intriguing. It probably looked as one did when relieving a bout of gas. She was thankful when Siel didn’t seem to notice.
"Oh such a mysterious woman. Maybe tonight you should wear a bag over your head to add to the fascination." Siel retorted, tugging on her arm to lead her in a different direction than they had come.
"I couuuuuuuuld. Oooooor I could not go and leave behind the mystery of where I went for the evening." They walked toward the courtyard as they continued their banter. According to Siel, they were taking a private path leading to the castle that no one else knew about. It was completely abandoned. They had to climb through trees and bushes to make it to a part of an entrance way hidden from plain view. "Or maybe I could put a servant in my stead. You don't think Damien would notice, do you?" She tried again clearly not getting anywhere as she dodged a branch. Was this where she was taken to be murdered? Every scary movie in her mind began to play. Then she remembered she was with Siel. He was safe.
"Damien is many things and he can most certainly be daft, but the second you walk into the room, the man is in shambles."
Yeah, she didn’t believe that for a minute. Cocking her eyebrow, she turned to face him. "Riiiight. Your ideals are adorable. Damien ignores me at every turn."
"Aer, I know he's said a lot of monstrous things and yes, he's completely blind to what's right under his nose, but you’re all he sees when you walk in the room." He held a bush out of the way so she could pass. What a gentleman.
She scoffed. "All he sees are my flaws and everything that I'm not and he wishes me to be."
"You’re normally too involved in the moment to see it but it's there. Maybe you’re just as blind as he is. He simply craves for you to look his way and he acts crazy when you don't." Siel was acting like this was a simple case of a boy loving a girl who wasn’t giving him the time of day. But that wasn’t the situation. She had tried with Damien and each time it was as if he were determined to dislike her. Maybe they just got off on the wrong foot. She should give him another chance. That didn’t change other facts though. The way he’d been acting since she arrived wasn’t very promising.
"I don’t look his way because every time I do, he acts like an ass.”
“I realize that. Everyone else realizes that but Damien, he has some childhood issues and he doesn’t trust easily. It’s an immense struggle and a lot of extra effort but when he does finally realize it, he will be irrevocably loyal.”
“What do I do with that statement?" She asked, pushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. The rain was practically pouring down their heads, her arm still tucked tightly into his.
"Whatever you wish." He replied with a tilt to his lips.
She huffed. “All I have to say is if there is another freaking bird dress hanging in my closet, I swear to God I’m going to dinner naked.”
Siel laughed. “Too bad you didn’t mention it sooner, I would have arranged for it.
She grinned. “Hardy har har.”
They slipped under a final tree to a loose cement block by the castle wall. Siel dropped her arm in order to slide it out of the way, making room for them both to fit through one at a time. She stared at the hole as if it held the meaning of life. This could certainly come in handy, but she wondered why he would show it to her. For all he knew she could use it for escape. “Siel, why are you showing me this? Damien would be furious.”
He dragged in a deep breath, but his eyes never left the wall. “I’m not daft. I realize exactly what you could use this knowledge for. But I don’t think you will.” Her chest squeezed and her tongue ran dry. His words washed over her along with the rain pelting her face. He had faith in her. Trust. She may have hoped it be from her future husband since she was thrown into this whole mess, but anyone would do. Someone to make her feel not so alone. That someone was Siel. Her throat bobbed, her mouth refusing to operate.
“I’ve seen how Damien acts and I don’t know when it will get easier, but I also know how trapped the castle can begin to feel. Like you’re in a cage.” He stared pointedly at the hole. “I want you to know there is an exit.” He gripped her hand in his and forced her to look in his eyes. “I hope you don’t use it Aerity. I honest to god hope you don’t but I will also understand if you do.”
She couldn’t have been more amazed in that moment if she tried. Goosebumps trailed her arms and she didn’t know if it was from the rain or from being in Siel’s presence. Her eyes pricked with unshed tears as she sucked in a much-needed air. This was real. Siel was real.
A sharp pang struck her stomach. Siel may be real but the truth of the matter was, he wasn’t her reality. Damien was. And Damien didn’t believe her.
With a sharp nod, she dropped his hands and offered him a shaky smile. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to me.”
He gave her the same somber look and smiled gently. “I think I understand.”
After another minute of basking in each other’s company, a loud shout shook them from their moment.
“I guess we better get back.” She really didn’t want to go. She wanted to stay here wrapped in this bubble with Siel for as long as she possibly could.
But her fiancé waited.
Siel slipped through the hole in the wall and motioned her on. Once through their secret entrance, Siel placed another block to fill in the hole. Sneaking past the men guarding the courtyard Aerity paused. The men stationed at the gate weren’t the usual guards.
“Did you change the rotation of guards?” She whispered, curious as to why there were new ones. Something about them didn’t sit right with her.
“There has been discussion of unrest among the villagers, so we have taken on new recruits. That’s why you don’t recognize them.” He repli
ed.
“Is that normal?” She caught one of their gazes while strolling into the castle lobby. The rain had turned to a trickle, but their swim clothes were still sopping wet. Confusion filtered over the guard’s faces followed by a hardening of their features. It felt as if something was crawling on her skin.
“Is anything normal when it comes to war?” His dismissal bothered her, but she couldn’t put into words the reason why. There was something about the guards that made her uncomfortable. She glanced back to find one of them tracking her movement. It was the same feeling she felt while walking out of the forest on her first day here.
“There’s something about them that doesn’t feel right.”
A V creased Siel’s forehead. He looked behind him at the guard who now had turned away. “I’ll look into it but I’m sure there is nothing to worry about.”
They took the servant stairways to avoid running into anyone who would scrutinize or talk about their appearance, even though she was sure word would spread anyway. It was only a matter of time before Damien flipped out about it, but she didn’t care. Her mind was still focused on the guards.
Arriving at her rooms, her insecurities refused to disappear. Siel knew these men, so maybe he was right. She was just being paranoid. But it didn’t feel that way.
“Yeah maybe you’re right.” She tried to infuse confidence in her words, but the guards gave her the creeps. Her intuition was normally pretty spot on and her gut feelings led her through life unmistakably.
Elias was the general of their army so he must have a handle on it. Hopefully. She didn’t trust this version of her best friend very much. Thoughts of Elias brought her back to when she was in the library unable to locate Elias’ name in the village book.
“Hey, Siel. I was reading one of the history books with the names of the villagers and their parents.”