So sorry I've been gone for such a long time. I'll get back to updating. Promise ^_^
“Good morning,” the tailor greeted them both warmly. “Princess Elissiana... and... who might you be kind, sir? You don’t look as though you are from around these parts...” he was an older man with shoulder length white hair and overgrown eyebrows. He wore a pair of spectacles and had an uncommonly rosy hint to his cheeks. “What might I assist you with this fine day?” Hayward put the concern for her out of his mind and focused on the tailor instead. “Good morning, sir. I am Prince Hayward of Aasleagh.” The tailor gave him a bow, and he waved his hand. “No need. Just—stating I am not from around here and am too accustomed to the heat of the desert. As I’m planning to spend some time in your lovely country, I could do with something warmer. Perhaps a cloak or a long coat?” He made a show of perusing the tailor’s wares, but he mostly focused his eyes on the room, the doors, and the windows. Was this a safe place to be? How easily could they escape out the back if his men came through the
“I had five guards. I don’t think the fifth is here; he should have attacked already. If he’s still back at the castle... I don’t know what he’ll do. Try to kill people, presumably, since they’re here to provoke war.” He paused. “I... am sorry I didn’t say anything sooner. I should have warned you, warned your parents. I just... wasn’t sure what to do. We should get back to the castle. If we’re lucky, he hasn’t had the chance yet.” He finally took a moment to look at his own wounds, the arrows sticking out of his arm and chest. There was, thankfully, little blood. “I probably need a doctor, too, at some point. This is painful.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him from the shop. She’d come back later to rectify the mess they’d made, but for the time being, they needed to get back, fast. “I’m really sorry Mister Evermore! It’s safe to come out, and I’ll send someone to clean up!
Hayward rolled onto his back. He glanced briefly around, seeing the terrible shape the Elven guards were in. It looked like one of them might make it, if the doctor got to him immediately, but Felix had been a skilled and efficient killer: there was no hope for the rest. The prince held up his arm again and looked at the arrow stuck in it. “I think I need to see a healer, or doctor, or whatever you have...” he trailed off, then pointed at the badly wounded elf. “But not as bad as that guy.” Then he put his arms down again and shut his eyes. “Oh yeah... this... hurts...” As far as he was concerned, his life was no longer in danger, but the adrenaline was wearing off, and he was going to crash soon. But he’d survived. Thankfully, her brother’s wounds were minor. Kohl appeared to be in shock, standing
As soon as she was out of sight, she leaned against a wall, letting everything wash over her. She took a shuddered breath as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Why? Why were her emotions betraying her? She didn’t want to feel. She wanted to remain closed off, but the adrenaline was gone, and it left in its wake all the things she pressed down that day. She’d never seen so much death in her life. Sure, Hayward’s ‘guards’ deserved it, but her own guards did not. She had tried to push it to the side like they weren’t important, but she knew each one of them by name. They’d been in her family’s service for years. If she had allowed herself to acknowledge it in front of Hayward... he would’ve seen she was still a weak woman. And that was unforgivable to her. She finally straightened herself up, wiping away the few tears she’d allowed to fall, and headed downstairs to the kitchens, requesting food and drink to be brought up for the prince. She then grabbed two glasses of wine. Even if
Hayward patted the bed next to him, then slowly scooted down until he was lying on his back again. She did as requested and climbed in next to him, lying on her side to face him. Her eyes still held a degree of worry to them. She could see he was in a good amount of pain, but at least there weren’t arrows sticking out of him; and her father didn’t want his head. She said nothing. Her blue eyes just stared at him, the events of the day washing over her like a wave.After a few moments of silence, Elissa finally broke it. “You scared the shit out of me today...” the whole day had been the craziest of her entire life. She’d never felt so many emotions all at once, and even looking at him... she wanted to cry. Of course, she refused. She refused to have anyone, least of all him, thinking she was weak.“I’m... sorry,” he said again. “For scaring you, for putting you in danger, for making you think I was about to leave—though, to be fair, it wasn’t true and you weren’t meant to hear it,” he
Hayward was not nearly as well behaved as he should have been. The wine had kicked in, dulling the pain a little and weakening his inhibitions as well. Her, in that dress, fondling him a bit while helping him change pants? He was going to react, at least a little.Perhaps more than a little. His good arm reached out and grabbed the front of her dress. He pulled her into another deep, passionate kiss. For once, though, it was brief. He let go and followed directions, groaning a little as he scooted back onto the bed. “Ooh... that hurt. Worth it, though.” He winked playfully at her and settled down.Feeling more comfortable, he once again patted the bed next to him. “So, you said the mines are more interesting than the town. That doesn’t take much, I suppose, but I always think of mines as, well, just deep holes in the ground. What makes them so interesting?” he asked. He was still thinking of going to see t
Sometimes Hayward needed the reminder that setting aside his pride was worth it. In this case, being willing to beg a little had paid off marvelously. “Dear god, Elissa... that was amazing.” He patted the bed beside him again. “C’mere. I feel... very relaxed. I’m gonna shut my eyes for a while.” He reached over to the nightstand and took another drink of his wine.She smiled up at his praises, “I know...” she was rather confident in her abilities, even if she was a little out of practice. It wasn’t exactly something you forgot.Then the princess crawled up next to him and wrapped her arms around his good one, laying her head against his shoulder, just touching him. She too closed her eyes, soaking in the moment. She wasn’t sleepy, but the day had been exhausting. A little nap wouldn’t hurt anythi
Elissa nodded and disappeared down the stairs, taking a hard left turn when she saw one of her sisters to avoid them. They appeared to not take that as an answer and followed her toward the kitchen. “Not interested, Aeris...” she called behind her.Aeris wasn’t the beauty that Elissa was, but she had an adorably round face. She was only two years behind Elissa in age, but sometimes her ‘baby face’ as many had called it, made her appear much closer in age to the twins. It also didn’t help that, unlike Elissa, she had barely developed a chest. All of her extra weight laid in her hips and bottom, and while she was sure someone would find that attractive, it wasn’t the hourglass figure men drooled after (which, of course, Elissa had).“I’m not stupid. I know there’s something going on with you and that prince...” she double stepped to catch up to her. “Why can’t you be normal for once in your life and want to tell your sister?” They had never been close, and Aeris had been more of the pes