"What are you babbling about, I'm right here, how else would anyone have known about the ambush?" I ran and gave him a big hug.
"I'm just so happy that your safe." He pats me on the shoulder.
"Do you know who did it?" Senya asked with his arms across his chest.
Barinor shook his head. "By the time I got there they were all dead, however I was able to bring your stuff back, however it needs some cleaning up." He says looking down at me now.
"Cleaning, why?" I asked without understanding.
"Prince Senya, have you ever been to a fight?" Barinor asked, ignoring my question.
I let him go and looked at my fiance. "Yes, it's a horrible sight."
"Then I'll let the explanation be up to you, I must go find a place for Glydor before too many people ask questions." He says getting ready to leave.
"There is a nice cave nearby, it's pretty far into Bazalous Forrest, but there are beautiful gems and stones. I don't know the best habitat for a dragon but I figured I'd suggest it." Senya responds as Barinors hand is on the door frame.
"Ah yes, I forgot about that place thank you." He left closing the door behind him,
Barinor seemed off put, maybe he wants to play the parental figure he never got to be, or maybe it's because he came in contact with a bunch of dead bodies.
"Who do you think would do such a thing?" I asked myself outloud.
"No idea, but we will find out, but for now just worry about the wedding. I'll handle finding out who attacked our men." His tone was serious and the look in his eyes looked more dangerous than before.
"Are you sure we should even be considering a wedding, with everything going on, don't we have a lot going on already?" I am genuinely worried about our people, not to mention the families of the knights who had already died.
"Celeste, are you trying to get out of our betrothal?" He says shifting his weight and sighing.
"What, no of course not, these people serve us to keep our protection, Senya. Living breathing human beings, they have feelings and families!" I yell defensively before continuing. "Our marital affairs have nothing to do with this-" he cut me off there. "Celeste…"
I haven't realized how worked up his comment made me til now. "What?" I snapped at him, my face red with anger.
"I was only teasing you, although the fact that you called them our people makes me happy that you see them more than just mine." He looked away for a moment, as if he didn't want to admit it.
My face went from being red because of anger to red because of embarrassment, I didn't realize that I had called them ours until he pointed it out.
I began to stutter something out. "Well we are to be married after all." It was an excuse, a poor one at that, and he saw right through it and chuckled before becoming serious again.
"I'm going to go investigate what happened, and I will find out who did this, but for the time being why don't you explore the castle a bit, and finish our conversation later tonight?" He suggests, as he fixes the buttons on his sleeves, looking back at me with his kind deep brown eyes once more.
"As you wish." I nodded at his suggestion.
He made his way over to me slowly, his steps cautious.
He then places a gentle hand on my cheek bringing his lips closer and closer to mine, when they were nearly touching I turned my head away from him.
"Stay safe," I say, rejecting the kiss goodbye.
"Ahem, right. I'll see you when I get back." That's when he turns on his heel and leaves me in the room alone.
My heart was beating quickly in my chest, if he came any closer he would have taken my first kiss as a casual encounter, I didn't want that. I wanted it to be special, and I promised myself I wouldn't fall in love with him.
That's when guards came in with boxes and the rest of my things, one after another they marched in, but a girl who looked to be 5'5 with raven black hair and familiar black eyes with skin an offset color of peaches.
She stood in front of me with a smile on her face and hands clasped gently together in front of her.
"Good afternoon, Princess Celeste. My name is Asiya, I will be one of the maids that will be caring for you here on out." She curtsies lightly with a kind smile on her face.
I couldn't help but smile back, her warm and gentle demeanor felt comforting.
"It's very nice to meet you, Asiya, you may call me what you'd like." I wasn't one for formalities, unless of course they angered me.
"Milady, in forty-eight hours you will be named queen, so you deserve to be spoken to, and spoken about with nothing but respect."
Realization was beginning to hit me as I realized she was right, soon I'll be Queen of Alastia, instead of Princess of Erena.
The change made me a bit nervous as the words made their way out of her mouth.
Alastia will be my kingdom to rule to a certain extent.
"It's alright Asiya, I stand by what I say, however I do appreciate the concern." I smiled at her reassuringly.
"Okay… Celeste." She smirked awkwardly as she tested my name on her lips. "I'll be putting away your things now, miss."
She began to open the boxes that sat at her feet. "Would you like me to stay?"
"You are the princess, staying or leaving is up to you." She replied without looking up.
The guards came back bringing more and more boxes. "I think I'm going to stay for a while."
I went over to the window that I noticed earlier it wasn't the courtyard but a beautiful garden instead, with flowers of colors I never knew existed, purple, black there were so many colors that it was overwhelming, there were even trees that bloomed purple and pink flowers, the view was magnificent.
I turned back to Asiya, and noticed she was clumsily folding some of the dresses instead of hanging them on a hanger.
"How long have you been a maid?" I was curious, her folding technique seemed to need a bit of work, however better than what I could do.
"I started today, but I think I'm doing okay." She says checking out her folding skill.
"That you are, how about you take a break and walk around the castle with me, I'm new here and would like some company." I asked as I walked toward her.
"I really must put your things away, Celeste, there's much to do before tomorrow." She sighed and rubbed her forehead.
"Let someone else do it and if anyone gives you trouble send them to me." I started and took her hand helping her stand.
"Are you sure you want to spend your time with me, I'm just a maid." She spoke shyly.
"You aren't just a maid, you're my maid, and my new friend don't talk down to yourself like that." I let go of her hand and smiled.
"You really want to be my friend, well if you are stuck with me we should learn some trust shouldn't we?" She nodded and gestured that I should lead.
We walked back into the hallway. "What do you think these pillars are made of?"
I pointed to the one in front of us as we walked on the marble tile.
"Some kind of stone maybe, I was wondering the same thing since I arrived here but even the other maids don't seem to know." She trails off as she herself looks at the walls and pillars that were holding up the ceiling.
"Maybe we can ask the prince when he gets back," I said as we made our way back down the spiral stairs.
For a moment I forgot I rejected his kiss, and maybe he won't be as forgiving when he gets back, I'm not sure if I'm scared or if I'm amused at the thought.
I heard Barinors voice down the stairs and it made me stop in my tracks.
"Your Highness, I must warn you what your going out there to see isn't no sunshine and rainbows, it wasn't just a battle, it was a massacre those men… had no chance against whatever they encountered." He spoke in a hushed tone as if he was worried about the prince.
"I appreciate your concern Barinor, I know to you I don't look like much but I've been in my fair share of battles," Senya tried to reassure him but Barinor wasn't buying it.
"Your Majesty, listen to my words of warning please," His voice was full of panic and pleading. "Their heads were ripped off from their necks like ragdolls, and I think they are after the princess," Barinor finishes with whispering the last part.
I looked up at Asiya and placed a finger against my lips to tell her to stay quiet. She nodded silently as we continued to listen.
"That is a dangerous assumption to make, Barinor. Do you have any proof?" The Prince's voice even from here put me on edge.
"They didn't steal anything, it's as if they were looking for someone or something specific and couldn't find it." There was silence for a couple moments.
"We keep this between us, do not tell Celeste anything, do you understand?" Senya says more quietly now.
"Yes sir." Barinor agrees, and that ends their conversation as they split ways.
We kept quiet listening to their footsteps trail off aways from each other and once they were gone I could feel Asiya lean towards my ear. "What was that about?"
"Let's find somewhere to talk, maybe the garden?" I suggested as we continued down the rest of the stairs.
"Okay, follow me. The Garden is my favourite spot in the castle." She took my hand and we gently ran down the hallways and we started to laugh at the people's surprised faces as we went by.
We pushed the large oak doors open revealing the garden all the flowers surrounded a fountain, the fountain statue was a fae on her tiptoes holding a watering can as the water sprinkled out of it a pleasurable look on her stone face.
Roses, bleeding hearts, tulips and more circling out around it. A path of stones snaked their way around the garden.
A man in the far off distance checking over every flower and every herb he came across.
He was far enough away that we could have a private conversation but close enough that I could watch him garden all day. "So, what happened on your journey?"
I turned my attention back to Asiya, her face was full of curiosity.
"I got here a bit later than expected but we had to leave our things in the carriage and have someone come get them, I guess they massacred our guards, the rest you know as much as I do, however they don't want me to know," I say the last part mostly to myself.
"I find it odd the prince is keeping this a secret, you could be in danger." I nodded to her statement, it didn't make much sense to me either, but I should keep it hidden that I know for now.
"What flowers did you want to be on the tables?" Asiya caught on and changed the subject, which I was thankful for.
I looked around and we walked around to each one finally making it to the flower trees. "Wow, these are even more beautiful close up."
"Those are called Cherry blossoms." The garden man, he was an older gentleman with white hair and sunken blue eyes, he looked kind, and excited to talk about the flowers in the garden.
"They are so beautiful." I say glancing at him and back at the Cherry blossoms.
"There won't be enough to make a bouquet, however we can make a crown of them for your wedding day if you'd like to miss," his voice crackled with the sound of hope.
I smiled and took his hands in mine. "I'd absolutely love that, can I count on you?" He rubs my hands gently with his and nods, he seems like such a sweet old man. "I'll be back princess, I must get the step ladder." He let go of my hands. "Do you not have any help?" I asked as he was about to carry on with his duties. "Oh no miss, you see my wife couldn't bear us children so it's just her and I, but she is not doing well you see she's sick so it's up to me," he says as his smile fades. "This is unacceptable, I must get you some help." My heart hurt at his words of a man with such a kind heart to care for his wife so deeply. "That's not necessary, I promise princess I can do this," he pleads as if I were to replace him. "Don't mistake me, I'm not replacing you, I'm getting you some help, someone you can train, it must be lonely for her all by your lonesome." He looked at me with a small huff, and nodded. "I
"What do we do?" She panicked. "It will go out eventually, we can just keep people out of the room for now," I breathed heavily. "Okay but how?" She asked, shaking her head. I walked over to one of the guards. "There has been an accident in the room over there, please don't let anyone in for at least two hours." He nodded without another word and took a stance at the door. I began to hear footsteps coming down the hallway, and I turned to see who it was. "Barinor, hey." He eyed Asiya for a moment and took me by the arm. "Come with me." He says pulling me down the hall. I looked behind us as we left Asiya behind. "I'll be back in a bit." That's when I turned and went with Barinor down another case of stairs. "Where are you taking me, Barinor?" My voice echoed as the walls and stairs were turning into rubble stones in the circular stairway. "We need to talk, it took me all afternoon to find a place, bu
"Did,. Did you just say bring her back, is that even possible?" I looked between the two of them. Barinor frustratingly threw his hands in the air and rubbed his temples. "No, it's not." "Why are you lying to her?" She sounded annoyed with him. He clenched his teeth together and turned to face her. "I don't have that power anymore," he raises his voice. "You don't have the power anymore?" I repeated. It seems to get him more agitated because he begins to pace the unswept floor. kicking up dust as he walked, a tiny window on the other side of the room made the dust look like glitter, sparking in the sunlight. "Okay fine I made a promise to myself that I'd never bring back the dead again, alright is that a good enough reason?" He finishes his rant by putting an irritated hand through his black beard. "You did it once, and it was fine no one got hurt, and you said you loved this woman right, why wouldn
'Last night was a mistake.' I thought to myself as I stared at myself in the mirror in my wedding gown as Asiya and Aris hurried around me, touching my hair pulling the dress down to show no creases on my now sore body from the night before. 'Last night was a mistake.' I kept repeating it over and over in my head, I had only shame and guilt as butterflies began to fill my stomach sickly. 'it wasn't my fault, he looked so, so pitiful, so hurt, fragile yet strong as he took my body as his, it's too late, I am physically his, I belong to him now.' "Princess, we must be on our way or we will be late." Aris says as she picks up the long laced train of the veil that laid lazily on the floor behind me. I said nothing and let them lead me down toward the throne room, I looked nowhere else but the floor ahead, I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact with anyone. My brother would be waiting in the throne room, and my father would be ready to g
"Queen Celeste," he whispers, and I looked up at him, I knew my makeup was running. "None of this is your fault." He continued. "Barinor, did you find her?" He sounded anxious, scared even. "Yeah, she's right here, safe." He slowly let go, my tears black streaks down my cheeks, they just won't stop. I was shaking, all I could feel was fear and anger. "What are you doing here, Senya?" My voice portrayed my emotions. He shouldn't be here, he should be in the throne room making a plan to find that man's family. "I got worried about you," he was sincere behind his words but that made me even more angry. "Don't be, I'm fine." I growled. "With all due respect, milady, but I really don't think you're fine at all." Barinor defended him, and he was right. I'm not okay but I'm the last person that he should be worried about right now. "I'm, I'm fine." My voice broke. Senya stepped forwar
I opened the large iron door squealing against the rubbled floor, I hated that sound. Asiya helped me open the door all the way and ran in before it shut loudly behind us. "Queen Celeste, is that you?" He called out from somewhere in the room. "Yes I'm here." I called back, walking around the room trying to find him. "Where are you?" "I'm in the other room." He hollered out again, he sounded muffled. Asiya walked over toward a large cloth, she pulled it back revealing another room. She held it open and I curiously walked through. "Any more secrets I need to know about this place?" "Probably, the castle was here before the Alastaine's showed up." He said as we walked to where Barinor and a knight were sitting. Barinor had a sewing needle tightly held between his lips as he rubs alcohol onto a deep cut in the Knight's abdomen. "What happened?" I asked, pulling out another stool. "The king and I were practicing spa
I threw his hands away from me and began to walk away, how dare he act that way. How dare he force those words from my lips when he already knows the truth? He ran to catch up to me. "Where are you going?" I spun wildly to face him, my cheeks red with anger. "Away from you." I snapped as I turned to leave again. It all happened in a blur and he quickly grabbed my wrist. "Stop." I tried to get out of his grip but he tightened it. "Celeste stay with me?" I didn't respond. I struggled trying to get out of his hold. "Please?" it felt as if I were to pull away anymore my wrist would surely break. "Senya, let me go, you're hurting me." I whimpered, attempting to pull away again. "Then stay." That wasn't a suggestion, it was an order. "Fine." I groaned letting my arm go limp. He gave me a look that suggests he doesn't believe me, but slowly let go anyway. I rubbed my poor sore wrist, it was all red from how tight he was
"Go get a cart ready, I'm going to change into something I can move more easily in." I ordered Asiya, making our way out the door. I remembered watching my brother spar in the courtyard under my window, listening to the clanging of metal when each sword clashed against one another in only their Long Johns and sweaters in the fall, I never understood sparring; it seemed so unnecessary, fighting for nothing but domination of your opponent. Nothing more, nothing less. "Yes, Milady." Asiya bowed and smirked as for the first time since yesterday she called me by my title, it felt foreign on her lips, making me smirk sheepishly back. I was no longer only Hierarchy, but her friend if you could call us that, does this make us friends? She scattered along and made way to get ready for departure, as I seem to need help picking out something to fight in. Aris suddenly caught my eye and I waved her over. "Aris." "Yes, Milady?" She ask