As the autumn wind embraced everything in its path, the subjects in her kingdom began to wake. Opening up markets and stores for another day's endurance. Eve quietly sat in her room, viewing the busy streets below her balcony.
It had been weeks since his last visit and the more days that passed, the more emptiness she felt within her heart, though she wouldn't admit it.
The maiden sighed as she leaned towards her hand for support. Her other hand fiddled with the red flower that he left on their last rendezvous. The moment she discovered it, commands and orders were given to search for the best vase that the guards could find.
Eve yawned and her pools of gold drifted to the ruby flower. How unusual of her to go to great lengths for a single item.
Especially an item that died too quickly, for her taste.
It had no use--it wasn't even close to exquisite-- and the petals were too fragile to be touched.
Yet here she was, drowning it in more riches and jewels than it deserved.
Eve didn't know why, but she felt the need to cherish such a thing, despite it being so insignificant.
She gently stroked the flower, as if it were a fragile doll. Her gaze quietly memorizing every crook and curve it had.
"Raven." A name slowly rolled off her tongue.
So short and yet it felt like such a mouthful.
The name that gave a joyous taste in her mouth, as if the mere mention of it could bright up any other day in her dull life.
As Eve places her hand on the railing, she couldn't help but let a soft hum escape past her lips.
She closes her eyes and a contented expression plasters itself on her features.
Emotions.
Is this what it feels like? To have emotions? To experience the warmth that flows through one when she feels happy?
She exhales, not entirely sure herself.
No matter what Eve did, her thoughts would often wander off to the ebony-haired man and his visits. However, she never considered this as an issue.
Quite the opppsite, honestly.
It surpringly gave her comfort.
"Raven" she repeated with confidence, as if testing herself on how to say it properly.
She stood up and sighed.
It was wrong to think of this as her source of fulfilment, especially in such little time, she knew that very well.
She was an heiress, a soon-to-be empress of her land. There would never be any room for mistakes. Yet here she was, letting an intruder—a commoner— walk around in her chambers as if they were lovers.
Eve stretched her arms and walked towards a luxurious table, a few books resting on its flat surface. As she observed the covers, one by one, she couldn't help but sigh once more.
Just like a book having paper and ink, it remains blank unless the skills of the author is written on paper. And although Eve had enough ink, she herself was no author in her own story.
But for once, she wanted to be.
Somehow, with Raven being there, Eve couldn't help but feel as if she'd be able to.
She was desperate. Desperate to hold and cling on to this foolish fantasy of hers for as long as she could. This fantasy that made her feel like a real human with emotions for once.
This complete and utter distraction, even if she herself was at the expense of it.
Eve expected to say his name again, however, a voice cut her off.
The familiar, gentle yet powerful voice that enchanted almost all of her being for these past two weeks.
"You called?" Raven stood at the balcony, completely leaning his weight on the railing as he crossed his arms.
Eve quickly opened her eyes, and it took her quite a few moments to gather her senses. Two pairs of amber eyes met one another, blinking rapidly.
One filled with confusion and worry while the other, curiosity.
"You're here?" She asked, brows furrowed.
The man stared with an unreadable expression, his gaze never leaving hers.
"You don't want me to be?" He asked, one brow raised.
"No, that's not what I-" she paused, trying to form out sentences in her mind for the fear of saying things wrong.
He stands up slowly and walks into her chambers, looking around the place with familiarity.
"It's just. It's as clear as day." Eve lowers her gaze. "Won't you be caught?" She murmurs all the while fidgeting.
"Worried, are you?" he casually touches the shelves, as if intrigued by the many books.
She looks up and takes in his whole being. Disheveled hair, dark eyes, loose clothes. The same ripped up top he wore that exposed all his scars. As if he were a wanderer once again on the run.
"What I mean is—" She starts off slowly, carefully choosing her words. "It's been a few weeks since your previous visit, and you usually just come around when the night draws near. The guards might see you."
His charming and quiet laugh catches the maiden off guard. A thousand bright suns couldn't be enough to compare. Raven notices and slowly returns to his stoic personality, revealing nothing as he leaves no emotions on his face.
"I won't ever get captured again, i'll make sure of that." He pauses. "Although I am calmed by the moon, the sun also reminds me that I remain alive."
Despite Eve's confusion and doubt towards him, she says nothing in return.
Silence consumes the pair.
Raven turns around to glance at the well-detailed designs and things around her room, filled with more books that he quite couldn't understand.
As the morning sun invaded the room-- past her balcony windows and into her chambers-- the cold autumn wind seemed to join in and dance with their glistening hair. One bore bright silver locks, as if it were delicately weaved through silk. The other, possessed the opposite. Locks as dark as charcoal as if it were devoured by flames.
Complete opposites, yet Eve felt as if they had so much in common.
"Raven." She says softly, as if it was a word that would easily break.
He turns around to glance at Eve. Eyes, with the same colour as hers. However, the life and experiences it lived were completely different.
"Eve." She whispers.
Holding her hand out to welcome his.
She had no idea what came over her. Whether it'd be curiosity or longing to feel him close to her, she honestly didn't know.
She just wanted to keep him here as long as possible.
Seeing that he made no gesture to move, she continues.
"It's just that, we didn'- I mean- I didn't introduce myself properly." She explained, sighing in disappointment due to the outcome of her words.
How was it possible that she, a great scholar and duchess of her time, was able to stutter in front of a commoner no less?
As if her words that spoke harsh truths suddenly didn't wish for judgement.
She extends her hand once more.
"I am Eve." She lowers her gaze.
He stares at her hand, not bothering to lift his own.
"Alright." He speaks casually all the while looking at her porcelain arm; as if it were fire waiting to burn him unmercifully if ever touched.
She glanced at him and saw those golden eyes, however they looked to be clouded with thought.
Eve decided to withdraw her hand, seeing that he no longer had interest in introductions. Though it wasn't visible, her heart pounded widly, as if she had just arrived on shore after swimming in an endless ocean.
May it be due to the small amount of people she talked with, her isolation in the kingdom, or her overall skills in socializing, she observed that trying to converse with the man proved to be a difficult task in her eyes.
Seeing her discomfort in the situation, he spoke.
"What was the purpose of your hand?"
Her eyes lit up, as if that one sentence— those mere words— were more than enough.
How ever short they may be, Eve didn't complain.
"It's a way of greeting." She explains.
Eve bore no distaste for his lack of knowing things like these. Instead she relished in it, because then they would have something to talk about.
She gives her hand and takes his in hers. She could feel the warmth radiating off and the woman quietly enjoys the moment.
A simple gesture, yet it felt as if it were a thousand words and emotions being exchanged.
"My hand, touches with yours and we both shake."
Raven, puzzled, soon questions as to why they had to lock their hands.
Eve, thinking Raven felt uncomfortable, tried to move her hand away, however, he slightly tightened his grip, not letting her go
"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd want m-"
"I don't mind. So don't bother taking it away."
She nodded and continued explaining the gestures.
"After you say your greeting, then you may take your hand away."
He nods reluctantly in return.
"Eve" Raven tests her name slowly, as if speaking in a foreign language that he was all too curious about.
She nods in acknowledgement. "Raven"
Eve carefully lets go of his hand and he does so as well. The moment they did, it felt empty and cold to the touch, as if it were incomplete.
"I see. How unusual for me." He focuses his features on his hand and quietly looks up at her.
Well, for her too actually. This was something that had originated in the Fieta Kingdom and for once, she wanted to try it out.
Eve had to admit, his hands felt as rough as sand compared to hers. As if he had done countless trials. Callouses and scars enveloped and decorated both while hers were porcelain white; not a single fleck of a scar to be seen.
Rough hands, but she paid no mind at all.
He clenches both into fists.
A faint yet small smile plasters itself on her lips as if she's amused by his actions.
Raven walks back out to the balcony and gestures Eve to follow, looking at her as if he's waiting.
She sighed happily and stood beside him, watching the people below. The countless voices and conversations distracted them for a while. Just letting themselves be devoured by the scene before them and in each others' presence.
As each cloud passed by, and as the colour of the sky gradually turned into different shades, Eve couldn't help but think about how quickly time passed for both of them despite no words were ever spoken.
As these thoughts came to mind, birds stumbled their way toward the edge of the balcony. Nearing the pair with each and every flap of their wings.
Out of the many birds that chirped, there was one that simply snuggled itself closer and sat, not uttering a word.
"A raven." He spoke, for the first time that afternoon. His eyes revealing the rare glint they had as the pair shared and spent their time in comfortable silence.
"Indeed." She couldn't help but stroke its dark wings and head.
Out of all the years that passed in her existence, only one repetitive thought came to mind in her dull universe. Life surely was not worth living.
However, ever since he appeared, it was as if her days and nights were slowly filled with stars that covered the whole galaxy.
"A raven." She repeats his words in a whisper, her soft amber eyes happily following the bird as it took off for its flight into the vast and endless sunset.
As Eve gazed upon the sky, she noticed how beautiful the golden sheets of the afternoon truly looked.
And she herself gradually knew how life was indeed worth living.
LMAO hi so okay this took me a damn year lol spare me. I honestly forgot about this story because I made my recent ones in wattpad but like pls know i plan on continuing this so dont give up yet. Also spare me if the format looks retarded, i'm not really that great in using tools around here. Anyway thanks for waiting and hope you enjoy. I've started on the next chapters so hopefully you don't have to wait another damn year lmaooo.