The art of procrastination! I should be studying for a very important exam but instead, I'm doing this. Well, I have to get back to studying. I'm REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT IT. Anyway, I really like the song, Safe and Sound. I have always liked Taylor Swift's songs but I only became a fan when I heard Safe and Sound at the end of the Hunger Games movie.
Malcolm pulled her in and kissed her gently. He pulled back and said, "You should go get ready, I want everyone to see how beautiful my queen is."
Reyna smiled and left a kiss on his cheeks before walking away slowly. Jason and Malcolm were similar in many ways yet very different at the same time. They were great leaders, always being able to take control, even in the worst of times. They were kind, put others before their own needs. Yet, Malcolm was someone she belonged to, someone she was going to spend her life with. Jason was someone she cared for deeply but even without Jupiter, they wouldn't have ended up together anyway.
As soon as she reached her room, the servants scrambled to get her ready. Reyna stood in front of the mirror. She thought about her sister, she hoped that Hylla was alive somewhere. She really wanted to see Hylla again.
As soon as she reached her room, the servants scrambled to get her ready. Reyna stood in front of the mirror. She thought about her sister, she hoped that Hylla was alive somewhere. She really wanted to see Hylla again. She missed her terribly these days. She still remembered the song she sang to her when she couldn't fall asleep.
It was a warm summer night, almost everyone was deep in their sleep except Reyna. For some reason, she just couldn't fall asleep. She decided to get out of bed. She opened the window and looked up at the night sky. The moon was nowhere to be seen, it was probably what they call, the new moon. Yet, the stars were still hung high up in the sky. They were things so far away, out of reach yet something that was constantly there.
What are you doing?" Hylla asked. Reyna turned back to see her sister wide awake. Hylla sat up with her hands rubbing her eyes.
I couldn't sleep, I was thinking about counting the stars until I get tired," Reyna replied.
Hylla broke into a smile. She held out her hands, signalling for Reyna to come back to bed. Reyna closed the window and climbed back to bed. Hylla held her in her arms and began singing a lullaby.
I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight
Just close your eyes, the sun is going down
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window, darling everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold onto this lullaby even when the music's gone, gone
Just close your eyes, the sun is going down
You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound
Just close your eyes, you'll be alright
Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound
It was one of the times that Reyna truly felt safe and happy. It was one of the moments in her life that she wanted to last forever but time always moves on.
"Your Grace, it's time to get going for the ball." Reyna looked up and saw that they had donned her in a blue dress with rhinestones sewn on them. They pinned her hair up in an up-do with blue sapphire earrings to complete the look. Reyna nodded and headed for the ballroom.
The doors to the ballroom opened. The ballroom was filled with nobilities. All dressed in their finest. They all greeted her as she passed by. Malcolm looked immaculately handsome in his attire, he didn't take his eyes off of her as he noticed her arrival.
"Glad that you could finally join us," Malcolm said.
"You've truly outdone yourself, Annabeth," Reyna praised her sister-in-law.
"I didn't do it all on my own, Percy was a great help," Annabeth said as she looked up at her husband. Reyna thought that they were really made with each other. Annabeth was a very independent woman but she had a soft side reserved only for Percy.
"I see that Jason and his queen have arrived," Percy said. Reyna turned to see Jason with his queen by his side. It might go unnoticed by other people but Reyna could tell that Jason was uncomfortable. Things weren't well between the two kingdoms, it was only natural for Jason to be nervous in a situation like this. Piper was strikingly beautiful, she took a lot from her mother. Aphrodite was known to be one of the most beautiful women. Of course, Jupiter wanted her as a daughter-in-law. She was beautiful, kind, gentle and royal blood was within her veins.
Music started playing and everyone began to dance. Malcolm led Reyna to the centre of the ballroom. They swayed according to the melody of the music. Reyna was thankful for all the etiquette lessons she had, she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of all the nobilities. The music slowed down indicating it was time to switch partners. Malcolm shifted to the right as Jason appeared in front of her.
"How are you?" That was the first thing that Jason said to her in a year. Her surroundings began to fade away as if they were in the woods again. There was no one else but them.
"Fine as always," Reyna replied.
"You seem to be doing fine here. I presume that you're doing fine." Jason said.
"Do you love him?" Jason asked. Reyna was taken aback by his question, she didn't expect him to blurt out that kind of question.
"He cares about me tremendously and I, him," Reyna replied with a snarky attitude.
"I'm sorry. I was out of line. It's just seeing you again after all this time, it brings back so many memories." Jason apologized. Reyna knew the reason he did it. For the longest time, Jason was the only person left in the world she cared about. Seeing him again, it was like waves of memories splashing against her.
"Do you remember the day we went to the festival in town?" Reyna asked. Jason nodded.
It was the end of winter, crowds were gathered in town to celebrate the coming of spring. Jason begged Reyna to go with him. Everything was unlike Jason had ever imagined, there was cheery music, everyone was ecstatic that spring has finally arrived. Green leaves were starting to appear on trees, animals were beginning to leave their nests as they awaken from hibernation.
Jason had a chance of experiencing the mundane life he never had. Reyna was glad, she hadn't seen this happy since his mother's death. Reyna knew what it felt like to be alone, without a family. Jupiter was a king, not a father. He treated Jason like he was a possession, not a son.
After the festival, they were sitting at their usual spot. The place where they would look out at the stars and point out every constellation they can.
Reyna asked. "Would you run away with me? Away from all of this, to a place where we could do something like this every day?" Reyna knew Jason could never put his own dreams before his sense of duty. To be frank, neither would she. Yet, she still wanted to hear it from him.
"Do you remember what you said when I asked you whether you would leave all this behind?" Reyna asked again.
"I said I can't because I didn't have much of a choice," Jason replied.
"Neither could I. There wasn't much of choice but it was still a choice. For the beginning, we both knew that this was impossible. One day, everything would come to an end. The truth is, even without our arranged marriages, we still would have given up on each other." Reyna said. At that moment, the music slowed down again.