A/N: Happy 4th in the USA and hope you are all having a nice day for my other readers in other countries! Like I warned you, my twists are back *giggles*
Ch. 6: Friend or Servant
"Do you two know why Aidan was requested to the castle," Dmitri questioned Louise and Marta.
They looked up at Dmitri. Marta stepped forward and answered, "No sir, we do not." Dmitri eyed both of them before he dismissed them before he walked away.
Aidan and Annabel resumed walking with their hands at their sides before Annabel gently grabbed Aidan's. He kept his shock to himself before he smiled, squeezing her hand causing her to smile. The silence seemed to speak to them that it was okay to be close with this person and open part of you that not many seen.
Annabel however broke the silence. She wanted to know more about this young man who was slowly easing his way in her heart. "What happened to your mother," she inquired softly.
Aidan looked down at their linked hands before he answered softly, "She died."
Annabel stopped to look at him. She could see the sadness in his eyes as she apologized, "I'm so sorry." She then leaned up and hugged him, pressing her face against his chest. She took in his scent and chuckled inwardly a bit, he smelled like soot and fresh rain. Aidan was surprise about the hug and noticing she was not going to let go of the embrace yet, he slowly hugged her back. She looked up at him to see his brown eyes looking down at her. She pulled back, "I should have not asked."
"It's fine. You asked," Aidan assured her. They resumed walking but Annabel rested against Aidan's shoulder as he continued, "She died when I was about eight. She and I were really close so it was hard when she passed."
"I don't blame you. My mother and I are close and I would have been devastated if I lost her."
"We had names for each other, she and I. I was her little falcon and she was my dove," he explained to her. "She liked to look into the sky, maybe because it reminded her of my father."
"She would be very proud of you."
"Thank you," he told her. He touched his chest gently feeling his pendant against his chest.
Annabel smiled at him before she noticed a small door. She gently pulled his hand toward it, "This way." He followed her as she pushed the door opened and they slipped into the room, the door then closed behind Aidan causing him to jump.
Annabel giggled while Aidan gave a calm look, "That did not scare me."
"Sure…"
Aidan looked around the room filled with mirrors and small flowers around the area. He approached the small flower touching the petals while Annabel stood behind him. They were a beautiful white color with a tinge of blue on the edges of the petal. "What are they," he inquired.
She shrugged, "I never figured it out but I called them Blue Lights because of the tinge of blue." She took the flower in her hand and gently twirled it before saying, "My father and I used to spend time together in here. I loved the mirrors the most especially how they shift a bit." She approached one of the mirrors and smiled, "Watch."
Suddenly she pushed into the mirror and he watched her disappear behind the mirror. He gave a look of surprise before another mirror shifted and slowly snuck up behind him, poking him in the sides. He jumped and quickly turned around seeing her smile and hearing her giggle. It became contagious and laughed with her before they noticed that they were extremely close to each other.
Their foreheads were touching and faces closely intimately. Annabel could feel a small tingle go down her body and Aidan felt a blush form. They slowly backed away but Annabel kept her hand in Aidan's. She pulled one of the flowers and handed it to him. He chuckled and gave a small bow before he took it. Annabel then gently led him back to the door stepping out as she said, "No one else knows about it besides my father and mother. It was where they fell in love."
"It's important to you."
"Yes and this is the first time I ever showed it to anyone."
"Why me?"
Annabel blushed, looking down and whispered, "I trust you."
Suddenly she felt Aidan's hand move her chin up. "Thank you for showing me," he told then smiled at her before they both heard loud footsteps.
"Your Highness," they both heard before Annabel released Aidan's hand and he stepped away quickly, hiding the flower behind his back then turned around to see Lionel running up to them. He took a deep breath in as he stopped to pant. Between each breath he began to talk, "You…have…company…"
Annabel raised an eyebrow before looking at Aidan. She shook her head, "Tell them to come and see me another time."
"It's the ladies, Annabel," he whispered.
Annabel cringed, "I'm sorry, Aidan but I have to go."
Aidan smiled, "I understand. I will escort myself out."
Annabel smiled and walked up to him. She didn't care that Lionel was there but walked up to Aidan and gave him a hug. Aidan hugged her back before he pulled back and gave a playful bow then he stood back up. Annabel giggled which cause Lionel to raise an eyebrow, "Until I see you again, Aidan."
"Until then."
F&S
Lionel and Annabel began to walk away and once they were out of Aidan's sight, Lionel immediately spoke. "What was that about," he questioned.
Annabel raised an eyebrow, "What was what about?"
He looked over his shoulder, pointing down the pathway. "You know? The young man you were with? He looked like he was a servant."
"He is one. He's the Duke's servant and his stepson."
"So that's him?"
Annabel stopped, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by that's him?"
Lionel gave an uneasy look. He looked down at his feet nervously before he answered, "You should talk to your friends, Anna."
"I will."
Annabel walked down the hallway then into the room where she could see two of her 'friends'. They were both blonde and giggled loudly as they whispered back and forth. However, when Annabel entered, they stopped talking and looked up at her. "I thought you were with the servant," one questioned.
"Hello Margarite, Lily, it is good to see you and why do you inquire about a servant," Annabel deflected. She wasn't embarrassed about Aidan but she wanted to keep the friendship to herself and she was very unsure what her friends were talking about.
Lily sat up straighter, looking up at her. "Annabel," she said in a high tone, "you know it would be awful for your reputation as a princess to associate yourself to a servant. Let alone the Duke's troublesome servant."
"You don't know anything about him," she argued as she took her seat. Aidan isn't trouble, he's sweet and kind and handsome...and...oh my...
"Do you," Margarite argued back. "Annabel, you are a princess and you shouldn't associate yourself with him. What if your father finds out? What would you say then? The same thing you said to us?"
Just get them off your back, Anna. "You are absolutely right girls," she lied to them. "Associating myself with a servant is not wise especially when I don't know him and you could be right. He maybe troublesome."
I'm sorry, Aidan.
F&S
Boy, this place is very big. Okay, I think I should take a left down the hallway and maybe I can finally reach to the main door.
Aidan had gotten lost in the castle. He made one wrong turn and now he was in the middle of the castle unsure of which corridor or even staircase he should go down. He closed his eyes and went back and forth with two hallways before he heard something. "Finally we could knock sense into her," he heard as he opened his eyes immediately and decided to go down the hallway. "I mean think about it, Anna. A servant boy is so…cliché…he's just meant to dust the shelves and clean the floors."
He stopped at a door, Annabel?
"I completely agree with you," he heard Annabel say. He looked down, feeling his heart dropped.
I thought she…"I mean he's just a boy I found and I'm thinking he would be suitable to clean the armory or even the staircase," she added.
Aidan looked down and stepped away from the door, dropping the Blue Light flower on the ground and resumed his walk down the hallway. I thought I actually found someone…high hopes only bring you down.
Annabel heard the footsteps and immediately stood up, wondering who would be walking by. She walked over to the door and noticed the figure walking away. She then looked down to see the flower on the floor. She picked it up and cussed inwardly before she turned to the two obnoxious women, "Excuse me ladies, I have something to handle." She quickly walked out of the room, closing the door before she began to run down the hallway.
When she saw Aidan again, she shouted, "Aidan wait!"
"I'm escorting myself out, Your Highness," Aidan gruffly stated.
"Aidan, please wait. Let me explain."
He stopped and turned around, "No, you don't need to explain. I heard everything perfectly well; I'm just a servant boy after all."
"Aidan, those are just people I unfortunately know. I don't see you as just a servant boy."
"Then why say what you said? If they were your friends or even an acquaintance, they would understand right? But instead, you just-I do not know really what to say, Annabel." She could see Aidan's hurt on his face and she walked a bit closer but Aidan stepped back, "I thought maybe I found a bit a good in my life."
"Aidan, I didn't mean it."
"It sounded like you meant it but if you didn't then you should be my friend and not be embarrassed of me. I thought I meant a bit more but I guess not-"
"Wait, Aid-"
"Have a nice day, Your Highness. You can tell me once you figure everything out." He then stormed off leaving Annabel alone in the corridor, holding the Blue Light flower to her heart.
*takes cover behind desk* Don't hurt me. I know I'm evil but things are here for a reason. All will come up later on, so remember and things will get better but you know how my twists work. So review, PM, comment etc!
