Thanks backroads :).
Missing Barbara Leah's helpful comments :3 Hope your having fun :)
Sorry I took so long. I thought of waiting for the holidays—which is 2 weeks away, buuut…neh.
*
~10~
Emmira was struggling to neaten her hair, piling it all on top of her head ineffectually. Guards stood around her, on the lookout for any sign of danger. She could've told them it was pointless, no one could fight off what was coming for her.
Emmira shivered. Last night, she had awoken to Istar standing over her bed, a slim shadowy figure swathed in darkness. She'd seen the glint of metal--a knife, flashing in the moonlight spilling from the window. Then the girl had spoken.
"You are a selfish fool, Lady Emmira du Shontal." She sneered the name, and though Emmira had not spent too much time in her company, she sounded nothing like herself. "You're drifting into a wind of disorder, your choices, your plans, everything you've made of yourself...will fall, break, splinter. That pretty painted face-" She laughed then, Emmira felt the hair rise of her arms at the sound. "Well, I had better not ruin the surprise."
Emmira shrank back into the pillows. "Wha-I don't-" A sob threatened to rise. What could possibly happen to her face?
Istar shifted so that the knife was clearly visible. "You think of nothing but yourself! You have a harsh lesson to learn, girl. But this is not your tale; you are simply a necessary annoyance. I will ask you now, bow out of your engagement."
Emmira sat up. "And who are you to tell me what I should and shouldn't do? You are a mere girl. Me? I am to be queen." She hissed angrily, shoving the blankets from her. "And who are you to think I would do what you tell me, hmm?"
Istar's eyes seemed to glow at this, a fierce yellow light. Her voice echoed and shivered through the air, pushing against Emmira's ears. "You dare speak to me like that? Do you know what I can do? I have power, so much power. The thought of touching you is repulsive, but I will if you do not submit, I will concede that one...task. My touch would incinerate your very bones, and I would make it as painful as possible."
By the time she'd finished Emmira was quivering, lips trembling, a thin trickle or blood running from her ears. She was scared, and she didn't enjoy the emotion. Rather be dizzy or sick than scared.
"Wha-t do you want fr-from me?"
"Are you and idiot as well as foolish? I want you to walk away from your marriage to the Prince Rass. It is a simple thing." Emmira remained silent, thinking.
This being that looked like the Princess Istar, it was powerful, yet it had not done anything to her yet. Or perhaps it was just Istar and she had some kind of..creature, inside her. Whatever it was she couldn't give in. No matter the consequence, she would be queen.
"I-I-I don't think I can do that." She replied coolly, forcing herself to at least pretend to be brave.
Istar emitted a hideous shriek, the air around them billowing and swelling. Emmira's hair rose and floated about her head slowly. Suddenly the girl threw herself at Emmira, blade raised.
Emmira screamed when It scored deep gouges in her arms. Blood spattered onto the sheets and agony flared through her arms, then as suddenly as she had attacked, Istar pulled away. Emmira took her chance and rolled, grabbing whatever was closest, which happened to be a heavy handmirror. She turned and through the mirror, screaming and calling for help.
The door burst open-
"My lady?"
Emmira stirred and glanced at the man who was looking at her so kindly. "Yes?"
His warm brown eyes flicked to the dried blood on her face. "Perhaps you should get dressed and we'll take you to the infirmiry?" She smiled, liking how he looked at her. Her hand went of their own accord to tug at the bodice of her nightgown.
"That would be lovely, thankyou."
*
Nuala stared blankly through the murky window out into the swamps. Her stomach felt hollow and cramped. Ever since she'd met Rass…No, she wouldn't think of that, it was the past, the past. She should think of how Dielda had gone into some kind of trance the night before and had not emerged from the back room since. Nuala wasn't confident enough to go check on her so she stayed where she was, trying not to think.
Nuala blew out a heavy sigh. What was she going to do? Her life didn't seem to have meaning. I might as well go for a walk, she thought sadly. She got up and, with a brief glance to the back of the room, left through the front door.
The sky was a mockingly clear blue, a light wind brushing past. Nuala walked slowly in the direction of the beach, over the small running creek that smelt of clay. She jumped lazily over long grass and flung out her arms.
"I wish I could fly." She whispered yearningly, remembering how it felt to feel the warm currents drawing her upward, the cool breezes ruffling through her feathers. "If only." Nuala tipped her head back and spun slowly, unhurriedly. She gracefully raised a leg and turned on the toes of one foot.
"If only." She murmured again.
*
Rass slumped back against the cool stone wall, running his fingers through his hair over and over. Last night had been a nightmare. Istar? How could his own little sister have done such a thing? He almost retched as he remembered the blood, the knife…
And Emmira's screams would haunt him forever, echoing and fluttering about his head like errant butterflies. Exhaustion and grief warred for supremacy in his skull, a headache splitting his temples.
Rass drew in deep breaths, hand resting on his abdomen and the other on a knee. Just breath and calm down, you can't help Istar while you're like this, he told himself.
And exactly how are you going to help her, Rass? Run in and slay all the guards? Poison them then grab the keys? Face it; you're a weakling who can't do anything but bow to an old man with a throne. Perhaps you could join her in the cell?
That cold sneering voice had been with him for as long Rass could remember. One of his father's many 'gifts'. As a child it had warned him not to speak against his father. Had foretold his mother's death, then taunted him about it for days after. The voice was evil, kind, mocking, yet it had never lied to Rass.
"Excuse me, your highness? May I assist you?" Rass jerked out of his stupor, pushing away from the wall. One of the sentries watched him worriedly, obviously out to take his watch.
Rass waved a hand. "I am fine, just resting for a moment." Against a wall? The insidious voice asked. "Be quiet!" Rass snarled, then grimaced when the man looked startled and a little scared. "I'm sorry, I was thinking of….I had better be moving." He turned down the hall and all but ran down the steps to one of the broken courtyards. As he emerged into bright sunlight he sucked in fresh air, tipping his head back.
Once he had calmed Rass went to one of the open archways, one of many that led to the forest or beach. The castle was so old there were millions of the tunnels and doors.
A warm summery breeze wafted over him, leaving a comforting scent behind. He was reminded of his mother; she'd always smelt like summer, flowery and warm. And she had loved him and Istar so much. The thought saddened Rass, that someone capable of such good could have died so young. But that was the world…
Movement caught his eye, a flash of red. He turned, and froze.
Nuala sleek form spun in a lazily elegant circle, leg raised, head back. She looked as if she were serenading the sun, her lips moving, chanting, eyes closed. He yearned to go to her, to see her smile again. But he doubted she would want to look at him after what had happened when they'd met.
She spun faster, hair flying around and glowing golden-red in the sun. Rass wished he could catch what she was saying, the mere sound of her voice a treasure. Slowly, his pent up anger and worry ebbed away as he watched her.
But as those feelings disappeared, a longing such as he had never had rose up, his heart aching, head emptying. It wasn't—he didn't want to look too closely at this, wishing instead he could just relax and not be bothered by anything around or inside him.
But perhaps….he wished it was Nuala he was marrying, not Emmira.
*
Havent written anything for ages so im a bit rusty. Hope it was an alright chapter.