Thought/Flashback/Dream
Chapter 28
Isabelle would soon turn eighteen and she looked happy and Elissa was happy for her but Isabelle turning eighteen only meant that her marriage was closer. And she felt scared…
"What do you think?" Isabelle asked as she spin around to show the dress to her sister. Elissa smile.
"You look beautiful." Elissa said softly and Isabelle turned to her.
"Do you think he will come back in time?"
Elissa closed her eyes, it had been almost 3 months since Elmont had left, and there were rumours the attacks had ended. Elissa tried to smile but it was becoming harder every time.
"He promised, I sure he will come Isabelle, don't worry. Besides father told me it was over the assaults to our cousin's land."
"But it will be tomorrow"
"I know, don't worry. He will be here"
"Elissa, you should say something to him…" Elissa shook her head and smile to her sister.
"I'm alright, I will be alright sister. Don't worry"
"You did well Elmont, and as James said you did more than you should" The King said as he walked with Elmont and James through the throne room. Elmont smile and shook his head.
"I did what I had to do"
"No. You should have rested but you didn't, you choose to fight when you hardly could stand. You choose to fight for your men and for my people." James said as he grabbed Elmont's arm, making him look at his eyes "So, I think you did more than you could or should…" Elmont smile lightly, he couldn't argue with that, even if he didn't agree. For him he was only doing his duty, securing that everyone would be safe. So, Elmont keep quiet.
"How his your leg, Elmont?" the king asked. Elmont looked through the window and saw the garden, the bright light falling upon the flowers she and her sister liked so much.
"I can walk around much better than before, you highness. Even if sometimes, when I put more of my weight in it I feel a slightly discomfort but nothing more."
"You should see the master and attend to your leg as for you James, walk with me. I need to speak with you. You did well Elmont, rest for now"
"Thank you, Sire. "
Elmont sighed, feeling tired as he walked through the walls made of stones.
It had been 3 months and he had missed everything… but especially her. He had turned in his head everything she had said to him, the way she had acted around him since she had ended everything between them and Elmont was sure she was hiding something. He needed to talk to her, desperately. He had said he wouldn't give up on her, and he wouldn't. He could never stop loving her.
He sighed again, he was so tired, and after those 3 months of fighting against an enemy, he was exhausted. His fingers run through his hair and when he turned the corner, he saw her.
She looked beautiful as she walked down the stairs. Elmont wanted to kiss her, wanted to embrace her but he couldn't. He looked at her, his eyes scanning her face for some emotion and their last kiss played in his mind. It had been so different, almost desperate and had feel like a farewell.
"Hello Captain," It was all she said to him but he closed his eyes, how much he had missed her voice. Elmont stood in front of her. He didn't know what to say to her. He wanted to tell her everything he was feeling, but didn't know how. He had no idea how would she react.
She found herself gazing at the man. The beard that he now wear looked soft to the touch and it was tempting her to run her fingers…
"I'm glad to be back" his voice hoarse as he bowed before her.
"Isabelle will be happy to see you," she seemed distant to him. Elissa forced a face without emotion, deep down she was happy to see him unharmed.
"Are you not happy to see me?" he looked at her face and saw hurt flash through her face, he almost didn't see it. Elissa longed for his embrace, he gave her strength and she needed it.
"I'm truly happy to see you here." He approached her, his hand resting in her arm and Elissa saw his face approached hers and thought he would kiss her, she wished to feel his lips against hers like the last time. Elmont rested his lips against her ear.
"I am not whole without you." Elissa gasp, her heart beating wildly against her chest. She gripped his shoulder, he could feel her tremble as he slid his arms around her "I need you to listen to me and…" he stopped talking and stepped away from her. Her confusion didn't last long since she heard the footsteps against the hard floor.
Elissa looked at his eyes and saw a flash of intense passion.
"Elmont!" He turned, and saw Princess Isabelle, she run to him.
"Princess!" she embraced him, a happy smile in her face.
"I'm so happy to see you here, I thought you wouldn't come."
"I'm sorry if I took so long," he softly said to her.
"You did, I thought you wouldn't come" Isabelle said and looked to Elissa "But you were right, sister."
Elmont looked at Elissa, searching for any emotion; he needed to her to show emotion.
"When he promises something, he will do anything to fulfil it" Elissa began walking, passing through them, she needed to get away from him or she would throw herself to him, Elmont grabbed her arm stopping her from getting away from him.
"Elissa, I need to talk to you," he desperate said to her. "Please… I don't know if I can take this any longer"
"You're exhausted and you need to rest. The matter can wait" The Princess said, a look of concern deep within in her face.
"I am alright, please let me talk to you," Elmont plead with a smile. Elissa hesitated, "I need you to listen to me"
"Sister you should…"
"Alright, I'll talk to you but first you will do something for me" Elmont chuckled, hope filling him.
"Of course I would do anything you ask"
"After you've had some sleep, of course, we can talk but only after" the statement made Elmont furrow his eyebrows. Elmont shook his head knowing what she was trying to do. She wanted to run but he wouldn't let her, not this time. He needed to say what he was keeping inside of him, he needed, for the last time, understand why she had turned in this Elissa he could hardly comprehend.
"You aren't fooling me again. You will talk to me Elissa."
"After 3 months you came expecting me to listen of anything you have to say? You expect me to do the same mistake again? To go back when we were…"
"You brought it! You were the one to force me to take a step back, to leave…" he said dangerously low.
"Elissa, stop saying that" Isabelle said shocked. "You don't feel that way"
"I'm not expecting any of it but these 3 moths gave me time to think and I did realized you are keeping something from me… Something I won't like it and I deserve to know what it is." Elissa's eyes widen and she shook her head clearing her face from all emotions. He couldn't know, he couldn't discover.
"What makes you think you deserve to know what you said I'm keeping from you?"
"I love you, I do and you need me. If not to love you but to help you…"
"Don't turn this harder for any of us."
"Elissa..." he signed, his hand rising to touch her. She closed her eyes and step away from him
"Good night captain"
She didn't give Elmont time to respond, she just turned and walked away, her black hair bouncing along with her. Elmont stood rooted to the spot. He didn't know what to say anyway. He was sure he never had an encounter with her quite like this before, and he thought that the Princess was toying with him, and enjoying it.
As Elissa turn the corner, she lean against the stonewall and blink away the tears.
Why was he so determined to turn things harder from them? Why?
"Elmont wait" she heard her sister's voice, the footsteps came in her direction, she pushed off the wall and when she turned around, Elissa saw him.
"Do yourself a favour and don't forget this I'm not given up on you, no matter what you do or say, I know you still feel something for me, even if you're trying to conceal it. Whatever he said to you, you have to tell me, I can help you"
"You can't. Stop thinking I still feel something for you, I don't…"
"Then say it! Say you don't love me" he tugged on her arm, forcing her to meet his eyes "Say the worst thing you can to me so I can stop loving you. Free me from this pain…" he took a deep breath, relaxing his grip on her arm "I can hardly stand anymore" his voice full of pain and Elissa found herself shaking her head, repeatedly. A tear slip from her eyes, and then another and soon she couldn't control the tears. She never intended to make him suffer. Her body trembled from the pain she felt in her heart.
"I don't lo…" she couldn't say it, she could never say again what had cause her and him so much pain, she couldn't and so she step away from him and run.
