A/N: It's been over a month since I've updated! Sorry! Hope you enjoy
this chapter! Please review!
::Chapter 22: Preparations::
"Ready, Highnesses?" Brayden said, peering at us as we struggled for our balance with our heavy, filled, silk sacks slung over our shoulders. I had stuffed mine with a small blanket, some scarves, my nightgown, and a hooded velvet cape. All set.
"Not quite," Mayleah replied, her sack making a soft 'thump' as it hit the marble floor. "I just need to find something to wear."
I gazed at her flowing blue gown with real pearls intricately embroidered on the bodice. "What's wrong with what you're wearing now?"
She glanced up at me, her green eyes sparkling. "Well, you didn't think we'd be venturing off into the forest wearing these, did you?" she asked, grabbing a fistful of her silk gown. She let go, and the creases slowly started to set back to place. "Wearing something like this is like asking to be mobbed," she said matter-of-factly.
I paused, thinking to myself for a moment. What else would we wear? The least fanciest gown that I owned was my nightgown, and even that would be out of place in the better parts of town. Plus, I wasn't about to go out to the forest with only a thin layer on. "I don't have anything else."
"There must be some extra dresses the maids wear down where they wash the clothes," she replied.
I grimaced.
"Those will do just fine."
"You've got to be kidding," I muttered under my breath.
"I'll be right back," Mayleah said as she quickly rushed out to call for a maid.
I let my heavy sack drop to the floor. I squeezed my aching left shoulder, relieved for the sudden relief of weight. I slowly exhaled. I still couldn't believe we were doing this. All for Nate. Just for Nate.
I peered over at Brayden through the corner of my eye. How did Brayden know Sebille, Lucinda's daughter and Mayleah's mother? It just didn't make sense. . . Brayden is twenty years old tops. So it's not like they could have been lovers or anything of that sort. And if she had seduced him with her song, he would have been dead by now. . .
I shuddered at the thought.
"Are you alright, Highness?" Brayden spoke up, interrupting my thoughts.
I faced him and nodded, not answering for I really didn't know if how I was feeling at the moment would be considered 'alright.' I wasn't in the mood to try to rebel against the curse.
I never realized how worn and tired looking Brayden's crystal blue eyes were. His overall physical appearance was of a fit, youthful, and, I had to admit, slightly handsome young man. But his eyes were. . . old.
"I'm back!" a voice cried excitedly as a small figure burst into the room. I broke Brayden's gaze as I caught the few rags that were tossed to me. "Put these on, Amena, I brought some extra just in case," she said.
I nodded.
"And I also asked Mandy to whip up a basket of food for us. I told her we were going on a picnic in the courtyard. There're apples, rolls, grapes. . . Oh! and some biscuits and teacakes too!"
I glanced out the glance window. It was probably almost suppertime. . . the sun was beginning to set and the sky had turned into a beautiful mix of pink, purple, and orange swirls.
I gulped. Any day now Nate could be dead. Every second mattered.
"Come on, let's go," I said quietly. "We've got to hurry, or. . ." I never finished my sentence.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"The coast is clear," Mayleah whispered as she peered down into the grand hallway from the top of the spiral steps. She looked very much like a kitchen maid in a tattered, brown, cotton gown and white apron. I was wearing the same.
We slowly descended down to the first floor. I tightly gripped the marble railing, resisting the urge to just hop on a slide down the rest of the way, as I had down when I was younger.
We headed towards the door and. . . stopped.
"How are we going to get passed the guards?" Mayleah asked, frantically looking back and forth between me and Brayden. "Oh wait I know! A disguise is what we need! I-"
Brayden put a hand up. "Princess, you're making this much more difficult than it should be. Let me take care of it. Follow me."
The three of us stepped out into the courtyard and paced towards the heavily guarded gates. I never really realized how protected the palace was. . . there had to be at least 20 or so armed soldiers lined up along the entrance.
"Excuse me, sir," Brayden cleared his throat and swept into a bow. "My name is Brayden, and I'm the tutor of the young princesses. I've been teaching the royal highnesses of the peasant life in our lessons, and it was their suggestion that we experience a little bit of what life outside palace is like. . ."
The soldier Brayden was addressing barked some orders. He turned to him and said, "Two of our men shall accompany you. Good day."
"Oh. . . no, I don't think that's nesscessary. . . We'll be just outside the palace walls. We'll be back shortly, in an hour or so-"
The guard shot Brayden a suspicious glare.
"Please, sir," I cut in with a curtsey. "Fulfill the man's request."
The guard peered at me blankly. "And who are-" suddenly his eyes widened. "Your highness!" he swept into a bow. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite recognize you there for a moment. . . well, alright. I shall have the king informed of your departure."
I grinned sweetly. "Thank you, sir."
I took a step, my heart racing. Only a few more steps then I'm out. . . this would be the first time I've ever been out of the palace's protective grounds without a proper escort.
Suddenly I stopped in my tracks. The fairy book! It was still in my bedroom! "Wait! I'll be right back," I cried as I rushed back towards the palace entries. I sighed in relief. That was close. . . the fairy book might contain important information in the future.
I reached for the steps when I heard someone cry, "Ella! Stop, please, don't run from me!"
Ella? I froze. Whoever it was, they were calling for Mother. I heard the footsteps of someone running nearby. They were getting closer and closer. . . I gasped as I felt someone grip my shoulder and spin me around. It was Father.
"ELLA!" he cried in an exasperated tone. "Oh, my d-dear, sweet Ella. . . you're back. . .I've m-missed you so. . ." he sobbed as he held me in a tight embrace.
"Father?!" I struggled out of his grasp. I leaned back and took a glance at him.
He was in a terrible shape. It looked as though he hadn't eaten, slept, or bathed in days. His graying curls hung down to his shoulders. The spark in his eyes slowly died down as he realized who it really was.
"A-Amena?" he choked. "Is that you?"
I nodded slowly.
He reached out a shaking hand towards my face, though he stopped before coming in contact. "Y-You look so much like my Ella when I first met her, in that ridiculous outfit you're wearing. . ."
I didn't reply.
I stared in shock as a tear streamed down his rather dark cheek. "Talk to me, Amena. Please! Just say something. . . one thing. . . I love you so much. . . I've missed you so much when I was gone. . . I missed not seeing you grow up in to the lovely young women you are. . ."
I just stared at him with wide eyes, not knowing what to say.
"Please. . . ." he begged, tears flooding out of his eyes. "This part month has been torture for me. . . I-I don't know what to do. . . I haven't heard her voice in over ten years. . ." he lowered himself to his knees. "A-And now she's gone. . . She's gone forever!" he pounded the marble floor with his fist. "And she never knew. . . she NEVER knew! She never knew I was still alive. . .still fighting to stay alive for her. . . she never knew. . ."
"Yes she did," I managed to choke out. It was when I tasted the saltiness on my tongue as I opened my mouth to speak that I realized I was crying. Memories of reading up on sirens with Brayden flooded in my mind.
'Although it is almost impossible to escape a siren's wrath, there is one difficult way it can be done. The lover of the victim must take their own life, giving the victim the choice to escape.'
"Just say it!" he said, shouting now. "Say it!! You've been dying to say the words every since I arrived. . . it's my fault. . . I killed Ella!" he broke down in violent sobs.
"N-No," I whispered, kneeling down to level myself with him. It was all making sense now. "S-She died to save you. . . she loved you. . . she knew you loved her, too. . .she knew. . .Mother loved you. . ." and since the first time he showed up at the ball on Christmas eve with Mayleah, I added, ". . .Father."
I felt him pull me in a tight embrace. It must've been a strange sight to see, a King and a princess disguised as a peasant embracing and sobbing together in the middle of the Great Hall.
"I love you and your mother more than you can ever imagine," he whispered. "I am so sorry. . . promise you'll never leave me, too. You're all I have left. I wouldn't be able to bear losing you, too."
I squeezed my eyes shut, though my tears still managed to escape through. Why did he have to say this now, when Nate was in a life threatening situation? If I stayed, Nate would be dead. But if I went. . . there would be a chance that Nate would survive but. . . how would Father cope?
". . .please don't leave. . ."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review and leave me any comments/suggestions. Thanks!
::Chapter 22: Preparations::
"Ready, Highnesses?" Brayden said, peering at us as we struggled for our balance with our heavy, filled, silk sacks slung over our shoulders. I had stuffed mine with a small blanket, some scarves, my nightgown, and a hooded velvet cape. All set.
"Not quite," Mayleah replied, her sack making a soft 'thump' as it hit the marble floor. "I just need to find something to wear."
I gazed at her flowing blue gown with real pearls intricately embroidered on the bodice. "What's wrong with what you're wearing now?"
She glanced up at me, her green eyes sparkling. "Well, you didn't think we'd be venturing off into the forest wearing these, did you?" she asked, grabbing a fistful of her silk gown. She let go, and the creases slowly started to set back to place. "Wearing something like this is like asking to be mobbed," she said matter-of-factly.
I paused, thinking to myself for a moment. What else would we wear? The least fanciest gown that I owned was my nightgown, and even that would be out of place in the better parts of town. Plus, I wasn't about to go out to the forest with only a thin layer on. "I don't have anything else."
"There must be some extra dresses the maids wear down where they wash the clothes," she replied.
I grimaced.
"Those will do just fine."
"You've got to be kidding," I muttered under my breath.
"I'll be right back," Mayleah said as she quickly rushed out to call for a maid.
I let my heavy sack drop to the floor. I squeezed my aching left shoulder, relieved for the sudden relief of weight. I slowly exhaled. I still couldn't believe we were doing this. All for Nate. Just for Nate.
I peered over at Brayden through the corner of my eye. How did Brayden know Sebille, Lucinda's daughter and Mayleah's mother? It just didn't make sense. . . Brayden is twenty years old tops. So it's not like they could have been lovers or anything of that sort. And if she had seduced him with her song, he would have been dead by now. . .
I shuddered at the thought.
"Are you alright, Highness?" Brayden spoke up, interrupting my thoughts.
I faced him and nodded, not answering for I really didn't know if how I was feeling at the moment would be considered 'alright.' I wasn't in the mood to try to rebel against the curse.
I never realized how worn and tired looking Brayden's crystal blue eyes were. His overall physical appearance was of a fit, youthful, and, I had to admit, slightly handsome young man. But his eyes were. . . old.
"I'm back!" a voice cried excitedly as a small figure burst into the room. I broke Brayden's gaze as I caught the few rags that were tossed to me. "Put these on, Amena, I brought some extra just in case," she said.
I nodded.
"And I also asked Mandy to whip up a basket of food for us. I told her we were going on a picnic in the courtyard. There're apples, rolls, grapes. . . Oh! and some biscuits and teacakes too!"
I glanced out the glance window. It was probably almost suppertime. . . the sun was beginning to set and the sky had turned into a beautiful mix of pink, purple, and orange swirls.
I gulped. Any day now Nate could be dead. Every second mattered.
"Come on, let's go," I said quietly. "We've got to hurry, or. . ." I never finished my sentence.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"The coast is clear," Mayleah whispered as she peered down into the grand hallway from the top of the spiral steps. She looked very much like a kitchen maid in a tattered, brown, cotton gown and white apron. I was wearing the same.
We slowly descended down to the first floor. I tightly gripped the marble railing, resisting the urge to just hop on a slide down the rest of the way, as I had down when I was younger.
We headed towards the door and. . . stopped.
"How are we going to get passed the guards?" Mayleah asked, frantically looking back and forth between me and Brayden. "Oh wait I know! A disguise is what we need! I-"
Brayden put a hand up. "Princess, you're making this much more difficult than it should be. Let me take care of it. Follow me."
The three of us stepped out into the courtyard and paced towards the heavily guarded gates. I never really realized how protected the palace was. . . there had to be at least 20 or so armed soldiers lined up along the entrance.
"Excuse me, sir," Brayden cleared his throat and swept into a bow. "My name is Brayden, and I'm the tutor of the young princesses. I've been teaching the royal highnesses of the peasant life in our lessons, and it was their suggestion that we experience a little bit of what life outside palace is like. . ."
The soldier Brayden was addressing barked some orders. He turned to him and said, "Two of our men shall accompany you. Good day."
"Oh. . . no, I don't think that's nesscessary. . . We'll be just outside the palace walls. We'll be back shortly, in an hour or so-"
The guard shot Brayden a suspicious glare.
"Please, sir," I cut in with a curtsey. "Fulfill the man's request."
The guard peered at me blankly. "And who are-" suddenly his eyes widened. "Your highness!" he swept into a bow. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite recognize you there for a moment. . . well, alright. I shall have the king informed of your departure."
I grinned sweetly. "Thank you, sir."
I took a step, my heart racing. Only a few more steps then I'm out. . . this would be the first time I've ever been out of the palace's protective grounds without a proper escort.
Suddenly I stopped in my tracks. The fairy book! It was still in my bedroom! "Wait! I'll be right back," I cried as I rushed back towards the palace entries. I sighed in relief. That was close. . . the fairy book might contain important information in the future.
I reached for the steps when I heard someone cry, "Ella! Stop, please, don't run from me!"
Ella? I froze. Whoever it was, they were calling for Mother. I heard the footsteps of someone running nearby. They were getting closer and closer. . . I gasped as I felt someone grip my shoulder and spin me around. It was Father.
"ELLA!" he cried in an exasperated tone. "Oh, my d-dear, sweet Ella. . . you're back. . .I've m-missed you so. . ." he sobbed as he held me in a tight embrace.
"Father?!" I struggled out of his grasp. I leaned back and took a glance at him.
He was in a terrible shape. It looked as though he hadn't eaten, slept, or bathed in days. His graying curls hung down to his shoulders. The spark in his eyes slowly died down as he realized who it really was.
"A-Amena?" he choked. "Is that you?"
I nodded slowly.
He reached out a shaking hand towards my face, though he stopped before coming in contact. "Y-You look so much like my Ella when I first met her, in that ridiculous outfit you're wearing. . ."
I didn't reply.
I stared in shock as a tear streamed down his rather dark cheek. "Talk to me, Amena. Please! Just say something. . . one thing. . . I love you so much. . . I've missed you so much when I was gone. . . I missed not seeing you grow up in to the lovely young women you are. . ."
I just stared at him with wide eyes, not knowing what to say.
"Please. . . ." he begged, tears flooding out of his eyes. "This part month has been torture for me. . . I-I don't know what to do. . . I haven't heard her voice in over ten years. . ." he lowered himself to his knees. "A-And now she's gone. . . She's gone forever!" he pounded the marble floor with his fist. "And she never knew. . . she NEVER knew! She never knew I was still alive. . .still fighting to stay alive for her. . . she never knew. . ."
"Yes she did," I managed to choke out. It was when I tasted the saltiness on my tongue as I opened my mouth to speak that I realized I was crying. Memories of reading up on sirens with Brayden flooded in my mind.
'Although it is almost impossible to escape a siren's wrath, there is one difficult way it can be done. The lover of the victim must take their own life, giving the victim the choice to escape.'
"Just say it!" he said, shouting now. "Say it!! You've been dying to say the words every since I arrived. . . it's my fault. . . I killed Ella!" he broke down in violent sobs.
"N-No," I whispered, kneeling down to level myself with him. It was all making sense now. "S-She died to save you. . . she loved you. . . she knew you loved her, too. . .she knew. . .Mother loved you. . ." and since the first time he showed up at the ball on Christmas eve with Mayleah, I added, ". . .Father."
I felt him pull me in a tight embrace. It must've been a strange sight to see, a King and a princess disguised as a peasant embracing and sobbing together in the middle of the Great Hall.
"I love you and your mother more than you can ever imagine," he whispered. "I am so sorry. . . promise you'll never leave me, too. You're all I have left. I wouldn't be able to bear losing you, too."
I squeezed my eyes shut, though my tears still managed to escape through. Why did he have to say this now, when Nate was in a life threatening situation? If I stayed, Nate would be dead. But if I went. . . there would be a chance that Nate would survive but. . . how would Father cope?
". . .please don't leave. . ."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review and leave me any comments/suggestions. Thanks!
