.::Chapter 4::. The Serpent's Stare
"Those tears, were they shed in vain? Or in fear?" I pondered in deep silent thoughts. I ran to the safety and comfort of my chambers. I tried to shut out the memories about what just happened but I couldn't. It was like a dream. The untouchable one, she kissed me back...My heart broke free from its captive, she is the one, my one true love for me, the one the King Of the Heavens have chosen to be my bride.
I dressed into my favorite gown in a shade of pale pink and orange hues. I strolled down the stairway and entered the huge yet empty dining hall. Several dishes had been laid out and there was an abundance of freshly-baked sweet bread and wheat-germ porridge. I settled on a chair and helped myself to some piping hot porridge. As I spooned a mouthful and brought it to my lips, Claudius descended from the stairs. He paused there upon seeing me, unsure whether to join me or seek the safety of his chambers. I turned away, deeply hurt, expecting him to turn back and disappear to his room. But to my amazement, He glided down and sat opposite me. "Good morn, my lady Emelia" he crooned. He voice was rather hoarse, "Had he been crying?" I thought to myself. Once again, he saw right through me and said,"I'm very well my Lady." That had been the last word neither of us spoke for the next few minutes. I couldn't stand the ghastly silence and got up to leave when suddenly, a servant approached me and delivered a message from my uncle" His sire wishes to see you in the parlor now Lady Emelia." With a swift bow, the servant hurried off. I straightened the pleats on my gown and strolled over to the parlor.
On my way there, I felt a stab in my heart. "Why didn't he look at me?" I paused my thoughts. Why did I want his attention? I was confused. Had I overcame my fear? I stood before the parlor as two servants opened the door. My Uncle sat on his mighty throne, with all smiles on his face that was withering with old age. "Why was he smiling so widely?" I glided in uneasily, preparing myself mentally for some rather exciting news. The man smiled faintly at me and paused. Finally he broke out,"Your cousins are returning from Nezanire this afternoon!" The King sounded chirpy. I had never seen him like this." My cousins?" I stuttered. "How many of them?" I asked willfully. King Melvain frowned then his face softened," My dear child, there are four of them and I trust that you'll get along well with them" I curtsied politely and turned towards the doors. "I have to find Claudius!" My mind burst. I scurried through the hallways, up the stairs. Sometimes, I really dreaded the palace for being so big. My mind instinctively told me that he would be in the rose garden. And true to my thoughts, I found Claudius lying on the stone bench staring up at the friendly blue skies. I peered over him and plucked a stalk of dandelion and tickled his nose. "Ah-choo!" he sneezed wildly. I giggled violently as I watched the prince get up to his feet and grin with a twinkle in his eyes. "My lady, what a pleasant surprise!" he exclaimed with sarcasm. "My lord, once again I have come to have a good laugh with you" I marveled, playing on with the playful prince. I shared with him about the news of the arrival of my cousins whom I've never met in my life. I felt a sense of uneasiness and Claudius laughed at me for that. I gave me a peck on my forehead to encourage me. "Have faith in the Heavens" he preached. I smiled appreciatively and nodded in agreement with his bible-like statement. We were chatting like friends who have known each other for life when a servant brought our conversation to a dreaded halt. "Lady Emelia and Lord Claudius, the princes and princesses have arrived and are out at the courtyard." The servant spoke. I grabbed Claudius' hand and ran all the way to the courtyard. I felt him stiffen, then relax and smile behind my shoulders.
We stood side by side before the towering palace and the greenery had begun to orange and wither in the summer's breeze. A carriage stopped at the entrance of the palace gates and a man with fiery hair stepped out of the horse-drawn carriage. He looked amazing as the afternoon sun shined on his glorious hair bringing out the true vibrancy of his fiery mane. I felt Claudius tensed up and I clasped his hand gently to assure him. From behind him, a girl with sun-kissed skin glided out. She had eyes like the angel of life; they were a shade of pale green. She smiled meekly at me and walked off to reunite with her ageing father. Following next was a charming lad who looked no older than sixteen. He had fiery red hair like his brother but what stood out were his eyes, they were a similar shade as mine. He looked me in the eye and stiffened. I turned to look at Claudius, secretly hoping that he had fallen for the lady. Thankfully, he was gazing at the man who just got out of the carriage. Suddenly, I gasped. A girl who looked close my age slid out elegantly of the carriage and stared with bountiful hatred at me. She looked so exquisite, like a delicate flower. My heart feared truly that Claudius might fall for her. "I wanted to look at him but I couldn't bring myself to. What if he really fell for her? Would I be able to take it?" My mind rattled wildly as I watched the family reunite. My uncle looked like the once youthful lad in his younger days. Suddenly, King Melvain called out to me. "Emelia, could you come over to introduce yourself? You too Lord Claudius." Claudius clasped my hand tightly as we walked over to the group. I kept quiet while the King did all of the introduction. I found out that the blue-eyed man was called Francois and he was fifteen. The first prince that stepped out of the carriage walked up to me a bowed, "My humble apologies but I am Gregoire." He smiled warmly and I returned a similar smile. The beautiful lady with pale-green eyes smiled sweetly at me, "The pleasure is mine to meet you dear cousin, I am Dalina." Her voice like the euphonious sound of birds chirping. The beautiful lady who looked like a goddess kept her lips pursed and kept her eyes solely on Claudius. My heart started to worry. "Why was she looking at him like that?" But then again, I remembered what Claudius had said about having faith. I trusted that we will stay strong together. But little did I know what this lady was capable of, like a serpent.
"Those tears, were they shed in vain? Or in fear?" I pondered in deep silent thoughts. I ran to the safety and comfort of my chambers. I tried to shut out the memories about what just happened but I couldn't. It was like a dream. The untouchable one, she kissed me back...My heart broke free from its captive, she is the one, my one true love for me, the one the King Of the Heavens have chosen to be my bride.
I dressed into my favorite gown in a shade of pale pink and orange hues. I strolled down the stairway and entered the huge yet empty dining hall. Several dishes had been laid out and there was an abundance of freshly-baked sweet bread and wheat-germ porridge. I settled on a chair and helped myself to some piping hot porridge. As I spooned a mouthful and brought it to my lips, Claudius descended from the stairs. He paused there upon seeing me, unsure whether to join me or seek the safety of his chambers. I turned away, deeply hurt, expecting him to turn back and disappear to his room. But to my amazement, He glided down and sat opposite me. "Good morn, my lady Emelia" he crooned. He voice was rather hoarse, "Had he been crying?" I thought to myself. Once again, he saw right through me and said,"I'm very well my Lady." That had been the last word neither of us spoke for the next few minutes. I couldn't stand the ghastly silence and got up to leave when suddenly, a servant approached me and delivered a message from my uncle" His sire wishes to see you in the parlor now Lady Emelia." With a swift bow, the servant hurried off. I straightened the pleats on my gown and strolled over to the parlor.
On my way there, I felt a stab in my heart. "Why didn't he look at me?" I paused my thoughts. Why did I want his attention? I was confused. Had I overcame my fear? I stood before the parlor as two servants opened the door. My Uncle sat on his mighty throne, with all smiles on his face that was withering with old age. "Why was he smiling so widely?" I glided in uneasily, preparing myself mentally for some rather exciting news. The man smiled faintly at me and paused. Finally he broke out,"Your cousins are returning from Nezanire this afternoon!" The King sounded chirpy. I had never seen him like this." My cousins?" I stuttered. "How many of them?" I asked willfully. King Melvain frowned then his face softened," My dear child, there are four of them and I trust that you'll get along well with them" I curtsied politely and turned towards the doors. "I have to find Claudius!" My mind burst. I scurried through the hallways, up the stairs. Sometimes, I really dreaded the palace for being so big. My mind instinctively told me that he would be in the rose garden. And true to my thoughts, I found Claudius lying on the stone bench staring up at the friendly blue skies. I peered over him and plucked a stalk of dandelion and tickled his nose. "Ah-choo!" he sneezed wildly. I giggled violently as I watched the prince get up to his feet and grin with a twinkle in his eyes. "My lady, what a pleasant surprise!" he exclaimed with sarcasm. "My lord, once again I have come to have a good laugh with you" I marveled, playing on with the playful prince. I shared with him about the news of the arrival of my cousins whom I've never met in my life. I felt a sense of uneasiness and Claudius laughed at me for that. I gave me a peck on my forehead to encourage me. "Have faith in the Heavens" he preached. I smiled appreciatively and nodded in agreement with his bible-like statement. We were chatting like friends who have known each other for life when a servant brought our conversation to a dreaded halt. "Lady Emelia and Lord Claudius, the princes and princesses have arrived and are out at the courtyard." The servant spoke. I grabbed Claudius' hand and ran all the way to the courtyard. I felt him stiffen, then relax and smile behind my shoulders.
We stood side by side before the towering palace and the greenery had begun to orange and wither in the summer's breeze. A carriage stopped at the entrance of the palace gates and a man with fiery hair stepped out of the horse-drawn carriage. He looked amazing as the afternoon sun shined on his glorious hair bringing out the true vibrancy of his fiery mane. I felt Claudius tensed up and I clasped his hand gently to assure him. From behind him, a girl with sun-kissed skin glided out. She had eyes like the angel of life; they were a shade of pale green. She smiled meekly at me and walked off to reunite with her ageing father. Following next was a charming lad who looked no older than sixteen. He had fiery red hair like his brother but what stood out were his eyes, they were a similar shade as mine. He looked me in the eye and stiffened. I turned to look at Claudius, secretly hoping that he had fallen for the lady. Thankfully, he was gazing at the man who just got out of the carriage. Suddenly, I gasped. A girl who looked close my age slid out elegantly of the carriage and stared with bountiful hatred at me. She looked so exquisite, like a delicate flower. My heart feared truly that Claudius might fall for her. "I wanted to look at him but I couldn't bring myself to. What if he really fell for her? Would I be able to take it?" My mind rattled wildly as I watched the family reunite. My uncle looked like the once youthful lad in his younger days. Suddenly, King Melvain called out to me. "Emelia, could you come over to introduce yourself? You too Lord Claudius." Claudius clasped my hand tightly as we walked over to the group. I kept quiet while the King did all of the introduction. I found out that the blue-eyed man was called Francois and he was fifteen. The first prince that stepped out of the carriage walked up to me a bowed, "My humble apologies but I am Gregoire." He smiled warmly and I returned a similar smile. The beautiful lady with pale-green eyes smiled sweetly at me, "The pleasure is mine to meet you dear cousin, I am Dalina." Her voice like the euphonious sound of birds chirping. The beautiful lady who looked like a goddess kept her lips pursed and kept her eyes solely on Claudius. My heart started to worry. "Why was she looking at him like that?" But then again, I remembered what Claudius had said about having faith. I trusted that we will stay strong together. But little did I know what this lady was capable of, like a serpent.