A Hallow Heart
Alanna examined the remains of the tortoiseshell clip. The green and brown hues glittered in the sun pouring from the windows.
Jon would not be pleased. He had given the clip to her last midwinter, and had asked her to wear it to dinner that night.
Wordlessly, Alanna gathered the fragments and studied them for a moment, before placing them on her dresser. Perhaps she could repair it later.
Pushing aside the glass door, Alanna stepped out into the balcony. Leaning against, the rail, her steady violet eyes wondered over the view before her. Sighting one of the winding trails, she vaguely wondered when had been the last time she had ridden for pleasure.
A small breeze tickled her cheek and lifted stray wisps of her coppery hair that had managed to escape their confinements.
"Alanna?" Jonathan's deep voice called out from the bedchamber.
"Here."
"Come on, we'll be late for dinner."
With a small sigh, Alanna followed Jon's voice back into their rooms.
Jonathan stepped out from behind the changing screen, magnificent in royal blue velvet trimmed with gold.
"Where's your clip?" He wanted to know.
"It broke." The corner's of the king's well-carved mouth turned down ever so slightly in a frown.
"Jon?" Alanna whispered as they made their way to the dining room."Can we go riding after dinner?"
"Of course not-" But his words were cut short as a small wiry lad of about 12 ran headlong into the king.
Realizing who he had collided with, the boy, donned in a pages's outfitting, gave a hasty bow.
"Be begging your majesties pardon," he mumbled.
Alanna smiled kindly. "Run along now."
"Remember when we were that small?" She asked her husband good-natured manner.
Jon did not answer.
Feeling slightly defeated, Alanna resigned herself to the usual drawl of supper.
That night, on her way to library, Alanna paused, hearing hushed whispers coming from a niche in the wall where a statue had previously inhabited.
Taking a step closer, Alanna felt her heart clench painfully inside her chest, for in that small nook stood two lovers, in a deep embrace, whispering words of out most affection to one-another.
When had been the last time Jonathan had held her like that? When had been the last time he had told her she looked beautiful or told her that he loved her?
A single iridescent tear rolled down Alanna's pale cheek, leaving a pale stain in it's wake.
The moonlight permeated the night air as Alanna and Jonathan moved about, each preparing for sleep. Only when Jonathan had blown out the last candle, and tucked himself under the covers beside her did Alanna turn to address him.
"Good night Jon. I love you."
She waited several moments, before turning to face her husband.
"Jon?"
"Hm?"
"I said good night."
" 'Night."
Alanna waited for a long moment, waiting for those faithful words. But they never came.
Slipping out from beneath the covers, Alanna stepped onto the balcony once more.
Her night shift fluttered in the cool night breeze. Looking out into the distance, Alanna could see the faint outline of gray clouds beginning to form.
Her gaze fell onto the rose garden. Skimming the many buds, they rested on a single stone bench, cracked and chipped, caked with dust.
Suddenly, Alanna felt completely overwhelmed with grief.
Her heart weighed hallow in her chest.
One tear was followed by another, until they coursed in a steady stream down her face.
Wiping them away with a sniff, Alanna turned back and headed to her cold and empty bed.
A wolf's lonely howl echoed in the thick night air.