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Part 18

Every muscle on my body seemed to ache. My eyes felt like they were bleeding, and my throat told me I had been screaming. I tried to take in my surroundings, and discovered that I was actually quite comfy - dispite my bodily pains. A warm bright light filled my eyes as I opened them up, sleep still toying with my mind. Sleep..I whispered to myself, and suddenly reality hit me.

"Good morning, m'Lady." A familiar voice welcomed me, as I sat up straight. I opened my eyes wider, until they had adjusted to the light. I was glad to see it was Troyethe's voice, and not a stranger's. I looked at him puzzled, my memory at a loss. He sat on the edge of the bed, and put an orange on the bedside table. "Glad to see you are relaxed...you wouldn't fall asleep for the longest time - tossing and turning all night-"

I stopped him. "What do you mean? All night? Troyethe, this isn't right..." I pulled the blankets off and got out of the bed. My dress was thankfully still on, but messily slung around me. "What..what happened?" Calming myself down, I looked out the window, making sure I was still in the same castle.

Troyethe stood up and walked to the window beside me. "You were quite a...quite a mess last night, m'Lady. I myself still do not know the absolute truth of what took place yesterday, but..." he pushed my hair off my shoulders. "...but I do know that it musn't have been good. Kyla..." I looked down, at my slipper-clad feet. Troyethe seemed to want to calm me more, and I found I was shivering now. "Kyla, you must tell me what happened last night...I promise I'll protect your word, but I must know the harm that has been done."

"It's silly, really. I don't know what came over me...I know that he meant no harm..he musn't have..." I mumbled, feeling the unsurity and weakness wash back over me. I decided to continue. "Alexander...he...and I..."

"And you weren't ready." Troyethe finished for me, as if he knew what had happened.

Sitting back down on the edge of the bed, I nervously looked up at Troyethe. How had he known? "That..that's correct. I don't know why though...I shouldn't be having this conversation with you."

Troyethe gave a short laugh, and ran his fingers through his hair, the gold in it reflecting in the sunlight. He truly was a beautiful sort of man. "If you don't want to, m'Lady, then we won't." I was a bit fusturated with his ease, wishing I could have some of it. He smiled again, "Perhaps you should go back to your wing. My cousin will be waiting for you, and I don't need him blaming me for anything more."

I nodded silently, and went to the door. Slowly I unlatched the cold iron lock, and stepped through.

"Kyla!" Troyethe called.

I turned just in time to catch the orange that he had just thrown. Smiling slightly, I bowed and made my way down the hall.

When I walked in, Alexander was seated cross-legged on my bed. He had his head in his hands, and I could feel the tension from the first moment I stepped in. Gulp. He looked up, then leaned back into the headboard, never losing my gaze. The pit of my stomach fell.

"I'm sorry that I left so abruptly yesterday night." My voice was as quiet as a whisper. "I..I was afraid."

"Come." He said, patting the spot beside him.

My feet felt as if I was stepping on sharp knives, with every step towards him. My head was hung low, as I climbed beside him. His arms opened wide, and I cautiously moved into them, allowing him to hold me. "I'm sorry..." I whispered into his chest, feeling his heartbeat quicken then relax.

After awhile, he rubbed my back to wake me up. "M'Lady, are you fit to go to the ball tonight?"

I had completely forgotten about the large gala that the kingdom was holding, in celebration for the conquer of Titania. Alexander was the person of honour, since he led the men to victory. I had promised to the Queen that I would attend - I believe she had taken quite a liking towards me.

"Kyla?" Alexander proded, disturbing my thoughts.

"Oh..oh yes, yes I shall attend." I said.

"Good. I'll leave you be now, and you take some rest. I don't want you being exhausted for tonight's festivites!" His boyish grin returned to his face. "It will be such a fantastic night!"

"Indeed..." I whispered into the pillow, closing my eyes to let sleep take over.

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Part 19

As I walked into the large stone room, with cathedral ceilings with candles hung high above the crowd, I had to take a moment to take it all in. It was absolutely beautiful, and I needed to catch my breath. Roses and orchids were strung throughout the pillars, with candles and red tablecloths enriching the room with such depth and romance.

I began to laugh once I noticed that my red dress matched the tablecloths. My dress cut low under the shoulders, tight to my waist, and then flowed down to the bottom. I did a quick check, and then proceeded inside.

The royal family was already on the floor, beginning to dance to the sweet melodies of the music being played. Harps, flutes, violins and fiddles painted the room with a lovely sound. I could spot Alexander dancing with one of his many cousins, large smiles on their faces. I also spotted the men of Wornoak, drinking away their pride, with women on their knees, flirting shamelessly. I shared their happieness for only a moment, the smile on my face seemed to dissapear.

Suddenly, a hand rested itself on my shoulder, and I turned around most quickly. My smile appeared again when I saw the familiar deep green eyes shining back at me. "Troyethe!" I smiled.

"I'm glad to see that you've recovered...and have graced us with your presence." He slipped his hand into mine, and the other around my waist. "Now, m'Lady, would you grace me with a dance?"

Tilting my head to the side, I laughed and let him begin to twirl me. The music began to slow down, and people were starting to go to the tables to begin dinner. I looked up at Troyethe, who had his eyes closed, apparently entranced in the music, his body swaying side to side. I decided not to disturb him, and put my head back down, near his cheek. He smelled of pine, deep in the woods. It was a comforting smell, and I wanted to stay there until the sun rose and fell once more. Soon I felt Troyethe pull me closer to him, his grip on my hand tightening.

"I'm glad to see you and my cousin getting along so well..." Alexander half-slurred, taking another long swig of the rich wine. "...although it does pain me to see him holding you so close."

I played with the hem of my dress, watching the beads sparkle in the candlelight. The red in them caught the flame so nicely, sending flecks of colour to my skin. I smiled.

"Kyla...I'm...I'm afraid." He said, almost in a whisper. His blue eyes fell to the floor, and he breathed deeply.

The celebration had ended, and the guests had begun to leave. The room was beginning to feel empty, yet somehow I felt like it was full...closing in on me. Suffocating. "Afraid? Alexander? Of what...?"

He turned his back to me, and rubbed his forehead. "Of you. Of him. Together. I fear I may lose you, and I am not sure if I can...if I can allow that." His fists began to clench.

I pinched one of the beads I had been holding tightly, causing it to shatter in my palm. "Nothing has been happening, Sir..." The glass shards made little sound, hitting the stone floor.

Alexander turned around, and began to walk past me. His shoulder brushed against mine, and he said in a low voice, hard for me to hear, "I...I know."

I stared at the stained glass windows that surrounded the castle walls, and stayed there until all the flame had burnt out. The last flame flickered twice, and then blew out. Immediately the room was bathed in darkness, and the moon became prominant in the window. "Perhaps I should just sleep here.." I thought to myself, looking around in the darkness, beginning to feel tired.

Suddenly a noise pierced the silence, and I scrambled behind a table, without making a sound. Footsteps. They came closer and closer, until I was sure they were inside the room. My heartbeat began to quicken, and I held stlil, praying that my eyes would soon adjust to the light.

I heard the light of a match, and sure enough, a candle had been lit. The corner in the right of the room was glowing. Making sure I was quiet, I peeked over the top of the table, to see the figure of someone, hovered over the light, with a quill and parchment in hand. I pushed myself upward a little farther, to get a better look. The figure was scribbling on the parchment, with long, determined strokes. Writing, I assumed.

My foot was beginning to ache from the position I had set myself in, and as I tried to re-arrange myself, I stupidly knocked a candlestick over. 'Stupid stupid girl!' I scolded myself, watching to see if the figure had moved.

"Who's there?" It called, standing up now, sword drawn. 'Ah, a man.' I concluded.

I was caught. Standing up, I began to walk over from behind the table. Quite afraid, and nervous, I stepped close to the man, still not seeing his face. "S-sorry, s-s-sir..I hadn't meant to...I mean, it is that, well, I...what I meant, is that...I...er..."

"You were spying." His voice sounded slightly amused.

My cheeks flushed in the darkness, and I hung my head. "I hadn't meant to...Sir."

"Such a pretty face, surely I will not punish you for that. Although, if I had mistaken you for a thief, your life, young miss - would not be continued." He let out a laugh, and moved so his face became alight. "My dear dear Kyla...what will I ever do with you?"

"Troyethe! Sir! Oh Lord I must be so stupid...I hadn't meant to spy...oh I'm glad you weren't...oh...Troyethe!" A gush of relief swept over me, and instantly I became relaxed. "If I may be so bold, why were you here, Sir?"

He sat down on the chair again, and motioned for me to accompany him. As I pulled the chair beneath my body, he answered, "Writing. I suppose you could say I have a knack for it...I quite enjoy stories, and so I fill this here scroll," he raised the parchment "...with stories, and ideas."

I looked at him for a moment, then asked again, "What of? What type?"

Smiling, Troyethe set the parchment down. "Oh lots of things...adventures some of my days include. Dreams...hopes, wishes...silly fairytales, one might say."

I thought back to my own book of fairytales, Utopia. "May I read them, Sir?"

Troyethe rolled the parchment back into a scroll, and took my hand. "Oh dear, you wouldn't want to read these old things...rough sketches of what's yet to come!" I guess I had looked puzzled, so he continued. "I aspire, my dear, to be a poet...a writer! One day I shall have a book full of my tales, and young children will be told my stories, just before they fall asleep. - It is my dream."

"That's beautiful..." I squeezed his hand. The candlelight made his eyes sparkle, and light up his cheeks. I now noticed that he had freckles that sprinkled his nose, just underneath his eyes. He looked away. A piece of hair fell from behind his ear, and toppled messily over his eyebrow.

Troyethe stood up, without letting go of my hand, and looked down on me. "A walk, miss Kyla?"

"I'd be honoured."

Troyethe and I walked around the gardens until the sun began to rise. We talked about many things - books, countries, his adventures and travels, beautiful things. I found myself becoming more and more fond of him, and I yearned to hear him speak more. He taught me so many things, in just one night. Things I had never even dreamt of!

We were seated on a bench, just outside of the castle's forest. The sun had begun to rise and the sky was lit up with marvelous colours. I could not believe I had stayed out this long, with one man. Suddenly I felt guilty.

"Troyethe..." I was watching a dragonfly seat itself on a large leaf. It's wings looked so delicate, so breakable to the touch.

"Miss Kyla..." He pulled my chin up, and held my gaze. "Miss Kyla...I am afriad to say that I've become...quite fond of you." His palm held my cheek, and I placed my hand ontop of his. "I'm acting like a fool...my cousin's love...but I do not want to deny something I feel so strongly..."

I closed my eyes, trying to think straight. I felt his breath on my neck, his lips near my ear.

"Your eyes...when he touches you...from the moment I saw you, I could tell you were pretending, Kyla."

I tried to breathe, but no air would come out. I could feel the tears begin to fall - and his fingertips wiping them away.

He pulled away. "I don't want to hurt you."

I shook my head and bit my lip, but I suppose I didn't hide my discomfort, because he then stood up. "M'Lady," he frowned "...you do not trust me."

Alarmed, I stood and took his hand. "No no! How could I not?" I needed to scold my clumsy tongue. "Sir. Forgive me, but...but I just do not know you."

"Then look at me...am I someone you could trust? Someone you could learn to trust?" He pulled me close, and held my chin between his two fingers.

Looking into his eyes, I had found a gentleness that I had never known, had never met before. 'He could not harm a soul...' I told myself, confidently. "Perhaps.." I whispered onto his lips. I could feel my fingers intertwine themselves in the curls at the base of his neck. His hair was so soft, so delicate.

Just before I could raise my head to meet his lips, he turned and kissed my shoulder, ever so softly. "It's time I think, we get you back inside and to bed."

I looked up at him, left a bit dissapointed. I shushed my thoughts away as Troyethe guided me back up to the castle, without another word.