Heart Duel
Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Chapter 9: A Garland of Apologies
I awoke as the sun rose over the hills in the distance, its warm rays reflected off my hair. Yawning and stretching languorously, I walked towards the windows and threw them open, breathing in the scent of nature.
At that moment, Louise entered through the servants' passageway with a pot of hot chocolate and a plate of cakes and biscuits balanced on a silver tray in her hands.
"Smells good!" I mused, sniffing at my breakfast.
Due to all the excitement last night, I had forgotten to partake of the sweet meats and delicacies on display. Disregarding the silver utensils on the tray, I ate with my bare hands, as I sat on the over-stuffed cushions.
As I licked my fingers clean, smiling to myself contentedly, Louise began pulling out my gown.
"No, Louise. I shall not be needing those today," I said, shaking my head slightly.
She seemed taken aback by my order, but dropped a curtsy and began returning the gown to the cupboards. "What, then would m'lady like to wear?" she asked impassively.
"This!" I cried triumphantly, as I wrestled a simple peasant blouse and skirt from out of one of my trunks.
It was perfect!
The pearl white cotton blouse bared the shoulders slightly, and had little puffed up sleeves. The collar and sleeves of the blouse had lavender ribbons interwoven in them, allowing them to be tightened or loosened at will.
The skirt contrasted the blouse completely. It was dark violet in colour, and flared out when the wearer did a little twirl. Colourful designs were woven near the hem, mainly depicting fully bloomed flowers and curling vines.
Slipping on the blouse and skirt, I immediately threw on my dark cloak and pulled the hood over my head. After scribbling a note regarding my absence, and passing it to Louise to send to Aunt Mel, I looked in the mirror to ensure that I was entirely hidden underneath the cloak, before striding purposefully towards the doors.
As I was just about to leave, an item placed on what I called the message table, caught my eye. It was a bouquet hyacinth, tied together with a simple lavender silk ribbon.
"Louise, who sent this?" I asked waving the bunch of purple flowers at her.
"A palace runner, m'lady." she replied, bobbing a curtsy.
What did it mean?
As I buried my head into the fragrant blooms, I ran through the list of flower meanings in my head. Mother had told me mostly about the meanings of roses, for they are the favoured flowers for courtship. But what does a hyacinth mean?
Thinking that its meaning would come to me sooner or later, I decided weave the flowers into a garland I could wear on my head. A dangerous thing to do considering that I did not know its meaning, and that a flower worn in a lady's hair meant, "to exercise caution". (A/N: I don't know whether hyacinths can be woven into a garland, but here it can!)
Foolhardy as I was, I decided that the hyacinth did enhance the overall aesthetic quality of my outfit, and proceeded to walk out the room into the silent hallway with the bouquet tucked safely under my cloak.
Keeping to the shadows, I crept as silently as I could in my slippered feet. Once, I was almost discovered by a couple of chambermaids. Luckily, I managed to ease myself into an empty doorway just as they were turning the corner.
One may wonder why I require stealth to leave the palace, especially since I am a royal guest. I had given this much thought as well, thinking up and discarding ideas, such as: leaving the palace dressed as a courtier, before changing into peasant clothes; or leaving secretly in peasant clothing. I finally settled on the latter, deciding that it was better to avoid malicious rumours that might spread if I were to leave the palace without an escort for an entire day.
Creeping further down the hall, I lifted the heavy tapestry depicting a hunting scene. A servants' passageway cleverly hidden! I wouldn't have know of its existence had I not seen a messenger use it.
However, I did not know where it led to, and could only cross my fingers and hope that it would be somewhere obscure from view.
The passageway soon gave way to a spiral staircase lit only by torches. As I made my way down the twisting stairs, I fought a wave of dizziness. Along the way, I passed a few doorways, probably leading to other parts of the palace.
At the bottom of the stairway was a simple wooden door. Pushing it open just a crack, a beam of sunlight streamed in, followed by the chirping of birds. The gardens! Pausing to make sure that there were no people nearby, I opened the door just wide enough for me to slip through.
The sun was already hanging above the hilltops when I arrived at the walls surrounding the palace. They were made of smooth stone, and were difficult to climb, but luckily for me, there were trees growing around its perimeter!
Growing up in Tlanth, I had learned how to climb an assortment of trees. Not that that was any difficult, all one had to do was to get a firm footing and handhold. Hiking my skirts above my knees, I placed one foot on a low branch of the tree, before heaving myself up to a higher branch.
The clip clopping of hooves could be heard from a distance, and they were heading my way. I swore silently under my breath as I scrambled further up the tree to keep out of sight. In my efforts, my hood fell off my head allowing my tresses to cascade down my back and into my face. I bit back a curse as my right hand slipped from an upper branch, causing me to slide down to my previous position.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
The voice sounded familiar, but the blade held to my neck sure wasn't.
I plastered a haughty look upon my face while my back was towards the horseman, before turning around with all the dignity I could muster with my hands held palm outwards to show that I was unarmed.
"I am Lady Tyl - " the words died on my lips when I saw my attacker.
"Lady Tylana! What on earth are you doing?" asked Crown Prince Kaelen-Dei as he lowered the point of his sword and proceeded to sheath it, all the while sitting astride his chestnut mare.
He was probably heading for sword practice, considering that he was dressed casually in a loose cotton shirt - slightly open to reveal part of his chest, and a long belted tunic. His trousers were tucked into his high boots, which were currently resting in the stirrups.
"Um.what does it look like?" I searched my mind for a possible reason, only to settle on the most obvious one. "I'm climbing a tree!"
I expected him to burst out laughing at my ridiculous answer, instead he asked in all seriousness, " Do you need some help?"
"What?" I asked, caught completely off guard.
Instead of continuing to question me on my absurd behaviour - which was definitely not lady-like, he offered to help me?
"Do you need help with climbing that tree?" he reiterated, getting off his horse with as much ease as when he danced with me the night before.
I was still confused by his behaviour, but thought that I did indeed need help. Since the Crown Prince was kind and foolish enough to offer his services without question, I would accept his help without giving him answers.
"Yes, now that you mentioned it, I do." I replied with a curt nod of my head, all the while eyeing him in disbelief.
Wordlessly, he unbuckled his scabbard, knelt down on one bended knee next to the tree and cupped his hands. I placed my foot tentatively into his cupped hands, half expecting him to drop me once I placed all my weight on it.
"Go on," he urged, while inclining his head to look at me.
With a less than gentle shove from the Crown Prince, I managed to clamber to the branch where I had slipped.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
When I failed to answer due to my trying to get to the branch which grew towards the wall, he must have gotten worried, for I soon heard the rustling of leaves. Within seconds, he was right next to me, breathing heavily with exertion.
It was probably the first and last time I would see him in a mess. Leaves and twigs had caught in his hair, a few strands of hair had escaped the Lapis Lazuli- otherwise known as the Stone of Royalty- clasp he had used to tie it back, and was now plastered against his cheek. I had the sudden urge to brush them back into place.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I asked if you were alright, and when you didn't answer, I got worried," he replied, gesturing to our surroundings while settling himself on the branch and leaning against the trunk of the tree.
As if that explained everything.
Who did he think I was anyway, some damsel in distress?
"As you can see, I'm fine! But thanks for the help down there." I replied with a jerk of my head. "You can actually climb a tree?" I asked after a while, incredulous that the Crown Prince had actually heard of climbing trees in the first place.
"Well, no. I flew up here," he joked, a small smile cracking his tanned face.
My cloak fell back as I raised my arm to grab the branch that would thus enable me to reach the wall, exposing the bouquet of hyacinths that I had hidden under it. I might have been mistaken, but I thought I saw his eyes widen when he saw the bouquet.
"What is that for?" he asked, pointing at the bouquet.
"A garland," I replied, while I brushed a stray hair from my face.
"A garland of apologies," he said reflectively, with his right leg bent to form a triangle with the branch, his right arm propped on his knee, while the other leg stretched out in front of him.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked, giving up temporarily in favour of a little respite - I sat a leg's length - or more accurately, his leg's length away from him.
"The hyacinth is a symbol of apology - and sorrow," he added, after a second thought.
So that's what it means!
"Does this mean you accept the apology?" he asked, while I tugged the bouquet of hyacinths from the inside pocket of my cloak and began weaving it into a garland after tying back my unruly hair with the lavender silk ribbon.
I needed time to think about what this meant! Who would apologise to me? Or does someone wish sorrow to befall me?
Hoping to leave that question unanswered, I mumbled something non-committal and began to studiously weave the garland.
He sat silently for the most part while I wove the garland, whistling occasionally to the chirping birds.
"Do you talk to them like your sister?" I asked.
"No, but I wish I could. For now, we enjoy the entertainment the other provides," he answered.
After a minute or two of silence, he tried to make conversation. However, the topic of the conversation did not go down well with me.
"Do you hate me?" he asked, causing me to jerk before looking up.
"Why should I?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
"I don't know," he replied with a shrug. "You don't seem at ease around me."
"Maybe its because you're a stranger?" I replied, stating the obvious, while raising a delicate eyebrow.
"But you dislike my company don't you?" he asked, not giving up.
"We seem to be getting more questions than answers, aren't we?" I asked, hoping to throw him off track.
My brilliant plan backfired.
"Indeed we are, so why don't you change that and save us both some time by giving me some answers?" he replied, regarding me with a thoughtful expression, his head cocked to one side.
I replied as diplomatically as possible, "To answer your first question - yes, I am not at ease around you, because we've only just met." Holding up one finger to silence him as he opened his mouth to protest, I continued, "However, I do not dislike your company. I just thought that with all the attention you're getting, you wouldn't welcome - more of it."
I winced when understanding dawned on him, causing his eyes to widen slightly. I had tried so hard not to mention anything, but he was the one who wanted answers! Apparently my answer was not the one he expected.He sat back with a sigh and closed his eyes tiredly. After a while, he opened his eyes and stared at his palms studiously.
"We do not choose what we are, Lady Tylana," he replied reflectively. "To change that is a small task, and one I am more than willing but unable to undertake."
"That may be true, but we are able to choose who we are," I observed.
"What then do you propose?" he asked, sitting up suddenly and staring at me with cold, hard eyes. "Should I choose to be hateful and detestable? Is that what you propose?" he spat, livid with anger.
His hands were balled into fists, and I suddenly grew afraid - afraid that he might strike me in anger. I stared at his fiery display in open-mouthed shock, and I was ashamed to feel my lower lip tremble.
"Please, that wasn't what I meant. I." I replied, hoping to calm him down by placing a trembling hand on the arm he had propped on his knee. His skin was warm to the touch, and the hair growing on it, ticklish.
I was at a loss for words.
"Forgive me," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand, before placing it over mine, unconsciously running his thumb lightly over my knuckles. "I am tired, and did not mean to frighten you with my outburst."
"Its quite alright, I shouldn't have said anything," I said in what sounded to me like a squeak.
"No, you are right. At least you have a mind to speak of," he answered, referring to the remark I had made the night before.
It seemed so natural for us to be there together - high up in the privacy of a tree, his hand warming mine, while I offered him comfort with my presence. Although it was I who had agitated him in the first place!
We remembered ourselves at the same time, both jerking suddenly out of our reveries. Our hands dropping to our sides as we strived to make sense of what just transpired between us.
Concluding that what just happened required no explanation; I resumed with weaving the garland while he stared in to space. After struggling with a tough flower stem for a while, I gave an exasperated sigh before dropping my hands into my lap.
"Please, let me," offered the Crown Prince, as he plucked the bloom from my hands.
After bending the stem of the hyacinth a few times to test its flexibility, he deemed it to stiff and whipped out a dagger and began whittling away the tough outer layer of the stem.
When he was done, he extended his free hand, indicating for me to pass him the unfinished garland. Working deftly with callused fingers, that last bloom was woven in place. The garland was completed.
"Done!" I exclaimed happily, just managing to stop myself from clapping with childish glee.
He smiled gently, and with an awkward bow, placed the garland on his head! I started laughing at the funny picture this made, and instead of silencing me, he asked, "Well, how do I look?" tilting the garland at a jaunty angle with a flick of his fingers, and arching an eyebrow at me.
Playing along, I said, "You look positively gorgeous, darling!"
At this, even he could no longer hold back his laughter. His laughter was rich and melodious, as if it emanated from his very soul. His eyes spilled forth with undeniable joy.
While we were both catching our breath, I noticed that the sun was already hanging high in the sky, and realised that if I did not hurry I would be late!
"I have to go." I gasped, still breathless.
He nodded and asked, "Your garland?" while lifting it off his head.
"Here, let me put it on for you," he offered.
Shrugging my shoulders, I placed both hands on the branch for support before leaning towards him. With both hands, he gently placed the garland on my head, his fingers lightly brushing the side of my face. This accidental caress caused me to close my eyes, savouring the moment.
Here I go again!
I mentally slapped myself, jolting myself back into reality.
"There," he breathed, as one would when admiring a breath-taking view.
I opened my eyes to find him staring at me. "Yes, thank you!" I said a little too brightly, making it sound forced. I quickly pulled my hood up over the garland, and hurriedly got to my feet, trying to hide my crimson cheeks.
As I shuffled towards the wall while seated on the branch, my progress was slow but steady. "Will you be alright?" he asked, his back still resting against the tree trunk.
"Hopefully," I grunted with another shuffle, "Remember to call for help if you hear a high pitched scream when I go over the wall."
He laughed lightly at the joke and said, "You're strike me as a 'yell' person more than a 'high pitched scream' person."
"Is that good or bad?" I asked, mildly curious.
"Depends," he answered simply.
By then, I had reached the wall, and had shuffled off the branch, landing heavily on the top of the wall. "Well, here I go!" I declared triumphantly, turning around to flash him a grin.
He saluted me crisply, his mouth a thin line, a crease between his eyebrows. He had returned to being the distant, unsmiling Crown Prince.
Without further ado, I shut my eyes tightly and jumped. I landed with a thump and an undignified "Oof" on the ground.
"Are you alright?" came the anxious voice from across the wall.
"I'm fine." I replied, with a shake of my head, dusting myself off at the same time.
"I'll make a move then, " he said, relief apparent in his voice.
He probably thought one such as myself would not be capable of taking myself, and feared that he would be held responsible should danger befall me. Men!
"Sure," I answered with a wave of my hand, before spinning on my heel, heading toward the general direction of the fair.
I didn't notice it then, but the lavender ribbon I had used to tie my hair back had loosened and slipped off.
Freedom!
* * * * *
A/N: Yeah, this is it! The longest chapter so far! I noe I say that, like every single time, but its always an effort. This chap wasn't too hard to write, only problem was I kept changing my mind about certain things.then wanted the original version back.had to redo here and there, added more bits here and there.u get the idea. But its here, so don't complain!
Thanks to the Reviewers:
Thanks to all of u for being so supportive and coming back to read at every chapter!
Savannah: glad to have ur stamp of approval again, means the world to me (not that the rest of the reviews don't, mind!) the not gagging thing makes me so thankful I changed the kissing part a bit, and Lana was rude by court standards I guess, but u must rmember that she is fairly new to all the subtle meanings and such, especially since she is a straightforward kind of person who speaks her mind. Furthermore, she was irked by Kaelen-Dei's (or KD for short) behaviour earlier in the day. A little petty I noe, but aren't we all the same?
Cheler: glad u like the story!
Coppercurls: I am giving u more, but could u please return the favour with Hope is All?
Hannirose: Set Lana on me? But I thought she was MY character! I loved writing that chappie, and it made me warm and fuzzy too.
Veena Rajan: Who r u? Well, glad u like it, and leave ur email if u want an update!
AniHope: thanx! And am trying!
=) : hahaz.it'll do.the plot isn't all there I noe, but mystery will be coming up in the nxt chapter.*hinthint*.
CCLybi: Who said I was good at imitating Smith's style? U're the first.I thot? But whoever they are.LOVE U! Goes to u as well CCLybi.
Choclateclar: They make a cute couple don't they? And u'll just haf to wait and see who Lana will go with, that's y its entitled "Heart Duel".hahaz
Sunny: I give up.really.but u can ask me if u r still not sure.*sigh*.dun take offense. hahaz
Sak: Felix is nice.I like him too.
Sparkelrain: Really? Well that's great! But look what you've done.u've boosted my already INFLATED ego.love the feeling tho..
Elanial: She'll be just be figuring over the two, and yeah that's y its called "Heart Duel".besides, she's unattached, so she is able to play the field.hahaz
Shufen: Do an analysis next time! And there is ROMANCE.its just not full- blown kissing yet.
Last, but not least REVIEW!
Disclaimer: See previous chapters
Chapter 9: A Garland of Apologies
I awoke as the sun rose over the hills in the distance, its warm rays reflected off my hair. Yawning and stretching languorously, I walked towards the windows and threw them open, breathing in the scent of nature.
At that moment, Louise entered through the servants' passageway with a pot of hot chocolate and a plate of cakes and biscuits balanced on a silver tray in her hands.
"Smells good!" I mused, sniffing at my breakfast.
Due to all the excitement last night, I had forgotten to partake of the sweet meats and delicacies on display. Disregarding the silver utensils on the tray, I ate with my bare hands, as I sat on the over-stuffed cushions.
As I licked my fingers clean, smiling to myself contentedly, Louise began pulling out my gown.
"No, Louise. I shall not be needing those today," I said, shaking my head slightly.
She seemed taken aback by my order, but dropped a curtsy and began returning the gown to the cupboards. "What, then would m'lady like to wear?" she asked impassively.
"This!" I cried triumphantly, as I wrestled a simple peasant blouse and skirt from out of one of my trunks.
It was perfect!
The pearl white cotton blouse bared the shoulders slightly, and had little puffed up sleeves. The collar and sleeves of the blouse had lavender ribbons interwoven in them, allowing them to be tightened or loosened at will.
The skirt contrasted the blouse completely. It was dark violet in colour, and flared out when the wearer did a little twirl. Colourful designs were woven near the hem, mainly depicting fully bloomed flowers and curling vines.
Slipping on the blouse and skirt, I immediately threw on my dark cloak and pulled the hood over my head. After scribbling a note regarding my absence, and passing it to Louise to send to Aunt Mel, I looked in the mirror to ensure that I was entirely hidden underneath the cloak, before striding purposefully towards the doors.
As I was just about to leave, an item placed on what I called the message table, caught my eye. It was a bouquet hyacinth, tied together with a simple lavender silk ribbon.
"Louise, who sent this?" I asked waving the bunch of purple flowers at her.
"A palace runner, m'lady." she replied, bobbing a curtsy.
What did it mean?
As I buried my head into the fragrant blooms, I ran through the list of flower meanings in my head. Mother had told me mostly about the meanings of roses, for they are the favoured flowers for courtship. But what does a hyacinth mean?
Thinking that its meaning would come to me sooner or later, I decided weave the flowers into a garland I could wear on my head. A dangerous thing to do considering that I did not know its meaning, and that a flower worn in a lady's hair meant, "to exercise caution". (A/N: I don't know whether hyacinths can be woven into a garland, but here it can!)
Foolhardy as I was, I decided that the hyacinth did enhance the overall aesthetic quality of my outfit, and proceeded to walk out the room into the silent hallway with the bouquet tucked safely under my cloak.
Keeping to the shadows, I crept as silently as I could in my slippered feet. Once, I was almost discovered by a couple of chambermaids. Luckily, I managed to ease myself into an empty doorway just as they were turning the corner.
One may wonder why I require stealth to leave the palace, especially since I am a royal guest. I had given this much thought as well, thinking up and discarding ideas, such as: leaving the palace dressed as a courtier, before changing into peasant clothes; or leaving secretly in peasant clothing. I finally settled on the latter, deciding that it was better to avoid malicious rumours that might spread if I were to leave the palace without an escort for an entire day.
Creeping further down the hall, I lifted the heavy tapestry depicting a hunting scene. A servants' passageway cleverly hidden! I wouldn't have know of its existence had I not seen a messenger use it.
However, I did not know where it led to, and could only cross my fingers and hope that it would be somewhere obscure from view.
The passageway soon gave way to a spiral staircase lit only by torches. As I made my way down the twisting stairs, I fought a wave of dizziness. Along the way, I passed a few doorways, probably leading to other parts of the palace.
At the bottom of the stairway was a simple wooden door. Pushing it open just a crack, a beam of sunlight streamed in, followed by the chirping of birds. The gardens! Pausing to make sure that there were no people nearby, I opened the door just wide enough for me to slip through.
The sun was already hanging above the hilltops when I arrived at the walls surrounding the palace. They were made of smooth stone, and were difficult to climb, but luckily for me, there were trees growing around its perimeter!
Growing up in Tlanth, I had learned how to climb an assortment of trees. Not that that was any difficult, all one had to do was to get a firm footing and handhold. Hiking my skirts above my knees, I placed one foot on a low branch of the tree, before heaving myself up to a higher branch.
The clip clopping of hooves could be heard from a distance, and they were heading my way. I swore silently under my breath as I scrambled further up the tree to keep out of sight. In my efforts, my hood fell off my head allowing my tresses to cascade down my back and into my face. I bit back a curse as my right hand slipped from an upper branch, causing me to slide down to my previous position.
"Halt! Who goes there?"
The voice sounded familiar, but the blade held to my neck sure wasn't.
I plastered a haughty look upon my face while my back was towards the horseman, before turning around with all the dignity I could muster with my hands held palm outwards to show that I was unarmed.
"I am Lady Tyl - " the words died on my lips when I saw my attacker.
"Lady Tylana! What on earth are you doing?" asked Crown Prince Kaelen-Dei as he lowered the point of his sword and proceeded to sheath it, all the while sitting astride his chestnut mare.
He was probably heading for sword practice, considering that he was dressed casually in a loose cotton shirt - slightly open to reveal part of his chest, and a long belted tunic. His trousers were tucked into his high boots, which were currently resting in the stirrups.
"Um.what does it look like?" I searched my mind for a possible reason, only to settle on the most obvious one. "I'm climbing a tree!"
I expected him to burst out laughing at my ridiculous answer, instead he asked in all seriousness, " Do you need some help?"
"What?" I asked, caught completely off guard.
Instead of continuing to question me on my absurd behaviour - which was definitely not lady-like, he offered to help me?
"Do you need help with climbing that tree?" he reiterated, getting off his horse with as much ease as when he danced with me the night before.
I was still confused by his behaviour, but thought that I did indeed need help. Since the Crown Prince was kind and foolish enough to offer his services without question, I would accept his help without giving him answers.
"Yes, now that you mentioned it, I do." I replied with a curt nod of my head, all the while eyeing him in disbelief.
Wordlessly, he unbuckled his scabbard, knelt down on one bended knee next to the tree and cupped his hands. I placed my foot tentatively into his cupped hands, half expecting him to drop me once I placed all my weight on it.
"Go on," he urged, while inclining his head to look at me.
With a less than gentle shove from the Crown Prince, I managed to clamber to the branch where I had slipped.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
When I failed to answer due to my trying to get to the branch which grew towards the wall, he must have gotten worried, for I soon heard the rustling of leaves. Within seconds, he was right next to me, breathing heavily with exertion.
It was probably the first and last time I would see him in a mess. Leaves and twigs had caught in his hair, a few strands of hair had escaped the Lapis Lazuli- otherwise known as the Stone of Royalty- clasp he had used to tie it back, and was now plastered against his cheek. I had the sudden urge to brush them back into place.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"I asked if you were alright, and when you didn't answer, I got worried," he replied, gesturing to our surroundings while settling himself on the branch and leaning against the trunk of the tree.
As if that explained everything.
Who did he think I was anyway, some damsel in distress?
"As you can see, I'm fine! But thanks for the help down there." I replied with a jerk of my head. "You can actually climb a tree?" I asked after a while, incredulous that the Crown Prince had actually heard of climbing trees in the first place.
"Well, no. I flew up here," he joked, a small smile cracking his tanned face.
My cloak fell back as I raised my arm to grab the branch that would thus enable me to reach the wall, exposing the bouquet of hyacinths that I had hidden under it. I might have been mistaken, but I thought I saw his eyes widen when he saw the bouquet.
"What is that for?" he asked, pointing at the bouquet.
"A garland," I replied, while I brushed a stray hair from my face.
"A garland of apologies," he said reflectively, with his right leg bent to form a triangle with the branch, his right arm propped on his knee, while the other leg stretched out in front of him.
"I beg your pardon?" I asked, giving up temporarily in favour of a little respite - I sat a leg's length - or more accurately, his leg's length away from him.
"The hyacinth is a symbol of apology - and sorrow," he added, after a second thought.
So that's what it means!
"Does this mean you accept the apology?" he asked, while I tugged the bouquet of hyacinths from the inside pocket of my cloak and began weaving it into a garland after tying back my unruly hair with the lavender silk ribbon.
I needed time to think about what this meant! Who would apologise to me? Or does someone wish sorrow to befall me?
Hoping to leave that question unanswered, I mumbled something non-committal and began to studiously weave the garland.
He sat silently for the most part while I wove the garland, whistling occasionally to the chirping birds.
"Do you talk to them like your sister?" I asked.
"No, but I wish I could. For now, we enjoy the entertainment the other provides," he answered.
After a minute or two of silence, he tried to make conversation. However, the topic of the conversation did not go down well with me.
"Do you hate me?" he asked, causing me to jerk before looking up.
"Why should I?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
"I don't know," he replied with a shrug. "You don't seem at ease around me."
"Maybe its because you're a stranger?" I replied, stating the obvious, while raising a delicate eyebrow.
"But you dislike my company don't you?" he asked, not giving up.
"We seem to be getting more questions than answers, aren't we?" I asked, hoping to throw him off track.
My brilliant plan backfired.
"Indeed we are, so why don't you change that and save us both some time by giving me some answers?" he replied, regarding me with a thoughtful expression, his head cocked to one side.
I replied as diplomatically as possible, "To answer your first question - yes, I am not at ease around you, because we've only just met." Holding up one finger to silence him as he opened his mouth to protest, I continued, "However, I do not dislike your company. I just thought that with all the attention you're getting, you wouldn't welcome - more of it."
I winced when understanding dawned on him, causing his eyes to widen slightly. I had tried so hard not to mention anything, but he was the one who wanted answers! Apparently my answer was not the one he expected.He sat back with a sigh and closed his eyes tiredly. After a while, he opened his eyes and stared at his palms studiously.
"We do not choose what we are, Lady Tylana," he replied reflectively. "To change that is a small task, and one I am more than willing but unable to undertake."
"That may be true, but we are able to choose who we are," I observed.
"What then do you propose?" he asked, sitting up suddenly and staring at me with cold, hard eyes. "Should I choose to be hateful and detestable? Is that what you propose?" he spat, livid with anger.
His hands were balled into fists, and I suddenly grew afraid - afraid that he might strike me in anger. I stared at his fiery display in open-mouthed shock, and I was ashamed to feel my lower lip tremble.
"Please, that wasn't what I meant. I." I replied, hoping to calm him down by placing a trembling hand on the arm he had propped on his knee. His skin was warm to the touch, and the hair growing on it, ticklish.
I was at a loss for words.
"Forgive me," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand, before placing it over mine, unconsciously running his thumb lightly over my knuckles. "I am tired, and did not mean to frighten you with my outburst."
"Its quite alright, I shouldn't have said anything," I said in what sounded to me like a squeak.
"No, you are right. At least you have a mind to speak of," he answered, referring to the remark I had made the night before.
It seemed so natural for us to be there together - high up in the privacy of a tree, his hand warming mine, while I offered him comfort with my presence. Although it was I who had agitated him in the first place!
We remembered ourselves at the same time, both jerking suddenly out of our reveries. Our hands dropping to our sides as we strived to make sense of what just transpired between us.
Concluding that what just happened required no explanation; I resumed with weaving the garland while he stared in to space. After struggling with a tough flower stem for a while, I gave an exasperated sigh before dropping my hands into my lap.
"Please, let me," offered the Crown Prince, as he plucked the bloom from my hands.
After bending the stem of the hyacinth a few times to test its flexibility, he deemed it to stiff and whipped out a dagger and began whittling away the tough outer layer of the stem.
When he was done, he extended his free hand, indicating for me to pass him the unfinished garland. Working deftly with callused fingers, that last bloom was woven in place. The garland was completed.
"Done!" I exclaimed happily, just managing to stop myself from clapping with childish glee.
He smiled gently, and with an awkward bow, placed the garland on his head! I started laughing at the funny picture this made, and instead of silencing me, he asked, "Well, how do I look?" tilting the garland at a jaunty angle with a flick of his fingers, and arching an eyebrow at me.
Playing along, I said, "You look positively gorgeous, darling!"
At this, even he could no longer hold back his laughter. His laughter was rich and melodious, as if it emanated from his very soul. His eyes spilled forth with undeniable joy.
While we were both catching our breath, I noticed that the sun was already hanging high in the sky, and realised that if I did not hurry I would be late!
"I have to go." I gasped, still breathless.
He nodded and asked, "Your garland?" while lifting it off his head.
"Here, let me put it on for you," he offered.
Shrugging my shoulders, I placed both hands on the branch for support before leaning towards him. With both hands, he gently placed the garland on my head, his fingers lightly brushing the side of my face. This accidental caress caused me to close my eyes, savouring the moment.
Here I go again!
I mentally slapped myself, jolting myself back into reality.
"There," he breathed, as one would when admiring a breath-taking view.
I opened my eyes to find him staring at me. "Yes, thank you!" I said a little too brightly, making it sound forced. I quickly pulled my hood up over the garland, and hurriedly got to my feet, trying to hide my crimson cheeks.
As I shuffled towards the wall while seated on the branch, my progress was slow but steady. "Will you be alright?" he asked, his back still resting against the tree trunk.
"Hopefully," I grunted with another shuffle, "Remember to call for help if you hear a high pitched scream when I go over the wall."
He laughed lightly at the joke and said, "You're strike me as a 'yell' person more than a 'high pitched scream' person."
"Is that good or bad?" I asked, mildly curious.
"Depends," he answered simply.
By then, I had reached the wall, and had shuffled off the branch, landing heavily on the top of the wall. "Well, here I go!" I declared triumphantly, turning around to flash him a grin.
He saluted me crisply, his mouth a thin line, a crease between his eyebrows. He had returned to being the distant, unsmiling Crown Prince.
Without further ado, I shut my eyes tightly and jumped. I landed with a thump and an undignified "Oof" on the ground.
"Are you alright?" came the anxious voice from across the wall.
"I'm fine." I replied, with a shake of my head, dusting myself off at the same time.
"I'll make a move then, " he said, relief apparent in his voice.
He probably thought one such as myself would not be capable of taking myself, and feared that he would be held responsible should danger befall me. Men!
"Sure," I answered with a wave of my hand, before spinning on my heel, heading toward the general direction of the fair.
I didn't notice it then, but the lavender ribbon I had used to tie my hair back had loosened and slipped off.
Freedom!
* * * * *
A/N: Yeah, this is it! The longest chapter so far! I noe I say that, like every single time, but its always an effort. This chap wasn't too hard to write, only problem was I kept changing my mind about certain things.then wanted the original version back.had to redo here and there, added more bits here and there.u get the idea. But its here, so don't complain!
Thanks to the Reviewers:
Thanks to all of u for being so supportive and coming back to read at every chapter!
Savannah: glad to have ur stamp of approval again, means the world to me (not that the rest of the reviews don't, mind!) the not gagging thing makes me so thankful I changed the kissing part a bit, and Lana was rude by court standards I guess, but u must rmember that she is fairly new to all the subtle meanings and such, especially since she is a straightforward kind of person who speaks her mind. Furthermore, she was irked by Kaelen-Dei's (or KD for short) behaviour earlier in the day. A little petty I noe, but aren't we all the same?
Cheler: glad u like the story!
Coppercurls: I am giving u more, but could u please return the favour with Hope is All?
Hannirose: Set Lana on me? But I thought she was MY character! I loved writing that chappie, and it made me warm and fuzzy too.
Veena Rajan: Who r u? Well, glad u like it, and leave ur email if u want an update!
AniHope: thanx! And am trying!
=) : hahaz.it'll do.the plot isn't all there I noe, but mystery will be coming up in the nxt chapter.*hinthint*.
CCLybi: Who said I was good at imitating Smith's style? U're the first.I thot? But whoever they are.LOVE U! Goes to u as well CCLybi.
Choclateclar: They make a cute couple don't they? And u'll just haf to wait and see who Lana will go with, that's y its entitled "Heart Duel".hahaz
Sunny: I give up.really.but u can ask me if u r still not sure.*sigh*.dun take offense. hahaz
Sak: Felix is nice.I like him too.
Sparkelrain: Really? Well that's great! But look what you've done.u've boosted my already INFLATED ego.love the feeling tho..
Elanial: She'll be just be figuring over the two, and yeah that's y its called "Heart Duel".besides, she's unattached, so she is able to play the field.hahaz
Shufen: Do an analysis next time! And there is ROMANCE.its just not full- blown kissing yet.
Last, but not least REVIEW!
