The horse drawn carriage was amazingly stuffy and uncomfortable. I decided to pry open a nearby window to let in the cool night breeze.
"So miss, were you visiting the palace?" the coachman asked suspiciously.
"You can say that," I responded, pulling up my hood further in order to conceal my golden locks.
"I see," he replied. "Is the Demacian marketplace alright for you? It's in the middle of the town square, and we should be there soon."
"That is fine," I said, adjusting my cloak.. It was a considerably chilly night. I smoothed out the purse on my lap, admiring the night life and the palace that was slowly disappearing behind me in the distance. "Just away from the castle."
"I can understand," the coachman muttered. "It can get a little.. claustrophobic back there."
"Yeah, no kidding," I giggled, making sure to cover my mouth as I laughed. I immediately suppressed it as the coachman looked back at me. suspiciously- almost as if he recognized my voice. After a moment of silence, he decided to shrug the notion off his shoulders and then proceed to continue along the pathway. After several minutes, he dropped me off in the Demacian marketplace, which was a good distance from the palace. I could spend some time here.. just to refresh myself and not think about life as a constricted princess.
"Thank you for your transportation, kind sir," I said, giving him a genuine smile. He nodded. He looked rugged and quite tired. It must have been a long day for him.
"Always glad to be of service," he responded, tipping his hat. I returned the polite gesture by handing him a clean Demacian bill.
"You can keep the change," I replied as he looked at me in shock. "You honestly have no idea how much that carriage ride has convenienced me."
"A-are you sure?" he stammered, examining the money, as if he was almost in disbelief that it was authentic. "This is fantastic! Thank you very much."
"Mhm!" I smiled, turning into another direction. He stopped me in my tracks.
"Wait, miss!" he shouted. I spun once more to meet his gaze.
"Have we met before?" he asked curiously. "I feel as if I have seen or heard you from somewhere in the past.
"Um, no," I responded. "I don't think so, at least."
He nodded. "Okay. Well, I shouldn't keep you."
I grinned, halfheartedly this time. He didn't say another word as he stowed the carriage back to the Demacian palace. I decided to observe my surroundings for a bit- see what I was getting myself into. The marketplace was.. lively to say the least. Citizens of Demacia were out and about, ready to immerse themselves into the night air. People of all classes were gathered in the marketplace- whether they were noblemen, merchants, artisans, farmers, peasants, mages, warriors, craftspeople, or apprentices. The marketplace was simplistically yet beautifully decorated. The ground was constructed out of patterned configurations of cobblestone. Booths and stands of fruits, vegetables, meats, jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs lined the effervescent street. Above the colorful canopy of the sales tents was an animated suspension of the Demacian crest with the city-state's motto below it: "Demacia, now and forever!", all embroidered fancily on royal fabric. The sign was suspended from a building located on the left to a tower on the right. Demacian flags hung from rungs that were loosely nailed into the tall structures, in addition to advertisements and commercials of various services. It was essentially a melting pot of all types of culture, diversification, variety, and life that I was never exposed to living as a sheltered damsel behind the walls of the palace and the shields of the royal guard. But now I was free at last, allowed to roam wherever I pleased without being closely followed by a soldier or a security force. It felt almost exhilarating. The icy air stung my sensitive skin like frostbite- but the exhilarating feeling of breaking from my restrains made me immune to it. I heard a folk song coming from the voices, instruments, and souls of a local band of musicians coming from my left. I followed the noise through the crowd.
I noticed pairs of young peasants dancing with one another to the tune. It felt pleasant and quite rural, which I of course didn't mind. Any music was better than the robotic orchestra that resounded throughout the ballrooms of the palace. I tapped my foot along with the rest of the gradually gathering crowd. It was catchy and fun- it drummed through my ears and then into my body and eventually engulfed the entirety of me. I wanted to dance. Eventually I was lead into the circle by a male peasant. You can tell he was drunk. By the way he threw his head back into the air and laughed at the sky. Normally, I would have pulled away in fear, perhaps slapped him across the face if I was in a bitter mood that day. But I was not being my usual self today. And to be honest, I kind of liked it. I laughed with him, just as loud, if not louder. It felt so amazing to be alive for one ephemeral night. The dance was a mixture between lyrical and tap- one that was abnormal to say the least. As a young child, I have been trained in all forms of dance, whether it was ballroom, traditional, contemporary, or ballet. This sort of routine was a walk in the park. We began to trade partners as the music grew more upbeat. The crowds cheered heartily as the tune picked up its pace. I felt dizzy, yet ecstatic. I was laughing the entire time. It felt so right- because it was not a choreographed waltz, but a carefree, improvised tango.
During another trade-off, I spotted a blonde boy out of the corner of my eye. He was standing amidst the crowd, arms folded across his chest. He was considerably tall, and appeared to be around my age. His cerulean eyes still glistened in the darkness of the night, and were absolutely captivating. I somehow could not manage to take my eyes off of him- something about him was just so fascinating. My feet and legs were already sore from all of the dancing I have done. I decided to wait for the end of the song before leaving to greet him. Oh, who am I kidding. My conscience was correct. What was I going to do? Strike a conversation? Make small talk? What could I even converse about? Nothing interesting, that's for sure. During my train of thought, another tune began to pick up, and I was spun around in a circle once more, this time lead by an older man. He seemed to be enjoying the music as well, laughing and smiling as did the rest of the crowd. My eyes were still glued on him. What was he staring at me for? Did I have something on my face? Did he recognize me as the princess? I suddenly froze, mid-dance.
"Hey, what was that for!" the man shouted, displeased with my inconsistent rhythm, in addition to the fact that I have appeared to step on his toe.
"Sorry, I-I have to go," I responded, removing myself from the busy dance circle, and walking straight toward the blonde boy. He was still standing in the same position. Now that I was closer, I was able to get a better look. He towered a good head over me, and possessed an air of confidence. His blonde hair was streaked with some hazel brown highlights and was strewn in a messy array. And those eyes. Blue like the ocean water, and extremely calming. I was lost. His entire face was attractively structured. A broad nose and a well-carved jawline cupped his symmetrical lips. Broad shoulders, a full torso, and long legs characterized his lean yet mesmerizing frame, which was covered by a white shirt underneath a leather vest, and a dark pair of trousers. I did not see his shoes.
"D-do I, um, well, know you?" I asked, looking up at him. He locked my gaze.
"Who knows," he countered. I was surprised by how quickly he managed to
formulate his response. "Perhaps. I may or may not. The real question is do you know yourself?"
"I suppose I do," I replied, in a much more composed manner.
"Would you like to walk with me?" he questioned abruptly, staring at me square in
the eye. I hated how he did that.
"What do you expect me to say?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulders. "It's your decision. I am not afraid of rejection."
Why not. Take a chance, Luxanna. It's not as if he gave you much of a choice.
"Fine," I replied. It was rare that I was ever this decisive. "Where to."
He did not respond, and grabbed at my hand. I instinctively yanked it away.
"Sorry," he murmured immediately.
"It's okay," I said. He didn't touch me much after that without my permission. Which was nice.
"Would you like to explore the city with me?" he asked, extending his hand outward. His eyes sparkled like the night lights.
"Absolutely," I smiled, taking his hand. "Care to introduce yourself?"
"My apologies," he chuckled. "The name is Ezreal. I am a traveler, originating from Piltover. How about you?"
Piltover. Exactly how far away was that. I decided to use my minimal geographical knowledge to calculate the distance. Let's see here.. far enough way so that I can tell my real name without a face of shock.
"Luxanna, I am from a merchant class family in Demacia," I responded discreetly.
"What a pretty name," he complimented. Flushing embarrassingly red, I immediately cut him off.
"C-can we just get to where we need to go, please?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"Of course!" he responded, pulling me into a nearby tavern. "Welcome to paradise."
The interior of the building was warm and inviting. Bright colors, loud laughter, cheery merrymaking, singing dancing, and alcohol galore.
"So I see," I breathed. It was definitely a lot to take in, I'll give you that. Especially for someone who only ever ventured outside of the palace walls once in a blue moon.
"Have you never been to a bar before?" he inquired, nudging me forward as he strolled casually behind me.
"It's just kind of overwhelming," I murmured. I started to feel lightheaded. "Can I sit down?"
"Sure," he responded, pulling out a stool from the bar and allowing me to seat myself. "Are you alright, Luxanna?"
"Lux is fine," I replied. I placed a hand on my forehead. Darn it. Why did I always have to be so delicate?
Ezreal didn't seem so sure. "Are you sure you are okay?" I chuckled. Oh, of course I am okay. So okay that I am locked in an arranged marriage that I did not even want to be involved in. So okay that my alleged fiancee is the most repulsive combination of prideful, egotistical airhead and demented pervert. So okay that I can barely hold a conversation with my father and brother. So okay that I am not even supposed to be here and could face a possible prison charge or banishment from the kingdom if I were to be seen fooling around with another man. So I lied.
"Yes," I whispered meekly. He didn't seem to buy it.
"Need anything to drink?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Please," I groaned, burying my face into my hands.
Ezreal knocked on the wooden counter of the bar. "Two Demacian cocktails, please!" he requested.
"Coming right up," a hefty bartender with cascading ginger locks answered. Ezreal turned back toward me.
While we waited, I decided to take a look around my surroundings. For goodness sakes, how could people be so happy like this all the time? Women and men laughed and danced around in circles in the tavern. Music resounded in both high pitched and low pitched melodies, as it poured out of the open windows into the night, almost radiating positivity to the world outside. The entire tavern just possessed an extremely welcoming atmosphere overall.
"So.. Lux," Ezreal said, sliding in a bit closer than comfortable. "Tell me about yourself?"
"What is there to tell," I countered. "I am not exactly the most interesting person in the world."
"I am sure we can get something out of you," he replied. "Favorite color, favorite animal, favorite fetish.."
"What?!" I exclaimed, snapping out of my shame spiral at the last time.
"Alright, maybe not the last part," he rebutted. "Seems a little bit personal for a first date."
"Yeah, no kidding," I giggled. He was awkward. In a good or bad way, I wasn't sure. But I somehow liked it. "And who ever said this was a date? I don't even know you."
"Do you want to, though?" he inquired, his voice suddenly dark.
"S-sure," I said, even though I wasn't. "What do you want to know?"
"Are you upset right now?"
"Um, I mean. I guess so. Kind of. Okay, maybe a lot."
"What's wrong?"
"That's clearly none of your business."
"If you didn't want to tell me, you wouldn't have told me in the first place."
"Fine. Family stuff, okay? It's nothing I want to get too deep into."
"Sure, I can understand that. We'll stay out of it."
"So.. are you a traveler or something? I can't really tell with the getup you have on."
"Haha, I guess you can say that. I just really like to explore, see the world and stuff."
"That's beautiful."
"Thank you."
Several more drinks, clinks of glass, conversation deepened as the night grew ever darker.
"Do you want to dance with me?" Ezreal asked. He hopped off the barstool and stretched out his arms behind his neck. You could tell he was a little bit tipsy, with the way he slurred his words and the cloudy residue over his eyes.
"Sure thing," I replied, instinctively of course. What exactly was I thinking? Was this just a statement of my rebellion against father? It couldn't be. I just knew it. I took his extended hand and proceeded to step out into the center of the dance floor, which was just a slightly raised platform in the middle of the tavern. The music was endearingly rustic, and very cheery. A band of instruments played away in the far corner of the room. We spun, twirled, danced, fell apart and came back together, swayed from side to side.. it was almost magical. My feet felt as if they were lifting off the ground, through the roof and into the starry sky. Just dancing with a stranger, without a care in the world.
"You are a very skilled dancer, Lux," he complimented. "Where did you learn?"
I flushed a crimson color immediately, looking away from him.
"It just comes naturally, I guess," I stammered quietly, completely ignoring the fact that I have probably taken ballroom dancing classes longer than I have been literate. My head began to spin. I was so so happy. For the first time in so long, I felt free as a bird, flying out of the cage that was my castle.
"C-can I sit down for a second?" I asked, placing a hand over my forehead. "I feel a bit dizzy."
"Of course," Ezreal replied, immediately stopping and walking me over to a nearby table. "One water, please," he muttered to a passing waiter, who nodded and walked brusquely into the kitchen doors.
Everything was so funny. Life is so funny. Laughter began to bubble, starting from my toes, through my lungs, out of my mouth. I started to burst out into a major fit of giggles.
"What are you laughing about.." he asked, obviously concerned for my mental health and overall well-being. I must have looked like a total lunatic.
"Sire, your water," a server whispered, eyeing me curiously as she placed the glass onto the table's surface.
"Thank you." Ezreal said as he accepted the drink and pushed it into my direction. "Drink."
"I don't think so," I responded, trying to stifle another burst of laughter.
"You probably should," he advised dangerously.
"Okay, okay fine.." I dragged out the last word obnoxiously, taking the cold cup to my lips. The water suddenly felt hot against my tongue. It burned my mouth with its intensity as I drew back with displeasure.
"Ugh," I groaned. "I think we should leave." Something about the bar was making my head hurt, and my temples pound. I wanted out.
Ezreal obliged immediately, following me out into the street as I staggered in front of him.
I started laughing again. Oh, Lux. Look at you. A refined, delicate Demacian princess. Perfect, innocent, and pure as can be one moment and the next here you are in the city slums getting drunk with someone you barely know. It's pitifully comical. Life would be so much easier if I did not leave the castle. If I just stayed there and dragged out my perfect existence with father and brother and future husband. Raise a family of perfect little children and wear perfectly pretty clothes and attend perfectly planned ceremonies and speak perfectly sophisticated words and be the most perfect little daughter I can possible be. But, alas. Here I am.
"Isn't life so unfair?" I asked him as he walked patiently beside me. How he could still put up with my relentless ranting, I wasn't sure. But I sure as hell appreciated it. "You have to follow a certain path or else everything comes crashing down. Just every single little detail must be the way it is, and it cannot be adjusted because if you do, it just changes the order of the universe or something."
"I beg to differ," Ezreal murmured quietly. "I'd like to think life is quite beautiful.
Almost like an adventure."
"You're funny," I replied. "Almost hilarious. I can hardly contain my laughter." Another endless fit of giggles. "Oh my God. And you are so lucky. So fortunate. You have no idea."
He shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? I like to go with the flow. Live life simplistically. If it happens, it happens."
"Yes, like when things just couldn't get any worse," I interjected. "Something else gets
shoved onto your plate. Another responsibility, another duty, another obligation."
"No one is forcing you to follow them," Ezreal responded. "It's your life. Do as you please."
"Ha!" I shot. "HAHAHAHAHA. I can't even breathe."
"You belong to a merchant family, right?" he asked. "It shouldn't be that difficult to
choose your own direction. You don't have to follow a map for your entire life."
"Oh brother," I continued. "If only you knew what I have to go through on a daily basis." I felt his hand clasp gently over my arm, as he lead me toward a sales stand. The city lights all around us felt so warm. The cobblestone sidewalk beneath our feet, the colorful, yet modest buildings, the rural decorations, the glistening lanterns and the stars embedded into the sky. It felt almost like a fairytale.
"Are you hungry?" he asked out of the blue."
"Extremely," I responded.
"Perfect," he replied. "You are going to love this. Two deluxe platters please, madame." The elderly woman managing the food cart quickly prepared our meals, in exchange for a few gold coins. I eyed the confections with curiosity. On each plate was a large slab of meat, heaps of potato, vegetables, fruit, and some ham, cheese and crackers. I took a whiff of the heavenly pile before me. It smelled so real, so delicious, so genuine. So much more delectable than the meals served at the palace.
"Follow me," Ezreal said. He strolled quickly down an alleyway, looking behind his shoulder to ensure that I was there. Laundry lines hung from window to window amongst the buildings above our heads. How peaceful yet lively urban life must be. I was surprised to see the blonde-headed boy leap onto a ladder, balancing one food plate on his head and another in a hand. He clambered upward. I grasped the rusty rails in both hands and followed his lead. The tantalizing aroma from the meal practically drove me over the edge.
"Where exactly are we going?" I asked.
"You will see soon enough," Ezreal replied playfully. "I think you are going to like this."
I watched him disappear onto the rooftop of the building as he hopped off of the ladder. I reciprocated his movement, and gasped at the sight before me.
Millions of brilliant, scintillating lights. Like sparkling jewels in the ocean. Demacia was so gorgeous at night. The view was similar to what I saw outside of the window of my bathhouse, but so much better. The roof was plainly decorated, but still possessed a quaint charm. What I assumed to be Ezreal's little camp was furnished with a small mattress underneath an overhang of tarp. A string of festive lights were draped over the tent-like structure. A wooden table was propped on the side of the makeshift bed. A leathery knapsack, bottle of wine, and slice of cheese impaled with a knife sat contentedly on the surface.
"Do you live here?" I inquired curiously.
"It's just a temporary sleeping place," he replied. "I travel from city to city, kingdom to kingdom, nation to nation. I just take what I can carry on my back to see the world."
He laid out a tattered carpet on the ground and invited me to sit by patting the empty spot next to him. "Are you going to eat?"
I nodded eagerly, and proceeded to graciously take the plate from his hands. He looked at me with a mixture of disbelief, incredulity, and slight disgust as I shoveled the food into my mouth. I gnawed on the meat like a wild animal, interchanging my consumption of it with starchy potato and fibrous salads.
"This is so… tasty," I commented in between gulps.
"I am glad you like it?" he countered, still eyeing me with concern as I continued to scarf down my meal. "I imagined you would have some sense of table manners being from a merchant family and all."
I snorted. "You humor me." I continued to clean my plate by snacking rigorously on the cheese, meat, and crackers. "Delicious!"
Ezreal has barely made a dent in his food as I have practically finished. I licked the paper plate like a dog, smacking my lips with satisfaction. "That hit the spot," I sighed. "Do you have any beer? Wine? Alcohol?"
"I think you have had enough," Ezreal chuckled as he too, swallowed the last bit of food on his plate.
"I am thirsty," I complained. Ezreal sighed with slight annoyance, as he got up and disappeared into the darkness.
"Wait here," he instructed. I nodded, almost too enthusiastically before he turned around to scavenge through his belongings. I turned back to admire the view before me. A warm, calming breeze whipped through my hair and my face. I would not trade this moment for anything. Everything was the way it should be. I spotted the Demacian palace in the distance, golden and silent in all its glory. It's funny how it remained asleep while the remainder of the town rustled with life and excitement even at this hour of the night.
"Here," Ezreal handed me a glass. I chugged it down, not even inspecting it to see what was. Sweet, yet sour. And suddenly a bitter aftertaste.
"What is this?" I asked.
"Some booze I picked up from Zaun," he replied, stretching once more. "It is quite heavy, so don't drink it too quickly."
I nodded in response, and continued to admire the Demacian cityscape.
"Are you ready?" he asked, after half an hour of me taking minuscule sips from the glass and letting out some "wow"s and "ooo"s and "ahh"s a the view before us.
"Yes," i replied. "Where are we going?"
"Why do you always have to know what the next step is?" he inquired. "Come on." He leapt up and proceeded to make his way toward the top of the ladder that was latched onto the top of the roof. I followed him downward again, back into the marketplace strip. We passed numerous sales booths, whether they were advertising the finest Demacian weaponry, cooking and dining supplies, silverware, military garments, formal clothes, casual wear, exotic foods from all over Runeterra, and spellbooks upon potions among scrolls to scriptures to everything that could possibly be sold under the sun.
I spotted a glint of gold out of the corner of my eye, and became instinctively drawn to it. It was coming from a sales stand toward the right of the street. Ezreal followed behind me, still slightly concerned. I honestly would not blame him if he thought I had some sort of mental illness. I found myself pressing my face against the glass of a jewelry case. A sparkling, golden heart-shaped locket rested on a polyester cushion that faced both of us.
"It's so beautiful," I whispered.
"10 Ases and it's yours!" the shopkeeper exclaimed. A heavyset woman appeared from the darkness. She was embellished with golden and silver rings on her pudgy fingers. Colorful rhinestones that dangled from glistening hoops were wrapped around her thick neck. Bright eyeshadow and dark eyeliner and mascara dotted her cakey face.
Ezreal reached over my head and dropped several golden coins into the woman's fat, outstretched hand.
"It's all on me," he assured, giving me a friendly wink. Again, another blush. What is with these butterflies? Calm down. He's just being polite.
"Th-thank you," I replied, gratefully accepting a wooden box from the lady. I opened it to see the necklace in all its glory, glinting in the accent of the bright, bustling street life. "I appreciate it.. but you really shouldn't have."
"Shut up," he responded playfully, once more.
I shoved him in the arm, a smile as wide as a mile plastered over my face.
"Yay!" I murmured to myself. We started to exit the marketplace strip and into the darkness of the night. I felt so at home. So at peace. There was finally some time to breathe and.. relax.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
I whirled around to see several Demacian guards, two on horses, and four more on foot, clad in iron armor and armed with weaponry.
"Run," I told Ezreal, grabbing his arm and bolting off.
"Wait!" Ezreal cried. "Who are those people?"
"Um, it's kind of a really long story," I laughed nervously, sprinting as quickly as I could. Ezreal followed suit quite easily.
"Should we turn around?" he asked. "It looks quite serious."
"Nope, just keeping running and don't look back," I responded simply.
"Did you do something wrong?" he inquired. "Are you a criminal?"
"Oh dear Lord," I muttered to myself. "Heavens, no."
"Then why are they chasing after you?" he demanded, his expression suddenly contorted.
"Well, you see..," I proceeded to explain before a soldier interrupted my monologue. They were several feet behind us. I began to question whether or not I could outrun a man on a horse.
"WE HAVE FOUND THE PRINCESS!" the leader of the royal guard sector informed several more searching troops.
"Took the words right out of my mouth," I grunted, looking into another direction.
"Wait, what?" Ezreal asked. "A princess? I thought you were from a merchant family."
"Again, another really really long story," I replied. "Now might not be the best time to give you the rundown."
"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" another soldier ordered. "AFTER THEM NOW!"
"Oh brother," I muttered.
"Hop on," Ezreal directed, kneeling down on the floor and allowing me to clamber onto his back.
"Wait, why?" I asked.
"You run too slowly," he sighed. "We are never going to outrun the horses at this rate."
"Now, wait just a minute I will have you know that I am actually a very fast runner and have participated in numerous courtly activities so if you could be so kind to drop the snide remarks-"
Ezreal rolled his eyes. Sweeping me off his feet, he cradled me in both arms as he sprinted further and faster away at an alarming speed. Before I knew, we have apparated several feet away from where we were before. in a whirl of golden light.
"THEY ARE GETTING AWAY!" I heard a guard cry out in the distance. I felt his heart thunder loudly against my chest. It must have been very exhausting to run so far and carry dead weight with him.
Even when we lost the guards, he was still running. Over fields of grass, rural countrysides, hills over hills of wheat. We eventually stopped in the midst of a dense forest. The moon glistened through the vines of the jungle. He set me down gently on the floor and knelt before me, as I hugged my knees against my chest.
"Thank you," I replied quietly.
"Would you care to explain?" Ezreal exhaled, breathing heavily. "About the whole.. princess situation?"
"Well, I am not the daughter of the merchant family you thought I was.." I began tapping my chin with my finger. "And I am kind of.. royalty?"
"You think?!" he responded. "Why didn't you tell me this in the first place? Why did you lie to me?"
"Well it's not exactly something you share first hand!" I snapped. "And besides, I would sound condescending."
"You are one hell of a handful, you know that?" Ezreal countered, ignoring my statement and rubbing the back of his head. You could tell he was under a lot of stress.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" I pleaded. "I didn't mean to drag you into all of this either. I just- I just wanted out."
We were now strolling through the elegant forest. "From what, exactly?" he asked.
I sighed, "An arranged marriage," I finally capitulated. "With literally the most awful, boorish, disgusting man I have ever met."
"I am sorry," Ezreal whispered quietly. "But you should have been honest with me."
"I know," I responded. "I am sorry. I just panicked."
"I forgive you," he replied after a pause. Silence followed the awkward exchange. I could tell he was keeping some distance from me. His stride was less composed and poised, even if his breathing has slowed down. We continued to walk side by side over a dirt trail through the enchantingly beautiful forest. The sights were absolutely breathtaking. Evergreen foliage sprawled over the vicinity before us. Streams and brooks of clear water poured over the nooks and crannies of the rough ground. The air was cool, fresh, and relaxing against my skin. Everything about our surroundings just carried a mysterious, cryptic feeling to it. It was refreshing if anything.
"I feel dirty," Ezreal sighed to himself. "There is a nearby clearing pond. I am going to cleanse myself there."
"Cl-cleanse yourself?!" I asked. "As in shower?"
"I am covered in mud and dust from all the running I did earlier," he explained. "It's only best if I could wash myself." His blue eyes sparkled ever slightly in the moonlight.
"U-um, okay," I replied. "I guess I can wait for you?"
"I believe the princess should probably bathe herself before she returns to the castle as well," Ezreal suggested. "You are also pretty grimy."
I blushed immediately. "Wh-what? I am definitely not getting undressed in front of you!"
"Who said anything about getting undressed together?" Ezreal mused. "Why? Do you want to?" A smirk began to tug at the corners of his lips.
"Sh-shut up!" I countered. "I never said that."
"Of course you didn't," he replied simplistically. I smiled happily to myself, glad that we have cleared the air once more with playful banter.
The remainder of the hike was absolutely wonderful, characterized by thoughtful discussion of completely random topics. Like our favorite colors, foods, songs, dances, childhood memories, beliefs, morals, philosophies- anything we felt like talking about, really. He was so easy to converse with. Something that I could never bring myself to get to with Jarvan. Every flirtatious remark, joking comment, sentimental story was countered with another. I had no idea I could bring myself to take a liking to someone so different from me.
"I guess we are here," Ezreal said, pushing past some willow leaves. We were now standing at the edge of a lagoon, in the midst of a forest clearing. Numerous tall, aged trees surrounded a crystalline lake. The entire scene just possessed a feeling of peace and serenity. A shaft of moonlight poured through an opening in the canopy of leaves suspended over it toward the middle of the pond. It almost felt like a spotlight shining down on a stage, except there was no audience. No one to judge, no one to listen, no one to criticize. It was simplistically divine. A medium sized waterfall cascaded into the lake from a mossy cliff that overlooked the miniature sea. Crickets chirped softly in the distance, and a musty, warm summer humidity cloaked over the scenery. I jumped as I heard Ezreal rustle with his clothing. He started by removing his outer vest and then pulling off his shirt.
"U-um, can you like um, like, do that somewhere else, please?!" I yelled, immediately turning in the opposite direction, folding my arms across my chest. "It's embarrassing to do this so suddenly."
I could feel his stare burning into my back.
"It's not even that big of a deal," he countered. "Just get in the water." I heard him kick off his trousers and then an ostentatious splash. The sound sliced through the dead of the night like a knife. I turned around. He was nowhere to be seen. I looked around nervously, and tiptoed to the side of the pond.
"Ezreal?" I uttered nervously. "Where are you? Where did you go?"
I saw the surface of the water break. Ezreal's bright blonde hair popped out, and his usually sincere face broke into a smile. He looked so happy.
"Are you coming in or what?" he asked excitedly, diving back into the water.
I pouted. "Can you please come back?" i shouted, trying to get his attention. He reappeared once more, now looking slightly annoyed.
"What is it?" he asked in a playfully ignorant voice.
"I just-" I stuttered. "It's kind of weird, you know? Like skinny-dipping and stuff. Can I just put my feet in the water?"
"Don't be such a downer!" Ezreal replied, spouting out some water from his lips. "The lake feels great! And if you don't want me to see you, there's a cave in the back that's shaded by willow leaves. You can go bathe in there, okay?"
I nodded reluctantly, still slightly unsure of myself. "Alright, but can you not look?"
He responded by disappearing beneath the water's surface once more. I carefully peeled off my cloak, and then my top and bottoms. I dropped my clothes into a pile next to the messy heap that belonged to Ezreal. The grass felt sharp and rough underneath my soft feet. Shivering, now only in my bra and underwear, I timidly stepped toward the water and dipped my toe beneath the surface. It was warm. Relieved, I jumped in and felt the waves wash over my body and cleanse away all my worries.
Ezreal was underneath the waterfall. I spotted the cave slightly toward the left, and clumsily swam my way toward it. Once I reached it, I gingerly parted the willow leaves and entered into the safety of the cavern. I stood up in the center of the small pond and undid my bra clasp and stepped out of my panties. Dropping them off on a rocky platform toward the side of the water, I started to rub my skin with the clean water. I felt so calm. I was now far away from the kingdom, far away from father, far away from Jarvan, far away from all of my worries and stresses.
"Lux!" I heard Ezreal shout in the near distance.
I jumped, and let out an uncharacteristic squeal, flushing red once more. "Y-yes, what is it?" I stammered nervously.
"If you look up, there are some vines on the walls of the cavern!" Ezreal instructed. "There are some flowers that release natural oils and minerals- they are really great for washing your hair and skin!"
"Th-thank you," I stuttered. I looked around, and indeed, there were plants on the sides of the cavern, budding with large blossoms. I squeezed the base of its bud, and sure enough, an aromatic, viscous liquid poured into the palm of my hand. I proceeded to comb through my wet hair with it, as it formed a sweet-smelling foam. I managed to release a satisfactory sigh, rinsing through my hair with the water and proceeding to apply more to my skin. Once my body was coated with nice-smelling bubbles, I dipped myself back in the water.
"You sound like you are enjoying yourself," I heard Ezreal say.
"C-can you stop?" I exclaimed. "Why are you listening to me?"
"You just sound really relaxed," he laughed. "Are you going to come out of there or not? It's no fun to swim around by myself."
"No!" I snapped back, a little too quickly. "I am staying right here. R-right here."
"Fine," he responded, trying to disguise the disappointment in his voice. "I was going to show you something cool, but I guess not."
"H-how cool?" I asked nervously.
"Extremely," he replied with conviction. "But I guess you don't want to see it, so.."
"i want to see it!" I shrieked, maybe a bit too loudly.
"Then come out," Ezreal coaxed. "I won't do anything weird, I promise."
Shyly, I waded through the water and parted the willow leaves. He greeted me with a bright smile, his cerulean eyes flickering with excitement and enthusiasm. Taking my wrist gently, he lead me through the pond and toward the waterfall.
"Wh-what exactly do you think you are doing?!" I demanded, trying to break my hand free from his grasp. But he was notably strong.
"Just wait and see," he replied. I quieted down. His shoulder and back muscles were extremely rippled- wait, why was I even looking there anyways?! Stupid, stupid.
"Are we almost there?" I whined impatiently.
"Yes," Ezreal responded, quietly laughing to himself, wading through the water. "Oh, look we have arrived at our destination.."
I looked up to see the towering waterfall pouring into the lake. It sounded loud, and quite intimidating. He softly pushed me into the crevice that it poured over, and joined me. soon after. I covered my endowed chest with both arms and tried my best not to make eye contact.
I shuddered as he tucked a piece of my wet hair behind an ear. "Why are you so timid around me when you are not dressed?" he chuckled playfully. "It's kind of cute, actually."
"Because it's weird, okay?!" I yelled back. "I am not used to stuff like this."
"Alright, alright," he responded. "Hey, I want you to put your head underwater and open your eyes. It's so unbelievably gorgeous down there, you have no idea."
I raised an eyebrow, still feeling hesitant.
"Just trust me," Ezreal assured, placing both hands on my shoulders. I yelped. His rough, calloused fingers felt slightly comforting and secure. I felt a metallic chain scrape over my collarbone. Looking down, I was surprised to see it was the golden piece of my heart-shaped necklace he purchased for me earlier from the marketplace. He made me feel so safe. Not that I would admit it aloud or anything. "Relax yourself.."
I held my breath before my head crashed below the surface. I felt him squeeze my shoulder, which sent another shiver down my spine. I suspected he was signalling for me to open my eyes. Once I did, I opened my mouth in disbelief. Beauty. Millions of corals and fish and seaweed danced amongst the currents of the water. I felt him guide me gently through the lake, my eyes tracing over this underwater world, taking in every single detail before it disappeared. I began to kick my legs, spreading my arms wide apart and floating peacefully through the waves. Everything was so pretty, so perfect, so untouched. I had no idea something so amazing like this dwelled just a few miles from the castle walls. How foolish of me. We eventually maneuvered toward the center of the lake, where the line of moonlight poured through. As our heads both penetrated out of the water's surface, I suddenly felt rejuvenated, awakened. As if something that was right in front of me this entire time has only now gotten my attention.
Ezreal's eyes continued to sparkle under the summer moonlight, emblazoning unspoken words and thoughts into my own.
"You are so beautiful.." I heard him murmur. He leaned in toward me, lips parted. I let out another timid squeal as his mouth met mine. It felt gentle, soft, innocent. His hands ran over my smooth skin and through my hair, slowly and delicately. My own palms ran over his chiseled arms and over his sculpted abdomen and chest. I felt his tongue enter my mouth as we began to kiss more passionately, expertly using our hands to glide over each other's bodies, exploring, feeling, experiencing, renewing. I pulled away after several exchanges, before being pushed back into him by the tickling waves. His hands rested gently on the back of my waist, but took me in once more toward him as I tried to resist. His lips were sweet, soft, so delicious. We continued to kiss, bathed under the moonlight, water swaying happily at our hips. I moaned almost inaudibly as he pushed my long, blonde locks to one side of my neck and proceeded to nibble playfully at the crook. I balled my hands into fists, pushing my hands into his open palms, squirming, feeling, taking it all in. No one could take this moment away from me.. not father, not Garen, not Jarvan, not even the palace guards..
My thoughts were immediately interrupted as I heard the familiar shout of a Demacian soldier and the galloping of horses in the near distance. I broke away from the kiss with a quiet popping noise, gasping to myself when I realized what was to come.
"I have to go," I whispered to him.
He sighed with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. "Do you have to?"
"Mhm," I responded, most likely even more unhappy than he was
"Promise me you will see me again," Ezreal replied, resting his chin on my shoulder, his arms wrapped over my stomach. It was so intimate, feeling his skin against mine, his hair tickling against my face.
"I promise," I responded. I turned around, cupping his face in my hands, examining his visage. He was so very handsome.. defined cheekbones, bright, ocean-like eyes I could lose myself in, and the most bright, unwavering blonde hair. We met once more in an innocent kiss, before he broke away and separated them.
He met my statement with a nod, disappearing beneath the water just in time for a member of the royal guard to push apart the willow leaves into the forest clearing.
"Lady Luxanna!" he exclaimed. "We have found you! GUARDS, I HAVE LOCATED THE PRINCESS."
I instinctively covered my breasts with my arms, crossing them over my chest.
"Y-yes?" I asked.
"Come, come, hurry and cover yourself!" the guard shouted. He placed a towel on the edge of the lagoon, disappeared back into the forest. I swam to the shore as slowly as I possibly could, looking behind me, trying to search for any sign of Ezreal. Anything. A sound, a voice. He disappeared as quickly as he came. A sense of overwhelming pain and sadness washed over me. I had to see him again. I just had to. I wrapped the towel around my body. I placed a hand over the heart-shaped locket, rubbing it gently in between my fingers. I suddenly felt more relaxed, more at peace. How is it possible to miss someone already.
"Are you ready, Miss Luxanna?" the guard asked.
"Yes," I replied simplistically.
He reappeared, guiding me toward the rest of the royal guard. "Your father is extremely angry," he muttered in between gritted teeth, as if I did not already know that. "His sire Prince Jarvan IV has sent numerous troops to search for you all over Demacia." Of course. That sounded like him. Only my future suitor would go so overboard, worried sick about his runaway bride. How tragic.
"Anyway, why did you run away? Did something happen? Were you looking for something? Did you fight with your brother again? Are you feeling okay, Miss Luxanna? You look a bit sick. And what were you doing in that lake over there? Why are you undressing? Why are you bathing yourself? I will have you know that the showers in the Demacian palace will suit you just fine-"
"Shut up, please," I said curtly, stopping in my tracks. The soldier held his tongue, nodding desperately.
"Yes, yes, just get into the horse carriage," he instructed. "Just wait until the King Crownguard hears about this! Oh, this is my lucky day, guess who is going to get a promotion!"
I rolled my eyes, as I stepped into the doors of a horse-drawn carriage, the threshold being held apart by two standing guards. I could tell the entire group of soldiers was entire displeased with me, as they murmured amongst themselves with grunts, groans, and hushed whispers. I pushed my wet hair out of my face, still holding the locket in between my fingers.
"Off to the palace!" I heard a royal guard say to the driver. I heaved a melancholic sigh, looking out the window the the forest disappear forlornly in the distance as I returned back to my personal hell.