“Nonsense,” huffed an advisor. “The Mother Pearl is only an heirloom, nothing more.”
“It offers protection!” the Queen argued. “Stone of Counsel or not, it has a purpose! I would know because I feel its power.”
Despite the Queen’s hearing being obviously weaker, her mind was still very sound. He wanted to take her seriously, and Mierna looked like she agreed with her mother.
“It’s why Travus imprisoned all the Vihnmen’s Council members, isn’t it?” Mierna pondered. “They don’t have aruler, so it’s the Council who can give him access to their Council's Stone.”
“We’re going on assumptions here,” reasoned another Elder kindly. “The implication of Travus wanting to acquire the Council Stones–something we consider ancient relics–it sounds like a childish endeavor for someone like him.”
A scholar approached Arthur with an open book, one that looked very old and tattered, urging him to share it with Princess Mierna. He took it from him and held it out to her. As her eyes flitted through the texts of the old language, one that very few people could read, she began to look uncomfortable.
“He’s aiming for the impossible,” she muttered as she drew closer to Arthur to whisper. “We need to steer the discussion away from this matter.”
“Why? Is everything alright?”
“I don’t want anyone to panic,” she sighed. “Help me. Please? I’ll explain it later.”
Her soft voice elicited a gentle bloom in his heart that melted against her words, and her large eyes made him feel protective of her. He turned to the table with a serious look on his face and his voice more commanding than he usually allowed it.
“I must redirect our focus to more pressing matters at hand. Travus’s troops will march into Midges’s mines within this week, and they need to be reinforced. The Dwarves need to be informed as well. Given their current political situation with each Council member having their own tribes spread in different parts of the nation, it will take a while to reason with them.”
Nods and mutters of agreement made rounds, and the conversation finally shifted. Mierna discreetly grabbed his hand to squeeze it under the table before slipping away from the discussion. The Elders and advisors bowed to her as she made her way to the doors to leave. Once she’d disappeared, Arthur waited for a moment before following her.
He made his way to her bed chambers where he found her gazing out the window, her skin aglow in the soft light of the setting sun. She looked tense but determined, her eyes unfocused while lost in thought.
Carefully, Arthur went to stand behind her with a gentle hand on her elbow. She stepped back into his chest, nuzzling her temple against his jaw.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “You did well, Arthur. I should’ve trusted you to help.”
“This is all for you, Mierna,” he replied gently as he held her. “I can’t…let you be with someone else. I’m sorry if that’s too selfish but–”
She’d turned in his arms and when she kissed him, he was quiet, and he sighed against her lips. All he could think of was her at that moment.
All he’d done was for her.
Chapter 10
The afternoon sun had warmed the castle pleasantly, and Aria didn’t feel the need to put on her fleece-lined cape. She looked out of her window at the snow that glistened, still no sign of it melting away.
How strange, she thought.Is the snow here different from the one we get near the Enchanted Forest?
Curious, she decided to go collect some of it and find a place to test out her theories. It had been a while since she was last able to indulge in science experiments, and she suddenly missed her friend Hector. Grabbing her notebook and a slim stick of charcoal, she left her bed chamber to wander the rather sunny hallways.
The otherwise bleak dark marbles and deep-silver accents now looked charming in the splash of rainbows scattered by the glass chandeliers. Some of the spaces were colored because of the stained glass, which she looked at curiously in passing.
As she walked by, she observed the stories each windowpane told. She was very aware of the pleasant warmth that the mark under her arm was pulsating, indicating that Travus was nearby.
Veryclose.
The tips of her slightly pointed ears shuddered as it picked up the faintest of footsteps attempting to match hers. Had she been anyone else, she would’ve never noticed.
The dress she wore on that warm day had a swooping cut in the back, allowing her to feel the air shift against her skin which only confirmed Travus’s presence. She was hoping to let her wings out and breathe on that day, but she took no risks outside of her own bed chambers. It was difficult work to keep them hidden for such long periods, but this wouldn’t be the first time it was necessary.
Going undercover for long missions was her forte after all.
Why is he following me around?She wondered, very aware of his presence behind her. The warmth of his body rolled off him lightly, something that her exposed back picked up on as well. She stopped suddenly and Travus, still invisible, walked right into her. Shoved forward, she turned around quickly while releasing an alarmed squeal. She wrapped her arms around herself and jogged off toward the stairs, covering her face to not burst into laughter.
That should keep him away for a while, she thought in relief as she flew down the steps all the way to the ground floor. She relished the way the cool marble felt on her bare feet in contrast to the warm sunlight on her skin.
