Page 7

T he morning light filters gently through the curtains as dawn breaks through the evening sky, casting soft beams across the room.

I slowly blink open my eyes, the night’s warmth still lingering on my skin, a mix of passion and laughter that felt almost too delicate to be authentic.

But reality, the ever- unforgiving companion, crept in with the dawn, and with it came the weight of the day.

Outside, Ebonshade Keep hummed, but its sound seemed distant, muffled by the cocoon of the guest bedroom.

Kaelen’s touch, the memory of his laughter, clung to me like a whisper, and I wished I could stay in his castle for a brief moment.

Untouched by responsibilities and uncertainties.

But time, relentless in its advance, was pulling me away from the fragile peace I’d found.

I could feel the crossroads approaching, a decision looming that I wasn’t prepared to face.

I strained to hear him moving somewhere in the castle’s corridors, but there was only silence.

He can’t walk in daylight, and yet, here I am, facing the daylight with a heart full of questions that only Withers can answer.

I cling to the memory of last night, as I reluctantly swing my legs from the bed, standing up and stretching as I fight to shake off the remnants of sleep.

The castle was quieter now, less alive. The stillness of it all pressed in on me, suffocating.

Would I find the courage to face what was coming? Or

would I let this moment slip through my fingers, like sand in the wind?

The warmth of the guest room stayed with me as I moved away, the soft hum of the fireplace echoing in my mind.

Kaelen’s kindness had turned this small haven into something more, a fleeting refuge in a world that was slowly crumbling around me.

As I made my way down the hallway, my heart ached, knowing that leaving meant saying goodbye to him, uncertain of when I would see him again.

I pause before the main door, my hand resting on the handle, wishing for one last glimpse of him before stepping back into the chaos waiting beyond. It felt like the whole world was pressing down on my chest, but my desire to see him one last time was undeniable.

With a powerful beat of my wings, I take flight.

Leaving behind the warmth of Kaelen’s castle and its fleeting comfort.

The calm wind rushed past me, its chill seeping into my bones, but it did little to ease the storm in my heart.

A tear slips down my cheek, tracing the path of longing as I soar higher, the world below shrinking into a blur of green and brown.

I was flying back home, to duty and a heaviness I couldn’t escape.

The Enchanted Forest stretched beneath me, its ancient trees casting long shadows that danced in the fading light. As I glided over the canopy, the rustling of leaves was drowned out by the frantic cries of soldiers below. My sharp ears catch an urgent voice.

“Queen Elara!”

The urgency in the call sent a shiver down me.

They were searching for me, more desperate than I had imagined.

I scanned the forest below, catching glimpses of armoured figures moving swiftly through the trees and foliage.

They were closing in on the palace, ready to hand in their findings or what little of them there were.

I knew I was in trouble. Lunairis is my home, and the treaty does state that the three rulers only meet every Winter Solstice, not whenever we want to.

I broke the rules. Did I care? Not really.

My thoughts drift back to last night, I smile a little.

But the weight of my crown and responsibilities snapped me back to reality.

I landed before the grand palace doors, folding my wings behind me with a soft rustle, and as I pushed them open, I was greeted with an eerie silence, no guards, no sentinels, only the quiet that followed me into the heart of Lunairis.

A knot twisted in my stomach. Withers had sent them all out, no doubt frantic over my disappearance.

I took a deep breath and stepped over the fresh hold that divided last night and this morning down the middle.

The familiar scent of polished marble and incense filled my nostrils.

The vast hall, usually so full of life, felt unnervingly empty.

My footsteps echoed, filling the silence, until I heard the shuffle of shoes and the low muttering of my most trusted advisor.

Withers, a frail silhouette against the dim light, paced back and forth, his hands wringing in anticipation.

His sharp eyes flickered between the wall’s tapestries and the marble floors beneath him.

His muttering grew louder, words too quick and frantic to follow.

As if sensing my presence, he froze mid-pace, his head snapping up.

His weary eyes lock onto mine, and there is a flash of something, anger? Relief? Or something more complicated?

“I’m here, Withers,” I breathe, echoing through the empty hall. His eyes narrowed, and I felt the weight of his disappointment for a moment.

“You have no idea what you’ve done, Elara.” He snaps, his

voice strained with concern and fury. But beneath it, a thread of relief was unmistakable.

“I had no choice,” I reply, locking onto his gaze. “Things are unravelling, and I couldn’t just stay here. I needed to see Lord Kaelen. ”

Withers took a slow, deliberate step towards me, his eyes scanning my face, a mixture of scrutiny and worry.

“And what of you? What of your safety? You can’t just run off like this. Lunairis is on the brink of chaos, and you are the only thing holding it together.”

His words hit like a heavy blow, and yet, despite the worry, something in his gaze told me he was relieved to see me back. “Tell me what’s happening?” I say, my voice steady. “I need

to know what I’m walking into.”

Withers’ face tightens, and he steps closer, hands clasped

behind his back. “The High Council is furious. They’re demanding your presence in the court. You can’t ignore them. You can’t disobey.”

I felt the weight of his words and the gravity of the situation pressing down on me. The Council’s endless demands had always been a burden, but they weren’t what occupied my thoughts now.

I met Withers’ gaze and offered him a reassuring smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Everything will be fine, Withers. I’ll face the Council. Don’t worry.”

But even as I spoke the words, my mind drifted back to Kaelen. His face, his voice, and his warmth flooded my senses, and the ache in my chest intensified.

“Lord Kaelen and I were just getting to know each other,” I murmured, primarily to myself. “I think... I miss him, Withers.”

For a moment, Withers remained silent. His expression was unreadable, yet I could almost hear the thoughts whirling in his mind.

Finally, he spoke, his voice softer but still tinged with worry.

“You are a queen, Elara. Your duty is to Lunairis and your people. Do not let distractions cloud your judgment.”

“I won’t forget,” I said, though I felt a gnawing uncertainty in my gut.

Kaelen, this bond felt like a thread pulling me in an unexpected direction.

Yet, here I stood, at the crossroads of duty and something more personal.

I just hoped my heart wouldn’t betray me in the process.

Withers cast me one last look, his gaze lingering before he nodded, his shoulders stiff.

“Then come. The Council is waiting.”

As I followed him down the long corridor toward the

courtroom, my heart was torn between the weight of my crown and an unshakeable longing.

The weight of authority envelops me the moment I step through the door.

The High Council Members, dressed in priest-like robes, watch me from their seats arranged in a perfect semi-circle.

Their gazes penetrate deep within me, each carrying an air of judgement, wisdom, and untold power.

The lone chair set before them feels both inviting and intimidating, as if challenging me to take my place.

I take a deep breath to steady my nerves and step forward, each footfall echoing in the heavy silence. As I sit, I feel the full weight of their collective presence settle over me, their unblinking eyes focused on me, with an expectation thick in the air.

“Speak,” one of them commands, their voice cold like a blade slicing through the silence. It isn’t a request; it’s an order. The room is still, with every sound amplified by tension. There’s no turning back now. I begin.

“I visited Lord Kaelen to apologise for my behaviour at the treaty meeting,” I said, my voice slightly shaking yet steady.

“I expected it to be a simple gesture, nothing more. But when I saw him and stood before him... something changed within me.” I pause, sensing the Council’s gaze intensifying.

The air thickens. I take a deep breath and proceed, being cautious with my words.

“It wasn’t just attraction. It wasn’t a fleeting moment of weakness,” I say, my voice steady yet quiet.

“There was a pull, something within me reaching out to him as if it was always meant to be. It felt like a force beyond our control, beyond understanding. A part of me had always been incomplete, and now... I feel it trying to become whole.”

A subtle movement from one of the Council members, perhaps a suppressed sigh, doesn’t escape my notice. They’re listening, but I understand the heaviness of my words.

“I am not in love with him,” I insist, searching their eyes as if pleading for understanding. “But something is stirring inside me, an intense need. When I’m not near him, when I don’t feel his presence, I feel lost. It’s as if I’m missing something vital, something I can’t quite explain.”