Part 5: Ardere (to burn)
1152 Words
Roughly three months had past since we’ve encountered Eiran and we already spoke with all the cities in Arden to prepare for what is to come. Now my castle has been on high alert with more guards there including Aarush and Finlo. They insisted on coming to my castle to help protect me from harm even though I protested for them to stay in Asteria.
As I’m getting dressed, I begin to assemble my short, skin-tight ivory battle dress. My legs aren’t hidden by the battle dress, which makes me don on my silky see-through royal battle robe. I tie my long curly dark brown hair back in a half up half down leaving one curl to rest delicately against my soft lightly toasted tan skin. My golden yellow eyes shimmer in the mirror as I stare at my reflection. I sigh deeply as I place my mother’s golden necklace with a sapphire gemstone as the final touch. I almost loose track when I hear a gentle knock at the door.
“Come in.”
The door pushes open and in comes Aarush in his royal dark blue battle clothes. He smiles at me warmly and closes the door behind him.
“Your highness.” He says as he bows before me. I couldn’t help but giggle as he bows before me.
“Aarush, you’ll never have to be formal with me.” I warmly smile as I tell him that and I could see his demeanor change from playful to more of a gentle seriousness. Walking towards me he steps behind me to face the mirror together. His golden blonde curls still fall delicately on his face covering his soft chiseled features. He begins to play with my hair as he begins to clear his throat.
“You know V, would it be so bad to escape your fate and live your life the way you want without any god or creature medaling in it?”
I look up at Aarush through our reflection and blush as he speaks. I scoff and roll my eyes, “what like…run away and live my life with whoever I pleased?”
Aarush twirled me around to face him as he towers me in height. He cups my face in his soft warm hands. “I’m serious Verena. We could leave all of this behind and start a new life together. Who says you have to follow your fate in order to live happily ever after?”
“A..Aarush..I..I’d want that more than anything but the gods deal a cruel fate..I’m the only one who can bring some type of peace to our lands…I just wish I…” Aarush leans in and kisses my lips as tears stream down his face.
“I’ve always loved you V, nothing will ever change that. If I have to wait a lifetime for you I will…just please promise me you won’t change no matter what may come our way…,” Aarush picks me up in his arms as I wipe his tears away. I never thought he’d feel this way towards me let alone bring up a plan that could alter Arden’s entire fate. He gently places me back down on my feet and kiss my forehead before he leaves through the door looking back at me and smiling. “Don’t forget V, my offer still stands.”
I stand there in my room with my face growing flush from Aarush act of love towards me. Would it really be that bad if I chose to live my life differently from my fate?
I push through my room doors just to be accompanied by Aarush and Finlo. They’ve taken up being my personal guard detail wherever I go. Aarush winks at me while I pass him, and I blush while I walk towards the dining room. I’m greeted by Hagan as he’s already eating breakfast. Placed before me on the table was poached eggs, voidberry jam, rye bread and dingleberry juice. I gesture for Aarush and Finlo to also sit with us and they were reluctant at first but nodded in agreement and took their seats at the dining table. Some of the servants rushed to get plates and drinks for them as they waited quietly at the table.
Time passed and we were outside in the garden training. I could see some of the goblins and orcs sparing with each other developing newer skills as they learned from each blow. I noticed some of the fairies were asking the Minotaurs to help teach them to camouflage into the flowers and trees, a cool sight to see them both hide out of plain sight. I couldn’t stop thinking about Aarush words, his kiss lingered on my lips all day.
We continued to walk towards the pond in the garden and Finlo paroled around as I asked for Aarush to talk in private. I look down into the pond to see the coy fish playing with each other as they glowed softly in the crystal blue water.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said Aarush…” I can see his eyes light up as I bring up the topic. His soft lips curve up into a warm smile making him more attractive. “If we can get through whatever storm comes our way, I wouldn’t mind taking you up on your offer..if you’d still want to see where this goes.”
Aarush grabs me in his arms and twirls me around. My feet are dangling from the ground and I can’t help but giggle at his grand gesture. He nuzzles his nose against mine and kisses me softly making my face completely flush again. He pulls away and gazes into my eyes while still holding me. “You’d make me the happiest elvian in all of Asteria!” He gleefully cheered and I couldn’t help but laugh at his joyous expression.
He gently placed me down on my feet and I walk back towards the castle, noticing that our day already ended very quickly, something seemed off but I didn’t pay much mind to it. I made sure to bathe myself before stripping down only to be in my robe. I climbed into my soft silk white sheets and drifted to sleep.
“AHHHHHHHHHHH!”
I’m woken up by a terrible scream in the middle of the night. I tried to puzzle together what happened until I hear another scream and footsteps leading down the stairs. I immediately get out of my bed and I could feel eyes on me that make my skin crawl. I dash out of my bedroom doors and stand mortified as fire erupted throughout the castle. I hear Hagans screams and my heart drops. I race towards the bottom of the stairs and I’m left completely frozen in my tracks.
“Hello Verena, nice to see that you’re finally awake my queen.”
- Writer
