The princess bound by shadows

The bells of Asterwyn echoed across the capital before dawn, their solemn chimes rolling over the rooftops like a warning instead of a celebration. Princess Elara Asterwyn opened her eyes before her maid knocked on the door. She had not slept. She never slept on the night before her birthday. Every year since she turned five, the same nightmare found her. Endless darkness stretched before her while unseen voices whispered her name. A pair of glowing silver eyes watched from the shadows, waiting patiently for her to step closer. Just before she reached them, she always woke with her heart pounding and her room colder than winter. This year felt different. The nightmare had ended with a voice. "We're almost out." A chill crept over her skin as she pushed the memory away. A gentle knock came from the other side of the chamber. "Your Highness?" Livia called softly. "May I come in?" "You may." The young maid entered carrying a silver tray with breakfast and a neatly folded lavender gown embroidered with moonflowers. She smiled, but Elara noticed the worry hidden behind it. "Happy birthday, Princess." Elara returned the smile. "Thank you." Livia placed the tray on the table beside the window. "The palace has been awake since before sunrise. Nobles from every province have arrived. The musicians are already rehearsing in the gardens." "And the guards?" Livia hesitated. "There are twice as many as last year." Elara looked away. "Father is expecting something to happen." "No," Livia replied gently. "He's hoping nothing will." Elara didn't answer. Hope had never been enough. She crossed the room and stood before the tall window overlooking the capital. The Kingdom of Asterwyn shimmered beneath the morning light. White stone buildings lined the streets, their rooftops sparkling with dew. Market stalls were opening, children chased one another through the square, and colorful banners fluttered from every balcony in honor of the princess's birthday. From this distance, it looked perfect. Peaceful. Safe. A kingdom worth protecting. Yet she had never been allowed to walk those streets without an escort. Mothers pulled their children away when she appeared in public. Nobles bowed because protocol demanded it, not because they respected her. To them, she wasn't their future queen. She was the cursed princess. The girl the shadows had chosen. A soft sigh escaped her lips. "I wonder what it's like." Livia tilted her head. "What is?" "Being ordinary." The maid's smile faded. "You've never wanted to be ordinary." "No." Elara laughed quietly. "I wanted to be accepted." Silence settled between them. Livia stepped closer and carefully fastened the silver clasp around Elara's shoulders. "They're wrong about you." "They're afraid." "They don't know you." "Would you?" Elara asked. "If you heard stories about a princess surrounded by living shadows?" Livia didn't answer immediately. "I would want to meet her first." Elara smiled. "I wish everyone thought that way." A loud knock echoed through the chamber. Both women turned. Captain Rowan, commander of the royal guard, entered with two soldiers behind him. "Your Highness." His expression was respectful but tense. "The King requests your presence in the Hall of Stars." "So early?" "He says it's important." Elara nodded. "I'll come at once." As she followed Rowan through the palace corridors, servants stopped working and lowered their heads. Some offered polite smiles. Others avoided looking at her entirely. She had grown used to both. The Hall of Stars stood at the center of the palace beneath a magnificent glass dome painted with constellations. Sunlight poured through the colored glass, covering the marble floor in shades of gold and sapphire. King Aldric stood before the ancient throne, dressed in ceremonial robes. His silver crown rested heavily upon his head, making him appear older than his fifty years. When he saw Elara, his stern expression softened. "You look so much like your mother." A warmth spread through her chest. He rarely spoke of the late queen. "So I've been told." He dismissed the guards with a wave of his hand until only the two of them remained. "Today is... important." "I know." "The royal celebration will begin at sunset." "I know." He sighed. "Elara." She looked into his tired eyes. "You've doubled the palace guard." He didn't deny it. "You've sealed every entrance." Still, he said nothing. "And you've summoned someone." His expression changed. "How did you know?" "Because the servants are whispering." A heavy silence filled the hall. Finally, the King spoke. "I sent for the royal guardian." Elara frowned. "The immortal?" He nodded once. "He should arrive before nightfall." Her heartbeat quickened. Stories of the immortal guardian had filled the kingdom for generations. Some claimed he had defeated dragons. Others believed he had lived for centuries without aging a single day. Most children thought he was only a legend. "Why now?" she asked quietly. The King's face darkened. "Because the ancient seal protecting you is weakening." The words stole the air from her lungs. "We don't know if it will survive another birthday." Before Elara could ask another question, every candle in the hall flickered at once. The stained-glass ceiling trembled. A freezing wind swept through the chamber, though every window was closed. The King's eyes widened. "No..." Dark mist rose from the cracks between the marble tiles. It curled around Elara's feet like living smoke. A whisper echoed through the hall. "Princess..." Then another. "We're coming." The shadows had never appeared before sunset. But this year... They had come early.