Thorns and Promises

Soft-Spoken

{Lilliana’s POV}

After they left a choked sob escaped my throat.. it startled me. It had been so long since I’d cried that I had completely forgotten the feeling. It was cold, broken, trembling.. torment. The embarrassment hit first, that someone had seen me not only like this, but seen the things that I’d been hiding from everyone. Then anger flooded my senses, anger at him for barging in, and my father for doing this to me, his own daughter, and only heir.. then shame. How could I have let this happen, am I not capable of protecting myself in any way? Am I truly so weak, that this is the outcome of my lonely, wretched existence.

“Come now child.” Hettie said, walking to the door and closing it, this time checking to make sure it locked. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“I-I can do it Hettie..” I whimpered. “Please.. just let me do it..”

Her hands froze in the air around me before she sighed. “Alright, I’ll fill the tub a bit, and I’ll let you wash up. I’ll hang up a gown for you. Just, be careful of your hands.”

“I will.. thank you Hettie.” I whispered, standing from my spot. The last thing I needed or wanted was for her to see more of my shame.

{Adriel’s POV}

Anger bubbled up in my chest I couldn’t get it to stop.. “Soft-spoken.. carved into her flesh as if a command.. then I thought about it, truly thought about it. She is soft-spoken, even after all of that. She didn’t yell, she didn’t cry, she just calmly told me to forget it, to leave. Like she wasn’t scarred.. like she wasn’t hurt.. it had to hurt her. It was a deep scar.. and yet she acted as though it was nothing.

“I can’t believe that the girl that helped me then was the princess, and you guys, you kidnapped the only decent person in that kingdom!” Roderick chuckled. “Everyone else just listens to whatever Aegall says, she’s the only one who actually stood up to him, she’s helped me, she saved my life.. and now she’s..” he sighed. “She’s our prisoner.”

“I know.. I know, I’m not a fan of this either, but Aelarian decided this.. and if I question him.. you know how he is.” I sighed. “I’ll talk to him, tell him about what I witnessed, about your account.. perhaps he’ll listen to reason.”

“The only thing your brother wants is Aegall’s head on a spike, he won’t listen, no matter what you say.” Roderick patted my shoulder. “Good luck.” He finished before turning and walking back towards the training grounds.

I groaned, walking to the palace doors, they opened for me and as I made my way into the throne room I could see Aelarian with his Hand, Taryn Tregonis. He was tall, and lean, with gold and green armor. His hair is a golden blonde, and his eyes light brown. I watched as he pushed his golden round frame glasses up on his nose, before looking over to me. Taryn’s father was Hand to our father, well tempered, always trying to fight against our father’s decisions.. sadly, that’s what got him killed.

Not long after our father’s death, Teryn took over his father’s position. He’s been a great asset and friend to my brother, though he doesn’t stand up to him as he should.

“Brother!” I interrupted their conversation making my way to the throne. “I need to speak with you urgently about Princess Lilliana.”

“Has she taken a turn for the worst?” He asked, sitting up in his throne, an anxious look crossing his brow. I shook my head, and watched the bit of softness that had been on his face, disappear back into a cold mask. “Then what is it? Why have you come?”

“She’s the girl that saved Sir Roderick.. confirmed by Roderick himself, not only that but I..” I began, but he cut me off.

His voice boomed loudly through the halls of the castle. “You what? You took Roderick to see her, and he told you this and you what? Come to me to get me to release her? She is our prisoner!” He snapped. “She will remain so until arrangements can be made with her father!”

“Brother.. she..” I began again, but his voice echoed over mine.

“She will stay where she is, and you will prepare our troops for battle!” He yelled, glaring down at me.

“Of course.. but perhaps you should go see her for yourself. We did say we’d check up on her, it would be rude for a king not to keep his word.” I said, turning and walking away. The last thing I wanted was to pick a fight with my brother, his temper was often overwhelming.

As I walked back out into the hall I could see the figure of our sister leaning beside the door. “She saved Roderick?” She asked, looking up at me.

I nodded, smiling down at her. “She did.. she freed him from the kings trap, and stitched his wounds, and bandaged them. She’s the only reason he made it back, and yet our brother refuses to see reason!” I sighed, turning and slamming the door closed. “He’s got a stick up his a**, and I’m about tired of it! Someone needs to teach him that just because one human pi**** him off doesn’t mean all of them are terrible!”

“Good luck with that, you know as much as I do that he blames Eldarin for everything that he doesn’t want to take the blame for. Our father was a terrible man.. he did terrible things, and he made terrible enemies, and now we have to clean up that mess. He’s doing what he thinks is right, even if he is misguided. I’ll go talk to this princess of ours, I’ll get more insight into the kingdom than you two ever could.” She said, turning and walking out of the castle towards Hettie’s. I just shook my head, there was no stopping her when she got her mind set on something, I just hope she’ll be kinder to Lilliana than she is to us.