Thorns and Promises

Her Pain

{Anora’s POV}

When I saw Lilliana rushing out of the throne room with tears spilling down her cheeks I of course blamed my brothers. I barged into the room glaring daggers at both of them. “What did you do? I leave you alone for five minutes and you break the bloody princess!” I snapped.

“It wasn’t us Anora.. it was her father..” Adriel seethed through gritted teeth.

“Apparently he helped plan the assault on the princess with Rosewood.. she just put it together when she heard us talking about the engagement ball.” Aelarian sighed, readjusting on his throne, his fingers gripped into the metal of the chair, his knuckles turning white. “Will you check on her.. please.” He asked, catching me off guard.

I nodded, turning and making my way to the door. “Of course brother.” I said, taking off after Lilliana. She’d gone back to her room, and as I approached the door I could hear her sniffling on the other side. I knocked, gently, something I’m not used to doing. Being gentle wasn’t how our father raised us.. and heightened emotions were something we weren’t wired for. “Lilliana.. are you okay? My brothers told me what happened..” I asked, leaning against the door frame.

“I’m fine Anora.. just a little tired.” She replied softly.

“It’s understandable if you’re upset Lilliana.. I couldn’t imagine how this could have made you feel.” I said, trying hard to keep my voice soft, careful, and controlled.

“I’m fine Anora, like I said.. I’m just tired.” She said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She paused for a moment before adding, “If it’s okay, I’d like to skip dinner tonight, and get some much needed rest instead.” There was a long moment of silence before I heard her again. “I-I..” her voice trembled, the sound catching in her throat.

Then I could hear it, the sound of her falling to the floor. I checked the door but it was locked. “Open the door Lilliana..” I said softly. I knocked again jiggling the handle. “Lilliana please..” I whimpered, throwing my body against the door. I couldn’t hear her anymore, she was silent, and I didn’t know what was going on, on the other side of this door, but I knew one thing, I was worried about her. This was a lot to process, and instead of talking about it, she’s locked herself away. That’s when it dawned on me.. she’s probably always handled things this way. If her father truly was the one that tormented her so.. then it may be that she locked herself away every time he hurt her. Not speaking to anyone, not dealing with her trauma.. never really healing. Just like me.. just like us.. our trauma was this thing that we ignored, or at the very least tried to ignore. Now look at us, we fight amongst ourselves like cats and dogs. I love my siblings.. but sometimes I wonder how different our life would look without the weight of our kingdom bearing down on our shoulders.

Silence poured through the other side of the door, and I refused to stop trying to get to her. I wanted to make sure she was okay, she just learned something that would devastate even the coldest person, and she was all alone. I kicked the door, and felt it shift slightly.

“What the he*** going on up here?” I could hear Adriel coming down the hall behind me.

“She’s locked herself away.. I heard her fall.. I just wanna make sure she’s okay.” I said, turning back and kicking the door again.

Aelarian stepped up behind Adriel, walking up behind me and gently moving me aside. “Move.” Was all he said, his face had this look on it. Something I’d never seen on him.. at least not for many years, his massive body moved, gripping the door handle. I watched as he slammed his shoulder into it, knocking the door off the hinges. The door fell with a slam, and we were able to see her. She was on her side, curled up in fetal position. Her hands were covering her ears, and from the looks of it she was unconscious.

“Lilliana!” Adriel said, rushing past us to her side. He shook her softly, but she was out cold. “Hey, come on..” he said, looking over her. “Sh**, she’s bleeding..”

I looked across her unconscious form, finding her knees bleeding once again. “She must’ve busted them back open.. I’ll go get some bandages.”

Aelarian walked over to her as I ran back into the room. He lifted her bridal style, holding her against his chest and walking her to her bed. He laid her down with this gentleness that I’d never seen in him. I moved to her side, lifting her dress slightly to get better access to her knees. “Adriel.. grab me her basin, and fill it with hot water so I can clean up her knees.” I said, glancing over her. That’s when I saw it, and my heart stopped. Bruised finger prints across her thighs. Was this from Rosewood.. it would have to be.. they’re newer.. just beginning to heal. I felt anger bubbling up in my chest as I looked over her.

“What is it Anora?” Aelarian asked, when I looked up I saw his eyes searching my face.

“Rosewood.. he did this..” I whimpered, lifting her dress a bit more, showing the bruises across her thighs.

His face turned red as he began looking away, but when he caught a glimpse of the bruises I watched his eyes narrow. This dark, cold feeling erupting in the room. He turned, silent as always and left the room without another word.

Adriel brought the basin over, setting it down in her bedside table, before getting the bucket out of the fireplace and pouring it into basin. When he looked over at us, I could see the anger in his eyes. He grabbed her dress and pulled it down a bit more, covering her thighs. “She’s been through enough.. get her cleaned up and wrapped up.. then come on back downstairs and give her some space to rest.” He said, turning and leaving the room.

My brothers.. cold.. quiet.. and calloused. They didn’t make it easy to read them.. but even I knew now that Lilliana’s pain had affected them as well.