Thorns and Promises

Hettie

[Trigger Warning! This chapter contains themes of kidnapping, S/A, and drugging. Please read at your own discretion.]

{Lilliana’s POV}

I looked up to the man in front of me, watching him as my vision began to blur once again, and my body swayed. “T-Thank you..” I whimpered, before realizing this is a hooded figure, hiding out in our garden. “Wait.. what are you doing in here? Where are the guards?” I cried out, staring down the intruder.

“They’re..” he paused, pondering on the next word he said. “resting.” His voice was deep, dripping with a deadly venom. I couldn’t bring myself to look into his eyes, but I also couldn’t look away from him. This man may be my savior but everything about him screamed that I was in danger.

I felt my legs failing before I began to fall. I dropped, catching myself against the wall and sliding down it. “P-Please..” was all I could say, before darkness overtook my vision. My head slammed against the stone walkway below, then all sound and feeling was gone from the world around me. I didn’t dream, I didn’t rest, all there was, was this empty, numbness that spread through me, leaving me with a bittersweet sensation. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t in pain, I wasn’t afraid, not an ounce of anger in my heart, I didn’t feel at all, and that, even for a moment was enough.

I awoke to the sounds of pots and pans clanking somewhere in the distance, the feeling of warm blankets surrounding me, and as I tried to move, I could feel restraints on my wrists and my ankles. My head thrummed to a steady pulse, the dull pain causing me to groan as I tried my best to move.

I heard footsteps getting closer, before a soft voice began speaking. “Calm now girl.. you’ve been through quite a lot.” This was a woman.. I heard her growing closer as she carefully helped me sit up, and I opened my eyes. Bright light filled the room, and I couldn’t help but look around at the sights around me. I was in a bed, blankets wrapped tightly around me, the woman beside me was chubby, with medium length brown hair, and hazel eyes, her skin was tanned, and when I looked her over I couldn’t help but notice her ears were long and pointed.

“Y-You’re an elf?” I whimpered. “Does that mean I’m in The Veil?” I asked, trying my best to compose myself, I still felt dizzy, off somehow, like my world had been turned ever so slightly sideways. The Veil was the forest to the east of our kingdom. It was a sort of gateway to all things magical, and enchanted. I knew there were elves that lived within the woods here, but I suppose I never registered how close it truly was to us.

She sighed, grabbing a basin, placing it next to the bed. She walked to the fireplace and grabbed a pot of pooling water making her way back over and pouring it into the basin. She grabbed a rag setting it down beside it. “You’re as smart as they say, should’ve known you’d figure it out so quickly.” She smiled. “My name is Hettie.” She smiled, sitting down on the bed beside me. “Let me help you get washed up.. His Majesty would like a word with you.” She said, turning and dipping the rag into the hot water, lifting it and wringing it out.

“M-My father? He’s here?” I asked, my eyes wide as I scanned around. “I-I didn’t do anything.. he has to know.. I didn’t do anything.. I really didn’t do anything wrong!” I cried out, tears beginning to prick in my eyes.

Her eyes went wide as she watched me, before she turned back to me with the rag. She placed her hand against my face and gently brushed a strand of hair back that had fallen. “No child.. our King.. King Aelarian Thorn.” She said, her eyes scanning over me. “Why are you so fearful of your father?” She asked.

I just shook my head, trying to plaster on a fake smile to the best of my ability. “I-I’m not.. I was just afraid that he’d be worried.. that’s all..” I gulped. “P-Please.. untie me, I’ll clean myself up, I won’t run, I promise!”

Another sigh left her lips. “I wish I could child.. but Adriel was very clear that you’re to remain restrained until after Aelarian speaks with you, and though I practically raised those boys I will not ignore their wishes.”

I nodded, understanding that this was just the way things were now.. I was a prisoner in a foreign kingdom that I knew nothing about. Though I know my father had been antagonizing the elvish people here.. trying to force them back from our kingdom. I could be here for the sole purpose to send a message to my father, sadly for me, and my captors, my father doesn’t care about me whatsoever.

“Let’s get you washed up child.” She smiled, before wiping off my face. When she did I heard a soft gasp, as she stared at me. “Well now, who’d have known there was such a radiant face under all that dark makeup?” She chuckled, before washing off the rest of my face. I winced as I felt the rag drag across the top of my forehead near my hairline. “You hit your head when you fell.. but the healer assured you’d be fine after some rest.” She said, placing the rag back into the water. She looked at me, smiling as she had finished cleaning me up for now. “You’re gorgeous my girl, why on earth you cover these rosy cheeks, red lips, and soft eyes under all of that I’ll never understand.”

It was never my decision.. nothing was ever my decision, only what I had to deal with, nothing more, nothing less. “Thank you..” I smiled up to her softly. “I truly appreciate it.”

A loud knock came to the door, and I couldn’t help but flinch as the sound disturbed the nice, quiet bubble we’d been in.