The blind priestess

FOUR

“It doesn’t make sense now, and the wedding is rushed, but I promise that if it all weren’t necessary things would not have gone this way.” He says.

Then tell me why!! I want to say.

Make it make sense!! Tell me why I have to be the one!

An exhausted sigh escapes my lips. I am just so tired. The day has been too hectic. Moving from my childhood home to the palace, meeting the King, dining with the King.

All I wish for m, is to sink into a bed, any bed at this point, and fall asleep.

“Are you tired?” The King asks.

“I apologize your Highness, it has been a rather long day.”

He breathes a small sigh. “Perhaps it would be better for you to retire to bed now.”

Before I can say anything else, the door opens and Mara is beside me in a flash.

“Escort her future Highness to her room, and make sure to send up a snack tray.” He says.

Warmth spreads all through me. He must’ve noticed that I did not eat enough.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Mara says and reaches to help me up.

Once on my feet, I dip in a bow. “Thank you, your Highness.”

Mara cradled my elbow and starts to lead me away.

Before we can move, a warm hand shoots out and grabs my free arm.

“Please, call me Creon.” He says.

Speechless and sure that I have heard wrong, I gape at him. The King of all five kingdoms can’t possibly be giving me privilege of saying his name.

“Goodnight.” He adds with a smile in his voice.

Mara leads me out of the room as I continue to gape in shock.

Mara insists on combing my hair before bed.

For some reason I do not feel tired anymore. All I can think of is the King -Creon.

Creon...

“You are blushing as red as tomatoes your future Highness.” Mara says. I sense a laugh in her voice.

My cheeks grow impossibly hotter.

“I take it things went well and you’ve taken a liking to the King?” She asks.

Have I?

He isn’t at all anything like I’d expected. He is calm and gentle...

When I remember his fingers grazing my cheeks I let out a squeal and bury my face in my palms.

Mara laughs. “You are so young. I believe this is your first time having feelings for a man?”

Feelings?

“The only feeling I’ve had for the King is fear Mara...” I cannot understand whatever else it might be.

“Fear does not make you blush this red,” she says, “I do not blame you though, the King is the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on.”

“Really?” I slowly drop my hands. “Could... could you perhaps... perhaps describe him to me? Please?”

“Of course your future Highness!!” The stroke of the brush lessens. “His Highness has the softest looking hair I have ever seen, the color of the night sky. His eyes are so vivid blue it looks like the sky itself, and his cheekbones are sharp enough to cut glass.”

I take all she has said and try to create a mental picture in my head.

Perhaps Mara sees my difficulty, because she softly adds. “Just imagine him as the most beautiful being you could ever think of.”

She returns to brushing my hair as I think.

“If he is that beautiful, then how is it that he is not yet married?” I ask.

“Oh, the King only twenty four years old. It came as a shock to me that he is even considering settling down with anyone even now.” She pats my head, “You are a very lucky girl.”

"But why are the rumors of him so brutal? Why is he kind?" I bite my lip. Why does he let me call his name?

Mara sighs. "The rumors have to be, people only fear those who they believe will not hesitate to kill them."

I nod. "I do not know what to believe. He seems kind and gentle..." I feel his phantom hands on mine as he cuts the steak. His hands were so big and warm, almost like wearing a soft copy mitten, and then, not exactly the same thing.

"I believe it will be frowned upon to gossip about the King in his own palace." Her voice is teasing.

I shut my mouth. She is right.

As she keeps brushing, I drift back into the meal hall. I remember the sound of his voice, so soft and warm..

My stomach rattles with butterflies.

When she is finished brushing my hair, Mara pulls it into a braid down my back.

She steps away and gently guides me to my feet and the bed.

As I lay down, she pulls the cover around and tucks me in.

I am struck by how much like Qora she is.

Qora. I haven't thought of her in hours.

"Will I be allowed to see my head Priestess again" I ask.

Mara hesitates. "I am unsure my future highness, but if you wish so I could inquire of the king's hand man to ask the King for you?"

"Thank you." I say gratefully, sudden tiredness washes over me. I am barely awake when I speak again. "Thank you for everything. For being nice to me, thank you,"

Her warm soft hand reachs to hold mine. "No, thank you."

I want to ask what for, but my lids press together and I fall asleep.

The next day, I am awoken by Mara. She softly taps my shoulder. "It is morning your future Highness, we have to get you ready for the seamstress."

I groggily frown. "What do you mean?"

Like a tide, the events of the previous day washs over me. I am to be married to the King, the King is kind and gentle, I am to get fitted for a wedding dress today.

I slowly seat up with Mara's help. "When are we to leave?"

"Leave?" She sounds confused.

"To the seamstress." I clarify.

Her laugh is high and full. "Oh no dear, as the future Queen you do not go to the seamstress, no honey, the seamstress comes to you."

With this, she drops me in a tub full of warm scented water and scrubs me clean.

"Only the inner court of the King know about you, the seamstress has taken an oath of secrecy, and so, we have to make you the most beautiful woman she has ever seen, a woman she will consider worthy to be queen."

My thoughts are whirling about. "What do you mean? Why am I a secret?"

"The King has a lot of enemies, it is safer for you to stay anonymous until you are married." She explains.

After my bath, she towels me dry and helps me pull on a dress so full and fluffy I feel like I'm floating in clouds. "The King ordered for a wardrobe for you yesterday night." Mara tells me.

My cheeks burn hot and a smile pulls at my lips. I feel weird. Giddy and light.

After dressing me up, Mara sits me down and starts on my hair.

"The Elf named Magnus said that I'd have three maids. How is it that you are the only one then?" I ask.

"Oh, the others are away, buying things from Edin that the King thinks will make you more at home." Mara says.

"Oh..." Before, butterflies swarmed my stomach. Now however, I am sure they are nothing less than eagles.

After I am fully dressed, Mara once more leads me down the hallways. The occasional maid and servant offer greeting as they pass by.

We come to stop in front of a door.

Instead of leading me in as I expect, Mara steps back. "The King has requested you go in alone, you'd future Highness."

I frown, confused. "What?"

The door automatically opens, startling me.

"Do come in, Hallow."

His vocie shocks me speechless. The King is here.