Beneath the Silvermist

4

Just as Caelum finished speaking, a loud shout echoed through the garden, shattering the mystical atmosphere. "Luna! Lady Luna, where are you?"

Luna's heart sank as she recognized the voice of one of the palace guards. She turned to Caelum, a look of alarm on her face. Caelum's expression was calm, but his eyes seemed to flash with a hint of warning. The guard's voice rang out again, this time closer, and Luna could hear the sound of footsteps crunching through the gravel. She glanced at Caelum, who was now watching with an intent expression. His hand was still clasped around hers. She looked up at him, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the tension between them palpable.

But Luna knew she had to respond, or the guards would start searching the garden more thoroughly. She took a deep breath and called out, trying to sound calm and nonchalant. "I'm coming!”

Luna hesitated, but her hand then slipped from his and with nothing but a bereft and uncertain glance, she took a swift step and followed the voice of the guard, her hair flowing behind her like the wind. She was able to reach the guard before he entered the garden.

"Ah, Princess!" he exclaimed, relief written across his face. "We've been searching everywhere for you. Your father is worried sick!"

“Sorry…” she clasped her hands behind her back. “I was just... um... admiring the flowers."

“Your father is not going to be happy to know you’ve been outside the walls!”

~

And so he was right.

The throne room was dimly lit, the only sound the soft crackling of the fire that burned in the hearth. Luna's father, the king, sat on his throne, his face stern and disapproving.

Luna stood before him, her head bowed in shame. "I'm sorry, Father," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The king's expression didn't soften. "Sorry?" he repeated, his voice cold and hard. "You're sorry? Luna, you've been gone for hours. I was worried sick. We were all worried sick. We thought something might have happened to you."

Luna looked up, her eyes meeting her father's. "I was just... um... taking a walk in the garden," she said, trying to sound innocent.

The king's expression turned skeptical. "A walk in the garden?" he repeated. "Alone? Knowing very well that you are not meant to leave the village walls!"

Luna hesitated, unsure of what to say. She knew she couldn't tell her father about Caelum and the magical garden. He would never understand.

"I just needed some fresh air, Father," she said finally, trying to sound convincing.

The king sighed, his expression softening slightly. "Luna, you're nobility," he said. "You can't just go wandering off on your own. It's not safe. And what about your duties? You have responsibilities to the kingdom."

Luna felt a surge of frustration. She knew her father was right, but she couldn't help feeling trapped and suffocated by her royal duties once again.

But before she could respond, her father's expression turned serious. "And there's something else, Luna," he said. “Stay away from that cabin in the forest. The boy who lives in it is cursed. He is not to be trusted!”

Luna's heart skipped a beat as she realized her father was talking about Caelum. “But--!”

The king's expression was stern. "There will be no arguing of the matter," he said. "What's important is that you stay away from him. He's not safe, Luna. He's... different. And I won't have you putting yourself in danger."

Luna felt a surge of anger and frustration. How could her father be so close-minded? He didn't even know Caelum.

"I can take care of myself, Father," she said, trying to sound confident.

The king's expression turned cold. "I'm not going to argue with you about this, Luna," he said. "You will stay away from that young man. Do you understand?"

Luna felt a surge of resentment, but in that frustration was a pang of guilt. She knew her father was only trying to protect her, but she couldn't help feeling like she was being suffocated by his rules and regulations. She nodded, “Yes, Father," she said. "I understand."

The king's expression remained stern as he nodded. "Good. I'm glad we understand each other. Now, go to your room and stay there until dinner."

She nodded, trying to look obedient, and turned to leave.

As she walked out of the throne room, she saw one of the palace guards standing in the hallway, waiting for her. He was a tall, imposing man with a stern expression, and Luna felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that her father had probably ordered the guards to keep an eye on her. She sighed, feeling trapped and frustrated. She knew she had to find a way to balance her royal duties with her desire for freedom and adventure. But for now, she was stuck in the palace, with no escape in sight.

She walked in silence, the guard's footsteps echoing off the stone walls of the hallway. When they reached her room, the guard took up a position outside her door, his eyes fixed on her until she turned and went into her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She was a prisoner in her own palace, trapped by her father's rules and regulations.

As she leaned against the door, she could feel the guard's eyes on her, watching her through the thick wooden door. Luna’s breath caught in her throat as she realized she was trapped, with no way to escape.

And so she waited, with nothing to do until dinner. And after, it was just as expected. As soon as Luna got up from the dinning table and turned to leave, the same guard fell into step behind her. His footsteps echoed hers as they both climbed the flight of stairs and walked towards her bedroom. She shot him a glare and held herself back from growling through her teeth before opening the door and shutting it behind her.

She sat on her bed, kicked her head back and lied down, then twisted and turned until she was hanging upside down. She then kicked her legs in frustration and groaned. Her eyes trailed the walls, seeing patterns she had never noticed before. Once they were done inspecting the walls, they swept the floors until they landed on a strand of moonlight that beamed through the window and landed on the bedframe. Luna shot upright, kneeling on the floor and fishing something from underneath her bed. It was the box of props she used in her performances. If there was something that would make her feel better, it would be the freedom of the circus!

She looked around her room, making sure she was alone. The guard was still posted outside her door, but she knew she could sneak out if she was careful. She walked over to her window and looked out into the night. The garden was dark and shadowy, but she could see the faint outline of the houses and the glint of the dim circus lights in the distance.

She took a deep breath, feeling a thrill of excitement mixed with fear. She knew she was taking a risk, sneaking out. But she couldn't help herself. She had to get out before she suffocated in the palace.

She turned away from the window and began to pace back and forth across her room, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. She knew she had to be careful, that she couldn't let her father or the guard catch her sneaking out. As she paced, she heard the sound of footsteps outside her door. Luna froze, holding her breath waiting for something to happen. But the footsteps were no longer audible and the door remained shut. Luna heaved a sigh of relief. She gently locked her bedroom door, making sure that the guard outside couldn’t hear the latch and turned back to the window.

Luna took a deep breath and carefully opened the window, wincing as the hinges creaked softly. She looked around nervously, but the guard did not seem to budge. She climbed out onto the balcony, her heart racing with excitement and fear. She looked down and scanned the garden. Seeing that the coast was clear, she took a deep breath and jumped onto the nearest branch, climbing down until she landed softly on the grass below. She looked around, making sure she wasn’t being followed, and then set off towards the plaza.

The moon was full overhead, casting a silver glow over the garden. Luna walked quickly, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to be careful, that she couldn't let anyone see her sneaking around, so she placed her mask over her face and kept running.

The night air was alive with the sound of laughter and music as the circus came alive under the stars. Luna, dressed in a sparkling costume and wearing a delicate silver mask to conceal her identity, stood at the entrance of the big top, her heart racing with excitement.

As she took a deep breath, the ringmaster's voice boomed out across the crowd, introducing the final act of the night. Luna smiled to herself with poise as she stepped into the spotlight, her mask glinting in the bright lights. She felt a thrill of freedom as she began to climb the silken ropes that hung from the ceiling of the big top. As she reached the top of the ropes, Luna launched herself into a series of daring flips and somersaults, her body bending and twisting in impossible ways. The crowd gasped in amazement as she seemed to defy gravity, her movements fluid and effortless.

Luna felt alive, free, and unencumbered by the strict demands of her father. Outside the palace walls, she was just a performer, an aerialist, a mystery. And she reveled in the anonymity of her mask, feeling like she could be anyone, do anything.

As Luna soared through the air, she scanned the crowd with a practiced eye. Being so much in her zone, she generally avoided looking at the audience, believing that would throw her off her center, but for some reason she felt a calling to look, and it was soon clear why. She immediately caught sight of a familiar figure in the crowd. Her heart skipped a beat. Dressed in a dark, hooded cloak, she saw Caelum standing in the front row, his eyes fixed intently on her. His face was expressionless, but Luna could sense his gaze on her like a physical touch.

She gaped and froze momentarily as memories of previous performances flashed before her eyes, realizing that she had seen him in the crowd before. Had he somehow discovered her secret? Did he even know it was her up there performing?

As she continued her routine, Luna found herself stealing glances at Caelum, trying to read his expression. But his face remained impassive, giving away nothing. However, despite the distraction, Luna's practice and experience kicked in, and she completed her routine with precision and flair. As she took her final bow, she caught Caelum's eye once more, and this time, she could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

The crowd erupted into applause as Luna made her way out of the ring, her heart racing with excitement and curiosity. What was Caelum doing here? And what did he want from her? She looked back at where he was just a few seconds ago and he had disappeared into the night. Her head turned from side to side, but with no luck and with the audience starting to approach her, it was her cue to fade into darkness as well.

Luna slipped out of sight and into the dark alleys, all the while feeling that she was being watched. She glanced around, but there appeared to be no one in sight.

Then, just as she turned back to follow her route, she saw a figure standing in the shadows. He was cloaked in darkness, and his face was obscured by a hood. But as he stepped forward, Luna saw that his eyes glimmered in the night, like stars shining in the darkness. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he approached her. She couldn’t let anyone know her secret, but something kept her from hiding from him. That something drew her to him, like a moth to a flame.

"Luna," he said, his voice low and husky. "You were magnificent tonight."

“How—” She wanted to know how he uncovered her secret, how he knew her identity when the rest of the kingdom was oblivious, but she knew there was no point in asking. "Thank you," she corrected herself, trying to sound calm. "I'm glad you enjoyed the show."

Caelum stepped closer, his eyes keeping her entranced. "I didn't just enjoy the show," he said. "I was mesmerized. You have a gift, Luna. A gift that goes beyond the circus."

Luna halted. Caelum's words seemed to touch something deep within her. She didn't know what he meant, but she felt a sense of excitement and wonder.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Caelum's smile was enigmatic. "Come with me," he said. "I have something important to show you."