Part 2 - A Fancy Bedroom

Allana took a deep breath as she closed the door of the bedroom that had been offered her, right beside Selina's. She had sent the maid, that had waited to attend her, away, and was now faced with a wide, luxurious room that nothing had in common with the Knight's dormitory where she had stayed before.

The walls were lined in dark blue velvet, the bed ornamented with a beautiful blue and white canopy embellished with carefully embroidered lace and small shinning stones. There was also a white wood table and a large closet filled with beautiful and delicate dresses. And, on top of the table, a gold basin held all kinds of fresh fruit. All a lady could desire, she thought as she touched the rich brushes and hand-mirror, and all the gold ornaments just waiting to adorn someone's beautiful hair. All in all, that place was even richer and grander than Elian's room, who was the sole Heir to the Throne.

She walked towards the adjacent bathroom, that her maid had pointed out to her, and couldn't help but breathe in deeply the sweet scent that filled the air. A bathtub filled with hot water, surrounded by all kinds of oils and flower petals waited to be used at her pleasure, posing an invitation she could hardly refuse.

She quickly undressed, leaving her clothes right there, on the floor, and allowed herself to soak in the hot water that immediately relaxed her tense body, leaving her weightless. She sprinkled the water with peach oil and white rose petals and smiled in contentment, diving her head in to wash her hair. She laid there for what seemed like an eternity, simply letting herself float, and closed her eyes, her ears under the water muffling all the sounds of the world.

The sudden sound of a crying child startled her, making her sit up straight, looking around the bathroom, searching for something that didn't exist. She'd probably fallen asleep and dreamed it, she thought with a sigh. And then her fingers touched the smooth surface of the pendant Lidya had given. It looked like a waxing or waning moon, it's white surface flickering with a silvery glow as she turned it on her fingers.

Tears filled her eyes and she let go of the pendant and dived under water again, staying there until she could no longer stand the lack of air. She came back to the surface breathing hard and immediately focused her thoughts on other matters ... like how much she'd like to see Adira again. And who knows, even Kai and Kahor, although she knew they could never find out that she was back.

When the water became colder she stepped out of the bathtub and, after drying herself, went to the closet opening it with a sigh. She chose one of the simplest dresses stored inside, a sky-blue one, that even so implied shinning satin, white lace and a huge bow on her back. She also had to choose a pair of shoes, which was much easier, since there was only one pair of soft leather boots amongst all the other lady-like shoes. Lacking the patient needed to attend her long hair, she simply brushed it and braided it, taking advantage of the fact that it was still wet, which made things a lot easier.

Once washed and dressed she left her room and couldn't help smiling at the absence of guards outside her door, like it was common in Everlyn. The corridors were lit by numerous candelabra, pending from the tall, white ceiling and hanging from richly decorated walls.

Her satin dress ruffled lightly as she walked, dragging merciless behind her as she turned right.

Mithir's palace was much bigger than Everlyn's, she thought turning to another corridor and then down some velvet carpeted stairs. Also the corridors had no windows and she couldn't help feeling lost as she turned again and saw a new corridor, much like the previous ones.

The sound of voices and giggling led her to a new corridor and then a beautiful arch opened in front of her leading to an inner garden, where a fountain was surrounded by white stone benches and green plants she had never seen before. There, sitting on one of the benches, two Court Ladies richly dressed and adorned talked and laughed in a low voice, their embroidery looms forgotten in their hands. They were beautiful, Allana thought taking some time to observe them, the way their painted lips moved and smiled, their pale fingers and long necks shining lightly as the light was caught on the jewelry they wore. There were no such thing as Court Ladies in Everlyn. No other royals either, besides the Queen and her. In Mithir there were Duchess, and Counts, and Lords of all kinds.

She decided to cross the small garden and had to lift her dress so she could descend the three steps that led to the small greenery in front of her. She passed as far from the Court Ladies as possible, wanting to go unnoticed, and in part feeling ashamed for her simple dress and lack of other ornaments. Even so she could still hear what they were so enthusiastically discussing. The Crown Prince had finally returned! And the two girls were planing a way to get his attention, since with the upcoming war it was expected that the King would want to marry of his only son as soon as possible.

Allana left through the right door and found herself back in another corridor. She tried as hard as she could to tell herself she had nothing to do with the young women's talk, but still a small pain stubbornly hammered at her chest. And the mere idea of Elian getting married to one of those pretty girls made her feel ... angry!, she decided, forcing herself to put those thoughts behind her.

The familiar sounds of clanking and shouted commands made her smile, and she practically ran the rest of the way. She stopped in front of two huge doors to regain her breath, and pushed them open, taking a deep breath as the smell of freshly cooked stew filled her nostrils.

Finally!, she thought going in, trying as hard as she could to stay out of the young helpers way as she moved about the huge kitchen.

Her golden gaze searched all the busy faces that seemed too focused on what they were doing to pay her any attention, but she couldn't, for the life of her, find the only one she had come searching for. When she finally reached the wooden table at which she'd sat more times than she could remember she saw she hadn't been the only one with that same thought. At the same time, just by looking at him, at his slouched back, she knew the reason why she couldn't find Adira.

Wanting to comfort him, she placed a hand on his shoulder and he raised his head, startled for a split second, until he recognized her. Right then and there he looked just like a sad little boy, she thought, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet and towards the door that led outside. Nothing like the strong and determined Elian she had seen just a few hours ago, when they'd just arrived in Mithir.

Once outside they were bathed in the warm sunlight, and when she turned around to face him she noticed he'd went back to wearing the Knight's uniform, the silver moon and sword glistening on his left shoulder. He was looking at the blue sky above them, the silver amongst his black hair taking on the color of the sun, his hand still holding hers. Crossing the distance, the sound of metal against metal coming from the training grounds filled the air.

She turned in the direction of her old dormitory and went back to guiding him towards the small path he had once shown her and that led to that strange altar. He followed her in silence, his fingers holding hers as if he were afraid she might leave him behind, until the blue sky gave way to a ceiling of green, lush leaves.

"She left ..." he finally said and Allana raised her head to look up at him.

"I know ... She kind of ... tried to tell me, when we last spoke ... but I didn't understand. She also told me we would meet again," she added and Elian smiled sadly.

"She was like a mother to me ... I hope everything goes well and that she manages to return home safely ..."

"Home ...?!"

He finally looked at her a nodded.

"That's probably where she went. When I was a child Adira used to tell me about her home, and how much she missed it."

"Is it far?"

Elian shrugged and stopped walking, sitting on a huge root that had managed to break free from beneath the ground.

"She never told me. Only that it is on the other side of the sea."

"South?" Allana asked, recalling all she had read about world geography during the time she had had free access to the Knight's library. "If I recall it correctly south from here there's only the Continent of Asthenia. And that's beyond the coral reefs."

Elian smiled.

"I see Your Highness has been studying," he joked and Allana crossed her arms, averting her gaze.

"Isn't it every Knight's duty to know these things?" she asked tilting her head up in a superior expression and he simply watched her for a moment, ending up pulling her and making her sit on his lap, as his arms surrounding her small waist, his forehead dropping against her back.

She sat very still for a moment, feeling his warm breath through the satin of her dressed, and end up sighing, covering his much larger and stronger hands with her.

"I'm tired ..." he confessed in a whisper, his fingers holding hers, making her heart beat faster, and her throat grew dry.

"You'll be alright. I know you will!" she told him and then turned to face him, making him raise his head since he'd just been robbed of his pillow. "And you're not alone. Denar and Elipson, they'll always be there for you. And I ... I'll stay by your side, even if there's not much I can do."

"You do so much more than you could ever imagine ..." he whispered, gently touching her face, his fingertips brushing her skin, lightly tracing her cheek all the way to her neck, and then he sighed and released her from his touch.

Allana blinked, feeling as if her cheeks had caught on fire, and stood up, straightening her dress as an excuse not to face him.

"I wish I could just return to the Knight's dormitory," she confessed, trying to change the subject and lighten the mood at the same time. "That room you gave me it's huge and filled with useless things. And there's only these uncomfortable dresses in the closet! Not even my everyday dresses back home dragged around like this one," she complained and he couldn't help laugh. "What are you laughing at?" she demanded, finally mastering enough courage to face him again, and Elian smiled.

"Your complaints are all wrong. Normally a lady would complain that her dress isn't pretty enough, or that the room is lacking something, not that it has too many things. And you're a Princess, to top it all!" he added, amused by her pout.

"I hate complicated things! Just try and wear one of this for a whole day and then we'll talk again!" she challenged him and he laughed again.

"It would hardly play in my favor, if I were to appear in front of my Knights wearing a blue satin dress while trying to discuss matters of war," he retorted, jokingly.

"See! That's exactly what I mean!"

"Fine. I'll see what I can do. I'm sure they won't allow me to give you a pair of breaches to wear, but maybe I can manage a few less complicated dresses," he suggested and Allana could almost kiss him for that.

"Oh yes, please, please do so! And no frills, or bows, or silky things and shiny pearls!"

"All right, all right. I got it." Elian answered, loving her enthusiasm and the way her golden eyes seemed to come alight every time she spoke.

* If you want to know more about this book or simply access earlier updates, please visit the official site at http://carpersanti.net/arnae/