Chapter 7
1368 Words
-Rathilion-
“A king should be at his own party,” my mother remarked, entering the common room where I sat.
I shifted slightly, watching my mother come closer. Seated on a large couch, I idly sipped from my wine, captivated by the dancing flames.
“I didn’t think I needed to attend it anymore,” I replied. “I found what I was searching for.”
“Oh, it wouldn’t happen to be a beautiful young woman with a long scar on her face?”
Turning to face her, I found her smiling down at me, a hint of secrecy in her expression.
“How you always know these things, I will never understand,” I mused.
My mother remained silent as she circled the couch to sit beside me. She folded her hands in her lap, perching on the edge of the seat, clearly not intending to stay long.
“Is she someone you could be happy with?” she ventured.
I sighed, draining the last of my wine before placing the empty cup on the table. Leaning back, I turned to my mother, draping one arm over the back of the couch.
“Maybe.”
“That is not an answer,” she gently chided.
“I don’t know, Mother. She was the only one I found even slightly intriguing. The rest were... predictable. It felt like I was watching actors on a stage,” I confessed. “But she wasn’t playing a role.”
“She didn’t seem to like you very much either,” my mother observed, a small smile playing on her lips.
I leaned in closer, narrowing my eyes.
“Did you talk to her?” I asked.
Her smile widened before she stood up.
“I am going to see your father,” she announced, prompting me to look away in guilt. “If you choose this one, I do hope you will not use her as a replacement.”
“Mother!” I exclaimed, feeling a twinge of irritation.
“And try to be happy. Actually, try to be happy with this one.”
“Why would you think she is a replacement?” I asked, looking up at her.
“Because she is a fighter,” she said, turning around and walking out of the door without another word.
I leaned back against the couch again and rubbed my eyes. The party had given me a headache, and it didn’t help that my mother had drawn a line between Laelia and Valindra. I quickly shook my head, telling myself there was no way those two resembled each other, and I wasn’t using Valindra as a replacement for what I couldn’t have.
-Valindra-
I was angry and hurt, and I didn’t think as I came outside, hoping to find the carriage we had ridden in. I looked around at the many carriages until I found the one I knew was my family’s.
I walked over to it, ready to wait the entire night inside if I had to, but then, as I descended the grand staircase and headed toward it, two guards blocked my path.
“Stop,” one of them said, holding up his hand.
“What?”
“Why are you not at the party?” he asked.
“I don’t want to be,” I said.
The two of them exchanged a strange look, which only added to my discomfort and hurt. I crossed my arms over my chest and raised my chin, trying to remain strong.
“I just want to go inside my family’s carriage and wait there.”
“Your family is leaving so soon?” one of them asked.
“No! I am!” I told them, attempting to push past.
“What is your name?” the other questioned.
What was it with people and my name tonight?
“Valindra,” I stated.
The two of them exchanged a strange look and glanced at one another before turning back to me.
“Please, come with us.”
“What?”
But they didn’t give me time to understand what was going on before they turned me around and each seized an arm, dragging me back inside. I struggled against them and tried to dig my heels into the floor, but my efforts were futile.
My heels slid over the cool marble, and all I could do was let them drag me back to the party that I clearly wasn’t allowed to leave. However, I noticed we were walking in an entirely different direction than the one I had come from.
“Wait!” I protested. “This isn’t the way to the ballroom.”
None of them responded, and I tried to fight them again, but it was useless. They were much bigger and stronger, and I didn’t stand a chance. Whatever they wanted from me, they would get. Fear gripped me as my heart hammered inside my chest, yet soon we arrived at a big white door.
One of the guards knocked before opening it, and then we entered a beautiful common room. It wasn’t very large, but it was cozy, with a small seating area in front of a fireplace, a few bookshelves, and a small balcony. Over by the fireplace stood the king.
The guards pushed me forward and then turned around, closing the door behind them. I stood there, staring at the closed door, unsure of what to do, before I heard the king clear his throat behind me. I turned around to find him standing right in front of me, and I instinctively backed away a few steps.
“W-Why am I here?” I asked.
“Because I wanted you to be.”
“That does not make sense,” I pointed out, making him smile a little. “I just want to leave.”
He seemed a little disappointed to hear this, but what had he expected?
“You already know why I threw this party,” he stated, stepping back to give me some more space.
I nodded slightly. “You are looking for a queen.”
“That I am.”
“Then shouldn’t you be looking for her?” I inquired, gesturing toward the door.
He smiled a little broader, and I tried to tell myself that his smile did not weaken my resolve.
“I told you, I believe I have found her,” he stated.
I glanced around as if there were more people in the room, but it was just him and me. Still, I couldn’t quite believe he was referring to me, and when I heard his soft laughter, it felt like a punch to the stomach because it made my toes curl with delight from the sound.
“It is you, Valindra.”
Why did he have to say my name like that? His voice lowered, drawing out the letters, making it sound more intriguing than it was.
“Sorry?” I blinked a few times. “Me?”
He nodded.
“You don’t know me,” I protested.
“We will have time to get to know each other,” he assured.
I shook my head and held up my hands.
“No, I think I will pass on that... opportunity, and if you could call those guards back so they can escort me out, that would be nice,” I requested.
He maintained a calm smile on his lips as he approached me, causing me to step back until my back was pressed against the door. Then he leaned in closer, trapping me with his imposing figure.
“Anyone else would jump at the chance to be my queen,” he whispered, but it sounded more like he was talking to himself. “But not you.”
“I... I really just want to go.”
“No.”
“No?” I questioned.
He gently shook his head.
“You can’t keep me here, you...” I paused, “you bastard!”
Just as I thought I might have pushed the king a little too far, he surprised me by leaning closer and pressing his warm lips to mine.
That... I didn’t expect.
- Writer
