Enchanted Bonds: A Tale of Moonlit Secrets

"Eileen, stop frockling and come here please," my mother called from the back of our expansive castle. I sighed, frustration building inside of me, "goodbye my dear little pixie friends, I will see you again soon." I whispered to the darts of light that had been spinning me a crown of flowers. "Coming, mother!" "I told you not to call me that. It's Queen Alesse. I won't tolerate your continued insubordinance." I quickly made my way towards the back of the castle where my mother was waiting for me in her throne room. I could sense her displeasure as she stood tall and straight on her throne, her piercing blue eyes resting upon me. "What were you doing out there, Eileen?" Her voice was stern, and I knew I was in trouble. "You know the rules, you are not allowed to be seen frockling with those pixies. They are not to be trusted." I lowered my head, ashamed of my disobedience. "I'm sorry, mother. I just wanted to have some fun. It's not like I'm hurting anyone." She huffed, "we have visitors. Go clean yourself, you look like a rugrat. Not befitting for a Princess of Everdawn." I rolled my eyes as I trudged towards her voice. My mother was always so uptight and proper, it was suffocating. As I walked, I couldn't help but think about the adventures I could be having if I didn't have to follow her every command. When I finally reached her, she was standing in front of a group of nobles, all looking at me with disdain. "What is it, mother?" I asked, trying to sound respectful before catching the flash of rage in her eyes, "I mean, Queen Alesse." Under my breath I muttered a curse in her general direction, ignoring the way her lips formed a thin line. "Eileen, these are important guests from a neighboring kingdom. It is crucial that you make a good impression. Now, when you are finished cleaning yourself, come down to the throne room. Make sure you stand up straight and greet them properly." I forced a smile and nodded obediently. "Of course, my Queen. I'll go freshen up right away." Dipping a low curtsey, I grimaced. As I made my way back to my chamber, I couldn't help but feel irritated. Why did everything have to be so serious all the time? Couldn't we have a little fun once in a while? I sighed, knowing that there was no point in arguing with my mother. She had a certain way of doing things, and I was expected to follow suit. I paced back and forth, contemplating my options. I could feel the pressure building, the weight of my responsibilities crushing me. I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to escape for just a little while, to be able to forget all the rules and expectations that came with my title. I pulled out my secret stash of herbs and began to roll a joint, my hands shaking with a mix of adrenaline and excitement. I couldn't help but feel a thrill, knowing that I was about to do something forbidden. I always found a way around her arbitary rules and regulations, but this? This was for me. The sweet scent of the herb filled the air as I lit it up, inhaling deeply. The smoke filled my lungs, leaving me feeling light and carefree. All my worries seemed to dissipate as I sat there, basking in the high. Feeling more relaxed, I put on my favorite dress and combed my hair. I was ready to face the court, but this time, I planned to do it my way. Once I was cleaned up, I made my way down to the throne room, feeling nervous. I wasn't used to dealing with nobles and visitors from other kingdoms, usually my mother dealt with them and left me to my own devices. I was a "shame" to her. Ugh, wrinkling my nose, I palmed the tiny dragon I had hidden in the secret pocket of my dress. His tiny heated breath warmed me and gave me strength. Us fae were lucky. We all had our own familiars. My mother's was a lizard. Seems fitting for such a cold-blooded b***h, but I think a snake would have been truly epic. She thinks I'm unaware of the underhanded things she does. Mine was a small dragon named Pyroclasm -Pyro for short- a specific and very rare breed of Molten Fury. I wasn't entirely sure how old he was, just that my mother said he snuck in my window one night and never left. I suppose that was the one good thing she did. She allowed him to stay, even going to far as to do some research on him and his abilities. Guess he was a 'good enough' familiar because she didn't request the fae spell-casters to change him. I walked down the steps towards the throne room, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the empty halls. As I entered, I could see that my mother was displeased once again. "Eileen, I told you to stand up straight and greet them properly." She hissed at me before turning towards the guests. "Gentlemen, may I introduce my daughter, Princess Eileen Weathercroft, heir to Everdawn. Eileen, meet your suitors." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the mention of suitors, much to the chagrin of the snobby woman standing next to me, as felt by an elbow to the ribs. My mother had been trying to marry me off to someone who fit her idea of the perfect match ever since I turned 18. I had avoided every attempt she had made so far, but I hadn't expected to meet them today. This was crafty. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves and appear more confident than I felt. As I approached the group of nobles, I couldn't help but feel a sense of rebellion. I wanted to break free from the constraints that had been placed on me and make my own path in life, but I had no idea how to go about it. The Queen left me to my own devices, stranded with three men I didn't know. What a kind mother she is. My heart sank as I saw the three men standing in front of me. They were all so boringly average, in both looks and personality. I had no interest in any of them, but I knew I had to at least pretend like I did. I could barely contain another eye roll as I curtsied to them, putting on a fake smile. "It's a pleasure to meet all of you," I said, trying to sound polite without coming off as insincere. One of them, a tall man with thinning hair, stepped forward. "The pleasure is ours, Princess Eileen. We've heard many good things about you and your kingdom." I couldn't help but scoff inwardly at his words. Of course they had heard good things about me and my kingdom, my mother made sure of that. She was always trying to maintain appearances, to put on a facade of perfection for anyone who came to visit. It was exhausting. I forced myself to smile again. "Thank you, that's very kind of you to say." I looked around at the group, trying to think of something to say to keep the conversation going. I couldn't help but let my mind wander. What would it be like to run away from everything and start a new life? To live on my own terms, without the weight of expectations pressing down on me? It was a tempting thought, but one that I knew I could never act on. I was a princess, and I had a duty to my kingdom. Pyro chirped softly, sensing my distress. I reached down to stroke his fiery scales, feeling comforted by his presence. "So... where are you gentlemen from?" I asked as they lead me to the large sitting area. It was stuffy, all vintage and ornate. If I had it my way, this entire room would be filled with plants of all kinds, but no, my mother had an ideal she wanted to upkeep. I suppose her idea of looking powerful was to also appear boring as a stick in the mud. The tall man with thinning hair, who had introduced himself as Lord Edmund, smiled kindly at me. "I am from the neighboring kingdom of Valtoria. I've come to discuss a trade agreement with your mother, Queen Alesse." I nodded politely, pretending to be interested in the trade deal. In truth, I didn't care much for politics or negotiations. I just wanted to escape this suffocating room and enjoy the fresh air outside. The next man stepped forward, and I have to admit, he was much more interesting than the first. He arrogance seemed to pour off of him in waves as he presented himself. "My name is King Tarek Vengo of the Fae kingdom of Arencrem. I rule the realm with an iron fist and my enemies know best not to cross me," he declared sternly, his strong jawline and piercing gaze making it easy for me to picture him leading armies into battle. I wanted to roll my eyes at his pompous attitude but managed to restrain myself. "It's nice to meet you, King Tarek," I said with a small smile, trying not to let my dislike for him show. "And you, Princess Eileen," he replied with a slight bow. The last man stepped forward, and I had to take a double-take. He was different than the other two suitors - he was tall with broad shoulders and a chiseled jawline. His hair was a dark shade of brown, and his eyes were a piercing shade of blue that seemed to draw me in. I couldn't quite place what it was about him that made him stand out, but he did. "My name is Prince Darian of the Kingdom of Galesia," he said with a charming smile that made my heart skip a beat. "I've come to visit your kingdom on a diplomatic mission from my father, King Caspian. He seeks to unite our Kingdoms in the interest of strength and trade." I couldn't help but feel a spark of interest flicker to life in my chest as I looked at him. Perhaps he wouldn't be so bad to spend time with, after all. He certainly was easy on the eyes. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Darian," I said with a smile, feeling a warmth in my cheeks that I couldn't explain. "I must say, Princess Eileen, you are even more beautiful than I had heard," he said with a twinkle in his eye that made me feel like I was the only person in the room. I blushed, feeling flattered and slightly embarrassed at the same time. "Thank you, Prince Darian. You're quite handsome yourself," I replied, trying not to let my words sound too breathless. The other two suitors exchanged a look, but I ignored them. I couldn't help but feel drawn to Darian, something about him just felt different. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, or the way his deep voice sent shivers down my spine. We talked for a while longer, discussing our kingdoms and the potential benefits of an alliance between us. I found myself enjoying Prince Darian's company more than I had expected, and I could feel myself growing more and more attracted to him. As the conversation began to wind down, he leaned in close to me, his lips almost brushing against my ear. "Princess Eileen, I must confess,"he whispered, sending a tingle down my spine. "I didn't come here just for the diplomatic mission of marriage. I came here to see you, to meet you." My heart fluttered at his words, and I couldn't help but turn to face him fully. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I mean that I've heard so much about you, and I wanted to see if the rumors were true. I wanted to see if you were as captivating and charming as they say you are," he said, his eyes locked onto mine. "My father was going to send my older brother in my stead, but he just happened to fall ill this morning and thus, I was called to go in his stead." He winked and something told me he had a hand in his brother falling ill. I felt a blush spread across my cheeks at his words, feeling both flattered and nervous at the same time. "And what do you think?" I asked, biting my lip. He reached a hand up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "I think you're even more captivating than they say," he replied with a smile. Before I could respond, we were interrupted by the arrival of Queen Alesse. "My dear guests, it's time for dinner," she said abruptly, casting a glance at the suitors before her eyes landed on Darian. "Ah, Prince Darian. I see you've spoken to my daughter." Darian bowed respectfully, his eyes never leaving mine. "Yes, indeed. It has been a pleasure, Your Majesty," he said smoothly. But I could sense something in the Queen's expression that made me feel uneasy. It was as if she knew something I didn't and a darkness passed over her expression when she studied his face. I couldn't quite place it, but I felt a sense of unease brewing inside me. As we made our way to the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building inside me. There was something about Darian that just drew me in, something that made me feel alive in a way I hadn't felt before. Little did I know just how my life was going to change.