Mirelah;
"I'm sorry Mirelah. I have to attend to this. You have to manage on your own. Can you do that? "She questions, and my jaw drops.
Manage on my own?
I stare between Queen Velnara and the guard, and a lump forms in my throat. I can't tell her to stay. I can't tell her that I'm scared and thinking of preparing for this without her scares me. Her people need her. I can't ask her to stay. That would be a very selfish and irrational thing to do.
"Mirelah? "Queen Velnara calls, and I look back up at her.
"I can manage… "I reply, and I shut my eyes on hearing how weak the lie is. Queen Velnara gives me a soft smile before walking up to me and stroking my hair.
"It's just a few words. You can do this. I promise to be back in time for the ritual. You won't be alone. Okay? "She says, and I nod at her. Grateful for the gift of her.
She turns to the guard, pulling her hand away from my hair.
"Get my carriage ready. "She orders as she begins to walk away, and the guard nods before standing and running off. As I watch Queen Velnara's slender figure walk away, I stand up.
I look down at the paper in my hands, and I feel the lump in my throat grow. I can't afford to mess this up. I have to learn this. I'd spend the day in my room learning it. I can do it. If I could read all the books in Father's library in four months, I should be able to do this. It's just a few lines. I've got this.
I let out a breath before turning on my heels. I keep my gaze trained on the paper as I keep walking, only raising my head a few times to be sure of where I'm going.
"Ethanri… Ethari kaen... "I try to recite the vow, but I'm cut off when I bump into someone. I yelp as I almost fall to the ground, but the person catches me by my wrist. I look up and find Rhael. He tilts his head a bit as he stares at me, and then he pulls me up.
"Be careful when walking, Mirelah. "He says, and I feel heat rush up my neck to my face.
I remember how frustrated he seemed on the day I tried to run away. I don't know what he thinks about me. Does he hate me like Vealor?
"I'm sorry. I was just- "I begin, but he cuts me off.
"Looking for Kealith? "He questions, and my brows knot.
"Huh? No, I- "
"He's on the training ground. I had to leave him there. We've been sparring for the past two hours, and somehow he still isn't tired. That boy doesn't operate like a normal person! "He begins to ramble as he walks away, and I blink in confusion, as I watch him go.
I slowly turn to look at the direction he came from, and I tilt my head as I stare at the corridor. I wasn't looking for Kealith… But It won't hurt to see him… right?
Every night was torture. Nothing we did could dispel the dreams. I couldn't help him no matter what I did… But after he met his fiery dragon princess… the dreams stopped.
Queen Velnara's words replay in my mind, and I feel flutters course through me.
Maybe I should see him. Just for a bit before going back to my room to learn the Vow… But shouldn't I focus on learning the vow?
Seeing Kealith would just take a few seconds though.
I just want to… Thank him for helping me this morning. That's all.
I'll just tell him thank you and leave. Keeping my resolve in mind, I take a deep breath as though filling my lungs with courage, before deciding to walk in the direction Rhael came.
******
I had walked for just about two minutes when I came to the end of the hallway.
"You'll kill me, Kealith! I'm older than you by a year. Show some fucking respect! "I hear Sorin yell, and I freeze.
I take slow steps unto the lush, open field in front of me, and when I turn to my left, I find two shirtless figures in the middle of the field.
Kealith has Sorin in a headlock, and Sorin is flaring his arms and legs in every direction while struggling to get out of Kealith's hold.
"Kealith! I can't breathe! "Sorin yells, and Kealith groans as he secures his grip.
"Then do something about it. Break free. What if I was an enemy? "He replies, and I raise a brow.
"Kealith… I'm seeing Grandpa! "Sorin yells, and I can't help my chuckle.
"You're weak! "Kealith mocks before finally letting Sorin go, and I watch Sorin crawl away while gasping dramatically.
"This is why I never train with you! You always try to kill me. I thought you'd have changed over the years, but you've gotten worse. Even Rhael ran away! "Sorin exclaims as Kealith wipes his face with a towel. I smile as I watch the brothers.
This is a side of them I never thought I'd see. Right now, they don't look like the rumoured deadly monsters. They look like simple people living peaceful normal lives. If people saw them like this… saw them laughing, teasing, being brothers… would they still call them monsters?
Sorin suddenly looks in my direction, and I freeze. I watch his face scrunch in embarrassment, and I swallow as I stare at him.
"Please don't tell me you saw all of that! "He exclaims, and just then, Kealith turns in my direction. My breath hitches as I stare at him, and from the corner of my eyes, I see Sorin grab his shirt off the rack, fling it over his shoulders and walk up to me.
"He only beat me 'cause I haven't had lunch. "He says before walking off, and as much as I want to smile or respond to his words, my gaze is stuck on Kealith who is still looking at me. Why do I suddenly feel so self-aware? What is this strange feeling curling in my chest?
He tosses his face towel on the rack beside him, and I hold my breath as I stare at his bare body. He is more built than I thought. His forearms are firm, with veins that run down to his fingers like a proud display of art. On his left breast, there's a massive drawing that I can't quite make out from this distance.
His black hair is a mess and is sticking out all over, and somehow it's still attractive. An attractive mess.
My legs soon grow a mind of their own as I start walking over to him. I can't take my eyes off his glorious body. His stomach is divided into six sections, and His fair skin glistens with sweat under the afternoon sun. He's so… attractive. I never knew it was possible to look this good while being sweaty, shirtless and panting.
I finally get in front of him, and I feel like I'd melt under his smouldering gaze. I can not tell what he's thinking. His face is as serious as it always is. Why can't I ever see through him? Is he always like this?
He was a little broken child with powers he didn't understand. It was messy.
The words replay in my mind, and I swallow as my heart begins to pump guilt instead of blood through me.
I remember the images of little Kealith, and my hand slowly begins to move up to his face. My hand hovers close to his face, and I stop. My heart is pounding in my chest… afraid and unsure… Should I touch him? Should I be doing this?
Would he even want me to? I was his friend, and I just vanished. I caused him pain. And now I can't remember any of it. I made him take an oath to marry me, and then I forgot him. Isn't that enough reason to hate me?
Does he hate me?
I take a deep breath as I push past my fears, and stare into his deep, black eyes. I gently caress his cheek, and he closes his eyes as he leans into my touch.
I feel tingles run through my hand, and when he opens his eyes to look at me… for a second… I see the colour red swirl in them before they return to their original colour.
"I'm sorry… "The words leave my mouth before I can stop or process them, and his brows crease.
"I'm sorry I just… Vanished. "