- Run. Run. Run. She was running through empty corridors. The night was high and dark, no moon in sight shining through the windows. The stars were faints, allowing miniscule illumination through the thick panes of glass. Shadows were abundant, and though she often preferred the darkness, this shade was far too ominous. She couldn’t see anything. There was no contrast. Just shadows and heavy darkness, weighing upon her as if it had no better goal in mind then to suffocate her violently. She heaved breaths in and out of her chest, carrying the longer material of her skirts and robe in her hand, lifting them high so they wouldn’t trip her up as her bare feet padded noisily against the stone beneath her feet. The sound of their slaps echoed harshly in the silence of the hall, undisturbed by any other sound then that of her pursuer behind her.
Boots clapped thunderously against the ground. The sound armor clinked nosily as her pursuer moved at a consistent pace behind her. She could hear the sound of a sword being unsheathed. The sound of metal against metal rang out with a menacing ping and she ran faster, a soft cry coming from her mouth. Her eyes were frantic, scanning for some place to hid, but this corridor had only windows and no doors. Why were there no doors in the hallway? Where was everyone? Niall. The silent plea wasn’t spoken, but it was thought with desperation. She pulled her skirts higher, closing her eyes as she raced onward, feeling her pursuer grow closer and closer. She panted and moved to turn a sudden corner, tripping over the cobbles. Rolling, she curled herself up, whimpering at the pain the collision wracked across her body. She scooted into the wall, trying to hide in the shadows, knowing the flimsy attempt at hiding wouldn’t be good enough. Her eyes were large dark globes of fear in the darkness that seemed to expel her as if she were glowing.
Her pursuer stopped in front of her, taking only a moment before pushing forward closer to her. Only then did a sliver of light beam through the windows, as if the moon was mocking her, choosing this moment to show her the last menacing face she would see. She looked up into the armored individuals face and opened her mouth in a wide scream, as she realized the face that looked back at was a mirror image of her own.
As she awoke, the cry was withering on Orchid’s lips. She knew someone must have heard it. She sat upright in bed far too quickly and felt dizzy. Her head spun and her hair fell in tangles around her face as she put clammy pale hands to her flushed cheeks. Her chest heaved with pants as she tried to chase away the bitter memories of her nightmare. They were not usually a part of her curse. Normally, she had no dreams at all, or was prisoner to long droning conversations by voices that existed within her and would not be silent. Maybe it was the fear of what the day would bring? After all, today was the day that would change everything. She frowned deeper, thinking of what her dream might have meant, considering what the course of the day would most likely dole out for her, but she sighed gently. She rolled her slim shoulders back, trying to shake the feeling that someone was still there, watching and waiting to come and attack her. She looked at the sheets, pulling her bare feet out form the, looking at the skin of her legs, double checking to make sure she had no scrapes or bruises as she had when she had fallen. After all, if she had any bodily injuries, it would be frowned upon by whichever suitor would have her, right? It would disappoint her parents as well, and could ruin things for her brother. Her eyes widened and she bit her lip nervously, trying to quell the doubt that was building in her chest. Why did she have to go through with this? She had to fulfill her familial obligations. She had to make sure her brother would be elected as the new king of the Afaeri kingdom.
”Princess? Are ya alright? I heard a cry?” There was a pause as the silver haired maid made her way into the room, pushing into Orchid’s room without waiting for permission in the way only Magda could. One look from those intense coal colored eyes and the maid was at Orchid’s side, touching her cheeks and taking her hands softly. ”There, there lass. It’s gonna be okay. Ya put on one a those smiles ya tell me ta carry, alright? And we’ll get ya dressed nice and easy for traveling, alright? I’d fetch yer brother for ya, but he’s got his own set a troubles today. I’m sure ya will get ta see ‘im soon.” The older woman smiled tenderly and helped Orchid out of bed. The raven haired princess didn’t fight the older woman, and instead consented to her movements.
An hour later, Orchid was standing in front of her own looking glass, watching Magda slip in the last of the pins that secured the two large swirls of braids to each side of her head. Orchid kept her neck straight, despite the heavy weight of her hair. She had so much that when she stood, her hair rivaled that of even the fictional Rapunzel. Of course, Orchid couldn’t scale a tower with her abundance of hair, but it did sweep the floor when not properly maintained and pinned up. Magda even worked her own special magic, pinning white water lilies carefully into the center of each swirl of braids, ornamenting them as if the flowers bloomed from the dark tresses that hung heavily upon her head. Orchid smiled gently at the woman through the glass, looking at her face, detailed gently with paints to make her look less pale. The circles under her eyes had vanished and were safely hidden away, so she looked fresh faced. Magda had done wonders on her, and the princess herself was heartbroken that her favorite maid, and non-familial caretaker would have to be left behind when she was sent to Mielle. Carefully, before she began to cry, Orchid turned away from the glass and shrugged gently into the flowing over robe and smiled with a bitter sweet feeling as Magda tied the sash. The older woman’s hands shook, and Orchid saw the sorrow etched into the woman’s features. So much did this woman’s feelings match her own that it broke Orchid’s heart anew, making her resent the situation before her. She would see Magda again. She knew this. She would make sure that as soon as she could, she would send for Magda to come and stay with her. When she had her own castle, or was married off, she would insist that Magda come and stay with them. The faerie woman would be around forever. Long enough by far to continue caring for Orchid, and her children when she had them. It would be a condition she wouldn’t move on.
The silver haired woman stepped back, looking over Orchid with a smile. Small little tears formed in her eyes, but she dashed them away quickly and Orchid thought better than to mention them. Instead, she smiled gently, about to reach out to touch the older woman’s shoulder when she turned and reached for something out of the supplies she had brought in with her. Orchid frowned, trying to see what the woman was fidgeting with. When Magda turned back around she smiled gently. ”My sweet little lassie. I’ve watch over ya since you were not but a wee babe in the cradle. I saw ya at your worst, and watched ya grow into a beautiful lass. Yer not a little chit anymore. Yer a fine lass now. There are some others that know yer going to do great things, and we wanted ta make sure ya had something to remember us by, even though we know ya won’t forget us completely. Yer not careless. But here, my darlin’ lassie…” The older woman gently placed a fine chain into Orchid’s hands. At the end of it was a pendant set in the same shiny finery as the chain. However, in the center, the stone was a multitude of colors, changing in vibrancy as it caught the light. It was by far one of the most beautiful things Orchid had ever seen in her life, and she took it tenderly, kneeling slightly to allow the shorter woman to clasp it around her neck, before turning and giving Magda the biggest hug she could muster. Feeling the woman’s arms around her form. Orchid knew exactly why she was doing this. Exactly why she was going to Mielle. She would bring back good things, and help these people she loved.
She wanted more time to say goodbye, but guards came knocking at her door, alerting her that the carriage was ready, her things packed upon it, ready to take her to port and across the Jade Gulf to Mielle. Orchid’s eyes looked at the guards carefully, but they widened slightly when she was told her parents would be seeing her off. A small tweak of a frown twitched at the corner of her lips, but she nodded carefully. She smiled gently and kissed Magda’s forehead, thanking her once more, and turning away to follow the guards. Her bare feet touched gently upon the ground, her soft golden robe covering them as she walked gracefully down the hall. Why would her parents see her off? Her mother was the only one who truly cared about her. Her father had always been busy, and far preferred her brother, most likely because he was a boy, but it didn’t bother Orchid, because Niall loved her. That was all that mattered. If she had Niall’s love, then she was safe from hardships and loneliness. She kept her head high as she approached the carriage that would bear her across the lands. It would start her journey to Mielle and her future. Next to the carriage stood her parents. Her mother smiled gently, a carefully mannered expression upon her face. Her father, next to her smaller framed mother was large and gruff looking, staring at her with scrutiny. Orchid swallowed thickly and dipped her head gently, giving a small curtsey to both of them. Her mother moved to kiss her cheeks gently, but her father was not so kind. He looked her over and then reached out fingering the pendant that she had slipped into her robe. He looked it over, scoffed and pulled upon the chain, snapping it quickly. Orchid watched him horrified. The gruff King straightened and locked eyes with his daughter, standing taller, and looking down his nose, tilting his head slightly down at his daughter, still cold and composed. ”My daughter, you should not wear such things that are beneath you.” He placed the broken chain and the pendant back into her hands, the only sign of mercy that she would receive form him as she watched him with a blank face, trying to hide how much his actions wounded her. ”Make sure you seek out information that will benefit us. You are quite beautiful, make sure you choose someone worthwhile for all of us. And do make sure that your brother picks someone beautiful and influential as well. May your passage to Mielle be safe.”
That was it. She was helped into the carriage by her father, and the doors were shut. Her father bellowed at the men and Orchid felt the carriage lurch forward. Orchid felt sick and she wished desperately Niall had been in the carriage with her, so that she could share her torment, but he was not, and her father would not have allowed such comforts anyways. Perhaps it was the politics that made him hard, after years of being voted down? She wasn’t sure but she thought of her freedom from him now. As she crossed the lands, she was putting more and more distance between herself and her father, and she would be freer to spend time with Niall and make a difference for her people as an Unseelie royal. She would prove herself worthy. Thinking about such things, accompanied by reading a book on herbs was how she spent her time passing over lands in the carriage. She took only moments pause when she reached the port to move from her carriage and allowed herself to be escorted to the ship that would bear her the rest of the way to Mielle. The journey, once it was over, would mean a new prison, but perhaps also freedoms that she had not had such an opportunity to experience yet.
When the boat finally touched the shores of Mielle, Orchid let herself off the ship, taking only the necklace that her father had so carelessly ruined and slipped it tenderly into the sash that was wrapped firmly around her waist. It was only a slight period more before she stood in the midst of the castle of Mielle. She looked up at the graceful place and touched the stone in her sash absently. A fine servant made their way over to her, smiling gently. It caught Orchid off guard momentarily, but she smiled back and nodded her acknowledgement, unsure if speaking would suit her better. Instead, the servant bowed. ”Welcome. The King and Queen send their regards as well. You are free to roam the grounds as you wish, but are asked to be present for dinner this evening, hosted by the King and Queen in honor of their new guests.” After the announcement the servant bowed again, and left her to her own devices. Orchid looked around, her eyes scanning the grounds before her with nervousness. Where was Niall? Would he be along soon? She hoped so desperately. She knew how to manage on her own, but she wished to see her brother, and know his thought on Mielle. It would do her great comfort once she knew he was here with her, to add that extra layer of security.
With no true direction in mind, orchid made her way into the castle. The day was nice and she figured many would be out, instead of wanting to go inside the place that would be their new home for the time. Why would anyone wish to rush the process? Or those were her own thoughts anyways. Orchid could have always been wrong, but she hoped she wasn’t. Instead, she pressed on, walking into the grandiose place, her eyes open and admiring the scenery, trying to keep herself calm. She wandered aimlessly, no real direction intended, other than the one that had fewer people. She didn’t do well in crowds, and was not ready to immerse herself in them. However, not being shown around, she felt as if she was intruding in this place. She frowned gently, padding over the cool stone, her feet tapping gently on the ground, feeling more of this strange land then she could just by assuming the mood was on the air. With a gentle sigh, she pressed on, choosing a room at random and finding a library. Her eyes alighted gently on the shelves of books at the apparent emptiness of the space. She moved carefully, feeling plush carpet beneath her feet. It was an odd sensation at first, but she continued on, looking over some of the titles with excitement. Perhaps she would find new medicines here in Mielle that she would be able to apply when she need them. She could kill time here, in the solitude until the dinner. Or until someone found her snooping around and she was forced to be social. However, she would maintain her distance and solitude as long as she could. Her condition was not bother her today, and she hoped to keep it that way after her nightmare.
❀ ωнeяe: The Library ❀ ωнσ: No one, yet. ❀ ғeeℓιиɢs: I like this silence for now. But where is Niall? ❀ σσc: I'm sorry D: They won't all be this long/unrelated. ❀
