Sella Castle

"Linet!" Father's voice rang through the garden from the balcony above. "Come inside, they'll be here soon." The rose bushes that towered around me sheltered me from the sun. Today was the day. The day I would lose all freedom to be a child. Normally a girls 19th birthday would be nothing special, just another birthday, but for mine. Today was the day I would select the next King. I would be married. My father was kind enough to let me select who it would be, from a group he'd picked out of course, but it was a better fate than some.

I didn't want to move. The patch of grass was soft, and cool against the heat of the summer. This may have been my last chance to lay upon grass for a very long time. With a sigh, I stood, wandering back inside. Quickly I was whisked away by the maidens into a separate room to change. Of course mud had gotten on my day dress. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence, but today I had to be perfect.

They wrapped me in deep purple skirts and glittering jewels. A handmaiden wrapped my hair up in an elegant draping style, sticking jeweled pins throughout it as another patted an assortment of pigments onto my face. They were bustling about, trying to make me presentable in time for the first of the selection to arrive. The bells began ringing the moment they labeled me as complete. The first sutor was here.

I walked briskly down the halls. The clicking of my shoes echoing along the walls. The handmaidens scurried ahead of me, opening the grand doors with a flourish. Father was stood there, speaking to a stout man. I held back a gag. He was squeezed into a suit that was far to small for his large stomach. It was stretched far past its limits, threatening to tear apart at any moment. His hair was thin and greased against his head. Noticing my entrance, he began quickly heading my way.

"Princess Linet." Taking my hand and pressing his slobbery mouth against it, he bowed deeply. "A wondrous day it is, to finally meet you. I have traveled very far to be graced by your presence."

"And," I swallowed my disgust. "What might your name be?" He stood, smiling widely. Clearly unaware at my uninterest.

"I am Prince Charles. 5th heir to Beldovia." My father shot me an apologetic look. Clearly he wasn't intending to give my hand to someone so unappealing. I moved away from him to stand closer to father. Charles was escorted away to where he would be staying until dinner, or until who would be married was selected.

One by one the men came and went. Some were more presentable than others, leaving strong first impressions. It was nearing dusk when the seemingly last suitor was escorted away. I sighed in exhaustion. Dealing with so many men at once was tiring, and some of them made my skin crawl uncomfortably.

"It seems we're missing a prince." Father glanced at a list he'd had tucked away. "A far foriegn man from across the sea. He was supposed to be much earlier, but it seems as though he changed his mind." He glanced at me with curiosity. "Did any of them catch your eye?"

"Not particularly." I rubbed my arms. "Most of them were alright I suppose. Let's head to dinner." He held out his arm for me to take before leading us away to the dining room.

I could feel all their eyes on me as the suitors entered the dining room. Their eyes were hungry, but not for food. It made me sick. To be looked at as if I was another plate of food on the table. The men chattered on with my father about the mundane. I couldn't help but zone out, letting my mind wander.

The door to the dining room swung open, casting silence over the table. One of the soldiers that guarded the gate stood, apologetic.

"My apologies your Majesty." He bowed slightly. "The final suitor has arrived." Behind him, a soaking wet figure stood. His dark hair draped over his shoulders, a puddle already forming under him. He stepped forward, bowing besides the guard.

"Forgive me for keeping you waiting. My carriage lost a wheel several miles back, so I had to walk the rest of the way here." His eyes skimmed over me gently before returning to my father. "I am Aillard, from the kingdom across the seas. Forgive my current appearance. It began raining shortly after the carriage mishap." He had a slight accent to his vowels, cutting some of his words shorter than normal. A few maids quickly bustled around him, attempting to soak up the water from his dark blue garbs.

"Let us cut dinner short tonight. My apologies gentlemen, tomorrow's feast will be grand as an apology." The suitors grumbled as they shuffled out of the dining hall back towards their rooms. "Linet, why don't you retire for tonight. I'm sure your tired from today." He patted my hand with a gentle smile, allowing me to rise.

As I passed him, Aillard met my eyes, giving me a gentle smile as the maids vigorously attempted to dry him off. I bit back a laugh and continued towards my room. His eyes stuck in my mind. A stunning black against his fair skin. Like pools of glittering onyx. He was the first suitor to look apon me with kind eyes in place of hunger, something that shook me to my core.

As I entered my room and was dressed for bed I couldn't help but wonder about what he had said. Only a madman would walk that distance in the pouring rain. It was unsettling. As the night grew deeper I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Sitting up, I glanced out of the window at the far side of the room. The moon stared back at me.

I couldn't take it anymore. Swinging my legs down to the cold ground, I lit a large candle and gently opened the door into the hall. The castle was quiet. The candle did little to light my path, but I had walked these halls since before I could remember. Downstairs, out the servants exit, and into the garden. It was the only way to be silent when the world was asleep.

There was someone else in the garden. Light hair reflecting the flickering of the candle, and dark robes standing against the pale path. He turned as I exited the servants door, a look of slight confusion on his face. It was Aillard. I suddenly found myself embarrased at my state of dress. Loose nightgown hanging around my ankles.

"Sorry princess," An apologetic smile crossed his lips. "Did I wake you?"

"No." I tried to regain my composure, and bite back the embarrassment threatening to boil into my face. "I couldn't sleep." His face relaxed a bit, and he scooted over on the steps to make more space.

"Strange night for you too then." He gestured for me to sit beside him before turning to gaze back at the garden.

"Strange night?" Cautiously, I sat beside him, careful to sit as properly as possible. "Does it feel strange to you?"

"I suppose." He turned to smile at me, and it was like the sun had come up. I suddenly felt at ease, this man was not going to hurt me. His intentioned were kind. "I've always had trouble sleeping in new places. It will pass with time. The air is just different here."

"From your country?" He bit his cheek and nodded a bit. Something about him seemed familiar, and I couldn't quite place what it was. We'd certainly never met before, and there was no way I would've met a relative of his. "Sorry, this may be a strange question, but have we met before?"

"Yes." His answer was simple, yet the look of sadness that crossed over his face was unmistakable. "Sadly you wouldn't remember that." The look quickly faded as he put his hands out towards me, palms up. "Put your hands on mine, it will help you remember."

I slowly lifted my hands, hovering them over his. Suddenly the air shifted. The scent of herbs and freshly baked sweets filled the air, and a warmth spread from my hands into my chest. As I rested my hands on top of his, the world faded, turning to black.