Are you a jinn or dog?

Taking the lantern which was lit with fire, I walked to the cemetery. I wasn't afraid of ghosts or such buy The night was the best time to meet my mother. During the day, I was watched by many to do so. 

"Mother," I whispered sitting down at the foot of the grave and dimming the fire a bit. "I hope you keep watching over us." I smiled.

She had promised me that on her death bed.

'What am I to do?' I asked her in my mind, not wanting to speak out loud. I wanted to become a queen but I also wanted Estelle to rule our kingdom instead of that dimwit, which again, is not possible because I am getting married, and starting an inner war would only drain out our resources more than necessary.

The heavy wind blew, making the cloth over my head fall off. Fixing it back up, I sighed. My life was supposed to be filled with all riches and luxuriousness and here I was, fighting to be alive and remain on top. To top it all off, my kingdom now was struggling as well.

This marriage was merely a means of survival and now it was a means to make my wish of becoming a Queen come true.

Mother, please. My eyes burn with the tears that I refuse to let fall. 'Somehow help me, what am I to do? If I delay the wedding, it would be considered as a rejection and if I don't, Estelle would be all alone. What do I do?'

Closing my eyes, I let my tears fall, finally giving in. I can't let my sister suffer, I can't let my kingdom die of hunger and I can't risk rejecting an available solution to it all.

"I can't be more strong than I already am. I would break, mother. Help me, please." I whispered to her gravestone. They were all carried away by the wind.

"What help do you seek?" A whisper of a masculine voice was heard.

I immediately turned around to see a man covered by a cloak. "What?" I hissed at him.

"I asked you, what help do you seek?" The annoyance to repeat his question could be heard.

"How did you get past the guards?" I ask, two of them had discreetly followed me here thinking I was not aware of their presence.

"They were not much of a hindrance to me. No one is." He smiles, his words were pointing towards something that I chose to ignore.

"No dead here belongs to you." I said, "leave them alone along with me."

The light of the lantern dimmed even more but I had not even touched it. His voice brought my attention back to him, "You stand correct. Nothing here belongs to me. I am here to provide my help to you."

"I do not need your help." I firmly rejected his offer of help. "But thank you for the offering." Politeness shall never be forgotten.

The smile on his face slowly vanished. "Help, when offered, should be taken. You never know when you might need it." He talked like he knew of something I did not. 

"And what of when it's not needed?" I mocked with a mocking smile on my face. "What should I do then?"

"You will need my help." He smiled again, even in the dim light of the lantern I could make that out. Also, I am suddenly aware of how close he was standing to me. "Just like I will need yours."

I took a conscious step back. He was too close and too sudden. "I understand that you need my help but you need to owe me something to you so that I cannot refuse you of what you ask of me. With that in mind, I might never ask of your help." Petty move, I realized. I should have kept my mouth shut.

"I do." He nodded. "But I know you will need my help." He takes out something from his pocket. The familiar ringing confirmed it as he placed it down between us.

"A bell would be sufficient to summon you?" I mocked him again. "Are you a jinn or a dog?"

"Neither, your highness." He did not take any offense as his face did not change. "I am someone who knows to appear at the right time. Ring it as much as you like and I shall appear but remember, it's give and take." He stepped back slowly, disappearing into the night as he walked out of the light.

I hurriedly picked up the lantern and rose the flame to improve my vision but he was gone. Looking around, I could not even see his frame walking. Not caring for his bell, I push it aside with my foot and walked into the castle.

Handing over the lantern to a guard, I walked to my room and took off my cloak. Pulling the blankets on me, I checked the windows and doors that were visibly locked by the wooden locks. Satisfied, I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes with the tiredness of the day taking over me.