- 3rd day of Hanotë

Part 4 - A Princess with no Kingdom

Allana watched as the sun set on the horizon; one more day approaching its end.

She had left Selina with her admirers, that seemed to multiply by the minute, and she was sure the other girl had yet to miss her. At least she seemed to be having fun, as if the world would be forever like that, within her hand’s reach.

In an attempt to go unnoticed in order to make sure other members of Mithir’s Court didn’t suspect her true identity, she had found refuge on a small balcony, from where she had watched another group of refugees from Everlyn enter the city walls. Only two were yet to arrive, she thought, happy that it looked like everything had gone according to plan and that everyone had managed to safely reach their destination. And who knows, maybe Lidya would end up showing up at the city’s doors as well, she wished and immediately reprimanded herself for allowing such impossible dreams to fill her mind.

She took a deep breath, telling herself that she wouldn’t cry over it anymore, and squeezed her moon pendant as she faced the setting sun.

“Allana.” His voice startled her and instinctively made her turn around. And there he stood, the red sky making the silver of his hair burn incandescently. She immediately recalled the events of the previous night and her cheeks went up in flames, making avert her gaze, too embarrassed to face him. “They told me you’d be here,” he announced, walking up to her to stand by her side. “How was your day?”

“Hum … nothing special,” she answered, trying to sound normal even though her heart kept beating furiously. “Selina has been having fun. It would seem she really likes your Court. She says that living here is like an exciting game.”

“I should say … Although I hardly find that exciting, quite the contrary. Sometimes I just wish I could simply run away,” he answered and they both stood silent for a moment.

“And how was the Council?” Allana finally remembered and he released a deep sigh.

“It ended just now. Finally! But luckily all the main subjects were covered and things should progress smoothly from now on,” he told her and she couldn’t help think that something was wrong. He seemed too … serious, too distant, far from the gentle, youthful Elian he always was near her. And then she knew. This wasn’t the Elian who had childishly waited for fifteen years to see her again. This was Elian the Prince, the Heir to the Crown, the one that knew how to give orders and make hard decisions as she had briefly seen in Everlyn.

“That’s good, then,” she replied, not knowing what else to say, and he turned to face her, that serious look on his face making her feel apprehensive.

“However it seems that there was still some information about our enemy we didn’t know. And rumors of what some have identified as a Dragon reached the Council,” he told her and her golden eyes widened in disbelief.

“A Dragon …?! But aren’t Dragons supposed to have gone extinct thousands of years ago?” she asked, completely forgotten of any embarrassment she might have felt, and his expression seemed even heavier.

“If I were you I wouldn’t repeat those words in front of Denar. He says he’s seen one, when he was younger, and that their power is immense. He said something about having survived, and believe me, his expression was so haunted that I didn’t have it me to ask him for more details. And so it has been decided that a group of Knights will leave Mithir as soon as possible, to go in search of the Tower of High Magic, since they’re the only ones with enough power to help us face this new threat.”

“That’s in the Ice Mountains, right?”

“Yes. Denar has been designated as the one in charge of the search. And Elipson is leaving with him, even though she’s going against my will. As you’ve seen before, it’s no use ordering her to stay. I may as well lock her up somewhere and throw away the key. They’re departing tomorrow with some of the other Knights.”

Allana swallowed dry as a tight knot squeezed her throat and held her hands together seeing in his eyes that there was still something else … the real reason why he'd gone there, in search of her.

“What about you …?” she asked and he made himself smile, the most terrible smile she had ever seen on his lips, as he tried to look indifferent.

“It has been decided that I shall leave as well,” he informed her, confirming her worst fear, and her mind was completely blank for a moment as an unknown despair took over her.

“Then I’ll go too!” she suddenly said without even thinking and immediately knew that, no matter what, that’s what she had to do.

“No, Princess. It has also been decided that part of Mithir’s population will be evacuated to Leips. And that includes you, Dana and Selina,” he informed her, apparently unsurprised by her sudden outburst, and Allana frowned, annoyed with his calm, conformed tone and the distant way he’d addressed her. He had never called her like that before …

“If you’re all leaving then I’m going with you!” she insisted fiercely and Elian took a deep breath. He had known she wouldn’t take his news well, but he had never expected her to oppose him so openly.

“I can’t take you with us. It’s too dangerous,” he tried to explain but that only seemed to infuriate her even more, her golden eyes flashing like a wild animal’s.

“Dangerous?! There’s nothing in this world more dangerous than me, or have you forgotten? And I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself!”

“You’re a Princess, Allana.”

“I’m no one!!” she cut in, the air around her becoming heavier as her anger grew. “Princess of what? Of what Kingdom? I have nothing left!”

“I’m sorry …” he honestly told her averting his gaze, unable to face the pain in her eyes. “But I still can’t take you. Not when no one even knows if we’ll even be able to come back.”

“I don’t need you to take me anywhere!” she retorted and he looked at her, pained by her suffering.

“Listen, you’ll be fine … I know you will …” he started, moving to place a hand on her shoulder, but she smacked it midair and stepped back, looking at him as if he were the enemy.

“Don’t touch me! Who do you think you are?” she demanded, her fierce anger becoming colder and scarier. “I don’t need you to take care of me! I don’t need anything from you!” she told him, her voice icy cold, and turned, storming back inside the palace.

Elian took a deep breath leaning against the parapet. It hurt, he thought, more than it should. But he knew without a doubt that he’d done the right thing.

Allana ran across the corridors, tears streaming down her face, and only stopped at the sound of her bedroom’s door closing on her back. Her anger immediately went cold as she recalled the reason why she had avoided that room the entire day, and fear took over as she raised her eyes towards the ceiling, to the painting of the two winged beings sitting by a beautiful fountain. She stood there, back against the door, breathing heavily, for quite some time … but nothing happened. And, as time went by her fear begun to subside and the pain inside her chest became stronger and more intense.

She sat on the floor, her back still against the door, and pulled her knees to her chest, hugging the soft, green silk of the dress she had borrowed that morning from Selina’s wardrobe. Her mind went completely blank, and maybe it was better that way, she thought. But then anger fired up inside of her again, surpassing the sadness that clenched her chest.

How could he! After all he’d said to her! After asking her to always stay his side like that! How could he simply leave her that easily, not even knowing if he’d be able to return? All because she was a Princess, she thought bitterly. No!, she retorted immediately, fury making her squeeze her hands so tightly that her own nails bit into the palms of her hands. All because he had that stupid hero’s complex! That’s right! And she was the Princess in distress! The Princess that he had gone out of his way to save, and that he had to make sure that was safe and out of danger. And now that that had been achieved he would simply leave her behind to go on a new honorable quest! That’s what she meant to him, after all; a beautiful doll to be cared for and to be left back at home, safe and sound, awaiting his return.

“To hell with that!” she blurted out, her eyes filling with tears again. Everlyn, Mithir, Leips; all the same, all the same kind of prison.

No more crying, no more crying; she reminded herself rubbing her eyes with the rich silk of her dress. Besides, as she had learned a long time ago, crying wouldn’t accomplish anything! And suddenly Dana’s words came back to her.

She was Allana! She was the Crown Princess of her Kingdom, even if her Kingdom was no more. She owed nothing to Mithir, or the King, or its Prince! In fact, with her mother gone, she didn't owe allegiance or obedience to anyone! And, like she’d just told him, she didn’t need anyone to take care of her! She was free to do as she pleased, to the exact extend of what her courage would allow her!

“And I’ll show him … I’ll show them all, exactly what I’m capable of!”