The Heirs

Chapter 13- The Torturous Waste

the woods are lovely, dark and deep,   
but I have promises to keep,   
and miles to go before I sleep,  
-

“Your brother isn't with you today?” Lys queried, seeing her- seeing Seraphina stumble towards her, half in armour and a spear firmly clasped in one hand.

“No.” The Princess shook her head, and shrugged. Jem had taken to accompanying her during training most of the days, claiming that he wanted to get in some archery practice. Seraphina would've believed him, and been glad at the company, had these not started almost immediately after the execution. “He and Sel are ‘dealing with something’.”

“And he thinks you're too young for court matters?”

She shook her head again, “I'm afraid not- he usually wants me to take part in court matters, but I think my sister said no on whatever this is. The way she looked when I came into the room-” it had been an expression which could've frozen hearts, “I think sh-she thinks I'm too delicate for it.”
Even after the execution, she was still their angel to them. Jem hovered, and Selene harried, but she'd not changed in their eyes as much as she had thought she would.
They hadn't even noticed that her stammer had nearly disappeared.

Lys laughed, twirling a strand of her plum-hued hair.
She leaned against the post of the armoury, “Clearly she's never seen you handle a spear. I only watch you practice, yet you frighten me.”

“I don't mean to frighten you.” Her eyes widened, not realising the dryad's words were in jest. “I'm sorry if-”

“Oh, come on, Eena, you know I'm joking.”

She blushed, “No, I didn't. It's hard to figure you out sometimes, Lys. It's been months that you've come by while I'm training, and still I don't know why.”

Well, that was because she was an idiot, and not because Lys was hard to figure out. They'd been talking and spending time ever since Seraphina had come by the cottage after her dad's funeral. Lys had been distraught, almost as bad as her grieving father, but Seraphina had managed to take her mind off the loss- and she'd been so grateful to have her with her.
After that- well, the dryad had fallen for the young warrior. Being with her, she felt- she felt like how the stories, the fairytales always described one should feel with their sweethearts.
She'd been wearing her heart on her sleeve for quite some time, yet the Princess was too oblivious to notice- and Lys was too afraid to be openly bold with her feelings. Much better to let the other person make the first move.
“What can I say, I like the armour you all wear. A difference from my frocks and tunics.”

Seraphina was promptly forced by her mind to glance at the gown Lys was wearing, gauzy and hugging all her plump curves.
Then her conscience made her look away from her body, and into her face, which wore an easy smile.
She couldn't help smiling either, “It's arduous to wear in the summer. It's the heat.”

“Perhaps I can help you undress.” Lys spoke without thinking, and then immediately wanted to hit herself. She had no filter in her mouth sometimes. Quickly, before Seraphina's cheeks turned pink, she added, “Considering you're so clumsy, I doubt you can take it off on your own without falling over at least twenty minutes.”

Why was she reading into things, when there was nothing there? Lys was a friend, and one she intended to keep. Whatever she felt when she looked into her prismatic eyes- was something borne out of the feelings she still nurtured for Cleo. She'd had no word from her, in almost two years. She knew she could not send long letters- but there was no news from her at all, apart from one stray mention in one of her mother's letters. She wondered whether she'd cropped her hair again.