The Betrothal

11 - Out of Bed

2 Months Later

  You had spent the last couple months in your bedroom, alone, contemplating life. You would spend hours in your bed, the horrific scene playing over and over again in your head. Sure, you loved risks and adventure but you never intended anyone to get hurt. You also wonder why Laufey thought that his apparently lost son was in your castle. The maids would have to bring you each meal to make sure you ate, but you only really ate the bread or something small. Your whole life was laying in bed, thinking, now.

  However, one thing didn't change. Each night, you'd step out onto your balcony, looking at the stars, and talk to your soulmate. Well, more like talk to him but get no response. You'd occasionally hear sighs or breathy laughs, but nothing more. Sometimes you wondered if it was just the wind playing tricks on you.

  You'd been assigned a new handmaiden, of course. A younger girl named Evangelina. She had long, charcoal black hair and chocolate brown eyes. Much like Alana's. She tried to help you out whenever possible, but due to your grief you weren't exactly out and about.

  You were just lying in bed, reading a book when a knock is heard at your door. You sigh and set your book down.

  "Evangelina, I already told you I'm not hungry-"

  You're interrupted by your mother bursting into the room and heading straight for the windows.

  "Mother?" you sigh out as she opens the drapes, letting light come through. You squint your eyes as she heads towards you.

  "There, much better," she says. "It's been two months now, dear. You need to start preparing for your wedding."

  You groan and lay back down, covering your face with one of your pillows. Your mother laughs and pulls the covers off of you.

  "I know you do not want to, but you've stalled long enough."

  "I don't even want to get married to this man, why must I plan it?" you reply.

  She sighs. "Well, believe it or not, I didn't want to plan my wedding."

  You look at her with disbelief on your face as she laughs.

  "Yes, it's true. However, the closer the wedding came, the more controlling I became," she laughs out, looking at nothing. You could tell she was reviewing her memories. "However, I knew you would be stubborn about this so I am here to help."

  You smile at her, glad knowing you didn't have to plan alone. She takes your hand into hers and gives it a small reassuring squeeze.

  "Now, get dressed so we may eat lunch," she says as she gets up. "Oh, and I will tell Evangeline to draw you a bath, you haven't bathed in weeks and don't even try to tell me otherwise," she says, winking and closing your door.

  You smile and laugh a bit to yourself. Your mother always knew how to cheer you up. Picking up your book and heading over to your shelves, you hear something you thought you'd never hear again.

  'Darling?'

  You gasp. It's him! "Hello?," you ask out loud. You see Evangeline heading to your bathroom, giving you a weird look to you speaking to no one. She shrugs and heads into the bathroom to draw your bath.

  "Where have you been all this time? I've been so alone since the night I-"

  'I know, I know, but do please let me explain. I had a small difficulty with my voice over the past few months. I've heard you every night but the most I could do was sigh or give a weak laugh,' he explains.

  "Your majesty, your bath is ready," Evangeline says, coming out of the bathroom. You thank her and head into the room. Looking into the mirror, you see your hair in knots, mascara around your eyes, and your evening gown wrinkled. A total mess.

  'Darling?,' 

  "Oh, right. Sorry."

  'You're not too upset with me, I hope?'

  You laugh a bit at his worriedness. "No, darling, I'm not."

  You step out of your gown and walk into the bath. The warm water feels so refreshing around your body as you sit down for a little bit.

  'So, how are you feeling about your wedding?'

  "Wait, what? How do you know it's my wedding?"

  He laughs a bit, and you can tell he's smirking. 'I heard you at the ball, darling,'

  You wince at the mention of the ball but try to push away all of the bad memories. Poring water over your hair, you sigh.

  "I suppose I'm still upset, but the prince isn't so bad," you reply, rubbing shampoo into your hair. He stays quiet for a bit after this. "Hello?"

  'Yes, sorry. I'm glad you're feeling better about this now,'

  After washing the rest of yourself, you step out and start drying yourself when Evangeline knocks on the door.

  "Your majesty? Who might you have been talking to?"

  Your face reddens. "Uh.. just my soulmate.." you say, embarrassed.

  "Oh, alright then. I'll be in your closet to help you fit into your gown when you're ready."

  "Thank you Evangeline. And please, just call me Y/N. No need to be so formal," you reply. You never liked it when Alana used formal names. Well, you didn't really like anybody calling you something formal.

  After getting into your gown and doing your hair, you notice Evangeline on the balcony. You come up behind her to see what she could be looking at when you see a boy, probably about her age, watering the garden.

  "Who's that?" you ask as she turns to you, startled.

  "Oh! No one..," she tries to hide her blush, but you see right through it.

  "Well, every no one has to be a some one. So, what's his name?" you reply.

  She smiles and looks back at him. "Hector," she replies, googly-eyed.

  "You should talk to him,"

  She turns to you in bewilderment. "What? No, of course not. I haven't the time-"

  "Non-sense. I'm eating lunch with mother today, you have time now," you say, turning around and heading to lunch.

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