Though The Heavens May Fall [hs]

Chapter Seventeen

Time was wavering around me, trapped in between a clouded haziness and reality. In and out of rest, hour after hour, I dreamt of better times. The moments when my eyelids would shoot open, feeling heavy, I would shiver violently.

The dungeons were situated beneath the grounds of the castle, devoid of all sunlight and fresh air. There were a few lit lanterns hanging from the wall near the entrance to the steps, but the area directly surrounding me was pitch black.

I was surrounded by warmth and the rush of a summer day's breeze. The grass below my bare feet was soft, tickling my ankles as the blades moved with the wind. My hair blew gently past my face as I opened my eyes. I took in a deep breath and could smell nothing but moist dirt and fresh foliage. Birds chirped and sang somewhere amidst the trees.

I felt a tender hand envelope my own, interlacing our fingers together.

"Come on, Cel," I looked up to see Harry standing beside me, a carefree smile adorning his cheeks. "We're gonna miss the celebration."

I looked to him in shock. His loose white shirt billowed against the breeze as it waved by us. The glint in his emerald eyes sparkled against the sun's rays while he smiled down to me.

"Celebration?" I asked, feeling breathless at this sublime moment.

"Don't tell me you forgot," He chuckled, looking between my eyes. "The townspeople have put together a festival in honor of your coronation."

He began to pull me forward towards the trail to the town square. My feet felt light as we walked a few steps before I stopped, halting him with me.

"Harry, I'm scared,"

He turned to me with a sympathetic smile, wrapping me in his arms. I could smell the lavender emanating from his chest so strongly.

"There's nothing to be afraid of anymore," He hushed into my hair, squeezing me for a moment. "You're safe; we all are."

I looked up to him, feeling a pit of hope deep within me.

"Can we stay here a little longer? It's such a beautiful day, I want to enjoy it with you."

He nodded and took my hands in his, pulling both of us down onto the lush grass below. The moment we sat, the breeze abruptly stopped. The chirping of birds halted and was replaced by the low rumble of thunder. I looked up to the sky and saw a rush of thick storm clouds hastening in, covering every last inch of bright blue sky.

"Harry?"

I looked over to where he sat, but he had vanished. My head thrashed around, searching for my knight.

"Harry!" My yelp was toned out by a defeaning crack of thunder.

I sat up from the stone floor in fear, my eyes now wide open from the loving dream turned nightmare. The sound of steps from the stairs shot my head to the direction of the entrance. I held my breath, awaiting whoever was to descend the hall.

Adrien appeared and lifted a lantern from the wall. He walked slowly as he looked between the different empty cells until his eyes landed on me.

"There you are," He hushed and approached the iron bars of my confinment.

I remained still on the floor, staring up at him as he smirked down to me.

"Comfortable?"

I felt my breathing becoming shallow as I stared in utter repulsion at him.

"What time is it?"

He shrugged his shoulders and thought a moment.

"Evening, the sun just set," He looked around the dungeons. "Figures you wouldn't know that, lack of windows and all."

"What do you want?"

His eyes darted to me and his smirk fell. He cleared his throat and beckoned me to come closer. I stood to my feet but kept my distance as such.

"We've been discussing a few things, and I wanted to come speak with you," He paused a moment and looked me up and down. "If you're open to joining us, we'll give you a chance."

I walked up slowly, gripping one of my hands to the iron bars. He looked down at me, the glow of his lantern casting shadows all around us.

"We can make all this mess disappear, clear your name," He whispered, his eyes studying my lips. "Have a fantastic wedding, become the greatest rulers this nation has ever seen. We'll have money up to our eyes, Celeste."

Without a second thought, I brought my head away slightly and spat onto his face.

He backed off in shock and dropped the lantern, wiping his face with the back of his hand in disgust.

"I wouldn't join you or your family even if my life depended on it,"

He looked up to me and a smirk grew on his lips. He began to chuckle.

"Choose your words carefully, princess," He approached the gate again. "Your wish just might come true."

Before I could question it, he chuckled again and shook his head.

"Imagine my surprise when Prince Edward Lockwood IV shows up at our kingdom one night as a mere sixteen-year-old,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh don't be dense," He scoffed. "You believed that little fairytale rubbish about him running away for love? He was in Eliran for years, you idiot. He's been right under your nose this whole time."

I felt anger begin to bubble within me, a feeling that now felt as common as the simple act of breathing.

"My father saw something in him that resonated with us and our ideals; how we've always wanted things to be controlled. So he told him one night at a ball to join us, whenever he was sick and tired of the lack of rightful leadership. I guess my father didn't expect him to come so soon, but we were thrilled. So much time to guide him and train him for what was to come."

"You monsters," I spoke through my now grit teeth. "We worried about him for ages. How dare you keep him from us?"

He laughed and shrugged.

"Now whose fault was that? Ours? Or yours for being too ignorant to find him?"

He leaned down and lifted the lantern back up.

"I'll make sure to let the other's know you have chosen your fate," He began to walk away then stopped, looking back to me. "A shame, truly. I would've enjoyed bedding you."

"You're revolting!" I shouted, gripping the iron bars tightly in my clenched fists.

He chuckled.

"Enjoy your last night in our realm. The gallows await your presence at dawn."