Vanya lowered her head while the familiar sounds of the busy streets of Esmeth came alive as they entered the city on horseback. The smell of the street food engulfed her nose, it automatically started watering her mouth hearing the vendors busy selling their delicacies.

She gazed with the hood of her cloak covering the scorching sun that happened to spread its wings on this Spring afternoon to look at the colorful foods laid out below. But she could only enjoy the sight of them for a moment before the horse beside her covered her view.

She looked up to see Rhohaz looking at her from the corner of his eye. She simply looked away and lowered her head adjusting the scarf that was meticulously placed to cover more than half of her face away.

He had been nothing but stoic ever since she woke up from her sleep in his arms. She remembered how he acted like he forgot he knew her as Jade while in Shalom. He was acting as if nothing was happening between the two of them and he was simply here to do good and help save the princess of the Kingdom and get land as rewards for his valiant efforts then go home to brag about it to everyone else.

She huffed irritated at him. She clearly remembered how he caressed her face while kissing her forehead and warming her cold hands as she lay there in his arms. She wanted to shout at him, ask him what he was doing then, and if he would do that to just any princess he would come across. Yet she only stayed silent while occasionally rolling her eyes at his cowardness.

“We are here,” Chief Han turned to signal everyone to follow his lead.

They gathered at a corner street to get off their horses and scurry into a small house by the edge.

Vanya entered it to suddenly find Joan standing there with the happiest of smiles plastered across her soft face.

They ran to each other to hug for possibly hours. They broke off finally to look at each other endearingly while they asked for each other’s wellbeing.

“They were truly themselves, weren’t they? They are truly like sisters,” Roza whispered while Rhohaz watched that nothing had changed between the best friends. They were never acting as sisters, they never needed to.

That entire afternoon Joan spent with Vanya before she was called to go over the final plan for tonight.

“If we enter in through the servants’ entrance there would be an issue. There will be a guard taking note of everyone,” Joan added her input while they went over the logistics of it all.

“You can trust my source. He will let us in,” Aren confirmed while Vanya gave him a nod of approval.

“Is it necessary to time it such that it should be only moments before the coronation of the new heir?” Vanya asked, her mind hesitant.

Chief Han looked at her with confident eyes and spoke, “Your Highness, it would be the best. This will guarantee that everyone that needs to see you alive and well, sees you and knows that you are there to make a statement, that you will not give up your place in court.”

She gulped before finding Rhohaz’s eyes on her, concerned. She looked away to nod at Chief Han and ask them to continue going over the plan.

It was too apparent that this was her first time feeling as if she was cheating her father, going over his head, and appearing in court while making her own mark. After all, he did continue with her funeral with a body that was not hers. She was puzzled by his actions while contemplating if it was her stepmother who put him up to this, convincing him that whatever body he saw was indeed hers.

She fell back and remained silent while listening to the folk helping her. She was finally released from the meeting when Joan called her aside and brought her into a room.

“I have something for you, Your Highness,” she said gleefully while pulling out something from the small closet in the corner.

Vanya’s eyes lit in awe. It was one of her most prized dresses in blue-green velvet with gold work passing through it shining in the sparse light. Vanya’s fingers went to the dress while she felt it gently asking, “However did you manage to sneak this out of there?”

Joan shrugged confidently to say, “I’ve got my connections.”

They laughed in happiness.

“You must wear this tonight, my lady. No one will be able to miss your presence in this,” Joan said while adjusting Vanya’s hair.

Joan helped Vanya get ready faster than Vanya had ever managed to. She pulled the strings tightening the back, adjusting the sleeves so that they sat right on the edge of Vanya’s shoulders, and sat Vanya down to pin her dark hair up gently sticking two small twigs of white primrose in it.

She touched Vanya’s lips with a light red coloring while smoothing a dark powder on her eyelashes.

Joan smiled seeing her best friend who had magically resurrected herself sitting in front of her alive and well.

“I’m so glad you are fine, your highness. There were many times I believed them. There were many dark times I thought you were truly gone,” Joan sobbed a little before clearing her throat and gathering herself.

Vanya hugged her while patting her back understanding Joan’s gentle heart.

Suddenly Joan looked up at her to excuse herself saying, “Oh! Actually, I have one more surprise. Wait here.”

Vanya was puzzled to see Joan’s sudden change in emotion. Joan ran away closing the door behind her for longer than Vanya thought she would.

She was already getting bored when suddenly the door opened back out.

“What took you so–” Vanya stopped her words seeing it was not Joan.

Rhohaz with his broad shoulders and his confused face was standing there as if someone had forcefully pushed him into a room alone with Vanya. She peeked to see Joan thrashing the door close leaving Vanya and Rhohaz to look at each other in awkwardness.

But it wasn’t really awkwardness that Rhohaz was feeling. He was too taken by Vanya’s beauty that her standing there with a dress so elegant and fitting that he found it the most difficult to take his eyes off of her. He blinked twice before diverting his gaze to a boring window.

“I’m sorry. Joan is just–” Vanya started seeing him uncomfortable. As much as she wanted to lash out at him and question him for his change of heart, she felt terrible for putting him through something he did not seem to be enjoying.

He only waved his hand in front to say, “That’s alright. They all seem to think there’s…” he looked to her to continue, “...something between us.”

“They were right to think that,” Vanya replied, looking at her hands suddenly finding them so interesting, “But not anymore.”

Her words hurt him more than he thought. It was as if hearing it from her made him realize that he was harsher with her than he thought he was.

“We are from different worlds,” she continued while Rhohaz listened to her carefully, “Very different worlds…”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Vanya suddenly looked up at him wanting to clarify, “...That’s not to say that I did not enjoy my time in Shalom. I may have started that way, but I love Shalom. I have never felt so at home anywhere else…”

Rhohaz saw her eyes water making his feet take a step towards her without him even noticing his sudden movement.

“...I’m sure you felt cheated at the beach that day when you heard them address me with my real name. I’m sorry I kept it hidden. That was my only choice–”

“It’s okay, I would have done the same,” he said taking another step towards her.

Seeing him inching closer, Vanya too dared herself to step towards him saying, “But surely, you must know, regardless of my position, regardless of what anyone might think, I truly fell for you. I know you heard me at the beach that day. And it still holds to this day. I am still–”

“Don’t say it,” he said, as he moved closer to her, contradicting his intentions.

She watched as he stood there, closer than ever, inviting her to fall into his arms like that night. His sweet smell made her so drenched in it reminding her of the first time they shared a kiss.

She looked at his eyes again, they were locked in on hers, taking back the time they had lost not falling more deeply in her eyes.

“Why not? Why I can’t say it?” Vanya asked as his eyes saddened.

He sighed before whispering, “I’m afraid the moment you say those words you–you would disappear just like that day. Someone would appear and take you away from me.”

He was taken aback that he even managed to articulate his feelings. His tongue had ultimately betrayed him. He was too frightened of everything. Frightened that if they were to declare where they stood with their emotions, they would be thrown into new tidings. It was better to be passing through the cracks, leaving the tension up in the air, while he kept her close and safe.

Vanya felt it too, she felt his fright. She shook her head to reply, “But that wouldn’t happen again. We can make sure it wouldn’t–”

He took a step back to reply, “Forget what I said. I’m only acting unlike myself.”

He suddenly turned returning to the door.

“Why are you doing this?,” she blurted out unable to settle it, “Why are you acting this way? You know it. You know how everyone always hides their true feelings from me? Not you too, not when I need you the most…”

Her words made him halt. It seared for a moment before he heard her sob.

“...I thought I finally had someone who saw me for me. And now you tell me to let you go? Let myself pretend we never saw a future together?”

She found his footsteps approaching her as she wiped her tears away. His hands cupped her face as they titled her face to his. Their eyes met once more. This time they felt so naked feeling the other’s emotions so raw in their hearts, blazing through like wildfire.

“Please don’t cry. I can’t bear to see you like this. I have been a fool. To tell you the truth, it scared me hearing you be the daughter of the King, but that never lessened the love I have for you…”

He brought his forehead closer to hers as he finally broke his wall down for her to see him so bare.

“...But it frightened me more to hear that you were gone. I knew in my heart you were alive and I had to come find you. I will always come find you, keep you safe, I promise. And I will do it a thousand times over till my body can no longer bear the pain.”

Vanya stayed there in silence listening to his sincere words. She felt her heartache at his confession. While she waited listening to his heartbeat she felt him pull back to look at her.

She opened her eyes to see him smiling at her as if all the worry had been lifted off of his shoulders all at once.

“I don’t want to lose you,” she whispered.

He smiled and replied, “You won’t” before his lips met her sealing it like a promise so long in the making.

It may have been minutes but they felt it be hours holding each other so close while they shared a kiss so intimate, so longed. She pressed his lips harder while he hugged her closer finally expressing his desires openly.

***

It wasn’t so easy letting go of each other when they were finally on the same page after so long. But they had to for everyone was ready to head out, follow the plan, and have the rightful heir to the throne back where she belonged.

Rhohaz caught Vanya’s hand moments before they went their separate ways. She mouthed the words, “Stay safe,” to which he nodded before reluctantly letting her soft hands leave his.

It was grueling, to say the least, seeing her disappear with Aren and Chief Han making their way towards the opposite entrance.

Just then, Rhohaz felt it. He whipped his head around as if to find something invisibly woven into the very fabric of nature surrounding him.

“What is it?” Timmie asked seeing Rhohaz so alert.

He paused for a moment before replying saying, “I can feel him.”

And moment after, Roza came by to say the same. “He’s here, isn’t he? Just like we predicted.”

“You must find him before he finds her,” Taru said to Rhohaz while lifting the scarf around his face to his nose. The rest followed him to cover their faces.

Roza nodded and started heading in the opposite direction from which Rhohaz and Timmie were going to depart. Taru gave a nod to the boys and followed Roza.

Timmie looked to Rhohaz, who was focusing sharply on something in the distance.

“You think it’s her father, the King, that had the man kidnap his own daughter, and have her tortured?” Timmie asked finally not needing to hold anything back from Rhohaz.

Rhohaz only stayed silent before saying, “I’m not sure. But it seems her father most likely sent her off to that place when she was young. There was no way she would have been trapped in such a place since birth for so long just for a knight to show up one day and take her home.”

“That poor thing,” Timmie sighed deeply, “She seemed so normal with us, so at ease.”

Rhohaz listened carefully while keeping tabs on his senses alerting him.

“Come on, let’s go,” he whispered making Timmie fidget.

They ran through the shadows till they found the hidden opening to the castle through the stables just as Vanya had mentioned. They walked past the horses and into the large garden by the back end of the castle. From this angle, they saw the crowd at the front. The massive wooden gates were wide open inviting a large amount of guests in carriages pouring in. They heard the loud chatter and wisps of music woven into the grand night beginning as the sun set for the day.

Timmie marveled at the sight, “That’s one big party, alright.”

“Come, this way,” Rhohaz directed as he felt the movement of the very man he was tracking. He faltered for a moment thinking if the man, who was a highly skilled sorcerer himself, was tricking him.

Yet feeling the sensation grow inexplicably, he cast his doubts aside to march head-on.

They soon found themselves sneaking into a busy corridor. They were the most underdressed with nothing but peasant clothing amongst the bedazzling jewels and vibrant colored suits walking around. Luckily for them, their dull colors attracted no attention. Yet wanting to be safe, they quickly hid themselves in a corner observing the world outside.

The warm white light right within their reach stretched across leading to large doors opening to a giant hall occupied by large tables sitting facing a higher area with the throne of the King of the Northern Kingdom in full display. Timmie let out a whistle seeing the majestic throne, lined with gold, and cushioned with a distinct red sitting there empty.

“That must be hers then,” Timmie raised his head at the much smaller chair next to the throne. It was as equally oozing of prestige line in gold and cushioned in a deep green color.

Suddenly Rhohaz felt the sorcerer move. He felt him glide through the castle as if he were water. He tried picking up the trace of the seashell, the seashell that still remained in Vanya’s pocket. He felt the sorcerer heading towards her.

Rhohaz panicked. He grabbed Timmie and slipped through the crowd gathering in the hallway.

They whisked past and onto the stairs falling back into the shadows. Timmie panted unable to keep up with Rhohaz’s fast pace. They may have climbed a dozen stairs at this point that Rhohaz no longer saw Timmie at his tail.

Yet he kept running as fast as he could. It wasn’t until when he paused sensing the man ahead of him did Rhohaz noticed that he was in a lonely corridor with nothing but the faint light of the moon shining in through a corner window. He narrowed his eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the shadow of the man lurking in the cold corner.

He faltered for a moment wondering if it was the correct move to come into such an isolated area alone by himself. And soon, he knew he was outsmarted.

The walls around him suddenly started to move narrowing in on the little space between each other. Rhohaz looked around in confusion seeing the stone walls inch closer and closer by the minute.

It's a trick…

He said to himself as he looked ahead to see the figure much closer to him now. The man stood there shoulders apart, head strong. Rhohaz was about to grab onto him when suddenly his face came to the light and there stood his father, his hair brown and his eyes pale like Rhohaz’s. He carried a cruel twist in his lips and a cocked brow, judging Rhohaz for who he had become.