4 Princes

XXXIV

Rook
I just wanted her back. When Jack called for a break I wanted to argue, and scream at him, and tell him that we didn't have time for that. But he was right, I needed a break. I leaned my back against the wall outside the library and sighed. I bent over and rested my palms on my knees, trying to get my mind off of her.

But she was... well she was Elaina. She was my Ella. I didn't want to stop thinking about her. The truth was, I liked who I was with her. I liked how she changed me for the better, made me finally put something else in front of me.

She made me more accepting as a person. I was so willing to accept flaws now, and not because she had them, but because someone could love me despite mine. And if someone could love me despite my flaws then who was I to judge anyone else's.

I needed a break.

"Rook?" Hera asked.

I looked up from staring at the floor. My sister's face was hard to look at now. Her eyes were slowly returning to their original grey color, but the scars that scratched down both sides were still deepening. I don't think the witch's magic healed those all of the way. Her face would forever have those lines down her eyes, like tiger stripes, or rake marks in the dirt.

Villages would cower ar her face instead of her abilities on the battlefield. A part of me wondered if Hera would appreciate it. She never did enjoy the revelries of nobles asking for her hand.

"Yes, Hera?" I asked stressfully.

She frowned. "How are you?" She asked.

I was so shocked that I shot up from being bent over. Was my sister trying to have a heart-to-heart with me? I wasn't aware she even had one of those to complete that type of conversation. Because of that, I answered honestly. "Not good."

"You love her, don't you?" She looked concerned for me, but also curious.

I nodded my head. "With all my heart, Hera. All of it."

She took a tentative step towards me, almost fearfully. Is this what my family thought of each other? I thought about the love I wished Ella had received, all the mistakes I made with Erik. Hera was only seventeen. I opened my arms and brought her to me.

She squeezed her arms around my shoulders, burying her head in the crook of my neck. "I'm scared, Rook. I couldn't see. I was so scared," she cried. "And you were gone, and Jack was dying, and... I thought I was going to be alone."

I shook my head and ran my hands through her short hair. It was getting longer, longer than when things were ok. "You're never going to be alone, sis. I'll always be here for you, you know that." But did she? Really? I couldn't remember the last time I was just there for her. The feeling of hugging her was so foreign to me. "And if you don't know that, you should now."

I wasn't great at this. But I was trying. And even she could see that.

She pulled back a little and did her version of looking at my face. "I'm blind because I was talking to the witch's daughter, Rapunzel. I think... I think I found my Princess."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "No, that's not right."

Hera looked behind her like she wanted to run. "Because we're both..."

I shook my head. "No, I don't care about that, it's because you're seventeen. Dad isn't here anymore, you don't have to force yourself to get married."

"Are you still going to?" She shot back.

I was silent for a moment as I pursed my lips and really thought about an answer. I didn't have to get married anymore, dad was gone. But I did have Elaina now, and that was an exponential detail I didn't have before. "I don't think I was ever going to," I replied.