A Clash Of Light And Thunder (War Of The Forgotten Lovers Book 1)

A Time To Explore

Aria's heart felt like it would burst as it frantically drummed against her chest. 'Okay, knock,' she told herself, but her hand remained motionless over the ominous white stone door.

"Do you need assistance, my lady?" asked the tall guard that had escorted her. His bushy eyebrows furrowed, and his broken lips pouted as he seemed to try to decipher why the human stood frozen like a block of ice.

"I know how to knock on a door." She gave a strained smile as she failed to command away the red tint on her cheeks. She must look silly, just standing there, hand frozen in the air. But the arrival of the palace guard requesting her company from Elvin had set her nerves on edge.

Aria straightened the soft fabric of her light-layered violet dress with final resolve. She only hoped she did not look too disheveled. After a full day of work, she was not at her best.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she knocked and waited. It had been two days since she last saw the prince. Two days since he kissed her so passionately that she melted under his touch. She waited anxiously the next day to see him, but he had been nowhere in sight. The day after, she worried he changed his mind.

Aria bit her lip as the doorknob turned and the carved door slowly opened.

A round table covered with a mint green cloth sat at the center. Foods of all kinds lay freshly prepped on top of it, filling the room with a sweet and savory aroma. The chamber was shaped in a circular form, perfectly encapsulating the table. The wall broke into spaced pillars across from the door, interjected by a half wall that let the light of the setting sun in. The morning star shone soft yellow and orange on the room. The sun rays glided across the white stone floor, brightening the deep blue flowers scattered around the table. Roses of the same color spiraled around the pillars, blooming under the gentle touch of the sky.

"I am glad you came," Elvin's sultry tone instantly made her blush. He looked so irresistibly handsome as he waited by a finely crafted ivory chair. His starlike silver hair was neatly braided, with dark metal rings holding the strands in place. He wore a simple dark navy tunic with black trousers. Elegant threads of gold decorated the edges. He smirked as he saw Aria's eyes trace his form. Even in simplicity, the prince excelled. "Please take a seat."

Aria walked, fingers combing through her hair, trying to tame the wild strands. She cursed her luck to finally see him on the day she spent cleaning the High Shveera's hut.

Once she settled into the chair, Elvin leaned over her shoulder. He whispered, "you look beautiful as always." He placed a soft kiss on her warm cheek before striding swiftly to the other side of the table.

Once he had sat down, an old maid approached from her right. "Would you like some wine, my lady?"

"Yes, please," Aria answered. The maid carefully held the hem of her earth-colored dress as she filled the glass.

Aria took a deep breath, and the delicious aromas of the food entered her nostrils. Her mouth watered. It was filled with her favorite foods. A seared steak laid at the center, exuding heat on a wooden board. An arrangement of bowls surrounded the meat in a spiral pattern. Each holding their own delight; herb-infused rice, coconut milk-covered potatoes, and leafed wrapped bread, among others.

Aria's gaze wavered to Elvin. 'He couldn't have been doing all this if he was thinking of telling her off? That much cruelness was beyond him,' she thought.

"Thank you," Aria told the maid once she finished pouring her glass. The old woman gave a slight nod of acknowledgment before moving to cut the steak into strips. Once she finished, she placed the knife down and bowed. "If you need me, I shall be outside."