Bound: Book One

Chapter Twenty-Six

We head out to a local restaurant. It feels weird being out in public again but inviting at the same time. I didn't feel as much pressure as I do being at the castle. Here I was just Lillian. Our waiter had no idea we were soon to be king and queen. The calm before the storm if you will. I knew that I had to live up this moment because going ahead I wouldn't have much of these anymore.

I watch Sam fawn over Erin. He eyes locked on her the entire night. I can see she is enjoying the attention he is giving her. I lean into Liam and just take in this peaceful moment.

"You feeling alright?" He asks.
"Yeah. I just know that this might be our last time we get a moment like this out in public."

I notice Liam get still and take my words in.
"You're right." He says with a sad tone. "We're not going to be able to go out like this in public for much longer huh?"
"No, once you become king..."
"Yeah." He says looking down at his drink. " Come outside with me?" 

"Okay." I agree
"Hey where are you two going?" Sam asks.
"Just outside for a breather. Order us another round okay?"
"Can do!" Sam agrees.

Liam leads me around to the back of the restaurant and looks around.

"Devin came to talk to me today about your conversation with your uncle." 

"My conversation?"
"Yes. The one you had in the garden about me not trusting Devin." He looks at me sternly.

"Shit! I wasn't thinking and it was before our talk."
"I know but now he's more suspicious of you.Don't worry I lied to him." 

"What did you say?"
"Just that I didn't trust him when I was younger and you just mis-understood me.But you really need to watch everything you say and who you talk to."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright I smoothed it over. But from now on don't talk about him or anything we talk about outside of the castle. If someone bring him up just act dumb. I'm sure he'll have people trying to find things out for him."
"I can't wait till this all is over."
"Yeah me too."

The next morning I notice movers loading box after box into the castle. I make my way downstairs to find Liam as he was not in bed when I woke up. I finally catch up to him while he's carrying a box in his hands. "What's going on?"
"Gran is here!" He says like an excited little boy.
"Oh I didn't know she was moving in so quickly." I say following him down the hallway.
"Yeah the sooner the better and you can ask her about that fable."
"Where is she?"
"Right down here getting her room together."

We turn down the hall and enter her room.
"Oh over there my king."She points over to the corner of the room. "Elizabeth!" She exclaims.
"Gran! Hope everything is to your liking."
"Oh it's more than enough dear." She says hugging me.
"Well if you need anything you can let me or my maid Clara know. I'm sure we'll have a maid set-up for you soon."
"I can't thank you enough for letting an old woman live here with you."
"Oh gran you know we adore you. It's our pleasure."
"Hey gran we do have a question for you." Liam asks.
"Anything my king."

"You know that fable about the two brothers?"
"Oh yes. I don't remember much of it. Why do you ask?"
"Lillian has been having dreams of two brothers fighting. We found a fable in the library of a queen giving birth to two sons from a wish made to a sprite. But we're not sure it relates."

Gran immediately stops what she is doing and stands still. She slowly turns around and says one word.
"Ratlin."
"What?" I ask.

"Ratlin the sprite. He was the one who granted the sons to Queen Anne. He was an evil sprite."
"What happened?"
"You won't find any books on what happened after that."