Kiss of Death

Part 11

I feel a blush creep across my face.

"What do you mean teach me?"

"You'll have to learn to dance if you'll be attending a ball." He releases me and stands in front of me. A servant comes in and sits at a piano. He begins to play a waltz.

Nolan grabs my hands and begins to lead me in a waltz. He counts under his breath and I watch his feet as he leads around the library a flurry of laughs and apologies.

We continue to dance in the library and he teaches the tango, foxtrot, samba, and quickstep. I'm not the best dancer but Nolan says that it'll do.

After our dancing, we sit on the floor in the library, sweating and laughing. Nolan looks at me with a smile on his face.

"I haven't danced like that in years." He sighs and wipes a sweaty curl off of his forehead.

"Tell me about the last time you danced like that then, your highness."

"Remember the time when a neighboring kingdom almost stole the crown jewels?"

"How could anyone forget? It was the story of the decade." Why is he telling me about this?

"Well," He runs his hand through his hair, "It was my fault."

My eyes widen and I try to hold back a snort. He looks at me with questioning eyes and I contain myself.

"I was 14 at the time, and extremely naive. The kingdoms of Krona and Toph were visiting for a unity ball. The princess of Krona, Cassandra, was absolutely gorgeous. She was 14 as well. The moment that I met her I was enamored. She seemed to be drawn to me as well, so we spent a lot of time together. We became very close in just a few days and were very open with each other. Over the next few days I noticed that she would ask rather intrusive questions but when I would confront her she'd either say she was curious or run away crying saying that I did not trust her. At the time I did not realize what she was doing. After a particularly long crying fest, in my stupor, I decided to take her to see the crown jewels. Now keep in mind, I was genuinely in love and thought that she loved me and cared about me as well." He pauses and look at me, his brown eyes dark with sadness. He chuckles, "Oh, how wrong was I. I led her there and she had guards waiting and they seized me and she took the crown jewels and left. I was heartbroken."

We sit there in heavy silence. I want to say something but I don't know what to say. Instead, I wrap my arms around him and hold him close. He buries his head into my neck and I can feel the wetness of his tears. I rest one of my hands on his head and wrap one of his curls around my finger. He sits up and looks at me.

"Runella, I" He is about to say something when a servant rushes in.

"Your Majesty, you are needed immediately in the throne room."

Nolan has a concerned look on his face as he rises. I stand with him and he cups my face in his hand. He turns and walks out of the room.

"Your Highness." He turns around and I shuffle my feet, "May I go see my brother?"

"Of course Runella."

I exit the library and look around. I aimlessly wander around the castle. I finally run into Elsie.

"Elsie could you take me to the dungeon? I wish to see my brother." Elsie nods and leads me through the castle. She stops at a small wooden door and opens it for me.

"He'll be right down that way Ms.Smith."
I walk down the stairwell until it's cool and dark. I see a guard and walk over to him and he stands up.

"What is your business here?" He does not look amused.

"I'm here to see my brother, he is in the dungeon."

"And why should I let you in?"

"I'm the king's fiancé and he told me that I can see my brother." I'm starting to realize how ridiculous this sounds.

"Yeah right. I don't know how you got in here but you may join your brother in the dungeon." He gets up and grabs my arm and leads me into the dungeon.

Keegan sees me and is in shock.

"Rune? What on earth are you doing here?" Keegan has a look of disbelief on his face. The guard opens his door and throws me in.

"Hey! How are you?" I hug Keegan and he hesitantly returns the hug.

"What are you doing here? And why are you dressed so fancy?"

"It's a long story but basically I got caught trying to break you out of here and now I'm engaged to the king and I might be catching feelings for him and I'm really really confused and" I'm cut off by Keegan laughing.

"Ok ok, what's the real story, cause there's no way in hell that my sister would ever agree to marry someone. Don't you remember what you did to little Tommy Tressets when he told you he liked you?" I laugh at the memory. Tommy never talked to me after that day.

"That's the truth K. It was that or die with you. And we both know mom would not take care of herself or Ozzy and Ophelia. She needs us. If marrying the king is the only way to make sure that her and our sisters are safe then so be it."

Keegan looks at me with a look that I cant discern in his eyes. Tears well in his eyes and he hugs me.

"I'm proud of you Roo. You've really grown up." He smiles at me.

A guard comes down and looks at us.

"It's lights out." He blows out the candle and we are in the dark.

"Hey Keegan?"

"Yeah?"

"Happy birthday."