The Sovereign's Sacrifice ☆ EDITING ☆

Chapter Fifteen: Ivan

The world twisted around us as it jumped to the next day. My present self looked at the present Eliana and I could see the sting of hurt in her expression.

I'd never meant to say those things to her. I was just a frustrated kid. I definitely hadn't meant to forget her birthday either, I had already picked out a small gift long before I was taken from the academy.

A knock came from her door, pulling the attention of our future selves back to the memory.

"Eliana Fairbain," a deep voice spoke. Painfully she pushed herself up from the ground. She unlocked the door and opened it.

"Yes," she spoke.

"Ma'am I need you to come with me, the king requests your presence," the guard at my door spoke.

"May I have a moment?" She asked. The guard nodded.

She closed the door and went to change. She removed her loose top and found bruises littering her stomach and chest. She ignored the pain and slid on her new black leather armored top and changed into then matching pants.

The thick fabric pressed against her bruises bust she stifled the pain. She brushed her hair and pulled it back. She slid on her boots and gloves and made her way outside.

The guard escorted her through the village, into the palace, and up to the throne room. The entire time she was filled with dread. She hadn't wanted to see Ivan, the pain was still too new.

"Your Majesty," she bowed upon entering the throne room.

"Come child, though I guess you aren't a child anymore," he spoke. "I hear you took down one of the dark lord's men on your own while you were unarmed."

"I did no more than anyone else would have done, Sire," she spoke softly, refusing to raise her head to face my father, still bent on one knee.

My father chuckled. "Child, please stand. That is not true and you know it. You possess a the same power, strength, and fire as your parents. Their loss was a great loss to this kingdom. However, should you choose to accept the position, I would like to appoint you as one of our specialty warriors. You would need to continue training, but you would also be sent on missions that require a certain level of finesse and strategy."

"That would be an honor Sire," she smiled, feeling one of the first connections to her family since their passing.

The squire handed her a list of supplies, and a pile of gold to get the things she needed. She bowed respectfully. "Thank you," she spoke, placing them in her pocket. Then she turned and stepped out of the throne room.

When she entered the hall, I stood there waiting for her. Before she could leave I grabbed her arm and pulled her into an alcove with me. Her body pressed against mine and she let out a soft whimper of pain.

"Are you hurt?" I asked her worriedly. The woman had told me about how Ellie had taken a few punches during the fight.

She ignored my question. "Do you need anything Your Highness? If not, I have a few things to do by order of the king," she spoke back blankly, not an ounce of emotion or connection.

"Ellie-" I started but she interrupted.

"Your Highness, I believe it is best I go. After all, now I have someone placing expectations upon me. I have the chance to become someone important, I wouldn't want to mess that up," she spoke back with pain in her voice, pulling her arm from my grasp.

"Ellie, I didn't mean-" I spoke sadly.

"What else could your words have meant, Ivan?" she spoke back. And she was right. There wasn't any other meaning those words could have held.

As she walked away, the world twisted and turned and we were brought back to the real world.