The House of Nobility

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Leanna ran straight into Ruadan and myself. I already felt so much better being in Leanna's presence. Almost like her and Rudan balanced me. Is that possible? Can people actually bring about balance?

"Ali!" Leanna breathed in relief.

She embraced me like we hadn't seen each other in months-- when in reality we just hadn't seen one another in like an hour.

"How were The Elders? Did they scare you? What'd they say?" As she spoke, she studied me, her eyes trailing down, straight down to where me and Ruadan's hands were still entwined. Immediately Ruadan let go and stepped as far away as he could from me. My heart sank again.

Leanna eyed him suspiciously. "The Elders were fine. They think I'm their Princess though! How ridiculous is that!! I agreed to start training," I said sarcastically, "but in reality I just wanted to get out of there."

Leanna tore her eyes from Ruadan, what was with everyone having these weird eye conversations around me?

"Wait, they actually told you that you're the Princess? Oh thank the gods! I thought I was going to have to break that news to you. So did they tell you about Helena too?" The hallway got cold again as that weird name was spoken. Ruadan looked directly at the ground, no longer wanting to be a part of this conversation, and yet he wasn't leaving either.

"Whose Helena?" I said with a weird chill running down my spine? Fully aware of where Ruadan was by me.

"I thought you just said they told you that you are the Princess!" Leanna said with a stomp of her foot. "Obviously they told you about Helena," there was that chill again that engulfed the hall.

"Uh, no, who is she?" I sighed.

"Ruadan," Leanna turned towards him, "why didn't The Elders tell her about Helena?" Ruadan grimaced at the question.

"Well... uh... see, they probably would've but uh... well... I asked to take Altheia to her room, she seemed overwhelmed by everything that was going on." Ruadan wouldn't look at us. Was he embarrassed by me? I mean obviously I messed up there. He knew I messed up, that's why he asked us to leave. Why do I care so much what Ruadan thinks of me. God I'm pathetic... But I also wish he'd move closer to me... it'd be nice to feel that heat between us again, it's almost like I became addicted to the electric heat that formed whenever we were close together. Can he feel it too?

Leanna stomped her feet a couple times, her blonde hair swinging behind her, she grumbled to herself "I don't wanna do this."

"Do what?" I asked sheepishly

"Look, I was supposed to take Altheia to her room, did you want to take her, instead Leanna? Then you two can talk." Ruadan said this hopefully, why did he want to get away from me so badly? I smelled myself, wondering if I smelled bad... I didn't think I did. He must hate me.

"Yea, I guess I can do that," Leanna sighed, "it'll give us time to talk about Helena." The cold air swarmed around us, echoing that name. "Come on Ali, it's this way."

Leanna took me to the right of the sanctuary and down another long hallway, what was with Brion and trees? There were trees everywhere, still encircling the walls that surrounded us as we walked to a nicer part of what I assumed was a castle. The whole time I watched Leanna open and close her mouth. Waiting for her to speak. Finally, after the fifth time she stopped where she was and opened/closed her mouth I couldn't take it.

"What?" I demanded coming to a stop at the bottom of a circling staircase.

Leanna was taken aback by this sudden outburst. She took a deep breath.