Artemis and Caspian: The Spy

Chapter Twelve

Prince Allister shifted his feet uncomfortably under his unbelievably scratchy royal red robe. Lady Elena sensed his discomfort and looked up at him with eyes that sparkled with a fear of her own but also reflected a renewed, hopeful excitement that seemed to put the young Prince at ease.

"Ready?" she asked sweetly.

"No. Are you?" he asked sheepishly, laughing more awkwardly than he should have. The Lady responded with a nervous giggle which still reminded Allister of the sweet tingling of silver bells during the winter and it made him smile.

"No."

The Prince stiffened, rigidly aligning his spine to come off as royal and dignified, whatever the hell that was supposed to look like. Lady Elena did the same in a more graceful manner and quietly observed with hidden glee how the young man's puffed out chest made him appear like a wild turkey. He had a fine form but little knowledge of how to carry it. They both sat in a few moments of silence, listening to a Meridian shaman that sounded ten million years old ramble on about their right to rule under the will of the gods through a slit in the thick red curtains that hid them from the rest of court. Allister observed his Lady knit her brows together ever so slightly under the small light offered from a part in the curtains that lit the bridge of her nose in a room that was otherwise shrouded in shadow. The Lady knew the heavy circumstances they were under didn't encourage outward affection but couldn't hold the urge back any longer to express herself. She felt like she didn't know him at all. In between comforting shoulder rubs and socially dictated hand holding, their relationship was a distanced one, shrouded in an evergoing veil of awkward stillness. It was now or never. She took a deep breath.

"Allister?" she asked tentatively, keeping her gaze focused on the attentive crowd.

"Mmm?" he answered, distracted as well.

"I have to ask. If we didn't bear the things we do, the responsibilities we have. If I was just a sweet face in a crowd of thousands-" she cut herself off and shook her head, changing her mind. She was being insensitive. "My apologies, my Prince that was childish of me to consider." Allister shook his head and looked down at her expectantly as his own heart rate skittered with nerves for once not related to the events about to unfold in the castle throne room.

"No, please go on," he encouraged gently, placing a hand over hers.

"Would you choose me?" she asked honestly, finally relenting and returning, what she hoped would be, a sincere gaze from her betrothed. As the young man opened his mouth to respond, fanfare blared and the two were pushed out by a pair of rough hands. Prince Allister staggered out first but regained his composure quickly, generously offering his hand once again to Lady Elena who strode out confidently behind him, relieved their conversation had been cut short. She took it gracefully and addressed her rather unadoring public mostly made up of the daughters of courtiers who eyed her jealously as she strode by on the handsome Prince's arm. Her rigid life training as a future queen kicked in and she returned their catty stares with a regal gaze that asserted her well deserved place at the Prince's side. Allister nodded to courtiers as well who eyed him curiously for a different reason entirely, each trying already to assess his capability and strength, keen on weaseling their way into positions of power.

The two slowly made their way to the end of a long carpet where the old shaman stood with his arms outstretched. Mechanically, Allister turned to Lady Elena and delicately grabbed her hands. Lady Elena withheld a sigh and accepted them, this was the way it had to be done, this is what she lived her life for. This moment. This numb, calculated moment, devoid of any true human emotion. In its place stood a wooden sense of duty to a land she couldn't even call home. For a second Lady Elena wondered if this was the reason she was born, to practice and perfect this moment. The shaman said something about vows and an eternity spent together which was drowned out by the ringing in the young Lady's ears. She took a shaky breath, regurgitated memorized lines back at him with practiced ease and tried to find any emotion written on Allister's face who had his eyes locked on the old shaman.