Princess Avalon of Honey Falls (currently incomplete)

Semi-Reunited & Half-Apologies

Back in the palace, myself, Atlas, Blair, mother, father, and Waterlily all sit in front of the fireplace in the gathering room.

None of us are speaking. We just sit in front of the fireplace in silence. The logs of the fire crackle, smolder, and slowly burn down to ash are reflected in our glazed eyes. 

My elbow is bandaged and my wedges that had been flung from my feet are lost somewhere in the dark forestry. 

Atlas sits next to me, his right shoulder brushing up against my left arm. It's a friendly touch, but there's no point in acting as just friends with the mother-who-knows–all, sitting not even three feet away from us. 

I gradually slide my hand into his and hear his sigh of relief at the same second his shoulders release the tension I was unaware he was holding inside.

Blair catches this gesture of tenderness and flicks her gaze up from mine and Atlases adjoined hands, to my face, and I can see both remorse and disbelief in her eyes. She looks away first, watching the flames lick the surface of the burning logs, her hand resting on fathers back next to mother, who strokes the hair of her sleeping husband. 

I wish I could be inside Blair's brain. I want to know what she's thinking of right now. Me? Atlas? Me and Atlas? Phillip? Father? Herself? I might never know.

Waterlily sits on a pile of stray books that I can only make out some of the titles of in the firelit room, Hallucinations, and something by Dorian Gray. 

Her wings twitch every few seconds but other than that, she's completely still. Eventually, she flicks her gaze to me and I mouth, Still plotting for the plan? I have to repeat it a few times until she finally nods yes.

I breathe a sigh of relief wth the hopes that our plan of thievery is still on.

Without thinking, I lean into Atlas. He stiffens slightly but instantly relaxes when he realizes its just me.

"Are you okay?" he asks. "Yes," I reply. His gaze is uncertain, and I squeeze his hand lightly in reassurance. 

The sound of father stirring in his sleep distracts me from Atlas. I turn my head away from his and watch as mother and Blair gently push against fathers chest, easing him back to the floor where he has attmepted to sit up.

"You need rest, Corbin," mother tells him, rubbing his shoulder.

He waves her off, sitting up again, wincing, "I don't need rest. I need to get up. I haven't been here in years."

"Yes, because you choose to run away." she reminds him.

"Whatever, I need to find my crown."

"It is safely tucked away in its case. We can get it later."

He is resistant, "No. Now. I insist."

She pleads with him to lie back down but its no use, as he pushes past her and Blair, making his way away from the fireplace, but stops when he sees me.

"Avalon?" the disbelief is clear on his face.

"Father." I return.

Blair scoffs, "I'm here too. Remember me? Your other daughter? Your oldest daughter?"

He scolds her, "Be quiet. I am talking to your sister."

I hide the smug look that tempts to cover my face. I am the center of attention. I have never felt more cynosure than the way I do right now.

His gaze moves to my left, "Who is this?"

Atlas speaks for himself, "My name is Atlas."

Father's reply is sharp, "I wasn't addressing you."