~.✧ Austora ✧.~ [COMPLETE]

~.✧ nineteen ✧.~

The next five days were a blur of anxiety and sleep. Luckily, I didn't have another melt down, but I was still struggling to smile and keep the crippling fear at bay.

Gentry convinced me to go to family meals so that I might be able to make amends with one of my family members so that I had someone when she was working and Ezalie wasn't visiting. And while I knew this was logical and probably the most morally correct option, I was still struggling to talk to my parents and brother. While I wasn't quite so angry, I was still hurt by everything that had happened and I needed time to work through it on my own before speaking to any of them.

As the four of us went about our daily tasks, somberness followed behind us like shadows. We rarely spoke to each other and the castle was the quietest it had been in what felt like years. As I roamed the halls, coming back from the library but not wanting to head to my room quite yet, my footsteps echoed and reverberated back at me. Though flames danced in the scones on the walls, lighting the halls before me, the castle was left with an eerie darkness caused by none other than its occupants trembling emotions. I found myself wishing more and more to be outside despite how often I was outside anyway, running away from the heavy gloom that haunted the corridors.

I held a book in hand as I rounded the castle on the fifth evening after the caravan's departure, though I couldn't quite remember what most of the book was about due to how preoccupied my mind was every time I forced myself to read it.

I glanced outside as I passed the doors that led to the back courtyard, pausing. The clouds that had lingered the past few days had finally disappeared and the beautiful orange and pink sunset sat on the horizon just over the castle wall. I decided to step out to admire the spectacle, closing my eyes and breathing the warm air in deep for a very brief moment of peace. This feeling of calm was so rare these days; I wouldn't allow myself to waste it.

But the moment was soon over as I heard soft footsteps approaching. I snapped my eyes open and found a form walking toward me from one of the outbuildings. I tensed, not sure if I could talk to someone right now. But the closer they got, the more familiar they became.

"Gestin," I said before I realized it was coming out of my mouth.

He stopped several yards away, bowing rather shakily with a fist to his chest. "Your Highness."

I nodded at him as he stood, hugging my book to my chest. We stood in quietness for a moment before I forced myself to ask, "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, Highness. Though it has been a rocky recovery, the healers have done miracles on me..." He hesitated a moment, rubbing his hands together before taking a couple steps closer. This brought him farther out of the shadows, showing his features more prominently. "I wanted to personally thank you for inquiring after me with my brother. Your kindness has impacted me far more than you realize."

I was surprised, having nearly forgotten about the small moment I'd shared with Elkit. "You're welcome, sir. Though... I-I feel I should apologize for having not checked on your condition sooner than then."