Duty

Chapter 15 Heart to heart

The lake truly was beautiful. Ariane had never seen such vast waters. The city of Tirzé, where she was born, was not near the ocean and Tireze did not offer many lakes or rivers otherwise.

She could not stop staring.

"How do you like the lake?" Vara had walked up to her and now stood next to her.

"It is very beautiful," Ariane said softly, "thank you for inviting me."

"We used to come here every day," Vara said, "me, Eunice and Ethan. Our parents had to drag us home." She smiled, "we got in trouble a lot."

Ariane stared at her. She had ever been in trouble in her life. What would it be like to run around a village? To go places you weren't supposed to? To let go of restrictions?

Ariane shivered. The thought alone was horrifying. She could never do it. It would only disappoint her father and her brother.

Vara sighed when she didn't receive any response. What would have to happen for Ariane to show some emotion?

"My lady," one of the guards had walked up to them and bowed respectfully.

"Yes Octavius?" Vara acknowledged him.

"We should return to the palace, my lady, " Octavius said, "it will be dark soon."

"Very well," Vara said. It wasn't like she had enjoyed the day much. She wondered how long it would take for Ariane to lower her guard and act like a normal human being. "We will return to the palace right away." She hoped lady Euridice had given her message to the king and there wouldn't be a reprimand. He would not be pleased with her, but the palace had suddenly felt so suffocating. She had never defied the king before.

Well, she would deal with that as the situation would arise.

Torcan had walked up to them and offered his arm to Ariane to guide her back to the carriage. When she stumbled on some loose rocks, he caught her gently and helped her up. "Are you alright, Ari?"

She gave a slight nod and grabbed on to his arm more tightly.

Vara watched it with a thoughtful expression. She had noticed before how easy their relation was and had wondered about it. It seemed more than just two people in a strange land that only knew one another. They didn't act like lovers, but there was certainly affection between the two.

She waited until she was alone with Ariane in the carriage and they were well on their way. She glanced out of the window to make sure the man in question was out of hearing. "You seem to get along with your guard very well," Vara started, "he is your brother's manservant, is he not?"

"Yes," Ariane nodded, "he has been for years."

"Yet your brother left him here to watch over you."

"He trusts Torcan to keep me safe," Ariane said softly.