Stories told under the Stars

Short Story #6

"I can't sleep."

Dorian Forebane pushed himself up from the bench and found Ocea standing at the doorway.

He remembered the first time he ever saw her. She was the most beautiful woman his eyes had ever laid upon. She had the Eider blue eyes and soft, milky skin. But she carried a look of innocence and clarity like he had never seen before from the Eider House.

"Would you mind walking with me in the gardens?" She asked as she fidgeted with her hands. She had her night robe tied around her and her black hair down. It looked frazzled, as if she kept rolling in her bed, trying hard to go to sleep.

Dorian rubbed a hand on his face and nodded at her. She beamed at him, and he felt his stomach fill with butterflies. He would jump off a ship if she asked him just to see her smile.

The two walked the gardens of Mosrarth, the Elemental school located in the kingdom of Xorus. The kings and queens of the kingdoms sent their children to Mosrarth to help them train and wield their elemental powers.

He was grateful to the gods that he and Ocea were sent here simultaneously.

"What's going on in your mind?" He asked as they walked next to each other.

"Do you ever wonder what our purpose is here?" Ocea asked as she let her hands touch the flowers of the garden.

"Hm, well, I don't have to wonder. My place is to take the throne once my father bids me to," Dorian answered.

"Of course, you are to continue the Forebane lineage," Ocea giggled. "That must be exciting. Having the privilege to know what your future is going to be. You'll have to marry someone someday, have children, and grow old with the person you love."

She had told him about her life. Her mother worked at a brothel when she gave birth to Ocea. Her father, Prince Kinjo, didn't want anything to do with her. Until the day she summoned her powers when she saw her thirteenth summer. They took the child from her mother and sent her to Mosrarth, where she resided for the past five years.

"What about you?" He asked.

"I would like to have children one day, as well. Maybe we can have all the land I can ever ask for with a young farmer."

"A farmer?" Dorian scoffed.

"Of course, who else will I marry? A prince? My father would forbid it," Ocea frowned. "A bastard child must never marry into royalty."

"He's wrong, you know. You'll end up marrying a prince," Dorian said.

"Why do you say that?" Ocea tilted her head to the side.

"You are far too beautiful to be married to a farmer, and you have the Eider powers," Dorian blushed as she smiled at him.

"Always so kind to me, Prince Dorian," she giggled. "Come, watch this," Ocea smiled as she jogged to the fountain. He followed after her and leaned to look at the water.

Ocea raised her hand and moved it into a pushing motion. Slowly, he watched as the fountain's water began to crash into waves. He chuckled at her show of power. She was learning quickly.

"I learned that today with Master Hikari. She said it was one of the first moves she learned when she obtained her powers. Can you imagine when I get stronger? How much power a single push can do?"

"I can't wait to see it, Ocea," he smiled at her. She looked up at him and returned his smile.

Dorian walked down the corridor of the castle of Aedon Castle. It was close to dawn, the time he waited every day to reach.

"Dorian," his mother, Queen Marilena, called out.

He stopped and looked over his shoulder, "Yes, mother?"

"Why are you awake so early," she pulled her robe tighter around herself. "Shouldn't you be sleeping before you have to head out with the king?"

Dorian rolled his eyes and smirked, "I'm sure the king is still asleep, Mother. We probably won't leave until the afternoon. Besides, I want to work with my magic before heading out."

"Don't overwork yourself, Dorian," his mother frowned.

"I won't," he shrugged before continuing his walk, feeling his mother's eyes on him till he turned the corner. Once he reached his study, Dorian closed the door and leaned back on the door. He would see the sun begin to rise from the far wall window. When he returned from Mosrarth, he told his mother he wanted this specific study. She never questioned him why, nor will she. He was to be the future king. No one dared to question the king. She would probably gossip it to her sisters and ladies if she knew why.

He was to be married in two weeks. His father had chosen a beautiful young lady from one of the dukes in his court. No doubt she'll fulfill her role as the future queen of Erythro.

Dorian walked towards the window and waited till the sun went above the horizon.

She was waiting for him. Just like she always did when they used to go to school.

Last he had heard about her, she was sent across the ocean to Vradian to wed one of the Thunder princes of House Vasilyv. She used to write him when he returned from Mosrarth. Then she suddenly just stopped.

Now, he is to be married while she has been married off to a prince. Just like he told her, she would be. He sometimes felt the urge to write to her, but for what? Just to ease his consciousness to know that she's happy. He would rather live oblivious than interrupt her happiness across the ocean.

Prince Dorian still dreamed about the Eider girl who lived in his dreams. About the nights, they would walk in the garden together.

I hope one day we'll see each other again, Dorian.

A hope that turned into a dream and into an unobtainable wish.

"Good morning, Ocea."

"Goodnight, Dorian." The waves echoed to him