Ruthless Beauty

Chapter 3: Iris

Iris yawned as she felt puffy blankets surround her. This place was huge and it made Iris feel small. Her room was the same size as the estate, her sheets/ blankets were white and gold, there were too many pillows, a gold closet stood by a wall, a large mirror stood behind a desk with varies bottles of scented water, and there was a door to the bathroom which was almost as big as the bed chamber. Iris sat up in bed and actually hated the long, silk night gown Thalia let her borrow. Usually Iris slept in one of Theorin's old shirts, the silk felt weird and she missed the cotton. Iris threw the covers off and walked to the desk. She grabbed the scissors and cut the night gown to her mid thigh. Her legs were free to move and she didn't feel like she was being suffocated. Iris' stomach growled as she made her way to the closet where only dresses hung. She had two pairs of pants and four shirts that were folded on the bottom of the closet. Iris reluctantly grabbed a dark blue dress and walked to the bathroom where a maid poured hot water into a copper bath. The maid bowed her head then quietly walked through a trap door in the wall. Iris pulled the night gown over her head and slipped into the warm water. The bath was larger than the one back home, Iris dipped her head under the water. Iris held her breath and tried clearing her head. She could only dream of Soren, the way he looked in his clothes, the fabric stretching over his lean muscles, and his eyes. Oh his eyes, they were a dark blue that she realized could get her into trouble. Iris sat up out of the water, catching her breath. "I need to stay away from him." Iris breathed to herself, not knowing how to deal with these unfamiliar emotions that Soren had started inside her. She climbed out of the rose scented water and grabbed the towel the maid had set near the bath, wrapping it around herself. She secured the towel and walked into her bedroom to see Thalia sitting on her bed. "Is there anything you need, your highness?"

"Please, call me Thalia. My mother thought it was wise to call the Princes of Echendore to visit for a few days. In all reality they're only here because their father is speaking with mine." She twisted her fingers then smoothed the skirt of her pale pink dress. "They always ask me for my hand."

"Yes, I can see why that is troubling." Iris teased and Thalia chuckled, smiling at the girl who plagued her brother's mind. Thalia knew that Iris would be a perfect match for Soren, now if only they'd see it.

"They just won't take no for an answer. And as much as I want someone else to ask me for my hand, I don't see that happening." Thalia's smile faded as Iris sat next to the princess. "Can you help keep them away from me?"

"I would be honored, Thalia." Thalia frown lifted as she stood.

"I'll let you get dressed, see you at breakfast." Thalia spun around before walking out of Iris' room. Iris let the towel fall to the ground and stepped into the satin, blue dress. The top was sparkly, the sleeves were long but hung off her shoulders, the satin bottom went to the floor, and had a slit up the left side. She tied the back then walked to the mirror, Iris actually started to like the dresses but she'd never admit it out loud. They weren't practical for her line of work. She took strands of her hair and pinned them out of her face, the rest of her curls hung down her back. Iris took a deep breath than walked out of the bedroom, down the great hall, and into a dining hall. Iris watched silently as the Queen and King talked, looking at each other with a love she couldn't understand. She tilted her head at Jeremiah as he stared at Thalia, Iris knew that Soren and Thalia were not blood related to Jeremiah and the King or Queen. Trishelle had told her some of the story as they traveled to StoneHaven. The story of how they came to live here at the castle wasn't very clear considering many people had different versions to it. She also had a huntch that Thalia and Jeremiah loved each other but didn't do anything about it.

"You can see it, too." Soren's deep voice clouded Iris' mind. He was so close she could feel his body heat, she nodded too afraid of her own voice "I can't convince them how the other feels, it hurts me to see them hurt."

"You can't force feelings on people, or force them to express their feelings. Love works in mysterious ways, if it was meant to be then it will happen." Iris whispered and she could feel Soren's deep chuckle rumble through his chest.

"True, but my way is faster." He whispered in her ear, making a shiver race down her spin.

"Soren, can you help the Princes of Echendore to their rooms?" The Queen asked as he walked towards her. Iris shook her head as she came to sit next to Thalia. All her training wasn't going to be enough to deal with Soren, she actually felt some sort of attraction to him. That scared her more than any King threatening her life.

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"The Princes sure do like you." Iris chuckled to Thalia as they hid in the library.

"You have no idea, the most relentless is Arthur. You haven't met him yet." Thalia grabbed a book from the library wall and sat on the dark green sofa. Iris sat next to her and watched as the fire crackled. "Soren likes you." Iris turned her attention to the princess who hadn't looked up from her book.

"What?" Iris breathed out, not knowing what to say or do.

"Soren doesn't usually like new comers but he likes you." Thalia smiled still looking down at her book.

"That's absurd, Soren knows nothing about me. He can not make that judgement if no evidence is presented to sway anyone's feelings." Iris rambled as Thalia looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Iris felt awkward talking about Soren to someone who was like his sister.

"You sound like the tutor we had as children. Soren likes you, that doesn't have to do with 'evidence', such as likes and dislikes. He likes your confidence, your personality, he likes the fire he sees in your eyes. You're different than any woman my mother parades around him. That's why he likes you," Thalia chuckled and Iris turned to the fire to hide the blush that creeped into her cheeks.

"I still don't see how you can determine that he likes me." Iris shrugged and Thalia placed a hand on her shoulder. Iris looked at the princess who smiled at her.

"Because I know Soren better than anyone. And the way he looks at you... just trust me, he likes you."