Court of Snakes: This Desert Cage

Old Friends - The Palace | January of the Third Year

A knock tapped across the door and Parisa shouted, "Go away!"

She lay in her bedroom for hours, wrapped up in sheets and her own discontent, and had cried all the tears she thought possible to cry. Her eyes were dry now, her cheeks prickled with residue and salt, and she did not have the energy to move. She had tired herself out in her antics, and the bed was warm and shielded her from the world.

"It's me." Perseus' voice came through the door, and it opened. Parisa still had her face in her pillow and she did not look up. Perseus sat at the edge of the bed and placed a gentle hand on her back. "Hey, I brought something for you."

When Parisa lifted her head, she saw Perseus there with an enormous bouquet, beautiful beardtongue, bearpoppies, and blazing stars. Parisa took it and breathed in their sweet fragrance, her hands shaking. "Oh, Perseus... they're lovely."

She pulled him into a hug, extending her arm to be sure the flowers were not crushed, and pressed her cheek into his. He smelled like forget-me-nots and of cinnamon, and his shortly cropped hair and beard prickled her skin. Her fingers slid across his shirt and she felt home.

"I hoped that they would cheer you up," he said. "They were all I could afford. I know they're not jewels or dresses or other stuff that princesses—"

Parisa kissed him freely, and her face glowed brighter than the setting sun. "If it's from you, it's perfect."

Perseus smiled and wiped tears from her eyes. "Please don't be sad today... we need to go out and do something fun. What do you want to do?"

"I..." Even though the flowers had certainly made her feel better, her broken heart had not mended. "Perseus, I'm not up for anything."

"Are you sure? We could climb the palace, go and get some fried dough from the—"

"No, thanks... I'd rather just be by myself today."

Perseus nodded and moved to the door, taking the flowers with him. "All right," he conceded. "I'll... get a vase for these."

Parisa flopped onto her bed as he closed the door and released a heavy sigh. She simply lay there and did not want to move. She did not have the energy to move, and she was unsure how long she had actually been there when there was another knock on the door. It opened immediately, without permission, and Esmond stepped in. In his hands were Perseus' flowers in a new vase, and something wrapped in blue paper. "Hey," he said. "Feeling any better?"

"No. I feel sick."

"It's because you're making yourself sick. You're giving up." Esmond set down the flowers on her armoire but remained standing. "You know, when I was married to Elsa, it was arranged. I had no idea that I would fall in love, and she turned out to be my favorite person in the whole world. It may be the same with you and Rune."

"But I hate him," Parisa spat and sat up abruptly. "He makes me feel dirty inside every time he touches me. Dirty. At this point, I never want to see him again."

Esmond paused and set her gift down on her bed. "That boy's stolen your heart, hasn't he?"

"Which boy?"

"Perseus."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Clear as day." Esmond chuckled and gazed at a painting on the wall. "You won't marry Guildenhart."

Parisa was unsure of his meaning. He had said it in a manner that did not suggest that he realized she did not want to. It seemed he thought that it was impossible and would never happen, almost as though he would prevent it from happening.

"What do you mean, Esmond? It's Father's will."

"A revolution is on its way, Parisa. A grand one," he said as he handed her a box of chocolates. "These are from Rune. The wrapped one is from me. Just hang on and keep your chin up. Soon... a revolution. I promise. Soon."