Royalty

Six

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I could here my knock echo within the castle. My heart was beating heavily in my chest, my knees felt weak. Maybe they didn't hear it. I could still turn around. There may not even be anyone here.

Just as I was about to retrace my steps back down the stairs, a hollow click sounded from the other side of the large oak doors. A lock. Someone had unlocked the door.

My breathing became shallow as I walked slowly back to the doors. I silently willed them to stay closed but fate was not kind to me. They swung open with a creak, revealing a man wearing a sharp looking suit. A butler.

He was an older gentleman with greying hair and an aged face. His eyes looked empty, as if they no longer held any life. I didn't blame him; being a butler seemed hardly a pleasing job.

"Good evening your majesty." he spoke in a croaky voice, "Won't you please come inside." he said opening the door wider to allow me entrance.

I hesitated, giving him a wary look. He simply stared back with those lifeless eyes.

Majesty. He had said 'your majesty'.

"How do you know who I am?" I asked suspiciously, slowly walking through the threshold.

"We have been anxiously waiting your arrival your majesty. It's nice to finally see you." he croaked, completely ignoring my question.

Yes he certainly looks pleased. I thought to myself as he somberly led me into the fortress.

It was then that I finally took in my surroundings. I struggled to contain a gasp as I stared in awe at the decor. I was standing in what I assumed was the main entrance. Two large staircases curved around to meet at the top, leading to the next level. The stone walls were ornately carved with images of moons, suns and stars. They seemed to shine in the light cast by the torches lining the wall, held in iron brackets.

Exquisite-looking furniture was placed here and there around a massive fireplace which already had a crackling fire burning.

The butler now lead me up one of the staircases. My steps softened by the scarlet carpet.

"The master would like to speak with you before you get changed for the evenings festivities." He informed me.

"Hold on. Master? What festivities? Why do I need to change? What is this place?" I questioned rapidly.

Once again he ignored me, just continued to climb up the steps. He was starting to get on my nerves. I should have just turned around and left but my curiosity got the better of me, as it always does.

We turned left down a corridor with doors lining either side. At the far end of the hall were a set of closed double doors. It was toward this that the grumpy butler lead me.

He knocked twice on the doors then waited patiently until a deep voice told us to enter. Opening the doors with a flourish he pushed me inside and closed them quickly behind me before I could protest.

I moved backwards until my back hit the closed doors. I glanced around. I was standing in what looked like an office; the walls were made entirely of shelves, carrying all sorts of items ranging from books to jars of unidentifiable substances. A large oak desk sat in the middle of the room, it's high back chair empty. I quickly found its owner.

"Rowan I presume." said a deep voice to my right.

I looked around to see a very handsome man leaning against a shelf full of large leather bound books. He was tall with tan skin and a muscular build. His green eyes watched me with an air of curiosity. He was really very handsome and couldn't be more than two years older than myself.