Once upon a broken princess

Chapter 5

The night was dark and cold, enough for Bellona to see her own white breath as she stepped out of the carriage. Jacks was hosting a party at the Hollow again.
He did that quite often. It started as a memorial to his parents at first. They used to host festivities like these when he was little and after they died, it all went black.
It was almost as if the Magnificent North lost it's charm after the Hollow closed. When he was sixteen, Jacks finally decided to re-open it.
And after a while, he settled there. He would forever be greatful to the Merrywooods for taking him in, he just felt like he needed to become more independent and to really focus on the inn.
A year later, it was now a huge part of his life.
Bellona had known him for a lot of years. Ever since Castor and Lyric became friends.
You could say there was always a certain chemistry between them. From stolen kisses at fifteen to having to stop themselves from imagining a future together.

She had asked Aurora to join her and Castor but she declined, saying she had to study history. As far as Bellona was concerned their history tutoring lessons were nearly a week away. She often wondered if she on purpose avoided her whenever she was around Jacks. That thought seemed bizarre though, her sister's heart clearly belonged to no one but Lyric.

The place was majestic as always. So full of magic, yet magic was known not to work in it. A piece of beauty inside the depths of the dull and dark Merrywoood forest. Flowers grew only close to it and the only the three branches above it had colourful leaves.
 
They left their coats on two of the impressive looking hangers. Each hook shaped as an animal head. It was quite realistic, enough to give someone the impression that the animals could talk.

"Aurora decided not to grace us with her presence?" Lyric asked after patting Castor on the back.

"She said her studies were keeping her rather busy"Bellona grabbed a glass of pumpkin juice from one of the big wooden tables.

"She never studies" he rolled his eyes. "Anyway, can you please give her this?" He pulled out a small red envelope from his pocket. "Please" his face turned to that puppy expression he used to do.

"Fine" she let out a soft sigh. "But know this can't keep going for too long" she took the envelope.

"You're far too kind" Lyric managed to say with a grin before his sister appeared.

"Being insufferable again, brother?" Lala teased, with a half-finished mini tart in hand. Her chestnut hair decorated with golden ribbons.
Castor's cheeks flashed as they shared a smile.

"Would you expect anything less of me?" He shrugged.

"Not really, no" she chuckled.

Bellona took a sip of the pumpkin juice as she watched Jacks talk with a group of people she didn't recognize. He had a lot of friends, more than could count on her fingers. Courtiers, peasants and occasionally guests.

"You better watch over her, Cas. She's got it hard" Lyric hinted.

"Mind your own troubled affair, Merrywoood"

"At least Bellona is not betrothed" Castor reminded him.

"Very fair" agreed Lyric.

"Can I steal you away for some gossip?"

"Please do" Bellona grabbed her friend's hand.

*
"Again, my favourite host showed he can throw the best parties" Bellona smiled as she sat down on the fluffy pink bed that existed in her room at the hollow, happy yet tired from all the dancing. The music that night had been exceptionally wonderful, played by a group of musicians from the Meridian empire that happened to stay at the inn.