The Hidden Princess

Chapter Thirteen

"- focusing on control."

Gareth's grip on Liora's arm loosened and then fell away entirely, leaving her standing alone in the quiet hallway. He stood before her, arms crossed over his broad chest, and his eyes darted between Liora and Rowen, a flicker of frustration in his gaze. The silence stretched thin, and Liora could almost see the gears turning in her brother's head as he debated who deserved the brunt of his inevitable lecture. His presence was heavy, commanding, and the tension between the three of them crackled in the air.

"Rowen," Gareth said sharply, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade.

The moment the word left his mouth, Liora moved without thinking. She stepped in front of Rowen, her posture straight and resolute, her chin tilted up. She refused to let Rowen take the blame for something that was entirely her doing.

"No, this isn't about him," Liora stated firmly, her voice laced with defiance. She met Gareth's eyes with an intensity that even surprised herself. Her brother, towering over her as usual, locked his gaze on hers, and for a split second, the authoritative mask he wore faltered. She could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes-surprise that she was standing up to him, that she was willing to fight for this.

Gareth uncrossed his arms and let them fall to his sides, his expression hardening once more. "Then tell me what this was about. Why were you in father's war room? You know we're not allowed in there, Liora." His voice softened just slightly, but the weight of his disapproval remained.

Liora took a deep breath. "I wanted to help. I need to help."

She saw the flicker of surprise again, this time more pronounced. Gareth's brow furrowed as he searched her face for answers. "Liora, why?" he asked, his tone more puzzled than reprimanding. "Why would you risk that? You know how father is. You know how dangerous this all is."

Liora hesitated, but only for a moment. The truth sat heavy on her tongue, and she knew there was no use in hiding it anymore-not from Gareth. "I have this power, Gareth," she began, her voice steady but urgent. "I can't just sit around and wait for something terrible to happen. If I gain control of it, if I understand how to use it, then maybe-maybe I can stop a war before it even begins."

As she spoke, she looked down at her hands. Her gloves were long gone, discarded days ago. She had always hated wearing them, always hated hiding what made her different. Now, without them, her hands felt exposed, vulnerable, but also strong. There was power there, raw and untamed, but it was hers. She had to believe she could wield it for something good.

Gareth stared at her, disbelief coloring his features. "Liora," he began slowly, shaking his head, "do you even hear yourself? You're only 18, and you think you can stop a war? Do you have any idea what you're saying?"

His tone was incredulous, as if he couldn't fathom the idea of his younger sister even entertaining the notion of fighting in something so vast, so catastrophic. Liora understood his reaction-it was the same one her father had had-but that didn't make it any easier to bear.

"Yes, Gareth, I know how it sounds," she replied, her voice tightening with frustration. "But you're not listening to me. I'm not talking about charging into battle with a sword in my hand. I'm talking about helping-helping in a way that only I can. If I can learn more about my powers, if I can control them, then maybe I can prevent the worst from happening."

She turned to the window beside them, her eyes drifting to the village beyond the castle walls. From here, she could see the tiny figures of people moving about their daily lives, completely unaware of the battles being fought within the castle, the fractures within their royal family. They were walking around, living their lives, while the threat of war loomed ever closer. Liora felt the weight of responsibility settle on her chest.

"Look at them, Gareth," she whispered, nodding toward the distant villagers. "They don't know what's coming. They don't know what we're up against. If there's even a chance that I can help, how can I just sit here and do nothing?"

For a moment, Gareth didn't respond. He stood beside her, following her gaze to the village, the tension between them lingering in the air. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, less certain. "Liora... you're my little sister. I don't want to see you get hurt. I don't want to lose you."

His words hung in the air, heavy with emotion, and Liora felt her heart tighten. She turned to face him, her resolve unwavering. "I know you're scared for me," she said softly. "But I'm scared too. And I can't just sit by and watch everything we love fall apart."

Gareth's eyes softened for a brief moment, and then he sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "This is dangerous, Liora. You don't know what you're getting into."

"I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But I have to try."

"This goes against everything I believe, but I'll help you." Gareth's voice came out slow, each word weighed down by the gravity of what he was committing to. It was a decision he knew could have consequences, a choice that could shake the foundations of their family. Yet, as he looked at Liora, he felt a flicker of resolve begin to ignite within him. He hoped he wouldn't regret this later.

"You will?" Liora asked, her eyes widening in disbelief. The surprise in her voice was unmistakable. She had never expected her brother-ever the responsible one, the dutiful prince-to break the rules that had governed their lives for so long. Gareth had always been the one to follow their father's orders, to toe the line of loyalty and responsibility. But here he was, standing on the precipice of rebellion for her sake.

The moment stretched between them, an unspoken tension filling the air as Gareth weighed the implications of his words. He looked at her, searching for any signs of the recklessness that often accompanied youthful ambition. Yet all he saw was determination and hope shining brightly in her eyes. It made his heart swell with pride but also twist with concern.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Gareth nodded his head, the small smile that began to form on his lips was both tentative and genuine. "Alright, Liora. If you're serious about this, I'll help you train. We'll figure out how to harness your powers together."

Liora's breath hitched in her throat, a mixture of joy and disbelief flooding through her. "Really? You mean it?" Her voice trembled with excitement, and she couldn't help but step closer, as if to bridge the gap of uncertainty that lay between them.

Gareth chuckled softly, shaking his head as if trying to clear the absurdity of the situation from his mind. "Yes, really. Just promise me you'll be careful. This isn't a game, Liora. We're treading on dangerous ground, and I don't want to see you hurt."

She nodded vigorously, a bright smile breaking across her face. "I promise! I'll be careful. I just... I can't let this kingdom fall into chaos. We can't let Father face this alone. We need to be prepared."

The reality of their situation settled back in, and Gareth's smile faded slightly as he considered the weight of her words. "Then we need to come up with a plan. Training in secret will require strategy-especially if we want to keep this from Father. We can't afford to get caught."

Liora's heart raced at the prospect of training, of preparing herself for the challenges ahead. "I'll do whatever it takes," she declared, her resolve hardening like steel. "Just tell me what to do."

Gareth regarded her, pride and protectiveness swirling within him. "First, we need a place where we can train without being disturbed. The gardens are off-limits, but the old training grounds on the outskirts of the castle might work. It's been abandoned for years, so no one will go there. We can start there after dusk when everyone is preoccupied with dinner."

Liora nodded eagerly, already envisioning the possibilities. "That sounds perfect! I can't wait to start!"

"Hold on," Gareth cautioned, raising a hand to temper her enthusiasm. "We need to approach this methodically. We'll start with basic exercises-focusing on control. Your powers may be formidable, but if you can't manage them, they could turn against you."

Liora's excitement dimmed slightly, the reality of Gareth's words sinking in. "I understand," she said, her voice steadying. "I'll focus. I promise."

"Good," Gareth replied, a hint of warmth returning to his tone. "And while we're at it, let's keep this between us for now. Rowen you'll help us maintain discretion. We can't afford any slip-ups." Rowen nods his head, Liora could tell he was going to have trouble with this, but he also knew how much it meant to her.