The Hidden Princess

Chapter Twenty

"Stay."

Liora lay in her bed, the silence of her chambers pressing down on her like a suffocating weight. The pain from her injuries was nothing compared to the ache in her chest-the crushing disappointment of having her one hope of proving herself snatched away. Gareth and Elana had left her, their heavy footsteps echoing in her mind long after they were gone. And Rowen stood outside her room, likely staring at the floor in guilt. She wanted to talk to him, to hear his voice, but even the thought of speaking felt like an insurmountable effort.
The sharp, searing pain in her side flared up again, and she winced. She had been too weak to even protest as Gareth made his decree. How could she have let this happen? With trembling hands, she shifted in bed, the soft fabric of her robe slipping off her shoulders. It had been meant to comfort her, to provide some warmth, but it felt suffocating now, too heavy. She pushed it aside, letting it pool on the bed behind her. Beneath the robe, she wore the undershirt of her working outfit, simple and plain, but something about it was wrong.
Her side-it was black.
The undershirt that should have been white, now charred and stained, a dark black spot stretching across her ribs. She frowned, lifting the hem of her shirt with what little strength she had, revealing the true extent of the damage. Her skin, where the energy had struck her, was also blackened, the mark of the magic she had failed to control. It looked as though the energy had seared right through her, branding her with its uncontrollable force. The sight of it sent a wave of nausea through her, and for a moment, her vision blurred.
She had known it was bad when it hit her, but seeing it now-seeing the way her skin had been marred by her own power-it was too much. Her side burned horribly, the pain radiating through her body like fire, but the worst of it was the realization that she had lost control completely. The one thing she had been trying to master had turned on her, and now here she was, broken and weak, her brother convinced she couldn't handle the power she'd been born with.
A tear slid down her cheek as she let the shirt fall back down, hiding the blackened skin from view. But she couldn't hide the truth from herself. This was more than just a failed attempt-it was a reminder of how dangerous she really was. And now, with Gareth ready to lock her away from her own abilities, what was left?
Her voice trembled in her throat, the need to talk to Rowen bubbling up inside her, but she couldn't bring herself to call out. She was too drained, too humiliated. Rowen had warned her, tried to stop her, and yet she had ignored him, driven by her own stubborn need to prove she could handle it. And now, even though he was just outside, she couldn't bear the thought of facing him, of seeing the guilt in his eyes.
Liora slumped back against the pillows, her strength fading as quickly as it had come. The weight of the day's events pressed down on her chest, and all she could do was close her eyes and let the tears fall silently. The blackened mark on her side throbbed, a painful reminder of her failure, and with it, the crushing realization that maybe Gareth was right-maybe she wasn't ready after all.
Liora lay still for what felt like hours, the darkness of her room growing thicker with every minute. The weight of the situation gnawed at her, heavier than any pain in her side. Her breath hitched, and she wiped at the stray tears that still clung to her cheeks. She had always believed she could handle it-that she could master her powers-but now, doubt crept in, like an unwelcome shadow in her mind.
The quiet was too much. Rowen was just outside the door, she could almost feel him there, a presence she usually found comforting. But now, his silence only deepened her isolation. She was tempted to call out to him, to let him in, but something stopped her. Was it pride? Or was it shame that she had failed so spectacularly in front of him, after so many warnings?
A soft knock interrupted her spiraling thoughts, barely a whisper against the heavy door. Liora's heart jumped in her chest. She didn't respond at first, unsure if she wanted to face him. But then the door creaked open, and Rowen stepped inside, his movements slow, as if he expected her to send him away.
"Liora?" His voice was quiet, tentative. "Are you awake?"
She didn't turn to face him, just kept her eyes fixed on the dark canopy of her bed, but her silence was answer enough.
Rowen approached, his footsteps soft on the stone floor. He stopped at the edge of her bed, lingering for a moment before sitting in the chair beside her. His presence was a mixture of comfort and tension, a reminder of both the bond they shared and the chasm that had opened between them. He sighed, the sound heavy with guilt.
"I... I'm sorry," he began, his voice low. "I should have stopped you. I knew it was too dangerous."
Liora clenched her jaw, her heart tightening at his words. She didn't want his apology. She didn't need it. She had made her own choices, and it was her who had failed. Slowly, she turned her head to face him, her green eyes meeting his, shadowed with a mixture of frustration and sadness.
"It wasn't your fault," she said, her voice hoarse. "I did this. I didn't listen to you... or to anyone."
Rowen's gaze flickered to the blackened spot on her side, the evidence of the disaster they had both tried to avoid. His brow furrowed, and Liora saw the guilt etched into every line of his face.
"But I should've tried harder to stop you," Rowen said, his frustration slipping through. "I let you take that risk because... because I didn't want to push you away. I didn't want you to think I didn't believe in you." He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes filled with regret. "But I should have-"
"You were doing your duty," Liora interrupted, cutting through his self-blame. "But I have mine too. I'm not just a princess sitting in a tower waiting to be protected, Rowen. I'm... I'm more than that." Her voice trembled, and she clenched her fists. "I need to be more than that."
Rowen leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he looked at her intently. "You are more than that, Liora. You've always been more. But this... this isn't the way." His voice softened, pleading with her. "You almost-" He stopped, his throat tight, as if the words were too painful to say. "You almost died today. And it wasn't because you weren't strong enough, it's because this power isn't something you can control like the others. Not yet."
Liora flinched at his words, but deep down she knew they were true. She had felt it herself when the energy had surged through her, wild and untamed, burning her from the inside out. She had been reckless, too focused on proving herself, on showing she could be just as capable as Gareth, as anyone else. But now, with the pain in her side and the fear of what could have happened, reality was starting to sink in.
"I know," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I know I'm not ready. But I can't just stop, Rowen. If a war comes... I have to help. I have to be useful."
Rowen's expression softened, his hand reaching out to gently take hers. "You will help. You are useful, Liora. But you don't have to destroy yourself in the process." His thumb brushed over her knuckles. "You're more important than your power. To your family... and to me."
Liora felt the warmth of his hand and closed her eyes, letting his words sink in. She had always been so focused on what she could do with her abilities, on what she *should* be, that she had forgotten who she already was.
"I don't want to be locked away," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I don't want Gareth to tell Mother and Father... I can't be shut out."
Rowen squeezed her hand, his voice gentle but firm. "You won't be. We'll figure this out. But for now, you need to rest. Let yourself heal, Liora. You're no good to anyone if you're hurt."
Liora nodded, though her heart still ached with the weight of it all. She wanted to believe Rowen, to trust that things would be okay, but the fear of being left behind, of not being enough, still gnawed at her. As Rowen stood to leave, she gripped his hand a little tighter, not wanting him to go just yet.
"Stay," she whispered, her voice fragile. "Just... stay for a little while."
Rowen hesitated for only a moment before nodding. He sat back down in the chair beside her, his hand still holding hers. And for the first time that day, Liora felt a small bit of peace, even if it was fleeting.