BIRTHRIGHT (complete #Wattys2016)

Chapter 10: Snowfall

Alexander shifted in his bed, his arm reaching out for Isabelle, but came in contact with an empty side. His eyes snapped open and he sat up in search for her. But soon realized that she wasn't there; she never was. He remembered that they both had agreed to sleep in their own chambers, just to avoid a repeat of someone walking in on them. Alexander was strictly against it, but after much persistence on Isabelle's part, he caved in.

And now he was regretting it. He just wanted Isabelle to be in his arms, lying beside him, snuggled close to him, but she was sleeping, in the other side of the palace.

Why did their rooms have to be so far apart from each other?

With a dejected sigh, Alexander turned towards the window but noticed that it was dark. 'Strange', he mused to himself, because he knew that usually the sun is up whenever he awoke.

Curiously, he got out of his bed and pulled open the drapes that hung around his bed. Stepping onto the cold wooden floor below, he realized how cold it had gotten. Pulling apart his curtains, he stared out at the sight in front of him.

His usually clear window was covered in white frost. Swiping a hand over the glass, he stared out at the courtyard beyond. The garden was covered in a thick blanket of white, that just grew bigger and bigger with each delicate snowflake that fell down. The garden looked like an unfinished painting. So much of the canvas was still perfectly white as if waiting for the artists hand to return. The morning light struggled through the murky cloud, but even in its weakness it was enough to blind.

"Snow." Alexander breathed out as he watched the intricately designed delicate snowflake fall to the ground and join its brethren. With a smile, an idea came to his mind. Quickly he got dressed into something that would keep him warm. Hastily pulling on his boots, he swung open the doors to his chambers, causing the guards outside to stand to attention.

"Good morning your highness," They spoke together.

"Good morning." Alexander responded, much to their surprise.

Straightening his posture he walked out the chambers and down the long corridor that led to Isabelle's chambers. Somewhere along the way he got too impatient and jogged towards her chambers. His footsteps echoing through the slumbering palace. Just as he turned the corner towards Isabelle's chambers he saw that her maid was about to enter to wake her. Alexander cleared his throat, causing her to look up and courtesy to him, whereas he just gave an acknowledged nod.

He stepped in front of the door as the guards opened them for him. The doors closed behind him as he stepped inside. Alex saw Isabelle sleeping on the bed, the quilt tucked under her chin as her kitten, Pearl lay sleeping on the pillow next to her head. Slowly Alexander walked over to the other side of the bed and kneeled on the floor as he propped his elbows on the mattress, and just watched Isabelle sleep. Thinking about a way to wake her, but instead he ended up admiring her sleep with his head rested on the mattress as he brought his hand to caress her cheek.

He didn't know how long he sat kneeling on the floor, it could have been hours, days, months even, but were actually minutes. In her sleep, Isabelle swatted his hand away from her face as she snuggled closer to the blanket. At that given moment, Alexander felt jealous of the quilt but then chuckled at himself.

Leaning forward Alexander kissed her forehead as she hummed.

"Wake up angel." He spoke softly as he kissed the space between her eyebrows.

"Angel," he murmured softly as he kissed the tip of her nose. Isabelle turned to lie on her back as she pushed him away.

"Alex! Go away!" She grumbled as she tried to push him away.