Hall of Mirrors

Chapter 4: The Heir's Downfall

All was dark as Aleste and River put on their darkest colors so they would blend in with the early morning dark. Aleste stuffed some bread into her sash to give to Elandor for his long journey. River could see tear streaks on her cheeks and felt bad about the strain this had caused her sister.

 "Aleste, why are you crying?" she asked, touching Aleste on the shoulder. 

"I- I've never felt this way about someone before," she said, after a second. "I've only known him for two days, but it seems like a lifetime!" River tried not to be annoyed by her sister's sentimental words. She had never been attached to anyone or anything before other than her sister, so the prospect of romance and love was a completely blind subject to her, one that she had no interest in whatsoever. River didn't say anything or have anything uplifting to say, so she just grabbed Aleste's shoulder. 

"It'll be okay. Once he's gone, we can go back to a normal life."

 Aleste practically screamed with sobs at this. River was alarmed. "I can't stop thinking about him!"Aleste said, falling onto the bed in despair. "I have no idea what's going on! I know I'm not supposed to fall in love, I'm way too young, and I'm already betrothed to the Lord of Quaint, and I know it's been too short of a time with him to tell, but honestly, River, I just can't get over it! And I'm afraid he'll be dead next time we hear of him because of his lineage!" 

She stopped there, looking absolutely mortified that she had just revealed this to her sister. River sat down next to her. 

"I didn't know you felt that way," she whispered, even though she perfectly well did know.

"I can't do anything though, Aleste, I've never been in love. What do I know?" Aleste looked up. 

"I just don't know what I'm going to do when he's gone," she said tearfully. "He's made me an emotional mess. Let's just go, River, he'll be waiting." 

River was happy with Aleste's sudden change from a wreck to composure, so she made no objection and followed her out of the room, down the corridor, to the dungeons, and down the flights of stairs that led to Elandor's cell.

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Elandor paced the slimy floor of his cell, biting his lip. The Princesses were coming to rescue him in a matter of time, and he knew that their lives were very much in danger. He knew that he was going to die anyways, but he could not bear it if Aleste and River went with him into the unknown of death. The escape out of Black Castle would be extremely difficult on it's own. Elandor sat down, remembering the soft, caring touch of Aleste's hand on his back in this very stone chair. 

True, he had felt an attraction to Aleste since their horrific meeting in the hallway, but he had tried vainly to swallow it down. It could never happen, them being together, but the passionate young woman was graceful, good, beautiful, and honored justice. The girls in Elandor's nomadic camp were sweet, but they were not what Elandor was looking for in a wife- Aleste met all his requirements. But no- he would be putting her in too much danger, of course. She could die if she was found in a serious relationship with a man from the enemy country, especially a Duke from the enemy country.

 And River was a whole other matter. Elandor had his suspicions about the mysterious girl as pale as ice. Her eyes were unmistakably the Endrathian beetle-black, even the Queen of Bellumsilva could notice the unnerving resemblance. Her hair, raven-black, was the signature of the Endrathian Kings- their crest was a raven after their famously black hair. She was obviously descended from Endrai, let alone Endrathian royalty, and Elandor wondered why in the world she would have the amulet of the Lost Prince of the Hunters around her neck. Why was she considered Royal in the Bellumsilvan country? The Queen would certainly not adopt a Endrathian child. She would be dead long ago had she noticed. Elandor stopped his musing when he heard a quick and urgent whisper of his name behind him. He whipped around.