Lover Of The Last

5. A Lie For A Friend

"From cradle to grave, from ashes to ashes, from dust to dust

Because, our paths they cross

And is it real or just something we think we know?"

Arabelle's POV

Laughter. Pure joyous, childish laughter rang through the cobblestone paved street; the yellow sun of mid-day casting a ominous warmth across the kingdoms village.

"Don't step on a crack, Will, or you'll break your mother back!" My sing song voice shouted. The rhyme placing a smile on my best friend's face.

"Well in that case, you've broken your mother's back far too many times, Belle!" William replied. A grin spread across his face, the innocence of being a child lit up his young features.

Huffing loudly, I spun around and shot him a fake glare; my blue eyes narrowing as he stopped and giggled at me. Spinning around the opposite way once more, my tiny six year old arms flung the small stone we were using to play a make shift version of hop-scotch. Our small feet using the various, round stones of the cobblestone street for hopping.

Apparently I flung the rock with to much force, the gray stone hurdling straight for the wooden wheel of a parked carriage. Me and William's face's scrunched up in anticipation for the blow; a loud crack sounding in the quiet village street.

The brown horses whinnied with fear as the back of the carriage became crooked, one of the delicate spokes giving way and snapping.

A low whistle came from behind me, Will's brown eyes were wide as he looked at the damage I had accidentally caused. I felt extremely guilty at the fact that I had broken the wheel by my foolish actions, but more uneasiness filled me as I noticed it was right in front of our neighbors house, their door swinging open and revel a red-faced man; his anger clear on his old face.

Without really thinking, I wrapped a small hand around William's wrist; pulling him away and running in the opposite direction. We ran to another carriage nearby one placed in front of a home a couple houses down. Our small forms ducked in cover; hidden from the angry man as he inspected his splintered wheel.

"Arabelle why are we hiding? We should tell him..." My kind-hearted best friend whispered, his wide eyes peaking around the body of the large horse we were hidden by.

I looked up to him, my hand absent-mindedly stroking the startled animal next to me; I wanted to agree with him. But a part of me didn't want trouble, it just wanted to turn away and keep this a secret.

Shaking my head at the thought of being scolded for my stupid actions, I spoke up quietly. "We're hiding so we don't get caught. Now come on, lets go play somewhere else, Will."

He looked down at me, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes before it burned out.

We turned and walked quickly away, blending into the crowd as we grew closer to the center of village.

The small pang of guilt ebbing away at my young mind, the fear of telling the truth scaring me into secrecy; just like it would do later on, in a situation on a much bigger scale.

***

My hands wrapped around each other behind my back, the last attempt to try and hide their nervous shaking. Everything was bothering me from the black hair cascading down my back, to the numerous armored guards standing off to the side. My anxiety was like a curse, causing me to overthink actions and become uneasy by the slightest of things.

The Throne Room looked entirely different from the last I had been, the crimson blood now polished away; and the victims, thankfully, now out of side but not out of mind. The gory images would past through my head as I looked up ahead of me; high-ranked royal guards looking down upon us.