Out From the Shadows

Chapter 14

I don't know how much longer I can chat with Camille. The air is stifling, sweat glistens my arms and chest, yet Camille looks completely serene and happy. I can see this out of the corner of my eye because I don't want to look at her. No, I refuse. Jealousy would overwhelm me if I did, her beauty so shocking that I wonder why she only married a mid-class banker. King Gerad isn't bad looking or rude, just wasn't very high up socially. She probably would marry someone like Ashton if she wasn't already married, and even if she wasn't, she is 30 right now and remarriage is a bit too late for her. Her husband would have to die before remarriage could be even considered, but people rarely get remarried after the age of 27. She does need to produce an heir, which hasn't happened yet, so that should be happening in the near future. If no heir is produced, the throne is given to a relative of the queen, meaning her cousin Eleanor. That probably won't happen because there is some talk about her already being pregnant, but I don't really know anything, only rumors.

Why am I thinking about Camille and marriage? Is it from the looks she sends my way? Looks Ashton gives me, making me feel beautiful and secure? Probably.

My savior comes marching, literally, to my side. He interrupts, confidence missing in the way he stands and his eyes don't glitter like they usually do. Its quite scary how glum and sullen he looks, like a defeated nation all wrapped up in one man.

"I'm sorry to interrupt..." Ashton begins, and I think to myself "no he's not." I saw him pacing around, worried. Or impatient? It would be touching if he missed me, though we have been apart for a little bit of time.

"May I borrow Almarie for another dance? We are leaving soon and I don't want to spend the rest of the night without my fiancée." His eyes fill with their usual glitter when he says "fiancée". My heart softens.

Camille doesn't loose her chipperness and nods in response. Ashton bows and I curtsy when I get up. She gracefully stands and glides away. He fills in for Camille and we make our way to the dance floor.

"So what did you two talk about?" He starts, glaring at and watching my face carefully for a reaction.

"Mostly you and your parents."

"What did you say?" He actually seems paniced, and it bothers me that he doesn't trust me completely, though I don't either, so I guess it's fair.

"Good things about you, but I was honest about Mr. Lakers and Josephine." I wait for him to yell at me, to protect his family. Dead silence.

"I wasn't too accusatory. Just their personalities, what they are like at home." I continue, trying to break the tension.

"I'm not worried about what you said to her about my parents, the queen seemed to like your honesty before. What did you say about me though?"

Finally the real Ashton breaks through the fake one. He looks smug and I don't know exactly what he wants me to say, so I tell him the truth.

"How we met, the real version. She just kept asking questions about me after that."

He reverts back to his unusual self. His face returns to stone, expressionless and dead. He could literally be stone with how pale he is.

"Ashton, what's the matter?"

"Nothing, I'm just tired."

"That's the excuse I use when I'm upset."

"I'm not upset, or mad, or all the tired now that I think about it." He tips his head to look thoughtful and play the part of reconsidering his latest statement.

"Can we have at least one more dance?" I beg, even adding the sticking-out bottom lip. Might as well take advantage of his sudden boost of energy.

"I don't know..."

"Ashton! Pleeeaassee?" I slap his chest playfully and he chuckles and grunts in annoyance.

"Alright, but if I fall asleep on you, you can't be mad." I rest my head on his shoulder as he draws me near.

"I hate you." I state as seriously as I can.

"I hate you too."

We dance until my heels start to bleed and he can't feel his legs. Ashton finds his father in the depths of the crowd, drunk, and I find Josephine gossiping with the other older ladies. Both are ready to head home, so we regroup near the entrance. Right when we are about to leave, a voice calls my name. We all turn around together to face Queen Camille. She glides to us, Joseph a few step behind her.

Mr. Lakers tries to adjust himself to look more proper, but the alcohol has obviously effected him greatly and he sways to and fro on his feet. Josephine is wide eyed and beads of sweat dot her forehead immediately.

"Your majesty, what do you need?" I ask, almost forgetting my manners and outright calling her Camille.

"I have a proposition for you. A handmaiden position has opened up and I enjoyed your company enough to think of you as filling in." Whatever childness I saw in her has disappeared and has been replaced by the grown-up version.

"That is very considerate of you. I will have to think it through though, since I still have to get married and have just moved into my new home." She gives me a meek smile.

"Of course. I will leave the position open for you if you want it. If you accepted, the palace in the Royal district would be your new home. When I am somewhere else, you would be welcome to visit your fiancée whenever. I hope you reconsider my offer, but don't do it if it really displeases you, my dear. Goodnight." I curtsy for the second time today and leave with the Lakers, headed for home.

                                                           ******

I'm starkly aware of the moon as trees whip by in front of it, making the light it emits slip into darkness. Galloping fills the air, keeping us all awake even though we don't want to. Ashton's eyes droop, but snap open when we hit bumps on the gravel road. Across from us, Josephine leans her head against the side of the carriage and Mr. Lakers stares straight ahead in a daze. I can smell the stink of alcohol leaking from Mr. Laker's mouth, forcing me to inhale when he does. It becomes a rhythm that keeps me conscious and alert. Alert enough to spot a beautiful buck stationary in the middle of the road.

It looks directly at the carriage, through the window that I watch him. I swear our eyes lock, but he gets startled as we hurdle closer to him and sprints away into the safety of the woods. I relax my tense muscles, slant my head back, and close my eyes, begging sleep to come effortlessly, although Ashton's worry won't disappear from my mind.