In the Shadow of the Night

royal blood

"This is a nice change of scenery" I heard a familiar voice say. "It's a prison cell, there's nothing nice to it" I spit back not quite placing the voice. "You'd think you would be a bit more grateful for the boy who was arrested for you" I heard the voice say and Tristan stepped into the light.

"T... Tristan?" I said not ready to believe he was there. "Yeah who else wears glasses and a dorky smile" He joked and I fling myself in his arms. Quickly realising he too is in this prison I punch him in the arm. "Ow what did you do that for?" he said rubbing his arm.

"I told you to stay put and to not do anything stupid!" I said and I punch him again. "Again, Ow! I tried to help you!" he said looking offended. "Well you can't help me, so your stuck here for nothing" I said and I sank down against the wall. Tristan lets himself sink beside me and sighed.

I told him everything that happened and he listened with disbelief. "We gotta get you outta here" He said and I looked at him, I was always the one with the plans and the courage but here I was being lame and weak. I felt like garbage and yet here he was. He had followed me across the kingdom just to make sure I was okay.

"I'm sorry I was rude before, Thank you for following me and trying to help me" I said in a low voice. Tristan threw his arm around me. "It's going to be okay Ais, We've always been okay" he said and he hugged me. My stomach interrupts us, I laugh nervously. "Sorry, I haven't eaten yet" I said and I look at Tristan. In his face I can see that he hasn't eaten either. We leaned against each other and quickly fell asleep. With Tristan by my side I felt safer than you could possibly feel in a dungeon.

The rattling of keys awoke us both and Tristan and I looked at each other in fear as two guards stepped inside. "Up Princess" one of them commanded. "I don't want to" I said in defiance. Tristan gave me his usual look when I did something stupid. "Come along now, the queen doesn't like to wait" The guard said impatiently. "And I don't like her" I returned as I crossed my arms. The first guard nodded to the other one, they stepped inside the cell and forced a strange liquid into my mouth. After seconds my whole world began to spin out of control. I heard Tristan shout my name but I couldn't respond anymore. Soon my whole world was dipped in darkness.

I woke up feeling a soft plush couch beneath me. Someone stroked my hair and I opened my eyes to see who it was. The dark eyes of the queen stared back at me and I immediately moved back as far as I could. Her cruel laughter filled the room. I looked at her in disgust. I tried to get up but my head wasn't right yet, the world twisted again and I fell down as she laughed even harder.

"If you continue like this I won't even have to hurt you" she said as she stood up. "I won't sign" I said my words stringing together like I was drunk. "Oh but you will darling, I'll make sure of that" She said and she walked towards me. I crawled towards the door but with a twist of her hand she wound chains around me. The chains seemed to obey her like snakes. I had never seen real magic but I knew it existed. This was definitely magic and not the good kind either. "Let me go" I screamed as she towered over me. "You're free to go once you sign this" she said as she held out the paper. I read it and saw the letter was written by my mother.

"Hereby I declare that the Kingdom of Solin belongs to my one and only heir: the beloved Princess Aislin Gréine Breanne Solin. That she may reign in the footsteps of her mother and father. Bringing light to the kingdom and their people. However if she refuses this right she may do so. In that case the kingdom belongs to my sister Princess Ciara Léira Solin. The Princess Aislin is to sign below in case of mentioned event.

"She loved me" I mumbled "My mom loved me..." tears well up as I realised this. "How can I betray her trust in me" I said to the queen. Her eyes filled with hate and she grabbed a whip. "What are you doing" I said, panic tangible in my voice. The chains were removed but two that remained around my wrists. "With me" she said and I did not have a choice as she pulled me along.