The Blue Bird

Chapter Fifteen

The rest of the day passed by in a blur. I cleaned more pots than I'd ever even seen before in my life and wiped every single surface until the kitchen was spotless.

I couldn't keep the grin off my face. Tonight was the night. I would sing Hector our song in the Chamber of Echoes and he would know I had come for him. I wasn't really sure what would happen past that point, I guess part of me naively believed that once I was reunited with my best friend everything would fall into place.

I returned to my chamber to wash the dirt out of my hair, I wanted to look nice for our reunion, then I realised I didn't have anything nice to wear. My eyes fell on the box Lillian had left me. I picked up one of the eggs and turned it over in my hands.

"Well, here goes nothing." I muttered as I cracked it on my bedpost.

Out of the egg tumbled a beautiful golden dress. It was perfect. I quickly slipped it over my head and tied it up before rushing out of the door. It was only once I was out of my chamber that I realised I should have taken more pains to disguise myself before I got to my destination.

The curved hallway was lined with mannequins dressed in outdated armour. I held my head up and pulled my shoulders back, figuring that I could pass as a lady-in-waiting. Surely, the only person I needed to avoid was Sibeta.

A group of guards touched their hands to their foreheads in respect as I passed them. I smiled in return, confident that they would not recognise the scullery maid I'd been posing as.

I was almost within reach of the chamber when I heard her voice echoing through the hallway. I ducked behind one of the mannequins as her footsteps came closer.

"Won't you come to bed with me tonight, my love?" She asked, stepping into my line of sight.

My whole body tensed when Hector's voice murmured back. "You know I can't."

"Why not?" She demanded, placing her hands on her hips. "Our wedding is only two days away. It won't make a difference if we have each other tonight."

"Marriage is a sacred promise, sealed by the act of love." He replied. "I could not in good conscience taste of your fruit before our vows are made."

There was a moment of silence as Sibeta scowled at Hector.

"You know the rules." She hissed. "You have to do what I want, or you're a bluebird again - and I'm not above feeding you to a cat!"

"You will do what you must." His voice sounded resigned. "I cannot please you tonight."

Sibeta let out an exasperated breath. "Fine. But you will kiss me goodnight."

He moved into my line of sight and joined his mouth to hers. Grief tightened its grip around my throat. It was horrible to see him so at her mercy.

When she was satisfied, she pulled away and whispered. "Until tomorrow, my love."

"Until tomorrow." He replied.

After what felt like an eternity, they parted ways and left me alone in my hiding place. I took a moment to gather my wits, double-checked that the way was clear, and hurried to the door.

The Chamber of Echoes was a circular room filled with chairs and instruments.

"Tell me there's a harp." I whispered, finding it hard to believe that the court musicians just left their instruments lying around. In their defence, I doubt they were expecting visitors.

I spotted the coveted harp and ran my fingers along its taut strings. The sound filled the chamber. I smiled, sat down, and played our favourite song.

Our song diminished to silence. I waited...and waited.

"Hector?" I whispered. "Can you hear me?"

He wasn't coming. Why wasn't he coming? Maybe he didn't want to see me. After all, everything he had been through was because of me...

"I'm sorry." I said. "I'm sorry about the night we met...even though...you were the best looking man in the room. I don't know how handsomeness is rated, but you have always been the only person I wanted to look at. And then instead of marrying Sibeta, you chose to visit me every day, for years, in the form of a blue bird. I'm not sure what has changed, but I don't blame you. You deserve the very best of everything - you always have."

I hugged the harp a little tighter and sighed.

"You don't deserve to be at Sibeta's mercy...I want to help you...I just don't understand why you won't come and talk to me..."

My fingers swept across the strings again. The music did little to ease the intense wave of loneliness that swept through me. My eyes stung with tears.

What if Hector didn't want to be saved? Had I come all this way for nothing?