Lady Of Lake And Arrow |A Swan Lake Retelling|: Book One

Chapter 31

Florence + The Machine - Never Let Me Go

My dearest daughter,

I have only hope that this letter will get to you. I know it won't.

Fate is a terrible thing, isn't it?

You were my gem, the only person I could and have ever loved.

I am truly, inconceivably sorry that I have failed you.

- One of the many letters, written by Unknown, to their daughter -

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Ryland had told her once, days or so before Christmastide, that he would be leaving the Keep to attend his brother's ball.

"My brother holds a ball after the holidays every year."

Grinning, Jessa snuggled closer to him. "Oh yeah?"

He smiled back, then wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his face onto her hair. "Yeah. Quite a celebration, if you ask me."

"Well then, let's hope you'll come back here soon," said Jessa, tipping her head up at him.

"For you? Gladly."

"What a romantic."

"I couldn't help myself." Ryland winked, and she laughed.

His expression changed at that. He moved to brush a stray strand of hair behind her ear, which had been blown by a gentle breeze. Jessa noticed how his hands were gloved, protecting him from the freezing temperature. In a way, she was both slightly disappointed and amused. The cold didn't hurt her in the way it did to normal people. Not if she wanted it to.

Jessa sighed after a while. "So, you'll just be gone for a few days, surrounded by all things fancy."

"Believe me when I say, it isn't the most pleasant thing. Here, have this."

"Oh, I do." Pulling back, Jessa flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked down at the card etched in curvy lettering he'd handed to her. "The invitation to the ball? Really?"

There was a nervous edge to his voice as Ryland said, "I know you're not going, but my brother really only sent me that as a reminder. Or other unknown reasons, since he's my brother and all."

"So you want me to have–" She held up the invitation, "–this."

"Yes. Keep it as a memorable token from me, or rip it to shreds if you really want to." He smiled, white teeth showing beneath it.

With a levelled look, the corners of Jessa's lips started to tug upwards. "Okay."

Now, as Jessa stood in her rented room of the inn, she clutched the invitation in hand, contemplating. It was slightly crumpled because of how it had stayed folded in the pocket of her pants ever since the conversation with Ryland.

Maybe it's a ruse trying to get me to stay in Carleone longer.

But, even with Mertham's questionable intentions, when had she ever lied to Jessa?

In truth, the time in the Keep had given her a reason to live–to simply be.

If Ryland was truly in danger, it wouldn't hurt to check–to see and make sure that nothing would come to harm them.

Right?

She owed him that, at least.

And since the ball would be tonight, and she had the very invitation in her hands, she was technically allowed to attend it.