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

Chapter 38

Tommee Profitt - I'm Not Afraid (feat. Wondra)

When Jessa snuck into Elise's suite at dawn, she hadn't expected to find the princess already awake.

As she creaked open the window, she heard her say, "I know you're there, Jessa."

Silently, Jessa landed on her feet in the room. Elise was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring blankly off into space. There were bandages wrapped around her head and neck, a few cuts along her arms.

She stood still in her place, not knowing what to do. "Elise, I'm–"

"They say I arrived at the gates in a whirlwind of snow. I guess stranger things have happened in my life."

"That seems so."

Silence

Elise's eyes at last shifted to her. She then stood, the white cotton nightgown she wore reaching her knees. "I woke up immediately when I sensed the life gone from Ry–my cousin."

Her gaze was empty and tired. So tired. Jessa knew the feeling well. She swallowed, waiting for her to go on.

Elise padded towards one of her bookshelves. Her fingers trailed over some of the books' spines. "I know, Jessa. I know who you are. He sent me his last thoughts from his remaining strengths."

In the dark, it was hard to read her expression. But it wasn't hard to hear the choked sob in her voice.

Jessa didn't know what to say, but–"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier."

"Are you?" Elise whipped towards her, eyes wet with tears. "I can barely read your mind, but I trusted you. Trusted you with my most guarded secret. But I don't know if I can trust you anymore."

Then her shoulders slumped, and she placed her hands over her face, body trembling. "I'm sorry, Jessa. I can't–I just can't. Not without thinking of him."

Jessa tried to move towards the princess, but she stopped her. "No. Leave. Please, just leave."

When she didn't move, Elise dropped her hands, and the look she gave Jessa was so full of grief–and fire. "Leave."

So she did.

–––

"Say something," said Jessa to Terhen, who stood in her room facing the small window.

It took awhile for him to reply. His brows were furrowed, hands clasped behind his back. "What do you want me to say, Jessa?"

"Are you angry?"

Another beat of silence. "Honestly? I don't know what I feel. Why tell me at all?"

Jessa sat on her old cot, pulling her knees up to her chest. She looked away from him, lips pressed tightly together. "I guess . . . I guess I just needed someone to tell this to, and you are the only one besides Elise–" She stopped, not having the will to say any more.

The cot creaked as Terhen joined beside her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, which made her glance at him in surprise. "Then if you want to tell me, you might as well tell me everything," he said, so full of surety and reassurance, it made her almost feel sorry for thinking of him so lowly what felt like an eternity ago.

I may wonder about your story, but it is not your turn to tell yours. Not yet.

"Okay."

And from the depths of her sorrowful, shattered soul, she spilled all she could think of about her life since she could remember; the stories of events that changed her world for the better or worse.