Evelyn

❇︎ Chapter Ten ❇︎

- Kai -

   Kai frowned. There were two choices he had narrowed it down to. A doublet and hose of a violet colour, with aiguillettes of the same colour, without any other ornaments than the customary slashes, through which the shirt appeared. This doublet and hose were new and made of fabrics that Kai knew would have cost his old family more than fifteen shillings. There was also a cerulean-blue doublet, a little faded and worn, and over this a magnificent baldric, worked in gold, which shone like water ripples in the sun. A long cloak of crimson velvet fell in graceful folds from his shoulders, disclosing in front the splendid baldric. He couldn't decide. He glanced out the window towards the setting sun. He knew he needed to get ready. He needed to be closer to the Princess, to her. He smiled, the memory vivid as always in his head. 

 "My name is Evelyn."  Kai had known from the start it had been her. Her hair was not something one could easily forget. It was soft with warm chestnut hues, an under tone of red woven right into the brown. The summertime had added a few streaks of gold from where she had sat in the sun, basking, letting the laziness of the season seep right in. It radiated the warmth of winter hearths and echoing the colours of her eyes. And her eyes, god her eyes. Her eyes were blue. They were the blue that froze you in place, captivated you for even the slightest of moments. He could have sworn there was a sky trapped behind her pupils. It seemed to extend farther than he could ever comprehend. He wondered how many stars her eyes held. Her eyes were blue; that didn't even begin to explain all the complicated depths and colours that were there, too. Her personality was just as captivating as her eyes. She was perfection. Yet, she didn't seem to remember him. So he kept his distance. Kai shook his head, shaking himself out of his Evelyn fantasy. He looked down to see the blue doublet in his hand. He smiled despite of himself and went to change.

  Kai watched from the sidelines alongside the other guards. The ballroom was lit spectacularly. The clothes were as colourful as a summer garden. Bold yellows, magenta, cyan and emerald green. There were sequins sparkling in the brilliant afternoon sun and feathers of every colour. The soft music was the heartbeat of the crowd and they swayed long limbs in time to the beat. There were sparkles, smiles and laughter. It was every outrageous thing and it brought such life to everyone's souls. It was the grand party of the year, the one everyone was invited to. It was the day when extraordinary was the norm and just being alive was a riot. This was the day because it was Evelyn's coronation. Kai was semi glad that he was observing from a distance. He wasn't sure how much his wintery skin had turned pink.

    Evelyn was the kind of girl that women loved to hate. She was an adult as this was her coronation, but so young that she still had the exuberance of youth. Her muscle definition was perfect and she walked with the confidence of someone a decade older. She wasn't just flawless in her bone structure, her skin was like silk over glass and she radiated an intelligent beauty. People would stare for too long and would whisper as they watched her waltz across the floor as if she were levitating. Kai could only smile as he saw her descend the stairs in a grace that one could only be born with. Her beautiful mahogany hair had been pulled up elegantly, exposing her bare shoulders. Her fringe was held back in place by a glittering diamond crown that captured the light of the ballroom and sparkled it down onto her skin giving her a celestial glow. Evelyn's dress was blue and seemed to contrast the colour of her eyes. It was hard to pin point the exact colour but it was flawless on Evelyn. 

  Kai watched as she made her way to her parents, obviously discussing something important due to the solemn expressions and the way Evelyn seemed to become flustered afterward. Kai guessed she had been asked to dance as she made her way to the dance floor; immediately flocked by young men who had eagerly seemed to be waiting for her descent. The guard next to Kai nudged him, chuckling softly as his eyes wandered towards the Princess, gazing curiously at the assortment of confectionary and as her guard blocked the way of the suitors. Kai couldn't help but laugh as well, the two shaking their head at the Princess. It was of course humorous, but yet Kai couldn't help but feel hope blooming in his heart. 

  As the party continued, Kai watched Evelyn slip into the shadows and opened the doors. Her blue dress faded from sight and just as Kai was about to follow, the King beckoned Kai towards him. Kai reluctantly came, hoping Evelyn didn't manage to get herself into too much trouble. 

  The greatness of the king came from the way he loved. He was one who truly listened, with the heart as well as the ears and eyes. He saw the whole person in a way that others did not, as if he alone was somewhere calm while the rest could only attempt to have vision in the fog. The most troubled of souls became calm, those from places far away sought his company and counsel. It was as if everyone had a thirsty soul, and the best we could do was offer one another a sip at our cups, yet he could hold a saltless ocean in the palm of his hand and fill the cups of all. So, though Kai knew him as a man, he respected him as my king. Kai greatly admired the King and let the urge to follow Evelyn go as he bowed.

  "Please," the King sounded greatly exasperated, "follow her. Try to convince her to come back to the party; under no circumstances are you to order her," he rumbled. Kai bowed once more, slipping out the same way Evelyn did.

  Kai was lost for a mere three seconds. That was before he heard the gentle click of Evelyn's heels on the stone floors of the Castle. He forced himself to be quiet, trying to catch up. He was led to a single corridor with only a window for light. He wanted to call out but something about the hallway screamed for quiet. So that what he remained. It was only when Evelyn's pale hand seemed to touch something on the wall did Kai hear it. The quiet and practiced pull of the string as someone brought an arrow from the quiver. The sound of someone pulling it back. Kai looked down the hall in horror as Evelyn stood, a circle behind her, holding an arrow. Kai broke out into a run.

  "Look out!" He yelled, barrelling down the hall. He watched perturbation as Evelyn's beautiful eyes snapped up, wide and confused. Kai yelled out again as he watched another arrow graze her cheek, leaving a small trail blood in it's wake. Evelyn looked crazily towards the door but Kai knew that there was no way she could have made it in time. His heart dropped even further into his stomach as he watched Evelyn gather her skirts and run towards the window. The doors rattled and the sound of footsteps echoed through the palace. Kai ignored the tightness in his chest as he pushed himself to go faster, to catch up. Evelyn seemed to relax slightly. Then it changed. Her heels seemed to fall in a crack of stone and even though Kai bolted towards the windowsill, he couldn't quite reach her. Kai watched as the strong Crown Princess, the next ruler for their generation, fall from the second storey window. Her blue eyes closed, a single tear running down her porcelain cheeks. Her body was huddled into a ball. We can never truly feel another's pain, but that scream of Evelyn's came close. It was the kind of scream that puts every other thought on hold and roots everyone close in the very same agony. There wasn't a person in a hundred feet that didn't come running, most of them with swords and shields already out to kill the assassin. Everything seemed to be in slow motion after that. Kai barely registered what he was doing until he leaped from the window, falling after Evelyn all over again.