Adiline

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 :)

It took a good half an hour to get back to the castle on foot, but it felt like centuries to Adiline as she walked with her handsome guest. They stepped inside the castle and stood in the foyer.

"Do you like living here, with all this extra empty space?" asked Nathaniel.

"Yes. But it doesn't actually feel that big with my many sisters and maids running around," Adiline answered in a nervous voice.

"You can relax Princess. I won't hurt you," he said to comfort her. He knew she was very flustered about having him at the castle. Knowing she was quieter than her sisters, Adiline probably didn't have many visitors here.

"I know and thank you," Adiline paused, "Would you like to see my favorite room?" She wanted to show him the library, hoping she would feel more comfortable being surrounded by her books.

"It would be my pleasure, Princess." He took her hand and they walked up the long staircase. In Adiline's mind, she felt like she was stepping on a cloud as tingles ran up her arm from his touch. She wondered if he felt it too, but didn't dare ask in fear of embarassing herself.

When they finally entered the library, Nathaniel's eyes visibly widened. He'd never seen so many books before in his life! Adiline was happy to see he enjoyed the wonder of reading as much as she did by the look in his beautiful green eyes.

The library had a rich, crimson colored carpet with beige walls that towered a good 20 ft above them. The furniture was very fancy but still comfortable looking. A beautiful glass chandelier hung in the middle of the room. Huge, ceiling-to-floor windows lined the walls, giving the room an open feeling. The whole room looked very well designed and beautifully put together.

"I've read them all once or twice," she said wandering over to a bookshelf. "I'd be happy to let you borrow one, if you want." Then, she pulled out one of her favorites 'The Innocents Abroad' by Mark Twain.

"I love the offer but I could never disrupt a collection of books so vast." Nathaniel pushed the book back towards Adiline, while his words slipped from his mouth as smooth as a children's lullaby.

Adiline led Nathaniel to her special terrace. "I mostly read here but when I'm not, I look out at my Millernia." They turned to look at the view below them.

"It's beautiful," he said as he turned to look at Adiline, his glossy locks flowing in the summer breeze. "Just like you," he said and took her hand again.

"Thank you Nathaniel," Adiline said, saying his name felt so right to her lips. A moment of comfortable silence filled the air as they stared into each others' eyes, his green ones to her blue ones.

Adiline didn't look away when she heard horse gallops coming toward the castle. She didn't look away when she heard them stop and when the horseman announced their arrival. But she did eventually snap her gaze to the sound of her mother and father getting out of the carriage and closing the door.

"What's wrong, Princess?" Nathaniel asked in response to her looking away.

"My parents are home. You weren't exactly supposed to be here," Adiline worriedly looked back at him, "I've got to get you out before they find us." She just said what seemed like the hardest thing to say at the moment but she knew it was true. If she didn't get him out, Father would be furious, and say he was 'improper to be a prince'.

Millions of things were racing through Adiline's mind, but it all vanished when Nathaniel took hold of both her hands and said, "Princess, it will be okay. Why don't I meet your parents some other day, when it's a better time and they know I'm here?" His words slowly melted into Adiline's brain like a burning candle.

Nathaniel let go of her and started walking across the room, yet Adiline couldn't believe he was leaving.

"Wait!" She ran across the library to where he was standing and paused, not knowing what to say. She didn't know it but she had a small tear in her eye and all she wanted was for him to stay and be with her.

Nathaniel stepped closer to Adiline and took her in his arms. "I'll come back soon for that wash and some dinner, okay?" He said before turning away and walking quietly out the door and down the stairs to the front door.

Adiline quickly remembered something and chased after him before he could leave. "Wait!" She called a second time.

He froze and turned to her in front of the door. "Umm. I forgot to remind you of the guards out there. They keep watch of the front of the castle so carefully slip around the side of the stone wall. If they catch you, I don't know what they'll do."

He simply nodded and left. Adiline silently cried as he left but she didn't even know why. There was just something about Nathaniel that fascinated her.

**~**

Another chapter complete! <3

P.S. I am VERY obsessed with good grammar so my story will have all the punctuation of dialogue and capital letters, etc. I think I mostly spelled everything right.

:)