Steel Rose

Chapter 40

Belle Pov

The house is abuzz. My brothers are home. The King announced his engagement to the princess of the Lakelands, thus uniting our countries and ending a hundred years of war. It's all a great reason to rejoice and the court does it so willingly. But I am no mood to celebrate. Yes, I'm happy my brothers are coming home safe and while but that means Ptolemus is coming back too. He'll want an answer to his proposel, and the thought of telling him my choice makes my stomach churn.

I push that away now. The King and his new bride will be arriving today and as usual, everyone is expected to look their best. An unspoken obvious. Norta will not be shown up by any foreigner, ally or not.

So I take the moment to chose out one of the many new dresses my seamstress crafted in the long hours of solitude. But a pang of longing goes through me as I shuffle through them, my side where mother usually facilitates is empty. I frown, turning my attention back to the dresses.

I don't notice I'm rubbing my back, near the base of my spine until I have to pull away from it to bend over and pick up my chosen outfit. A dull pain aches there and I wince.

After quickly putting on my dress and shoes I get to work with my makeup. Sitting at my mirror, I let my mind wonder as I feel the brush stoke over my cheekbone.

I have no idea what I'm going to say to Ptolemus when I see him. I have no idea how he'll react, either way both of us gets hurt. I can picture his reaction, but I never know and for once not knowing frightens me.

As I ponder over my lipstick shade a quiet knock stops me. I sigh picking up a deep marron color. "Come in."

The door opens revealing a young maid stands. In her hands a simple black box. Ptolemus. I stand up taking it from the girl's hands. She bows her head and retreats closing the door behind her. I sit back at my vanity, marveling at the black box. I run my fingers over the ink top before I pull it off.

Two gold cuff bracelets rest delicately on silver silk, both of them expertly crafted. I feel myself smile as I reach in picking one up. They're light and reach up to my elbows. Excitedly I slip each into my arms, admiring them in the light of my open windows.

Ptolemus Pov

It takes longer than it should to return back to Archen and I'm practically shaking with excitement as I run my hands through my hair to see Isabelle. She was all that could occupy my mind. Being away from her is getting harder and harder every time I need to be.

The last time I laid eyes on her I asked of her the unthinkable. To betray one of the most valued thing we silvers have: family. I asked her to choose me, to stay by my side. I can only hope she had made her decision although the odds aren't in my favor.

I am offering her nothing more then my presence and every fiber of my being. No wedding, no title other then the girl I keeped tucked away in the shadows. I hope I am enough for her.

Soon enough it's time to leave. Due to our sudden rush to leave when Maven made the arrangement with the Lakelans back at th Choke, we need to meet Norta's future queen. Beside the fact we are the most powerful house in court. It should an honor, but right now it just feels like another barrier in front of me before I can get to Isabelle.

Time Skip

Iris a beautiful creature by design. Her flawless midnight complexion and stone grey eyes are enough to bring any naive man to his knees. The quaking Red, Mare stands beside her looking less then what she is, diminished to bones and dark circles under her eyes but my hair rises on the back of my neck. Despite the silent stone chains that suck the life out of her by the day, I know she is nobody to be underestimated.