Eleanor Stargazer

Chapter 5 - Part One

"Show me where it hurts and give me something real
And lead me to the part of you that never really heals
And say the words that burn when they leave your mouth
Tell me your story, but don't leave the good parts out"

- Andy Grammar

Eleanor

Ellie jerked up into a sitting position on her bed. What the hell had I just done? She had her palms pressed to her temples tossing her head from side to side. It had to be a dream. She did not just agree to becoming the queen of a whole kingdom, did she?

"Uhm," someone cleared their throat and Ellie peered sideways to find Damian standing at the door, slightly grinning with a cup in his hands. "I brought you some tea." He put it down on the rickety bedside table.

"Thanks." Her arms dropped to her side, as she straightened her posture.

"Eleanor," he started, but closed his mouth before forming the rest of his sentence, and just added, "just let me know if you need anything else."

"Wait." She whispered, not sure herself why she called him back.

"Yes?"

"Uhh," She looked at his almost transparent eyes, rummaging through her thoughts for reason. "Would you mind just staying a bit."

He looked at her for a second before answering.

"In the room?"

"Yes. Wait, is that not right?" Suddenly her mind went to all the embarrassing reasons that a girl might ask a boy to stay in the room, especially in a world where she didn't know any of their customs. Her cheeks heated up.

"You just asked to be alone for a while, so I was just caught off guard when you asked me to stay. That is all." He took a seat on the chair near the bed. A dark crease formed on his forehead as he leaned slightly closer to her. "Are you unwell? You're all red. Do you have a fever?"

She was relieved. At least her embarrassing thoughts stayed hers alone.

"I'm fine. Just a bit overwhelmed, and scared, and confused, and angry at myself for saying yes to something that couldn't even possibly be true."

"And yet it is." He breathed, placing his hands on his knees.

"And you?"

"What about me?" He frowned.

"Well, you just found out that magic still exists and that your own uncle is a wizard. According to me, that's grounds for some confusion or anger."

He chuckled lightly. "I'm not angry. At least, I don't think I am. I am confused, though. Fantastically confused.­"

"But you believe them? You think it could be true what they have said?"

He sighed, that goofy grin on his face again.

"I know my uncle has kept this enormous secret from me, but I will always trust him. He wouldn't have kept it a secret, if he didn't believe it the best thing for me. Just like he wouldn't have called for Ailana if he didn't believe it necessary. Ailana risked being exposed when she visited today. If she was willing to place her life on the line - if my uncle was willing to place her life on the line - then it is worth at least placing a little bit of trust in them, don't you think?"

Phrasing it like that, Ellie felt silly for doubting their words. She looked down at her hands, squeezing her thumbs into her palms again, until a rough bronzed hand stilled them. She looked up, meeting Damian's light eyes, eyes that seemed to call out to her.

"Don't feel sorry for not trusting them. To you, we are strangers. You have to ask all the questions you can think of, and don't ever feel sorry about demanding an answer for them." He breathed softy, slowly letting go. Her heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and her silly cheeks heated up again.

"My parents are celebrities." She said the first thing that came to mind. Why it had to be the one topic she always wanted to avoid, she couldn't understand.

"What is celebrities?" He phrased the word carefully.

Ellie burst out laughing, and a big frown grew on Damian's face.

"Did I say it wrong?"

"No, not at all. Life's just funny, is all." He cocked his head to the side, as though needing further explanation. "Well, you see, my whole life people only ever wanted to talk to me or be my friend because of my parents. I hated it. I hated that people just wanted to get close to me because my parents are celebrities. Now, the one time I want to talk about it, I find myself in a world that doesn't even know the word celebrity."

"When we find ourselves in the unknown, we search for the familiar. Even the bad things." He smiled lightly, staring past the window as though he was reciting a poem.

"I guess that's true." She said, thinking about it for the first time. "I came here because I asked the matches to take me away. Now, that I'm gone I find myself yearning for anything that reminds me of home, even stupid teenage drama will make me feel a little less homesick."

"Why didn't you just ask?" Damian jumped out of his chair, beaming and holding out his palms. "If it is drama you want, I can get you drama. We just need to sneak into the closest tavern or hang around Betsy and her friends. Word is, she has a new suitor every week." He winked playfully.

Ellie chuckled, grabbing his hand, pulling him back to his seat. "We're not allowed to leave the house, remember?"

Damian huffed. "Fine, we'll have to do with something else to make you feel more at home. Do you have anything specific in mind, Princess Eleanor?" He grinned, and she slapped him teasingly on the shoulder. "Ouch," he mouthed, but then showed off a satisfied grin.

"Well, this whole bowing thing is new to me, although there are some cultures that do it in our world, but not where I'm from. We do handshakes - or hugs when it is a friend." She added.

"Handshake?" His brows came together as he looked at his hand, waving it in the air.

Ellie laughed. "No, not like that." She extended her hand, taking his palm in hers. "You ready?" She asked in her most serious voice. He nodded hesitantly, and she shook his hand.

"That's it?" He asked, as she let go of his hand. "I was expecting something grander."

"It's just a greeting after all. I guess the hugs are better, but it's weird if a stranger hugs you."

"It's odd that you would just let any stranger touch you. I think I prefer our bowing." He looked up at Ellie again. "Any other requests, Prince- Eleanor." He quickly corrected himself when he received a deathly glare.

"How about you just call me Ellie." She looked at her fingers, fidgeting again as she continued. "My mom used to call me her Ellie from the stars."

"Okay," Damian turned to her, clearing his throat as he extended his hand.

"What are you doing?" She studied his hanging arm.

He nudged his hand forward, and she hesitantly placed her hand in his. Slowly, he moved it up and down, locking eyes with her. "Hello, Ellie from the stars. It is very nice to meet you."