The Midnight Rebellion

Chapter 10: The Present

The next few days, Orion spent more time with Nyx. She noticed he had made extra time for her when advisors or Narcissa tried to hunt him down, but they ended up being sent away. He kept Nyx occupied and her thoughts from going back to the war. She noticed his efforts and appreciated them greatly. 

They spent hours sitting on their favorite rooftop, training with swords or in the music hall where Orion played the piano expertly for her. She'd dance through the room or sing the song, if she knew the lyrics. He'd watch her as he played with that crooked grin of his that he always wore when he watched her dance. There was an easiness to it. A light-hearted sense of ignorant bliss as they both shoved all dark thoughts of war away. 

Nonetheless, there was an overall tension in the castle air. Even though the staff was busy preparing for the crown prince's birthday ball, she noticed more guards on duty and the advisors becoming more anxious by the day. Preparations for war were buzzing behind the scenes. Everyone knew it. It felt like a heavy stone in Nyx' stomach.

She had not found the courage to tell Orion of her plan. He may have known that she feared the war, but he did not know that she did not plan on going to that battlefield. Did not know of her cowardice plan to stay at the castle and protect him instead. 

Day by day, her thoughts ate at her. Not just the war, but also her growing feelings for Orion. She had not thought they could get even more intense, yet the more time he spent with her, the more her heart ached for him. It lead to sleepless nights tossing and turning in bed. 

The evening before their birthdays, Nyx and Orion sat on the roof of the castle's highest tower. Trying to talk about something more light-hearted, they had begun discussing tomorrow's ball. 

"A ball. So fancy", Nyx laughed as she pushed a stray strand of hair behind an ear as she looked up at the sky, "I don't think I can attend this year. I don't even have a dress suited for that kind of event." She laughed a little half-heartedly and became quiet. It was true, she did not have a dress. However, that was not the true reason for her not wanting to attend Orion's ball. She knew she'd have to watch him dance with Narcissa all night and simply could not stand the thought of it. 

"Don't worry about the dress." Orion's smile grew smug. He flustered his feathers a little and looked down from the sky to Nyx. Growing earnest, he said: "Promise me. Promise me you'll be there." Nyx swallowed. His eyes of molten gold would not let her go. She felt trapped. Knew she could not promise such a thing when she knew the evening would torture her already bleeding heart. And yet, there was something so desperate in his stare that she could not deny him his wish. Barely a whisper of air, she promised and with it, she felt her heart cracking a little further. 

The next morning, punctual as every year, a knock sounded on the door and a maid brought in the little basket with the dried wildflowers, a box of cookies baked after Georgia's recipe and a letter. Like every year, in delicate handwriting, the nickname Nala had been neatly written on it. She never dared to open Atlas' letters. Knew it would shred her heart to pieces. So without further ado, she took the letter, opened her top drawer and laid it tenderly with the others and the old dagger. This time however, with everything happening around her, she stayed where she was. Stared at the letters. Did not know whether to finally open them or not. 

After several minutes, she closed the drawer feeling small and alone. Letting herself slump on the bed, she began devouring the cookies. Since Georgia had passed away, Atlas had taken up baking the cookies for her. She knew it. Could taste the love he poured into them each year. While eating and staring at the wildflowers, small tears began flowing down her face. 

Another knock sounded. "Come in", Nyx said while hurriedly swiping away the tears on her face expecting Orion to come in, but it was two maids. In their hands, they each held a letter and a gift. Before coming in, one maid bent down to pick up another letter that had been laying on the floor in front of Nyx' door.