The Everlands Chronicles: The Truth

by A. J. Bell

“I’ll be fine on my own,” he replied.

  “Get dressed while I get the horses ready. Wait here until I come back and get you.”

  “Where are you going?” asked Doctor Stern, but I ignored him. As I opened the door, I found His Majesty the King standing outside.

  “Your Highness,” I humbly bowed. He pulled me up softly by my hand.

  “Let me see you again, My Lady,” he said. I looked up and gave him a weak smile. “Doctor, is she going to be all right?”

  Doctor Stern nodded. “Her nose isn’t broken, and her teeth aren’t loose. Other than a bloody nose, a split lip, and a couple of bruises, she’ll be fine. I think it’s a miracle that she did n’t get hurt beyond repair.”

  “Very well then, come with me, My Lady. I must speak with you in private.” The Queen, next to him, had an ugly but pleased grin, as if she was certain I was in trouble. She wanted to accompany us, but the King dismissed her. She was furious.

  I walked with His Highness through the Queen’s gardens. He kept quiet until we stopped in front of a rose bush, where there was a small bench. His Majesty sat there and then asked me to sit next to him.

  “This was the first plant my dear Kyrah planted. She would sit here and watch it grow. She planted every single one of the trees and flower bushes in these very gardens, with the help of Karianna, her best friend, of course. Kyrah wore that same dress you are wearing right now.” He paused. I felt I should not have dared to wear this dress, his wife’s dress. “Karianna Blackrose made this dress for my dear Kyrah, and made one for her as well, so that they both would have the same dress to work in the garden. Do you know why am I telling you this?” I shook my head. “You remind me a lot of Karianna. Do you know what happened to her?” I shook my head again. “She was murdered by her own kin. Gypsies! Her daughter was to become Queen of Lerona on her sixteenth birthday, but that never happened. You remind me so much of her, so much that it actually hurts.” I thought I saw him wipe a tear away. “Anyway, enough sad stories. Tell me about you, Dear. Who are your parents? Where do you live? Where did you grow up?”

  “I was raised in Andora, Your Highness, where my father is a blacksmith and my mother a healer, with great gardening skills too. I love to sing, and with the exception of tonight’s fight, I’m well skilled with the sword–”

  “I would like to meet your father. When can I meet him?”

  “I can go and bring them over, Sire,” I offered.

  “I think I can send my own herald, and meanwhile, you can stay here in the safety of the palace.”

  “With all due respect, Your Excellency, I doubt my presence in this palace will ease the strong feelings the Queen already has for me.”

  “You let me worry about the Queen. You are my guest now, and nobody will touch you or your escort unless I give the order, My Lady.”

  “Much obliged, Your Highness.”

  “I’m curious, though, about how you met my son. He seems very fond of you.”

  “We met… through my brother,” I lied, and this time, guilt overtook me as the words came out. “Sir John Giles, you might remember him, Your Highness. He was Sir Richard’s squire.”

  “Oh, yes! I remember him – a very brave young man. The kingdom would be a much better and safer place if more of our young men were like him. We should invite your brother to the palace also, my dear Lady.”

  In a way, I felt flattered that His Highness thought so highly of John, but I was worried what would happen when he found out that John wasn’t my brother, but the name that protected the real me.

  “Well, My Lady, may you find rest tonight. I’ll be seeing you in the morning when you join us for breakfast.” He stood up and left.

  I remained behind, staring at the roses whose scent washed over me in the breeze of the night.

  “Are you all right?” asked Dorian, sitting down next to me. I stood up immediately. “I shouldn’t have left you alone. It’s my fault that you ended up with a bloody–”

  “I’m well, My Lord. The doctor himself said so. I’ll be bruised for a while, but I’ll be fine soon. I heal quickly. I always have.” He looked down for a moment. “Some wounds will take longer than others to heal, but they’ll heal eventually. Please do not waste one more moment thinking about it.” As hard as it was for me to say it, I said it. “In the end, things are what they are for a reason, and the deepest pain or sorrow won’t change it. They’ll only make life miserable for both of us.” I paused for a moment. “I wish you well and I wish you happiness; nothing else, My Lord.” I walked away, leaving him with his face sunk between his hands in the darkness.

  My walk under the moonbeams wasn’t over yet. As I walked back, I saw Richard waiting for me outside my chambers. “Good evening, My Lord, may I help you?”

  He walked closer to me. I hesitated, but stood my ground as the distance shrank between us. He reached for my hand and kissed it softly. Then, slipping it through his arm, he asked, “May we have a walk also?” I nodded. If I was ever going to have an opportunity to tell him to leave me alone, this was it. “Have you spoken to my father?” he asked. He knew the answer to that question without a doubt.

  “Not tonight,” was my reply.

  His grin changed. “What did he tell you back in Stoneburg that made you leave?”

  I was afraid he already knew the answer to that too, but did I have the guts to tell him that his father thought of him as a puppet on a string who could be easily managed?

  “Your father wants what’s best for you, My Lord – at the present time, he strongly believes that’s not me.”

  He snorted. “You forgot to mention something,” he said sourly. “Five hundred gold coins to stay away? Does that sound familiar?”

  “I didn’t take the gold!”

  “But you’re staying away anyway,” he said, pained by my silence.

  “It is for the best, Sir Richard,” I justified myself.

  “I’m not giving you up!” he said stubbornly. Deep inside, I was pleased to hear it, flattered by his reaction, but the more reasonable part of me knew very well that accepting his advances would unleash an entire new sea of trouble for me. Richard couldn’t be part of my life while John existed.

  “That decision isn’t only yours to make. Lord Gilbert–”

  “My father can’t decide for me, despite what he thinks or makes it look like. I’m not his puppet!”

  Guilt showed in my eyes for having the exact same thought seconds ago. This was a Richard I hadn’t seen before, a defiant-of-father’s-authority kind of Richard. His eyes shimmered in the moonlight as he leaned close enough for my lips to get another taste of his, his face smiling victoriously as his lips got even closer.

  Being close to him was like being in a battlefield, because his every move, his every word, and his sole purpose in this battle was to disarm me.

  I needed to keep my guard up at all times, especially because when I was close to him, all I wanted to do was surrender. Just as my bruised lips felt the warmth of his, I took a step back, and hid my face from his.

  “My Lord, I made a promise to your father–”

  “Yeah, he did mention that,” Richard chuckled. “He said something about you not looking for me. I’ll tell you what we’ll do. I’ll take care of Father–”

  “I always keep my promises,” I warned him.

  “I see. Then you can keep your promise, but I made a promise to him also.” He paused, enjoying the intrigued look on my face.

  I was afraid of the answer, but I asked anyway. “What exactly did you promise him?”

  “That I won’t stop loving you until the day I die! And until that day comes, I won’t give you up. And even then, death might have to fight hard to stop my spirit from loving you more–”

  “Please say no more. I… I don’t know what to say. Why would you make a promise that you’re bound to break?”

  He stopped walking, took both of my hands in his, and kissed them again softly. “I always keep my promises,” he said.
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br />   I tried to think back if, in all the years I’ve known him, there had been times when he had broken a promise, but I couldn’t think of even one. His words were truthful, and that just complicated things. Somehow, I had done a really bad job of blowing him off. In front of me stood a man that for as long as I had known him had been incapable to let the advances of a beautiful woman pass him unnoticed. How, all of a sudden, would he be able to contain his desires to achieve my love – a love that I wasn’t offering to him?

  Could I feel any worse than I already did? He was pouring out his heart, and all that occupied my mind was the idea of crushing it, just like Dorian had done with mine. I couldn’t stop myself from feeling guilty. He was being more than honest. In this battle, he had just removed his armor and left his chest uncovered for me to tear his heart out. If he could forgive all the years full of lies, if he could still trust me once he found out John and I were one, then perhaps we could try. Until then, I couldn’t falter. Until then, he’d be waiting.

  After a long silence, he put my hand through his arm and walked me back to my chambers. “Does it hurt?” he asked, unexpectedly.

  “I’m sure it looks worse than it feels,” I said, rubbing my lips.

  “I meant seeing Victor and Dorian with their brand new brides.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but the fact that they chose to marry is proof enough of their true feelings for me. Both are full pages in the book of my life, and although there is room in there to continue writing, I doubt that we’d ever share the same lines.” I meant it. “My purpose should be to move forward and not to stay stuck in the past,” I said.

  “I guess that settles it.”

  I looked at him, curious at his comment. “Settles what?”

  “That I only have to wait until you understand that I’m your only choice,” he said, smiling.

  Was that it? Some sort of competition that he thinks he has already won? I thought as I let go of his arm. “Don’t be so sure of it, My Lord. Your kin are not the only people seeking my affections.” We were in front of my door, so I opened the door to go inside to sleep. “Goodnight, My Lord.”

  “So is this other admirer of yours back in Andora?”

  My eyes widened. How did he know about Andora? He got so close to me that if he had pushed his body a little harder against mine, he would have had my back pinned against the wall. He leaned his face forward.

  This is it. He is going to kiss me again. A rush of emotions flowed from my head to my toes, and I closed my eyes in anticipation. But his lips didn’t reach mine. In actuality, he pulled back. I opened my eyes only to see him turn around to walk away.

  He paused halfway down the corridor. “If you still want that kiss, as I think you do, you can find me in the east wing, second door on the right at the end of the hallway. My door is always unlocked, but if you take too long, you may find me already asleep. That would be a shame.” He walked away, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I was sure he had that same victorious smile he had showed earlier. I went inside my chambers and lay down, furious.

  I noticed Orman was not in the room, but I couldn’t concentrate on looking for him. Richard was all that filled my mind. He was teasing me. He‘s playing a game! I can play it too, and he’s not going to like it. I closed my eyes, trying to calm down so that I could fall asleep, but as soon as I did, there was a knock on the door. So Richard ate his words and came back.

  Wrong! I was wrong. At my door was a page with a note from the Prince asking me to meet him at the floating gazebo. Was he serious? It was probably past midnight and he wanted to have a little talk in the moonlight on his wedding night?

  I strolled through the gardens, unable to enjoy the surroundings. I kept thinking on how tired I was and how was it that my life got so messed up the moment men entered in it and how easy it was to deal with them when it was John doing the work instead of Elle.

  Victor was waiting for me in the gazebo, and he stood up nervously as I arrived. “Not having a good evening in the Royal City, are we?” he asked.

  “Is that why you have summoned me? To tell me something that’s obvious. Your Highness, being up this late at night doesn’t help improve my mood at all.” He grinned. For the first time for me this night, silence ruled but didn’t feel awkward. Victor pulled me into his arms, but this time, they offered no comfort and felt strange. For the first time, I felt I didn’t belong in them, which didn’t bother me because that’s the way it was meant to be.

  “I’m sorry about Dorian,” he said. “I was hoping that he would change his mind about following through with his wedding plans after seeing you tonight. You looked incredibly beautiful. I didn’t think he would already be married upon his arrival.”

  “He was sure you were marrying me. At least, that was his excuse to marry Jane, but it doesn’t matter. He’s moved on and so shall I, so please don’t speak of him as if doing so would change that which can’t be changed. Dorian is a married man, and because of that, we can’t be together, ever,” I pleaded.

  “Will you be staying for the rest of the festivities?”

  “I would have left already, but your father is adamant about my parents coming to visit the Royal City so that he can meet them.”

  “That doesn’t sound as bad as you are making it out to be,” he said.

  “No, not bad, except he wants John to come with them, and we both know that’s impossible.”

  He sighed. “Yeah, that seems to be problematic.” I waited for him to give me a suggestion as to what to do, but he had no idea either.

  “I will sleep on it. Perhaps you will get to do the same, unless your wife is awake, waiting for you,” I said.

  “I didn’t tell her I was coming to see you, since she was asleep when I left,” he said.

  “Don’t do it again. We have nothing to hide. We shouldn’t have to wait for your wife to be asleep so that we can talk.” He nodded. “Besides, I like her. I wouldn’t mind seeing her as a friend – if friendship is possible between a peasant and the newest member of the Royal Family,” I assured him.

  “I will make sure she knows that, Elle.”

  “Goodnight, My Lord.”

  “Goodnight, Elle.”

  Eating and drinking seemed to be the true focal point of the festivities, much more than the celebration of the marriage of the Crowned Prince and Princess Camilla.

  I dreaded leaving my room after I saw my face in the mirror. A big bruise the size of a small orange covered the lower part of my face. I thought I looked awful. Even though the Princess’s makeup concealed most of the bruising, it didn’t help the slight swelling of my lower lip.

  Against my own judgment, I wore the gown with the lowest cleavage I could find because, according to Orman, doing this would make people pay more attention to other areas of my body, rather than my face. Yet, I felt so uncomfortable. Orman looked a lot worse than I did, but there was no cleavage that could help him. We both laughed, even though it hurt as if we were being beaten again. What a pair! We looked as we had been run over by a thousand horses.

  We walked towards the Great Hall to join the others at the breakfast that was prepared to honor the newly married couple. As we passed by, men would stop what they were doing and stare open-mouthed at me. On occasion, they even dropped their food back onto their plates, unable to stop their jaws from dropping. I’d say that the reaction of the unmarried women in the room, and some married ones as well, was entirely opposite from that of the male guests. I felt their gaze piercing through me like arrows bringing down the enemy. Some of their glances were so hateful that I wanted to fade in the background. However, as soon as Orman would notice, he would squeeze my hand to remind me of the advice he gave me before we walked in.

  “Look down to no one but the King. Keep your head up at all times. Keep your shoulders straight–” I tried to argue that keeping my head and shoulders straight would only make my cleavage more prominent, but the smile he gave me when I said that assured me that was
exactly what he was trying to accomplish. “Do not waste your glances on anybody you don’t want to impress. The men in the room won’t be able to stop themselves from staring at your…” He cleared his throat. “I meant you, when they gaze upon you.” I smiled, because I had no secrets from Orman. With or without clothes, he has seen me in my weakest moments, when I was not able to hold back my fears or doubts. What Richard wouldn’t give to have been in Orman’s place after he got me out of the water and shared his bed with me to keep me warm!

  But Orman was right. My every move was being watched.

  “My Lady,” called Jane as I passed by their table. She was probably the only woman there who didn’t feel threatened by my presence; she was secure of her husband’s love for her.

  “Good morning, Madam LaFonte,” I said, not looking at Dorian. “Lord Darius, Madam Kressie. I trust you had a good night’s sleep.” They nodded in answer to my greeting.

  “My Lady, will you sit at our table?” asked Jane.

  “Thanks, Madam, but I’ve been asked to sit near the King’s table by his Royal Highness himself.”

  “Good to see you again, My Lady,” said Lord Darius.

  “The pleasure is mine. Good day, My Lord.” Poor Jane! Her face was sad at my rejection, but I couldn’t honestly sit by her side and watch as they held hands and shared their happiness with the world. It was selfish on my part, but maybe in the future, when my broken heart had healed or my emotions gone numb, maybe then.

  Ahead of me, I beheld Richard and his father at the table to the right of the King. Richard stood up to greet me, but his father didn’t. His face showed displeasure when his son gallantly kissed my hand. Richard was trying really hard not to stare below my neck, but he wasn’t being very successful.

  “See something you like, My Lord?” I lifted his head up with my hand to direct his gaze at my face, instead of my cleavage. He blushed. “I hope you weren’t too cold last night, My Lord, all alone in your bed,” I said playfully.

  He smiled nervously. “I thought you really wanted that kiss. What stopped you from coming to me, My Lady?”