She took his hand, and for the very first time, the boy left that room and stepped out into the beautiful castle, where the movement of people startled and unsettled him. He did not like them, he did not feel comfortable, and he tightened his hand in his mother's hand as he warily looked at every person who was staring at him.
But very soon, as he began to tighten his hold in his mother's grip, she pulled her hand away from his and allowed him to just follow her.
When they stepped into the celebration hall where he was to be introduced as the prince, Rohan wanted to run back to the safety of his dark room and hide forever in there. He did not like it here. He clutched his mother's skirt, but she jerked it away from his hand without losing the warm smile on her face as she looked down at him.
"Mama, hold my hand," he cried internally, but she did not hold his hand. Instead, she told him to follow her.
