Elena stood still, the silk of her nightgown brushing against the cold marble floor of the throne room. The air was thick with the scents of smoke and old wax, mingling with an undercurrent of fear. She couldn't shake the feeling of dread as she wondered why her father had summoned her at such a late hour. Under the towering pillars and her father's stern gaze, doubt crept in.
King Richard Ashwood occupied Aurelia's ancient throne, the crown that seemed too heavy for his weary head, glinting dimly in flickering candlelight. Beside him, her brother, Prince Caspian, stood with his arms crossed and his jaw clenched tight, with anger evident in the muscle that twitched beneath his cheek.
"Elena," her father said, exhaustion roughening his voice. "Come closer."
She obeyed, her bare feet whispering against the polished marble. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, drowning out the soft sound of her footsteps.
With a practiced curtsy, she greeted him. "Father."
Caspian's gaze softened as he looked at her. The protective instinct he always possessed shone in his eyes, though he remained silent.
The king sighed heavily, a sound that carried the weight of defeat rather than authority. "You are getting married." He paused, searching her eyes as if seeking unspoken understanding.
Elena blinked in surprise and forced herself to respond. "Married? To whom?" The abruptness took her breath away; she certainly had not expected this news, especially not before her coming-of-age ceremony in a few months.
Her father's gaze shifted, and it landed on the dark windows behind her. "To King Aiden Nightbane of Ebonhart."
The name fell between them, producing a heavy silence. The crackle of torches on the walls echoed harshly in her ears.
Caspian stepped forward with a fierce and defiant expression. "Father, no! She's not ready. Her coming of age is in six months. You promised…"
King Richard's hand slammed down hard on the throne's armrest, causing a sharp sound that echoed off the high ceiling. "Aurelia has no other choice," he replied, with his voice steady, though tremors coursed through his fingers. Despite the firmness of his words, he looked like a man battling an inner storm.
Caspian's eyes flashed with desperation as he turned to Elena. "Ellie, please, say something. Tell him you won't go. I'll fight this. For you. For our country. I'll make sure to win...." He said almost tearfully.
"Silence!" the king roared, making his voice fill the vast throne room. The crown tilted slightly, and it made him appear more like a weary man than a powerful ruler.
Elena swallowed hard, and she felt her throat dry and her stomach twisting with anxiety. "Aiden Nightbane…" she murmured, the name bitter on her tongue. Different stories flooded her mind as she kept thinking of the tales of a monstrous tyrant draped in silk and an immortal who commanded armies that reduced villages to ash.
She looked back at her father, searching for even a hint of softness in his expression. "Why me?" she asked softly, her voice almost a whisper. "Why not a treaty? Or more gold? Or…?"
"He demanded you," King Richard replied abruptly, his voice cracking slightly. "He wants an Ashwood princess at his side. If we deny him, Elena, he will take Aurelia by force."
The thought sent shivers down her spine. "How long?" she whispered.
"He expects you within three days," the king said, his voice strained.
Caspian spun to confront their father. "I won't allow it. I'll gather the knights and ride for Ebonhart myself."
"Enough!" the king shouted, rising to his feet. For a moment, the two men glared at each other, and the tension between them got thick and dangerous.
Elena felt smaller than ever, dwarfed by the towering columns and diminished by the weight of her unexpected fate. Lowering her gaze, she curtsied once more. Although her voice was steady, her heart raced behind her chest rigorously. "I understand, Father."
Caspian turned back to her, eyes wide with shock. "No! Ellie, please…"
Without raising her head, she nodded. "I understand."
She turned and walked out of the throne room, desperate to hide the tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
Outside, her maid Serah sprang up from a bench where she had been dozing. The girl's surprised eyes widened at the sight of Elena's pale face. "Your Highness? Are you…?"
"Take me to my chambers, Serah," Elena instructed quietly but in a firm voice.
Serah hurried to her side and adjusted the hem of Elena's nightgown. Her small frame radiated warmth, carrying the calming scent of lavender soap. "Did… did His Majesty scold you again? Forgive me, Princess, I shouldn't pry, but…"
Elena remained silent as the palace corridors passed by in a blur, tapestries and grim portraits under the moonlight spilling through tall windows. Their beauty now felt distant and unimportant.
Serah gently touched her hand. "Your Highness, please don't worry. Whatever it is, it can't be that bad. You are Aurelia's beloved moonflower. No storm can break you."
Stopping before her chamber door, Elena turned to Serah, her throat constricting painfully as she studied the earnest concern on the girl's face. "Thank you, Serah. You may rest for the night."
Serah frowned. "Let me stay with you. You look tir...."
But Elena shook her head. "I need to be alone."