A Dance Of Twilight: (A Fae Dark Fantasy Romance Stand-Alone )

Chapter 13

Talia practically dived into my closet as she found the blue dress. It reminded me of just how young she was, even if she was nearing her age to be shipped off and married. I adored seeing her as my younger sister. I wished for her to stay this way forever.

“Kathlyn, I will need a different dress. This one has mud on it from my walk. Find me the dark green version please.”

I was still going to wear something less dressy, and of course, Talia wanted to match me this evening. Dark green happened to be the only other colour I had, other than the blue and lilac. Throwing off the lilac dress, Kathlyn replaced it with the green.

She brushed my hair out, leaving me with natural waves. She then secured a velvet choker that matched the emerald of my dress around my neck.

Nerves snaked up my back as I thought about Lord Cole sitting downstairs. I wondered if we’re going to discuss anything. Perhaps Mother had changed her mind, and he would be the best suitor for me.

He was a proper gentleman, and seemed to come from a well-to-do family. Clearly he was an heir of some sort, even if he did need to marry for luck and money. He seemed to get on rather well with Norok and Father, which was a good sign. I could use that to my advantage.

Linking arms again with Talia, we headed downstairs towards the dining hall. We were chatting amongst ourselves, mostly about silly things when Gelda joined us at the staircase with Norok. She quickly lowered her eyes and curtsied towards us both.

“Why don’t you head downstairs, Gelda. I need to speak with my sisters.” Norok’s voice was stern and Gelda’s eyes lit up as she looked at me. She was likely hoping I was going to get into trouble, quickly descending down the stairs and into the dining hall.

“Ella, how could you say those things to Gelda? She has only ever been polite to you.”

“Norok, I will say as I see fit. She was looking for information to hand over to Mother about me.”

He tutted at me and rolled his eyes, tensing his shoulders. It was the only sign that showed his annoyance.

“Talia, go and join the others. We will be with you shortly.”

Talia did as she was told, without question. Norok being the oldest out of the three, he would often have the most power. Turning around, I headed to sit down on one of the small decorative chairs in the hallway. Norok took the seat next to me.

“Ornella, I know more than anyone how nosey Gelda can be. All she wants is to be on yours, Talia’s, and Mother’s good side. Did you really have to be so harsh earlier? She came running into my room, crying just as Mother arrived moments before to talk about boring wedding things. She then told us everything you had said.”

“I didn’t mean to be as harsh or hurtful as I was. It’s just she was so informal towards me, and in front of her friends,” I paused, running a hand through the front of my hair, nervously. “You know I would never talk down to anyone of low birth, but she wanted to know why I was with Lord Cole this morning. It bothered me, and quite frankly, it’s none of her business.”

“And why were you with Cole? He said you fainted, and he just happened to be there to catch you. Apparently, he was coming up to speak to you about the tournament and you fainted at the sight of him.” There was a teasing note to his words.

A huff escaped my lips at the sudden irritation at his clear lie. I would not faint at the sight of any man, aside from the one who chose to—I couldn’t bring myself to think of him right now. Feeling suddenly clammy, I felt as if the air was slowly being sucked from the room.

“No, that’s not what happened. I saw—” I stopped, shutting my mouth tightly.

“Saw what?”

If I told Norok the truth, he would march downstairs, pull out a sword and murder Dorian right there at the dining table. Which I could not let happen. If anything, that was my revenge. He looked at me with suspicious eyes and I could hear that faint ringing again in my ears. I began waving my hand in front of my face, attempting to cool myself down. Norok’s expression changed from suspicion to one of concern.

Dorian would be downstairs, possibly reliving the moment he forced upon me again, and again in his mind. I felt sick to my stomach, and desperately wanted to curl up into a ball and cry.

“Open a window, please!” Norok shouted to one of the guards stationed in the hallway.

The guard rushed to the side window before flinging it open. At the feel of the fresh air on my cheeks, I took in a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I couldn’t go downstairs like this. Not this panicked and flushed.

“Ella, whatever it is you can tell me.”

He placed a hand on my knee, and I could swear the colour drained from my entire body as a cold rush ran through me.

“Come on, Mother is probably waiting for us,” I managed to say as I took hold of Norok’s hand, squeezing it gently.

“Ornella. I may be the crowned prince, but I am still your big brother. That means you can tell me anything.”

His soft gentle smile made my heart sing. He would always be my sweet brother. He aggravated me almost every day, but he would always be the person I would trust with my life.

“I will be here when you are ready to talk. Just say the word and we can go somewhere private. You can tell me all the secrets that hide in that big, beautiful, wild brain of yours,” he said as he kissed my forehead, comforting me while the panic episode disappeared.

Smiling up at him, I took his hand as he held his out for me. He pulled me from the chair and linked my arm into his. Silence fell over us as we headed downstairs to join the others.

“Ah, there you both are!” Father proclaimed, clapping his hands together as he saw us enter the room and stood from his seat.

I clocked Dorian instantly as he raised his glass to me and smiled a sickening smile. I quickly avoided his eye contact and looked straight at my father who was beaming.

“Ornella, I have some wonderful and exciting news.”

Norok kept my arm linked into his and patted my hand gently. He knew what his news was, everyone seemed to.

“We have found you the perfect husband,” Father announced.

I looked over quickly towards Lord Cole who kept his eyes to the ground as he drank from his cup. Mother seemed to be bursting from the seams with excitement, while Grandmother didn’t appear at all bothered. I swallowed the lump already forming in my throat as my feet tried to give out from under me.

“And who might that be?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“All in due time. First we must get through the festival, then your brother’s wedding. After that, we shall announce it.”

I swallowed hard, shaken, and feeling a little nauseated. I needed fresh air. I needed to escape.

“Father, if it’s alright with you, I think Ornella might not be over her ordeal today at the market. May I take her outside to get some fresh air?”

Father nodded to my sister. Talia, my rescuer, was quick at my side as Norok let go of me. Together we headed outside. She sat me down on one of the stone benches and I could feel my stomach turn. Empty but desperate to bring up anything.

“Are you alright?” Talia asked as she knelt down in front of me.

“I will be fine, thank you.”

Taking a few deep breaths and sitting outside for a minute or two, we eventually headed back in. Unless I was addressed, I sat in silence for most of the dinner. Cole barely looked up at me as he made conversations with Norok and Father about whatever men discussed. The ringing in my ears returned, distracting me from everything else going on around me.

“Talia, please tell me if you know of whom I am meant to be marrying?” I asked.

Talia only shook her head, her eyes filled with sadness as she admits that she doesn”t know.

“If I did, I would tell you, Ella.”

I had the strangest feeling deep within my very being. I just knew that I wasn’t going to like the news that was yet to come. Soon enough, dinner was finished, allowing me to head back outside to the courtyard, leaving everyone behind. I was craving my own peace, hating my life and the responsibilities I had—now more than ever.

“Some exciting news then.”

“Oh, now you’re speaking to me.”

My voice came out a lot angrier than I intended it to be as Lord Cole fell into step beside me on my stroll through the gardens. I’d wondered when he was going to eventually speak with me, considering how close we’d become in the carriage. Except now that he was, all I was wishing for was to see how quickly I could end our conversation and make it upstairs without anyone else noticing my absence.

Father’s laugh bellowed over the quiet sound of Talia playing some notes on the piano. Mother’s laughter followed close behind his, practically drowning out the music.

Everyone was happy, aside from me.

“Apologies, your highness. I didn’t think it proper of me to address you so informally at the dinner table.”

“And outside is better, is it?”

“Well, it is without the queen sneering at me like I was a dead animal on the road, ready for the picking,” he remarked lightly.

Laughing under my breath, I sat down on the bench from earlier. He took the seat next to me. He still held the same cup from earlier. I noticed he was wearing a replacement jacket, which I assumed was Norok’s.

“Do you know who my parents have picked as my future husband?” I asked, putting an emphasis on you.

“I’m afraid I arrived a little too late for that information.”

I huffed before taking the cup from his hand and finished off his drink. The taste of ale hit my tongue, making me wish he had more hidden away somewhere. Mother would always force us to drink wine during dinners, making me wonder where he found such a drink.

“I’m sorry if I seemed snappy just now,” I paused, handing him back his cup before adding, “I have a lot on my mind.”

“I’d have a lot on my mind if I were an heir to a vast and large kingdom all while being forced to marry someone I did not know,” Cole said kindly.

“Is that what it’s going to be like? Meeting my future husband and barely saying more than two words to each other before we say our vows.”

He sighed, looking away from me in the direction where my family occupied the dining room. They seemed to be lost in their own enjoyment, as if they had no care in the world.

“I think you’d find we’ve said at least three, maybe four words to each other, so I am not sure,” he quipped.

“Is that your attempt at a jest?” I asked with a smile.

Leaning my head back, I looked up at the night sky as it shined beautifully with stars. I longed for it to be him, and perhaps it was him, and rather than tell me, he was leaving the news to my father. He seemed to want to be near me. I could feel his warmth against my thigh as he sat close to me, even though there was plenty of room on the other side of him.

“It was an awful attempt, I will admit. But I thought you would be happy to be getting married, most girls are.”

“It’s not that I do not wish to marry. It’s just, I always pictured marrying for love, not duty,” I replied, a sadness bleeding through my words. “Cole, please. We are friends.”

Friends? That sounded foreign to me. I didn’t think women were allowed to have male friends, unless they were old and married. I smiled at the thought. Perhaps we would just have to stick to being friends. Unless my future husband forbade me, which was usually how it went.

“People would call me strange for thinking such things. Odd even. I am not like most ladies of the court. All they do is sit and drink tea all day. I want adventure and to explore,” I said honestly.

“I should hope you’re not like those boring ones.”

He brushed his shoulder up against mine, bumping me a little. I opened one eye to look at him. He had his head in the same position as my own and we sat there unmoving, just looking up at the sky.

“You know, I quite like you Cole. You don’t seem to be afraid to speak your mind to me,” I admitted quietly.

He laughed softly, “I am glad, princess. I enjoy your company, too.”

“I hope we can continue building this friendship, even if my future husband tries to forbid me.”

He again laughed as he turned his head to look at me. Those grey specks sparkled in the moonlight. His eyes appeared a lot darker today. He looked tired, and as our eyes met, I wanted to ask him what troubled him.

“There you two are. Ornella, will you take Talia to bed?”

Norok’s voice broke our peace and Cole quickly sat up, straightening himself.

“Get one of her ladies to do it,” I grumbled.

“Mother has ordered you to.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. I was finally starting to enjoy my evening. I stood up and looked at Cole. He gave me a sorrow filled smile before taking my hand and kissing it gently.

“Until we meet again, princess.”

“Yes,” I agreed, brushing my hands down my dress. “Goodnight, brother,” I murmured, dipping my chin to Cole. “Until we meet again, Cole.”

A small smile pressed against my lips as I curtsied. As I walked away, I could hear Norok asking why I was addressing Cole informally. It caused a laugh to bubble up in my chest.

Heading back inside, I found Talia waiting patiently for me. I linked my arm through hers and the two of us headed upstairs to bed. Cole’s words about being friends continued to run through my mind. I wondered if I could still persuade Father to let me pick my future husband and not marry the one he’d selected.