I have just seen the most beautiful thing or rather I have stumbled into her.
I was on my way down the stairs when she ran into me. "My apologies, I'm in a hurry." She says completely oblivious to the sight that is her. Her eyes catch the rays of the sun and sparkle in a way I know all too well. Her amethyst cocktail dress clings to her body as she runs past, her handmaidens in tow.
Huh. She didn't recognize me.
True, she was unraveling— distant, absentminded and teetering on the edge of a breakdown. But even then, I never thought she'd forget me. We'd met just yesterday— she was too keen to forget so soon— and my face is anything if not memorable. Maybe I was just overthinking it.
Whatever the case, it wasn't a call for concern— I had bigger, far more important things to worry about. They had done something to her. I'd refused to believe it when I noticed the change in her writing style and attitude but one look at her and there was no more denying it. Our short conversation yesterday proved that. The flame that once burned from her very core was dim and withering.
Yesterday, she had been submissive and cautious as though she were scared to invoke rage. She avoided making any sort of eye contact and didn't rage when I slipped a handful of slights into our conversation just to see how she'd react.
Nothing.
She was meek.
She was scared.
She was furtive.
She isn't her.
"How come you never smile, Zeke?"
"Because there's nothing to smile about." "That's not true. It's a beautiful day and we're having fun. You're supposed to smile when you're having fun." she said dangling from the tree by her legs. "And who told you I'm having fun? I'm not. I keep telling you princess, it's wrong and frankly stupid to make assumptions."
Only half of it was true. I was having the time of my life. Afterall, I was with her. She sat up locking eyes with me, displeasure sprawled all over her face. "You have a nasty habit of lying, Zeke. It is truly irritating." Damn. She wasn't discreet at all. I fought to prevent the smile creeping onto my face as I raised my brow in question.
"Don't give me that look, you know what I mean. You only ever come here to see me. You wouldn't keep coming here if you don't have fun." Her logic was flawed— full with loopholes too many to be ignored— but it was cute she thought like that. The corner of my lips quirked up into a smirk "I think you're placing your company on very high pedestal, princess. It just so happens that your chef makes the most amazing foods and Tenebris likes your garden."
She rolled her eyes at me like I was wasting her time when she clearly had nothing better to do. "Whatever Zeke, you're impossible." she puffed. How could someone cute and voluptuous exist in such a grotesque world.
I guess it's just one of the many mysteries of life.
"I'm also not done. I think people smile because they have a fire burning in them to do so not because they're having fun. The brighter the flame, the brighter the smile and my flame is dead, princess. No flame, no smile. "That's sad." she replied attempting to switch from her legs to her hands.
She failed.
She lost her grip and fell from 15 feet. I was already below the tree ready to catch her when she managed to latch onto another branch 7 feet from the ground. She shifted around trying to shift her weight and balance on the branch. This girl is going to be the death of me.
Once she finally managed to balance herself she looked down and locked eyes with me. Her smile was way to bright for someone who almost fell to her death. "I don't think that's right." she says innocently, still beaming.
"No?"
"Mhmn. But it doesn't matter, I have enough fire for both of us." she said going on to continue swinging. "And if you don't?" I arched a brow. "Well then, I guess I'm just going to have to burn more wood." That, made me smile. Such an oddball. "Ha! You smiled. You do like hanging out with me." she was now grinning, like she'd won something far greater than a smile from me.
Uggh. I could feel a blush creeping across my cheeks, warm and traitorous. What had this girl done to me. "Zeke, are you blushing? Oh my, you're totally blushing." she teased. "Shut up, princess. And get down from that tree before you fall again and hurt yourself." "Oou you're blushing even more now. You look so cute when you blush, Red." she giggled and let go of the branch. Falling straight into my already open, waiting arms.
"You must be dying to break a bone, putting this much faith in me, princess." I said as I caught her.
"What can I say? Red is my favorite color. I'd follow him anywhere."
I am going to figure out what they'd done to her and I will make them pay severely for daring to lay their filthy hands on my little fox. When I'd be through with them, they wouldn't just crave death—they'd wish they had the strength to beg for it. Only a dimwitted dolt would dare hurt what is mine—and still imagine they'll walk away unscathed. It's almost funny they thought they could get away with this when I'm alive and well.
In all candor, I had no intention of marrying Alyssa this soon. With all the ruckus in Aragorn and the unrest within the palace, I cannot risk her coming to harm. Marrying her after attaining the crown was always the plan, but between my ugly pig of an uncle and her vixen of a stepmother, my hands were practically tied.
Alas, I was never one to lament. This could turn out to be a good thing for me. In the meanwhile, I'm bubbling with excitement and anticipation to see what my multi-talented wife has come up with, that will rob me of breath itself away and turn my mind to mush for the nth time today.