Bella gazed at Sophia with sympathetic, glassy eyes, managing a small smile if just to help dry her tears. As the child dried her eyes with her sleeve, she reached a hand through the bars and swiped away a couple of her stray tears with a finger. If she had had a handkerchief, Bella would have offered it to her. The fact that she had nothing to offer made the blanket in the girl's arms a bigger shock than it initially would have been. She grasped it and pulled it through the bars as gently as she could, not only because it was obviously expensive but because it was proclaimed to be special. It landed in a heap on Bella's lap and she ran her fingers over the soft, lush material.
"Th-thank you." Bella said, her voice cracking as she fought the urge to cry. She draped the blanket around her shoulders, careful not to let it touch the floor or her mud-clumped boots. "I appreciate it, but don't go getting yourself into trouble. Okay?" She smiled again. Sophia's kindness warmed her heart. Her attention was pulled away by the butterfly then as it started to flutter about almost frantically. Bella furrowed her brow, confused until she looked past Sophia into the dark. She could only just make out the silhouette of a person. Immediately, she tensed and shivers crawled up her spine. A cold voice cut through the dark.
The voice addressed Sophia first, commanding that she leave. Bella was unsure whether the child would do as she was told and might have told her to go if she hadn't; she didn't want her to get in trouble for her sake. Even so, her heart sank a little as Sophia left; it skipped a beat when she saw the red eyes. Her heart skipped another beat when she saw Henry approaching and a sense of dread washed over her. The lantern light wasn't so bright as that of the Monarch, but it wasn't so easy on the eyes either. Bella squinted against it, her amber eyes turning the color of flames.
"..Um.." Bella hesitated when the voice addressed her. Her brain scrambled to find the right explanation, or at least, one that might be accepted. "I-I got lost in the woods collecting firewood. I was just trying to get back home. I didn't mean to intrude." She stammered uncertainly. It wasn't entirely the truth, but it wasn't all a lie, either. She did get lost in the woods; however, not for firewood. But she didn't want to say that Sophia was out there should it get her in trouble; her conscience wouldn't let her.
A brief silence ensued once Bella provided a vague explanation as to how she had arrived to the castle. Henry turned to the figure in the darkness, awaiting his judgement. It was clear to him the hooded troublemaker had played a part in this. Not only because it was quite obvious the two had been outside in the rain, but the exchange between the two as well. The exchange he witnessed from start to finish. He could have easily brought up these two points, but remained silent. Henry turned towards him, expecting some type of ruthless interrogation to go underway. This was not the first time the two stood before somebody within this very same cell.
The figure stepped out of the candles shadows, into the lanterns light. He appeared as well-dressed and dignified as the young man in the portrait above the castles front doors. There were, however, only two feature that separated him from that young man. For one, he appeared to be significantly older, suggesting that the painting may have been several years old. The second, and most obvious feature, was his excruciatingly pale skin, coupled with his blood-red pupils and bags hanging underneath his eye-lids, making his deadpan expression appear weary. He nearly looked like a ghost in comparison to the young man within the portrait. "That must have been quite the walk. Convenient you should find yourself here." He remarked, well aware of the castles proximity to neighboring towns and cities. "Or, possibly unfortunate."
Jaron crouched down to Bella's eye level, breathing heavily as he did so, as if doing so required an abundance of strength. Henry glanced at the young man, perplexed. Jaron's red eyes gazed not at Bella, but the blanket wrapped around her. He studied it intently. Whatever emotion he derived from staring at the fabric remained hidden beneath his empty expression. "Where are you from?" He asked, his eyes raising up to Bella's. "Your Highness?" Henry said, taken aback at the prince's particular line of questioning. Jaron did not remove his gaze, ignoring the disfigured man behind him. "Do you have a family?" He persisted.
There was a moment of silence following Bella's explanation of how she found her way to the castle. It was an unnerving silence, brief as it was. Bella watched the shadows closely, her eyes fixed on the place where she had seen the red eyes in the light of the Monarch. They would occasionally flicker towards Henry, whose presence made her more uncomfortable than that of the one she couldn't see. She couldn't help but wonder how many other people had been interrogated there in that black hallway and whether or not those people walked away from it. She was willing to bet that this had happened before and couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor souls who wandered into the castle before her.
Bella tensed as the shadows stirred and the figure stepped out. It turned out to be a young man, apparently not much older than herself. He was dressed quite finely, obviously of high status. Just the thread that his clothes were sewn with must have cost a fortune; the fabric was probably a rare import or woven specifically for those clothes. Not even the richest businessmen in Valford could afford clothes like those. The lantern light provided just enough light for Bella to see him by that she could recognize him. While he was a little older, his skin paler, and his eyes a different color altogether, the young man that crouched before the redhead was undoubtedly the same one from the portrait. Compared to his appearance in the portrait, he was ghostly-looking and lacked any warmth.
"Indeed, it was." Bella said, swallowing hard. She leaned back from the bars as he crouched down in front of her. His gaze was unsettling, especially in such close proximity. He looked first at the blanket, then into her eyes. "Es - ahem - Esterwell." She answered, clearing her throat to keep her pitch from rising. "..Highness?" Her thoughts began to stir at Henry's question. So, her hunch back when she saw the portrait was correct. He was the master of this castle. But that was a term used for royalty most typically, wasn't it? Did that mean he was? "My father and sister and brother. W-why?" Bella's answer came out sounding more like a question than a statement. She wondered why such information was relevant to how she got there.
"I'm sure you have already acquainted yourself with my associate here, yes?" Jaron asked, quietly. Henry leered at Bella as she lay in the cell, uncertain why the prince was addressing the girl in such a subtle manner. "He is quite aggressive, this you witnessed first-hand, from what I have been told. I would like to avoid having him ride to Esterwell and drag your father, sister and brother into this very dungeon you find yourself in, and I imagine you feel the same way." He said blatantly, in a monotone manner, as if the words carried no weight within them at all. The lanterns light flickered in the darkness. The mens shadows began to flail about. Henry remained quiet, his gaze locked on Bella. Whether or not he wanted to kidnap her family was a mystery, but his ability to do so as well as his willingness seemed evident.
"You are in a delicate situation at the moment." Jaron continued, "If you remain obedient, your family will remain safe. If you oppose me, or my associate, they will join you in here. Do you understand?"
For a long moment, Bella was silent, listening without wanting to as Jaron spoke. Her eyes were fixated on him despite she wanted to look away, but she didn't for fear of what he might do if she weren't watching him. Even while she did watch him with the eyes of a hawk, she couldn't be sure whether or not he would suddenly act. Her mind was nearly blank at that point, only barely following the red-eyed young man's words. She did not know what he was getting at and she wasn't sure she really wanted to know. However, at the back of her mind, there lingered an idea, a possibility as to where the questions led, that she dared not entertain.
At the mention of Henry, Bella's eyes crept towards him. She took in his grimacing glare, amber eyes narrowing, and the corners of her mouth turned downward in a sort of pout that clearly showed her distaste. "I wouldn't say 'acquainted.'" She muttered ruefully, redirecting her unhappy gaze to the opposite side, no longer even looking at Jaron. "That's not what I would call him." The redhead thought to herself, arms crossed over her chest in indignation. Her thoughts and her composure were shattered by the Prince's words, her attention dragged forcefully back onto him.
"Y-You wouldn't!" Bella choked out. Her eyes were wide as they could possibly be, glistening with new fear and despair. Slowly her eyes dropped from Jaron's to the stones of the floor just inside the barred door; his shoes were just on the edge of her sight. Her breath hitched in her throat and her heart beat very much faster. She wanted to scream at the top her lungs, to cry "Leave my family out of this!" Bella dared not look at either man, knowing she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears. She pursed her lips if just to keep them from trembling, fingers clenching the blanket. "I understand." She murmured just audibly, not trusting her voice not to waver and crack.
Jaron said nothing more to the girl that lay in the dim cell, filled to the brim with a sudden wave of fear and despair. His terms were made clear. To further antagonize the girl would merely be a waste of his time. The prince stood up, breathing heavily as he did so just as before, a hint of weariness slipped through his blank expression. He continued, for reasons unknown, to gaze at the blanket wrapped around Bella as she stare at the floor. Eventually, the young man turned and began to walk down the dim-lighted hallway. His bulky associate began to follow in suit. The lantern swung lightly as he turned to follow, creaking as it did so.
"Henry." Jaron said, coming to a sudden stop just within the lanterns light. Henry raised an eyebrow. He had expected the prince to address him in private, away from the ears of the girl that lay in the cold cell. "Yes, your highness?" Jaron remained quiet for a brief moment. He seemed hesitant, as if he was unsure what to say, or whether or not he should say anything at all.
"Take her to the guest room in the west wing." He ordered. Henry nearly gasped out of surprise. He marched in front of the prince, muttering incoherently for a moment, struggling to find the correct words as a result of being so taken aback. "Your Highness? She cannot stay in the guest room. It is reserved for nobility only. She is a mere commoner," He pleaded, albeit the man was ignorant whether such a statement was true or not. Jaron did not acknowledge Henry's fervent appeal, and merely stared down the dim hallway before him.
"Your highne-"
"I have GIVEN you an ORDER, SOLDIER." Jaron snapped, his expression contorting into anger. The lanterns light flickered as the two stood in silence, staring at eachother fiercely. Jaron turned away from the man and began to walk down the hallway with haste, his footsteps echoing back and forth between the walls. Henry did not move. His eyes remain as still, staring at the space the prince had occupied before him just moments ago.
The oval door at the end of the hallway swung open, vaguely lighting the hallway for just a moment before it shut again once more. The moment it did, Henry turned and marched toward the cell, violently gripping the metal bars tightly with one hand before shoving them to the side. The sound of metal slamming into concrete emanated around the two. "Get up!" He shouted at Bella. The lantern swung wildly from side to side as a result of the unnecessary force Henry had put forth. He stood before the girl, staring her down until she picked herself up from the floor.
Bella didn't look back up at Jaron, even after he stood; although, she could still feel his stare. She didn't trust herself not to break down and she wanted to maintain at least a shred of dignity. What integrity she had prior to entering the castle was far gone. There was just the slightest feeling of relief when he finally turned and walked away, more so when Henry followed after him. She could feel tears stinging her eyes and she didn't want either man to see or hear her cry, even if worrying about such a thing had become trivial at that point compared to everything else.
Only did Bella look up when she heard their footsteps stop, having not heard the door open and close. She could just make out the dot that was the lantern light amongst the dimmer candle lights, still in the middle of the darkness. Why had they stopped? Whatever the two were saying, Bella couldn't quite hear. She could tell when Jaron raised his voice, albeit barely, and heard "order." Then the hall was filled with the echoes of footsteps and one of them exited. Since the lantern was apparently still present, Bella guessed it was the dark-haired young man, that Henry remained there.
At that moment, Henry came stomping back towards the cell. A wave of panic rose in Bella and she scrambled backward. She clamped her hands over her ears at the sound of the door flinging back into the stone wall, a futile effort as the sound still rang in her ears. There was no time to think on that as Henry yelled at her to get up. Bella stumbled to her feet, her tired legs aching and faltering beneath her. She caught the blanket, which she nearly dropped in her haste, and held tightly onto it.
"Follow me, and do not wander." The man ordered as Bella stumbled to her feet. He did not hesitate, and quickly began to march down the dim hallway at a quick pace. Henry practically rammed the door open out of spite. It was evident his actions and attitude were a direct result of a heavy anger he seemed to be carrying with him at all times, especially after having been yelled at by a boy half his age. The two were in the main hall once more. The trail of mud was still all over the gilded carpet, and the lifeless elk had been moved elsewhere. Henry waited impatiently for Bella to exit the hallway before slamming the oval door shut.
He started for the stairs, before slowly coming to a halt. The bulky man peered out at the spacious room, squinting at the pillars that occupied it. There was a glint in the mans eye, and an air that suggested his perception was significantly more acute than the average persons. "Return to your quarters." He ordered, although his voice was a lot less strict compared to how he addressed Bella. In the distance, two prying heads poked out from behind the same pillar. One seemed as blank and lifeless as the prince had, where as the other showed a hint of curiosity similar to the hooded girl. The girls skin was noticeably pale, although not as pale as Jaron's, and the boy appeared to be missing an eye. Both of their sights were planted on Bella.
"We were just on our way there." The girl mused. The boy remained silent. He was not as skilled at hiding his curiosity as the girl was. She stomped her foot onto his. The boy snapped out of his gaze. "Ow! Uh - yes, we, we just returned from the library." The two were terrible liars, and seemed to be fully aware of this fact. Even so, they remained committed to their story. "You do not have any books." Henry stated, almost sounding sarcastic. "Go." He said, and the two obeyed. They walked in unison towards one of the halls many corridors, gradually tearing their gaze away from Bella, until they simultaneously vanished behind the corridor wall. Henry sighed, and appeared significantly calmer than before. Paying no attention to Bella, he continued up the velvet-carpet stairs towards the west wing.
The two continued down a hallway considerably more vast and decorated compared to the one Bella had been locked within for the past couple of hours. It was just as pristine and well-kept as the main hall. Even so, two features stood out. All of the blinds had been closed and tied. The only light within the room emanated from an abundance of candles placed within sconces all along the walls that seemed to have been nailed roughly into the walls. At the end of the hallway stood a lavishly decorated door that almost went up to the ceiling. Henry turned the doors knob, and gently pushed it open to reveal an elegant bedroom, brightly lit by two windows that allowed the suns light to gracefully pass through.
The moment Bella had stepped through the castles doors, there had been no clear line of sight towards the outside until now. The gray clouds had began to evaporate, providing just enough view for one to witness the now setting sun. It seemed as if the room had not been occupied, or even touched in years. Henry grimaced, and loathed the idea of a commoner being given the luxury of such a room. Especially a commoner that had been trespassing. He did not step a foot within the room, and merely waited for Bella to walk inside. "Do not make a mess of the place." He ordered in an almost weary tone, as if the girl was so lowly that such a thing were inevitable. The door shut behind Bella, and the sound of footsteps began to gradually fade away as Henry marched down the hall.
For a moment, Bella lingered there in the door of the cell. She followed Henry with widened eyes as he started down the hall, uncertain of whether or not she should follow him. What if he was taking her someplace worse than the dungeon? After such a violent display, along with his unnecessary aggression towards her, Bella wasn't inclined to trust Henry, even if her life depended on it. However, Jaron's words remained fresh in her mind, his monotonous voice echoing his warning to her. If she didn't obey, her family would be dragged into her awful situation. This was enough to motivate her, to power her forward down the hall after the bulky monster of a man.
It was a bit difficult to keep up with Henry. His size made his stride longer than Bella's so that even if his steps weren't quick, they were faster than hers. She trotted a foot or so behind him, trying to keep up while maintaining what she felt was a safe distance from him, not that she likely stood a chance of getting away from him even if she tried. Bella just made it through the door before Henry slammed it. As they made their way across the main hall toward the stairs, her eyes wandered. She stopped a couple of steps short of running into the man and took a hasty two steps backward. The question as to why they had stopped didn't occur to her until he spoke and Bella turned to see two children appear from behind a pillar. It was amazing that Henry knew they were there and it instilled a bit more fear and caution in the girl.
"How many people are there here?" The redhead thought to herself, watching in awe as the kids left. So far, those two made six people. She wondered briefly whether there wasn't a whole staff to boot, since the castle was so pristine, and darted up the stairs. The light in the hallway wasn't as dim as that of the hall beneath the stairs; it was actually quite even and easier to see by, though mainly due to the increased number of candles. Just like the main hall, there were many fine details in the decor. Bella would have liked to stop and look, of course she didn't dare do anything that might further provoke Henry's temper.
Bella hesitated before the doors of the bedroom, taking a careful step forward as Henry opened one. She was surprised to see such a pretty room as well as light from the outside. Unlike all the other windows, the windows in this room weren't blocked with heavy curtains, allowing the dying evening light to come through. The only apparent curtains were draped over the bed as a canopy. Bella glanced at Henry with apparent confusion, an expression which quickly contorted into frustration when he told her not to make a mess of the room. She stood there still when he closed the door, sticking out her tongue and blowing a raspberry like a spiteful child at his fading footsteps.
When she was sure he was gone, Bella looked around the room. It was larger and finer than her room had been at her former home in Valford; and it was decorated in a much more subtle and feminine way. She took in the soft colors that ranged from dusky pink to white, the swirls of damask on the walls, the details on the wardrobe, and the roses over the windows. It was a room fit for a princess and it humbled her. Frowning, Bella moved to the side of the bed, flopping across it with the muffled ploof of the covers. The plushness of the bed reminded her of how tired she was and she kicked off her boots and curled up under Sophia's blanket. Sleep claimed her instantly.
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.... Landon hummed to himself as he slid back and forth within the bedroom, lighting candle after candle. The sun had long descended beneath the horizon, and the fierce rain from earlier had returned in the form of a modest drizzle. Until the man had arrived with a lantern in hand, the only light within the bedroom came from lightning that would briefly flash from the outside, accompanied by the gentle rumble of thunder. A bowl of steaming hot soup sat neatly on an expensive tray on the edge of the bed, a safe distance away from the sleeping Bella that remained underneath the comfort of Sophia's blanket.
Once every candle had been lit, Landon took a seat beside the bed. He gripped a spoon between his index and thumb, and began to lightly stir the bowl of soup, causing the vegetables and meat within to float about aimlessly. He gazed curiously at the girl as he did so, watching the plush blanket gently move up and down in rhythm with her breathing. He couldn't help but recall the panic attack Imogen had suffered as she burst into the kitchen.
She struggled to speak and talked herself out of breath, eventually revealing to him the fact that a girl drenched from head to toe in rainwater was just sitting in the main hall, staring at her. Thankfully, Henry was able to give him more of a coherent explanation. Although such an event was quite a spectacle, Landon was quite used to being around other people. He had the luxury of venturing into town every month to re-stock the kitchen. He couldn't even remember the last time he saw Imogen on the other side of the castle doors, let alone speak with someone who was from the outside. It had been quite the day for the both of them.
Landon lightly began to tap the side of the bowl with the spoon before setting it to the side, its handle facing Bella.
The room was golden with light, a grand chandelier turned on its chain overhead, crystals twinkling and throwing bright bubbles of light onto the walls and ceiling. Bella stood against the wall, hands folded neatly behind her, watching the crystals with intent curiosity. There were a great many people about, sitting at regally decorated tables and standing in the center of the room chatting over glasses of champagne. As her eyes drifted downward from the chandelier, Bella frowned. She disliked parties and didn't even understand why she'd been dragged to this one. She had no desire to mingle or engage in the insincere idle chatter; she wanted to go home and retreat to her room with a book. The crowd dispersed as the musicians in the gallery on the far side of the room started to play, people pairing up and beginning to dance. Out of the corner of her eye, Bella saw Celine stand and follow a young man out onto the floor.
Bella sighed, longing for the night to be over. The song ended in no time; all the couples dancing stopped and applauded, chattering until the beginning of the next one. She didn't notice someone had approached her until she felt a hand touch her arm and she jumped. Standing before her, offering her his hand, was a familiar messy-haired merchant. "Ben? What're you doing here?" She asked dimly as she was escorted onto the floor. She felt like she was in a daze as they turned round and round, trying to make sense of why all the faces around her were suddenly people she knew in Esterwell instead of Valford. As the song rose to a crescendo, the chandelier burst into a flurry of butterflies, bright orange and glowing. One came down to land on her hand with a very un-butterfly-like jingle. No, it wasn't a jingle; it sounded more like the clatter of silverware on a glass before a toast. The Monarch ascended into the flurry of butterflies, disappearing from sight. When Bella's attention fell back upon her partner, it was not Ben she was looking at, but a pair of cold red eyes.
Bella woke with a jolt, her amber eyes opening wide. She felt the plush bed covers beneath her cheek, the soft blanket Sophia lent her wrapped around her. For a moment, she closed her eyes again, then a delicious smell wafted to her nose. She sat up, the blanket falling in a luxuriant heap around her legs, and looked to the corner of the bed where sat the bowl of soup. Her brow stitched together slightly at the sight and her eyes wandered beyond the shiny tray and bowl. All around the room, candles were lit. Bella followed the flames until her gaze fell upon the blonde man sitting beside the bed. She blinked, at first not realizing who he was.
"Oh... Oh!" The redhead gasped, "It's you. You were at my house yesterday. You live.. here?" She said in a vague, distant way, as though she were still dreaming. Slowly, she turned her head to look at the bowl then back to Landon. "Is that for me?" Such a question was a bit silly and rhetorical considering that, if it was indeed his, he surely wouldn't have left it sitting there. Bella smiled, recalling the kindness Sophia had shown her with the blanket. After the precarious talk in the dungeon and Henry's violent outburst, she'd started to wonder if Sophia was the only kind person there.
"Yes, it is." Landon replied, greeting the girl with a warm smile as she awoke. "From what I hear you've had quite the journey, and I figured there's not much to snack on in those daunting woods." Gently, he slid the tray towards her. "But, do please keep quiet about this. I was not exactly given permission to prepare food for the guest." Although his words were slightly foreboding, Landon spoke in a cheerful tone, and made sure to specifically use the term guest, albeit many within the castle were regarding the girl as a prisoner. "You were quite the hot topic at dinner. I felt bad, knowing you had missed out on a meal after such a long trip."
Sophia rested her head against the bedroom door, listening intently to the conversation on the other side as she sat in the dim hallway. The Monarch, as always, rested atop her head. It's wings slowly moving in and out. "When you're ready, the prince would like to speak with you in his study, regarding your stay here." Landon said, maintaining an optimistic composure albeit the fact he was fully aware that only one person had ever wandered into the castle before, and he never departed. "But, please, take your time. He has the ability to come off as quite....aggressive. But he has been quite calm today."
The man leaned on the bed, resting his chin on the palm of his hand, his cheerful smile still plastered onto his face.
Bella couldn't help the hunger evident in her eyes. It had been nearly an entire day now that she hadn't eaten. The small breakfast she had to start her day was long forgotten, not to mention that it felt as though it had been much longer than just hours since. She reached for the bowl as Landon slid the tray closer to her, pausing with her hand poised over it, and turned. With utmost care, Bella freed Sophia's blanket from around her legs. She held it up, inspecting both sides of it before folding it neatly and placing it on the opposite corner of the bed where it ran no risk of coming into contact with the soup. Only then did Bella pick up the bowl and spoon.
"Thank you." The redhead smiled. The bowl was warm in her hands, and when she took the first bite, her face flushed with warmth. "Yes, there was a sorry lack of even mushrooms." She agreed, albeit somewhat wryly. She didn't want to think about that awful forest, for it reminded her of the careless mistake she made walking into it. Bella's smile drooped at the corners, her eyes dropped to stare into the broth. Thoughts of dinner at home came creeping into her mind and she wondered what her family was doing. Dinner was likely over for them. She could see before her mind's eye her father sitting in his big comfy chair, staring into the fire in the parlor. Beside him, doing needlework or mending was Celine, sitting closest to the hearth. Robby sat too, trying for the umpteenth time to fix the finicky clock that sat over the mantlepiece. In the corner on the other side of the fireplace was an empty chair. Bella reached up to swipe at her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Prince?" The word came out in a soft treble that was quickly stifled in the large room. "Well, I don't want to speak to him. I don't even want to look at him. I don't want anything to do with him." Bella groused around spoonfuls of soup. "Or that big, hulking jerk. I'll show him a mess.." She muttered in reference to Henry. "Calm? Was that what you call it?" She thought, saying nothing else until she'd finished the soup. She placed the empty bowl and the spoon back on the tray. "I don't have any intention of staying. I want to go home.. If I even have the option."
Bella's words stung Landon, who grimaced at the thought of Jaron's reaction if the girl did not comply. Although her behavior was disappointing, it was also to be expected. "I understand." He said, the cheery tone not as evident as before. To return home was something he too had yearned for, long ago. "I wouldn't hesitate to saddle up a horse and take you home if I could, believe me. But, it's not that simple dear. Things here are.... a bit complicated." Landon said, and sighed. He carefully gripped both sides of the tray before standing up and crossing over towards the other side of the room, placing it atop a table. Bella's boots sat neatly beside the bedroom door, and appeared to have been thoroughly washed, as not a speck of mud remained.
A loud knock on the door caused Landon to jump. He just barely kept the tray in his hands from falling out. "Who is it?" The man asked in a perplexed, lively tone. More aggressive knocking was his only response. The blonde sighed once more, and bent down beside the bed, sliding the tray and its contents underneath before standing up and placing a single finger against his lips, reminding Bella not to say a word of the meal he provided for her. More knocking occurred, and he smiled at the girl, rolling his eyes as he crossed towards the door. "Coming," He said in a jaunty manner.
Landon carefully opened the door to reveal a familiar, bulky framed man standing in the doorway. "Well?" He said, his impatience evident. "Our guest is not in the mood to talk right now." Landon stated firmly. Henry stood completely still, in an almost soldier-like posture. His chiseled features made him seem almost statue like at times. He seemed to not even acknowledge Landon's words as he gazed at him with an empty expression. He brushed past Landon and entered the bedroom, staring at Bella as she lay in the bed. "Come with me." He ordered. Slowly, Sophia poked her head from behind the doorway, gazing curiously at Bella from behind Henry's large frame. It had been hours since she last saw her, and Henry made sure she did not sneak her way into the west wing. For the past hour, however, he had been rather occupied. The Monarch fluttered its wings atop her head.
For a long moment, Bella didn't look at Landon. Her gaze rested on a nearby candle, which to her wasn't a candle. The room around her wasn't in a castle in the middle of the woods, either. She was looking into the fireplace at home, sitting in the warmth of the parlor in the company of her family. It was so real, so substantial an image to her, it might have had a reflection in her eyes. Blinking, Bella snapped back, once again in the princess's bedroom in the castle. Her heart sank in her chest at Landon's words. If only it was as simple as saddling up a horse and galloping away. But why wasn't it? Did that mean it couldn't be? Bella turned to watch the blonde, startled as well by the knock at the door.
One copper brow rose when the knocking ensued rather than a vocal answer being given. Bella was as visibly perplexed as Landon sounded and she eyed the door warily. She watched as he hid the tray under the bed rather than putting it on the table, recalling that he said he hadn't exactly had permission to feed her. Bella nodded, a silent promise that she wouldn't tell. There wasn't the least bit of surprise at the sight of Henry taking up the doorway. It might have been obvious simply from the way he knocked on the door. The redhead frowned when he entered right by Landon as if he wasn't there, ignoring his words. Even as Henry commanded that she leave with him, Bella made no move to do so. Rather she sat perfectly still on the bed, glaring at him as if he was an uninvited party crasher at a ball; however, that didn't mean that she wouldn't obey.
Without a word, Bella slipped off the bed and crouched by the door to put on her boots. She glanced up at the door through her copper fringe, spotting Sophia and the Monarch. With a slight jerk of her head that, from above, looked more like she was tossing her hair, she indicated to the little girl the folded blanket on the bed. After purposely taking forever and a half to meticulously tie her shoes, Bella stood and frowned at Henry. Her reluctance was clear.
Henry did not cease his gaze, and kept his eyes firmly planted on Bella as she purposefully wasted his time. Even as the maiden proceeded to tie her boots with an unnecessary amount of diligence, the man stood up straight and kept a blank face, as he had been taught to do so many years ago. He recalled a time when his professionalism was being put to use on a grand scale. Days and nights spent maintaining a high level of security that would befit a King and Queen. It was almost irritating, knowing he had been reduced to a mere babysitter. Rarely did he put up with such child-like behavior, with the exception of Sophia's day to day acts of trouble making, which made sense, considering the fact she was a child.
Bella, however, seemed to be acting out of spite. Henry could care less. Landon gazed worriedly at the girl. As much as he pitied the situation she was in, such behavior would only hinder her options. He remained quiet, not wanting to make it apparent to Henry who's side he was on. He would have briefed her on the circumstances beforehand, but could not bear to further ruin her already unfortunate day. "Are you ready?" Henry asked in an almost polite manner, just barely hiding the sarcasm within his voice. He turned and walked out of the bedroom and into the dim hallway. The hooded girl lie in its shadows, hiding the vibrant hue of a monarch within her cloak.
Although the castle itself appeared devoid of life from both the outside and within, such an atmosphere was only enhanced during the night. The architecture of the castle suggested it had stood for at least a century, if not more. It's emptiness coupled with the countless shadows that flailed wildly along the walls only intensified its eerie ambience. If footsteps and voices ceased to drift down the castles many halls and rooms, a heavy silence would linger. Henry lead Bella through the castle without saying a word. The sound of his armor clanking against itself accompanied each step. He thought it unnecessary to keep an eye on her, assuming she had not forgotten what the consequences of her disobedience would be. Silently, he hoped she would comply, for both their sake.
After turning down several corridors, passing through the main hall, and even walking up a few flights of stairs, they found themselves deep within the east wing of the castle. They had passed by more than a dozen rooms that remained both closed and locked, their contents a mystery. After turning down a corridor once more, the pair found themselves within a hallway similar to the others, with the exception of a large pair of lavishly decorated double doors that stood in the middle. A bright light passed through its cracks, illuminating a pair of tightly shut curtains before it. Voices could be heard as they entered hallway, along with frequent shouting. The sounds of a pleading woman and a stubborn man in the midst of an argument. Henry gripped the doors handle and pulled outward, stepping to the side, waiting for Bella to enter.
The study was possibly the brightest room within the castle so far, with the exception of the guest bedroom during the day. It was significantly large, with cabinets and bookshelves filled to the brim with books and parchments. In the middle sat a large desk, riddled with not only books and parchments, but strange drawings, maps, journals and bizarre trinkets, along with a small wooden box as long as a dagger. Behind the desk was a finely crafted chair trimmed with gold. It closely resembled a throne.
Two wooden chairs sat on the opposite side. There was, however, no one of royal descent occupying the seat. The Prince stood behind the throne, his hand placed against a window, the only window within the castle so far that had not been hidden behind tightly closed curtains, with the exception of the guest bedroom. It was still raining outside. The young mans pale hand was striking when placed against the darkness of the night on the other side of the window. Imogen stood beside the desk, gripping a white bowl trimmed with gold and made of glass. A dark red liquid remained still within.
"Jaron, you must drink!" Imogen begged. Earlier, the young man appeared to be quite composed and completely devoid of any type of emotion. Anyone unlucky enough to see his face now would find rage; hot and dangerous, like the boiling water and hot steam of a tea kettle set above the flames far too long. His hand pressed firmly against the window, as if he were attempting to break it off of its hinges. He hung his head, staring at the floor. "Please, it's been far too long. Henry traveled miles just to retrieve the elk. You cannot avoid this forever." Imogen persisted, taking a step forward. Jaron shut his eyes and began to breathe heavily, as if he could make the girl disappear with his mind. "Why.....why do you always do this?" He muttered, more so to himself. Henry closed the door silently and quickly stepped ahead of Bella, placing himself in front of her so she could not approach the two any further. "You are being selfish! This is not just about you! You need to drink!" Imogen took another step forward. "Jaron! Drink!Please! You'll die!"
In quick, angry steps, Jaron crossed towards the other side of the desk. With one hand he gripped the top of a wooden chair and shifted his stance, furiously launching it towards one of the many bookshelves in the room. The impact caused the chair to explode into several wooden pieces. Several books toppled to the floor. Sophia sat in the hallway, her eyes tightly shut as she pressed her hands into her ears and buried her head into her knees.
Thunder boomed and lightning flashed within the study. Jaron did not cease his outburst, and marched towards the second chair, kicking it onto its side before gripping the arm rest and swinging the chair into a glass-cabinet, shattering it into pieces. Glass and parchments rained onto the floor. Imogen stared at the wall in silence as the mayhem ensued. Henry took a few steps backwards, backing against Bella, pushing her towards the door, shielding her from any potential debris.
"GET OUT!" Jaron bellowed, just inches away from Imogen. Every muscle in his face contorted into a furious expression. "GET. OUT!" Imogen stood completely still, staring into the young mans blood-red eyes. She showed no indication of fear or panic as she had earlier upon seeing Bella. Only a genuine expression of both disappointment and rejection. She placed the bowl on the desk and briskly walked past Henry and Bella, into the darkness of the hallway. Jaron remained silent for a brief moment, staring at the space Imogen had occupied before him. Carefully, he picked up the chair that had smashed into the glass cabinet, still intact, and placed it in its original position before crossing to the other side of the desk, slumping into the throne.
"Sit down." He ordered plainly as he ran a hand through his now disheveled hair.
Spite was only one way of describing the way Bella was behaving. Purposely wasting Henry's time was a minimal act of rebellion, childish as it might seem; although, it was more or less just to delay speaking to Jaron. For the good of her family, Bella would do as she was told; however, she didn't intend to let Henry or the Prince just mop the floor with her. She had mourned her situation and felt she'd cried over it more than enough. She would do her best to face the consequences of her carelessness while trying to hold her head high. With a feigned smile, she nodded affirmatively at Henry's barely-polite question. Her smile dropped immediately after he was no longer looking at her. Once again, she kept a distance between them.
Even in Henry's presence, the castle felt no less cold and lonely than it had when Bella first entered it. It was arguable that the burly man only enhanced the feeling with his stoicism. There was an uncertain edginess to the atmosphere, something the shadows that loomed in every nook and cranny of the vast hallways did nothing to dispel. Every now and again, Bella would fall behind, her curiosity bidding her to stop if only for a second to inspect something a little more closely. She would quickly break away from whatever it was that drew her attention and scurry to catch up. The ever-lingering silence was as thick as the fogs that plagued Valford's harbor in the autumn. The shuffle of her boots on the floor and the clanking of Henry's armor had no audible effect on it, as if it merely absorbed the sounds. Bella could almost swear she could cut it with a knife, just like butter.
The two must have passed enough rooms to house all of Esterwell, all closed and locked. Bella wondered what was behind those dozens of doors, whether they were all spare rooms or if they contained something of significant value. One set of doors was different from the others. The pair was far more decorated than the others and there was light evident in the room behind them where as the other rooms were obviously dark inside. There was also noise, shouting to be precise. Bella stopped outside the doors, stepping back as Henry opened one. She looked at him with a raised brow, her expression bewildered, silently asking "You want me to go in there?"
Although, after a moment of hesitation, Bella entered. She didn't like to walk in on what was obviously some sort of argument, but she wouldn't put it past Henry to shove her in if she didn't move of her own accord. In the room, standing by the desk was the housekeeper that had collapsed in the main hall, no longer having a panic attack. The Prince stood before the window behind the desk, a stark contrast against the rainy night outside it. The woman was pleading with him, begging him to drink whatever it was she had in the bowl in her hand. It appeared too dark, too thick to be wine, but such a thought wasn't entertained for very long. Jaron lashed out, demanding she leave whilst wrecking his study. Bella frowned at the display and was taken aback when Henry stepped in front of her. She watched out of the corner of her eye as Imogen left.
The hair on the back of Bella's neck stood when Jaron spoke again, telling her to sit. She stepped carefully towards the chair and sank slowly onto it.
As Bella approached the chair, Jaron began to organize his desk, brushing together paper and parchments and placing them into neat piles. Among the mess were several maps and opened books written in an odd, unrecognizable language. A beautifully gold-trimmed picture frame containing a family photo stood upright on his desk. He promptly grabbed it, placing it within one of the desks several drawers. Henry walked slowly towards the desk, and stood before the bowl of liquid, staring at Jaron with a concerned expression. "Your highness - you must drink." He said calmly, and with hesitation. Jaron quietly avoided Henry's gaze for a moment, his eyes closed, his elbows placed parallel to eachother on the desk as he rested his chin on the knuckles of his hands. The young mans skin was pale to the point where the veins in his eyes could be seen if he closed them. "Must we speak of this now?" He retorted, gesturing towards Bella. "See yourself out the door, Master Cardwell." He ordered spitefully, his eyes still shut.
Sophia hid in the darkness as Henry walked out of the door and down the hallway. She gazed at him, her eyes partly hidden beneath the hood of her cloak, and crawled with haste towards the door, just barely placing a hand on its edge before it closed. Her copper eye glistened as it stared into the study, her eyes planted on Bella as she sat within the chair. The girl felt nervous for her, and her guilt resurfaced. The Monarch rested atop her head and observed the girl as well, its wings swinging from side to side with curiosity. Jaron's eyes slowly opened. "I assume you have questions?" He asked quietly. Although he had initially come off as both forbidding and composed upon revealing himself in the dungeon, he now appeared slightly weary. He thought it safe to assume the girl had never even seen a castle in her life, let alone find herself within one.
Gingerly, Bella sat in the chair Jaron replaced upright before the desk. The cushion compressed with a soft sigh beneath her small frame, as if it were relieved just to not be thrown again. The chair was a fine piece, made of solid stained wood with smooth scrolled edges. There was an intricate carving on the back, not the least bit identical to the other chair that sat beside it up until a moment ago. The color of the cushion rested on the thin margin between red and burgundy and had a texture akin to velvet. Whether in doubt of the chair's integrity after its abuse or out of restlessness, Bella sat on the edge of the seat, her back straight and her hands clenched in her lap.
There was a great number of things about the Prince's desk, most apparently papers with some form of archaic writing on them. Bella caught a glimpse of a picture, in a pretty gold frame, just before the still-fuming young man tucked it away in his desk. She did not see in detail the photo that it contained, but had seen enough to deduce that it depicted people. She made a point to watch Jaron, perhaps out of a new fear of his temper. Only for a second did she break her gaze to look at Henry. Again with the drinking! Drink what? What was so important about drinking? Then Jaron sent Henry out and it was just the two of them.
"I.." Bella started to speak, but a million words rushed to the tip of her tongue all at once and silenced her. She looked down at her lap, avoiding his stare. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but it was doubtful that he would let her ask all of them and much less so that he would answer all of them. She had to ask the right questions, the important ones. "Why am I still here?" The words came quietly at first, growing louder towards the last syllable. "How long do you intend to keep me here?" Her copper eyes rose to meet his. "I apologize for trespassing. Believe me when I say it was the last of my intentions. I thought I would come out of the woods in Oakridge, not at your gate." Bella's hands shook in her lap and she pressed them between her knees, hidden in her skirt. "I just want to go home. Why is that so complicated?" She recalled Landon's words, mulling over them. Then she saw again Sophia turning and running from her out in the woods. Her shoulders drooped. "I just wanted to ask directions.."
"Mourn your dead father, and ache night and day for the embrace of your lifeless mother, but do not for a moment blame their absence on me. My blade stole their lives, but it was you who forced my hand, Artolius. Sulk in this fine castle for the rest of your years and blame only yourself for the destruction of those who so benevolently showered you with the affection you did not desire. Regret what you selfishly took for granted and be damned in this castle forever, surrounded by the innocent who are cursed to suffer a destiny only you deserve! Ah, but your blood-red eyes seethe with an ardent desire to escape your newfound prison. Know that only my destruction by your pale hand will make your desires reality, and know that in a thousand lifetimes you will never be capable of such an action. Rot here, Artolius, for the rest of your days, lest you take a woman's hand in marriage? But what woman, do tell, could possibly love you, who is doomed to endure misery in this desolate castle for eternity? A man craves water, Jaron, but you are a beast, and you will forever crave blood."
The words echoed violently throughout Jaron's thoughts at a deafening volume. He gazed blankly at the copper-haired girl sitting before him, studying each of her features in precise detail. Her hair, a color that brought upon a mystery feeling of warmth within him, her eyes, a golden bronze that could only be matched by the thousands of sunsets he only had the privilege of viewing from within the shadows of the castle halls, and her skin, pale, but not nearly to the extent of his. Her features were foreign to him, as they belonged to her, and she was a stranger. The young man had not encountered the presence of a stranger for an excruciating amount of time. To watch her half-drenched self lie on the frigid concrete of the dungeon floor was almost surreal. Jaron did not want Bella to leave, and this was the only reason he kept her within the castle. Why he felt this way was presently a mystery.
"The complicated part is not your desire to go home, but the reason you cannot. Truthfully, I...do not know why I keep you here." The words that echoed so painfully in Jaron's thoughts coupled with Imogen begging the young prince to drink not moments ago had left him quite drained, and for a moment vulnerable. Becoming aware of this, Jaron composed himself from the outside and within, and began to exhibit the same cold demeanor he conducted for so long. "You are my prisoner." Jaron stated firmly. "You have trespassed on royal property, regardless of your intentions, and I will take it upon myself to punish you accordingly. You have no say in this matter, and any resistance will only prolong your stay here." His words were an illusion, but the Prince spoke them as if they were reality.
Bella gazed at Sophia with sympathetic, glassy eyes, managing a small smile if just to help dry her tears. As the child dried her eyes with her sleeve, she reached a hand through the bars and swiped away a couple of her stray tears with a finger. If she had had a handkerchief, Bella would have offered it to her. The fact that she had nothing to offer made the blanket in the girl's arms a bigger shock than it initially would have been. She grasped it and pulled it through the bars as gently as she could, not only because it was obviously expensive but because it was proclaimed to be special. It landed in a heap on Bella's lap and she ran her fingers over the soft, lush material. 
