Friday

Out of the carriage the young woman stepped with grace she'd only learned on the ride to Caraway from her grandfather. A long dress, the reflection of the clear skies overhead, clung to her frame with a cloud colored cloak over her shoulders. The rounded neckline hung low, but not yet low enough for the older ladies of the court to have something to hold against her and to brand her as an improper young lady. With a rosy smile she thanked a knight that had come over hurriedly to help her out.

Malik hadn't believed his luck when he'd seen the angel in need of assistance. The warm flash of teeth she showed him, though her countenance was paled and dark circles decorated her eyes. Dissapointement struck him however when he'd seen the silver ring with the dark gem in the shape of a droplet, enclosed by little diamonds. It must've costed a fortune he'd seen soon enough. So after she was safely to the ground he bid her a good time at the castle and took his leave.

The young knight with Arridian roots wasn't the only one who had spotted that glimmering rock on her ring finger. A certain Ranger's hope roared in his chest at the sight of it. He almost couldn't hold back a huge grin, and had no means of reigning in the bit of pride that ruffled inside him. That she wore that symbol that would've connected them, made her his and he hers.  But worry soon replaced that flicker of a comfort. She hadn't been invited, he had been sure of that, because he'd asked his father not to include her on the guest list. Sir David had no objections as he knew as well as his son that if she were to be there, he wouldn't go through with the wedding.

When her eyes found the man in the wine colored tunic, and green ones found hers, the worlds stopped. Everything slowed down, sound became a whirlwind and they didn't listen to whatever anyone told them. For a flicker in time it was just them and their memories. But then she gave him a simple nod, nothing more, before reaching out a hand to help out and elder man with shoulder length white hair who Gilan recognized to be MacNeil's brother-in-law, Sir Mordaith. A fearsome warrior who had been a menace and a blessing to have on the battlefield. He had served with Sir David in the battle of Hackham Heath that had decided the fate of Araluen so many years ago.

The two of them together and that ring on her finger made the tall man's eyebrows thunder down. Completely forgetting the red head on his arm, he stalked over, putting up a mask again. The girl's eyes widened when he came closer, but Sir Mordaith seemed completely unbothered, a wicked grin below that well trimmed beard.

"What an honor to have you here Sir," he bowed lowly and the former knight gave a short nod of appreciation.

"Allow me to introduce you my granddaughter," on the hand of her grandfather, the young heroine stepped forward and presented her hand to the man she knew so very well. There hadn't been any occasion for an introduction, but the revelation of their relations to each other. She made sure to not present her left hand and gave a short curtesy and lowered her head while she did.

Looking right into her eyes, Gilan raised his brows and enclosed her hand. His warm lips placed a kiss on her elegant hand, which now had perfectly manicured nails and smelled like fresh flowers. Her whole scent wrapped around him like a blanket, with the familiar hint of horse in it that always coated him as well. "Lovely to see you again," he whispered low enough that it made the young woman's cheeks flush red. Other than that she showed no affections. The corners of her lips were tucked into a polite smile, not in the slightest coming close to the one she normally showed. Her face stood fixed, not a feeling escaping her grip. The usual braid was gone and replaced by her long hair flowing over her shoulders, only the top bit of her hair was secured with loads of braids that mouthed into a flat knot in the back.

He hadn't known she had a grandfather and wondered why she hadn't told him sooner that she'd had one. It also made him wonder why she never talked of him, or had went to him instead of stealing. Sir Mordaith was wealthy enough that he could've easily provided for her and her entire family. Pain painted across his eyes, because he longed to hold the girl's hand and ask her about her parents, because she only would've come here for a reason if he knew her at all.

"My grandfather and I only reunited after twenty and two years a few days ago." The angelic woman spoke, her tone soft like a breeze over a colorful flower field.

Oh how it was an act of self control to let go of the touch he'd already held on to for far longer than was appropriate and to take a step back, when all he wanted was to be closer. To hold her tight to make sure she was actually there and it wasn't one of the many dreams he'd had where she rode into the courtyard and told him it was all going to be okay. That they would come up with a plan.

"If you excuse us, young gentleman, we must retreat to our chambers," the senior smiled apologetically upon spying the disappointment he had to bring Gilan,"my old bones are not made for these long journeys anymore."

Despite the ache, despite the pull he felt towards her, he gave a short nod and left them to be. "Of course."

He stood a little while longer, hoping that the woman would look over her shoulder and grant him at least the joy of seeing her truly smile. But she disappeared into the castle, her gaze strictly in front of her. Her heart screamed to look back, she wanted to look back, but she'd already seen the displeasure on the red-head's face who had been with Gilan and she couldn't bear the thought of bringing her the hurt she felt.

In her appointed chamber she cried once more and knew that she couldn't face him again that day. Her chest had been crushed with the heavy sensation of heartache. It dragged down her energy until at the end she could only lay in her bed again. She had brought a book to keep her company, but by dinner time she'd already finished it and made her way to the library. Upon her luck of course she encountered the happy couple strolling through the hallway. She managed to get out a nod before she hurried into the empty library on the third floor. It was almost never used had her grandfather told her out of pity, so she could stay there as long as she felt necessary. He would attend the dinner, as it was his duty. No such thing was expected of her as his companion and she was eternally grateful for it.

The room had many high arched windows that allowed the setting sun's rays to fall through it, onto the hard wooden floors warmed with carpets. It wasn't dusty as she'd expected, but many of the books were, as no one ever touched them. They were mainly old legends from different times, myths about gods that weren't her own or texts on creatures like the ones in the mountains of Rain and Night. She felt that maybe she could add something to the pages about Wargals if she managed to find them, but decided against it only moments later as it would only ensure they would be captured and enslaved again. The best thing she could do for them was to burn any information held on them. However it seemed too big a task for her at that moment as she could barely keep her tears in. She wasn't sure she still had any after so many days of sobbing.

The young female Ranger turned into a row and scanned the rows of documents in front of her. 'A tale of Scandian battles' too depressing and full of blood. 'Strategies of foreign kingdoms' interesting, but not what she wanted. Truly she desired to just get out a novel not a textbook.

Her eye fell on a heavy leather bound book and as she opened it, she saw it had been handwritten. The letters were a bit hard to read, but the tale was one she'd longed to hear for some time now. One of the first kings of Araluen, who was said to reunite all of the kingdoms into Albion, a land of magic and knights. She blew away some of the dust that layered it.

"Oh I love that book." A low-pitched, yet feminine leveled voice spoke quietly.

In all of her pain, the young woman had been so in her own world she hadn't even noticed another female sitting in the cozy windowsill of that row. She radiated calm and wisdom from her porcelain face. The ash blonde shoulder length hair seemed to flow behind her as she got up from her seat and walked over.

"Who are you?" The Ranger asked, still in shock at the sudden appearance of another human where she hadn't expected one.

The full lips quirked up into a smile and the blonde held out a hand. "I'm Alyss Mainwaring, Lady Pauline's apprentice."

A/N:
NEW CHAPTER!!! Okay so yesterday and just the coming period I've gotten a renewed crush on Gilan because of Lyn.illustrates instagram posts. Dead. ☠️☠️ Question for today: what's your favourite scented candle?

Mine is pine forest (bought it bc it smells like Legolas hihi)

Xxx Maddie