Chapter Fifteen

I was drifting in and out of sleepout sleep, for the few seconds I was awake the world was foggy and sounds were muffled. I couldn't speak or move, for I never stayed awake enough to say anything. And as I was asleep I would have many terrifying nightmares.

Finally, after many horrible dreams I slowly awakened and the world was clear again. Something was laying on my pillow. I tilted my head and sat up quickly. Easton was laying next to me. He wore a large cotton long sleeve shirt, with a thin string tied together and his black pants. He slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes. I then remembered what I was in a thin white cotton cotton nightgown and quickly gathered the blanket around me. "What are you doing?" I hissed as he yawned and slowly stretched.

"You had a fever." He calmly stated, as he was getting out of the be. "I loyally stayed at your side for three days."

I've been asleep for three days? "Oh. T-thank you," I mumbled. "Where's Tricia?" I asked him, normally she is here when I wake up. And she would never let him in the room, especially when I am asleep. He stared blankly at me before yawning again.

"She went ahead in the false bridal carriage this morning." False Bridal carriage?

"What? Why?" I commanded him and he said nothing as he grabbed his coat and swung his bow over his shoulder. Boiling with rage, I got up and gripped one of his wrists hard. "If you wish to speak to me ever again you better answer my question. Why is she gone?"

"Incase there are bandits." He mumbled. "It's an ancient tradition when princesses or noble ladies leave their homes and kingdom to become brides." Shit, I forgot that I was supposed to leave and go to Rowan. "I will help you dress into your travelling gown." He slid slowly off the bed and held his hand out to me. "Your father wishes to see you when you awaken."

"Get out!" I snapped and then I pointed to the door. Glaring at him, that was the last thing that I wanted. I didn't want Easton to touch me. Or touch my bare skin, just thinking of it gave me chills. "Wait for me out there!"

His eyes grew large, playing innocent. "I am just trying to assist you in your dressing." He protested, holding his hands up.

"You most certainly will not." I snapped. "I am fully capable of dressing myself. And if you think I need help, get me another one of my maids to assist me." He stared at me blankly, showing no emotions. Strange, I thought to myself. Normally a maid would have showed up by now. "So, leave. Wait out by the door. Now, Easton."

He closed his eyes, placing his arms to his side. "Very well." He bowed before twirling on his heels and leaving me alone.

I waited till I heard the click of the door before leaving for the wardrobe where I found a white simple dress with bellowing long sleeves, trimmed with dark blue ribbons, she had matched the dress with a pair of black dress shoes with a tiny heel, and a black clock lined inside with pale blue fur. Tricia must have left this for me. I thought. She picked my outfit one last time. I couldn't help but smile, she had to be the only person here that cared for me, but I was worried. I hope she is alright. A new maid came in right when I needed help with the corset. She didn't say anything, and like Tricia she was a centaur.

When she finished my hair, she disappeared and Easton came in. He said nothing, just stood there. Another maid came in, carrying a tray of food and sat it down before me. Not liking to be stared at while I ate, I politely offered Easton some food in which he politely turned down and went to stare out the window. And when I finished my breakfast a maid appeared to whisk it away. I should ask him why he was sleeping in my bed. "Um, Easton. I was wondering something." He turned to face me, his arms were crossed over his chest and his face was still. "Why were you-" I was interrupted by the bedroom door being slammed open.

"We are ready." Bemus announced as he entered the room, he had a grim look on his face. It made me so nervous, I've never seen Bemus look like that, I was so used to his carefree demeanor. I stood with Easton and followed Bemus out the door and down the hall. We walked the same way that we had when I first came here, through the throne room and out the front door. The only people there to say goodbye were Erlking and the maids and a few guards.

Everyone of their faces had similar grim looks as Bemus. It's like they are acting like I am about to die. An unsettling feeling filled the pit of my stomach as I walked down the path to a small plain carriage with two drivers, one in which Erlking was standing in front of, with his hands on his hip. I stopped right in front of him, he heaved a heavy sigh. I looked back at my companions, and watched them leave me there and walked to a pair of horses that stood near the gate.

"Daughter." Erlking nodded his head at a servant from the crowd, an old wrinkled man with green skin. He had his head bowed, and was holding a brown satin pillow. On the pillow was a pale green wired tiara, with lovely small yellow jewels. It was something that you would see a fairy wearing. It was quite enchanting looking and I was in awe of it. "Although you are draped in Unseelie Court colors, I will give you one last gift." He took the tiara and I lowered my head so he could place it among my hair. "A piece of home. Wear it proudly as you journey off to a new home, and remember it as you fulfill your duty." A footman opened the door of the carriage, and my two guards mounted their horse. "The two knights will guide your carriage to the bridge, but from there you will be on your own."

"Thank you." The footman helped me into the carriage. "And Father," calling him that made me cringe. "Thank you." He only nodded his head as the footman closed the door. I looked out the carriage to see Erlking giving me a solemn look and then he tapped the side of the carriage. In which it was jerked forward. I watched them, not a single soul was waving, and as we passed underneath the gate I leaned back in my chair. I watched out the window, the carriage was wobbly from the torrin and I felt like I was in one of those historical movies. It wasn't long until we came to the cobblestone bridge that led to a town, there we made our first stop. I leaned forward and looked out the small window, Bemus was the first one to open the door to tell me goodbye.

"Princess, be careful out there." He took my hand and kissed my knuckles with a quick bow before returning back on his horse. Then Easton came, and like Bemus he took my hand.

"Farewell." His voice was soft. "Be strong, my beautiful Princess."

"Will I see you again?" I asked him, I couldn't believe I was sad. I had grown accustomed to them being around. And for the first time since I was taken from my home, I was going to be alone.

"When the time comes, we will come for you and bring you back home." Easton was so kind to me, too kind and I was going to miss him terrible. "It's a three day journey from here to there, the closer to Yukiguni the colder it gets. It is like an ice kingdom, so be careful."

"I will." I promised, and he squeezed my hand. "I will miss you guys." Home, how I long to return back to my world. To see Mom and Dad, I wanted to be held by them and to tell them how much I missed them. But he probably means here. And with that voice in my head, and made my heart sink.

"And I you." I gave him a warm smile. Even though he kissed me, and confessed to me it had been awkward between us. I liked Easton the most out of the two men that followed me around, like Bemus he was kind to me and always there. But there was just something about him that I liked him so much. And if he lived near me back at home and went to school with me, I would have a crush on him.

"Goodbye, Easton." It hurt my heart to say goodbye, when a few weeks ago I would have been jumping with joy. But I am being sent away to be married, and to kill my new husband. And I am not even 18 yet.

"Goodbye, Princess." I thought he would do what Bemus had done, but Easton pulled me by the hand closer to him and placed a kiss on my lips. It was a warm kiss, and a gentle kiss. It made butterflies flutter in my chest. Unlike the first kiss between the two of us, I closed my eyes and kissed him back. It was no longer than five seconds, but when he pulled back and let my hand go I could see he wanted more. I ignored the looks of Erlking and the others, I didn't care that they were judging me. And for that moment, I didn't want to acknowledge anything but this kiss.

Easton closed the door, and walked to his horse by Bemus and jumped on. They both waved at me, Bemus looked as if he was on the verge of tears. And when the carriage jerked forward, they two rode away back to the castle. I sat back, and for some reason I began to burst into tears.

~~~~~~~~

Some point on the ride between the jerks and bumps of the carriage, and my crying I had fallen asleep. I was awakened by a hard jerk to a stop, slumped in my seat as I had fallen forward. It was dark out, and there was a full moon. We had stopped in the middle of nowhere and in a plane with tall grass, I watched one of the drivers walk away and off into the distance a bit and stood there before walking back. Must have used the bathroom. I thought, while rubbing the sleep from my eyes. When he came back he tapped on my door. "Do you need to go?" I shook my head, he nodded his head to me and the door. A few moments later the carriage jerked back into movement.

I looked out the window, feeling numb. The countryside was beautiful, the hills and a few cottages that were nestled among them. I was slouching as I was watching out the window, but when the carriage began to slow I sat up and watched as a man walked past holding a wooden pole on his shoulders with a bucket of water on each side. He looked up at me, his face was filthy and his clothes were dirty and torn. The driver shouted something at the man, he looked away and went to the ditch. Sadness pinged in my heart, I watched him disappear and sat back against the seat closing my eyes. I began to weep again.

When I woke up again, it was dark out and we had entered a dark dirty village. We had stopped at an inn, and I was glad to get out and stretch my legs. One of the maids came out, she stood in front of the door. Her eyes were large and her skin was an ashen color. And in her hands were a small wooden box. "Welcome, your highness." She bowed and her voice sounded like wind going through windchimes. "The King of Yukiguni has paid for a room for you. Our best room, we are the only inn before the Cold Kingdom."

How kind of him. The driver grabbed a bag for me from the back and walked up behind me. "What is the box?" I asked her, I noticed that it was colder here and wished I had grabbed a thicker cloak.

"It is a gift from his fiance, he asked for us to give it to you." She handed the box to me, the top had been carved with mountains and a dragon wrapped around the top. I opened the box and sitting in a dark blue felt was a golden locket on a golden chain. It even had a dragon carved on the top, it was beautiful. I took the locket out of the box and handed the box back. I opened the locket and saw a painting of a beautiful man, a man with long white hair and a serious look. It's Rowan. "Its tradition. Yukiguni warriors give their Brides a locket with a picture of themselves. In case they were to die in battle." She pulled a worn bronze locket out from below her collar. She is from Yukiguni. She placed it back and patted it. "Follow me." She bowed and I followed her with the driver following behind. The room was cozy, it had a bed, a small table and chair. In the center of the room was a small wooden tub. The driver sat the bag down by the door and left me in the room alone with her.

She assisted me with my bathing, and helped me in a nightgown. When she was done she left me alone, and a few moments there came a knock on the door and then she walked back in with my dinner: looked like it was a shepherd pie. I ate my dinner, it was bland and cold. But I was starving, and when I was done I laid down staring at the wooden ceiling, trying to fall asleep. I wanted to, but I had slept most of the way here so I was wide awake.

The inn was quiet, except from the creak of the floorboards outside my room from when people passed my door. I sat up and looked around, the room was dark except for the oil lamp that sat on my nightstand. The room was plain, and the shadows made me feel as if someone was watching me. Just my nerves. No one is there, I told myself. I was never comfortable at staying at hotels. Sleeping in a bed that a stranger slept in always made me nervous. It is kind of him to rent me a room. Even though it was a very worn down inn, it was still cozy. My room was cold, though. And I wish that I had more blankets, or even a fireplace. But I was lucky to even have a room and a bed to sleep on.

I looked over to my nightstand. The locket was sitting on its box, and with a shaky hand I picked it up, holding it in my hand. The metal was cold, and I balled it in my fist heating it up. The lady who greeted me said that it was a tradition, so does that mean everyone in Yukiguni had one. But why? He is very handsome. I brushed my fingertips over his stern face in the picture, I could feel the ridges of each brush stroke and each detail that the artist had painted. A painting that was identical to its muse. But I was curious about why he would give me such a gift, after all he is always rude to me and always going on about killing me. Then again, I am being sent to kill him myself. I swallowed hard, no matter how many times I hear that thought in my head I still can't find a reason to bring myself to end another life. Even if he catches wind of what Erlking wants me to do, he will no doubt kill me himself. He almost did already.

I kept staring at the image, looking at it you couldn't tell that Rowan was a murderous psychopath. And it was easy for me to forget that he is cruel, and just awful to me. But it made me wonder why he would agree to such agreement with Erlking, why he would want me as a bride. Maybe he is going to use me as an example not to cross him. I shuddered, just thinking about that made me worry. Or maybe, just like in kindergarten when a boy picked on you that was supposed to mean that they like you. But I highly doubt it, I wasn't the type of girl that a guy confesses their feelings to. I never had a boyfriend. Easton said he was in love with you.

I closed my eyes, and closed the locket. I put the chain around my neck, and struggled with the clasp, I put the locket on. I put my hand over it, pressing it into my skin. Maybe I could make a deal with the Dragon. A deal where I can go home. As good as that would sound, I have no idea what he liked or what his goal besides making me miserable could be. I laid back, my hand on the locket. And as silly as it sounds it made my stomach flutter by just thinking about it.