The Letter

Adrien sat at his desk. It was evening and Femel had retired to his chamber. In front of Adrien was the yellow envelope from Lamelie. Adrien rested his head on his chin.

I must do what I must, Adrien thought. He picked up the letter, fondled it for a moment, and then ripped off the edge.

He covered his mouth and teared up. The letter read:

Dear Adrien,

I love you and I don't regret that I didn't tell you goodbye. Remember earlier, when I said, "See you later." Consider those our parting words.

Adrien skimmed over most of the letter until he read the last couple of lines:

Adrien, I love you. Please don't forget me.

See you later, Lamelie

Adrien chuckled to himself. Lamelie was always so businesslike, so direct, and straight to the point. Sometimes it was hard to remember the times when she was vulnerable or frightened. In the early stages of their relationship, Adrien wouldn't have been able to fathom her being either of those two things. But being his page, they stayed close together, and the walls they had placed between each other crumbled.

And they had seen each other in their worst moments and comforted each other.

"I love you, Lamelie," muttered Adrien. He crumpled the letter in his hand. "See you later."

Femel wandered around in his chamber. Soon, he thought, there will be a wedding. But he grumbled at the thought. I want my own wedding.

A group of maids gathered outside Femel's chamber to gossip.

"Did you hear," she said, "About the page who deserted?"

"And she was Prince Adrien's page too!"

One maid interrupted," I always thought they were a thing."

"I know right. They looked so cute together."

Femel barely held his laughter back. These maids are onto them, he thought. He placed his hand on his chest. And I thought we did so well hiding it too.

He froze. A sudden tightness filled his chest. What if Raphael knew?

He fell back against the door. If Raphael knew… Then Miss Lamelie was in danger.

As Femel tore the door open, an envelope fell out from the crack. Femel shivered as he read the letter. I feel sick, he thought, and Miss Lamelie is in danger.

Femel pocketed the letter. It's proof that someone had attempted to threaten.

Consequence be damned, Femel thought, Adrien needs to know.

But now that Femel stood outside Adrien's office, he was unsure. If I read it to Adrien, then both he and I are in danger? Wouldn't it be better to slip it to him secretly or deal with it on my own?

Femel clenched his fist. Why am I such a coward?

Adrien heard someone pacing outside his room. He placed himself closer to the decorative swords on the wall and cracked the door open.

"Femel? Are you okay?"

Femel steeled himself. I have to tell him.

"I'm fine," he said, "But I have to tell you something."

Adrien moved aside and Femel entered. But as Adrien closed the door, a crossbow bolt zipped through the drapes and sunk into the doorframe. Femel glanced over at it and collapsed to his knees. Adrien dragged Femel out of the room and placed him against the door.

Femel trembled as Adrien covered him with his coat.

"Guards!"

Three guards rushed in from a nearby patrol.

"There's been an assassination attempt. Secure the perimeter. Double the patrols.," commanded Adrien, "Have the captain investigate the area."

The guard, Bartolomeo, stepped forward and saluted.

"I will carry out your orders to the best of my ability. But we no longer have the captain."

Adrien faltered. Right, he thought, things are different now.

"Congratulations, Bartolomeo. you are appointed provisional captain. The assessment will be conducted later, but for now, get on the task."

Bartolomeo saluted again. "Yes, sir!" He rushed to his tasks.

Adrien waved the other two guards on their way and turned his attention to Femel. He had already been distraught. The incident had fanned the flames.

Adrien knelt down and faced Femel. "Tell me now. You're safe."

Femel muttered,"Letter." He glanced up at Adrien.

He snatched Adrien by the collar and yelled," You're all in danger!"

Adrien was taken aback but he loosened Femel's grip on him.

"What letter?"

"It was Raphael, I think." Femel relaxed his muscles and buried his head in his knees.

"Raphael," Adrien murmured.

As Adrien stood up, he offered his hand to Femel, who grabbed it and rose with him.

"I have a meeting with the Emperor, Femel. Would you care to accompany me or would you like to rest?"

Femel gulped. It was better to be with trusted companions than alone.

"I'll go with you, Sir Adrien." He trembled as he pulled out the letter from his breast pocket.

"You need to read this."

Lamelie stood inside the bunker. They had truly improved on the boring metal frame of Femel's original design. Someone had painted the inside and decorated the hallway. Instead of a dreary grey, it was painted white and looked like a foyer, not a strategic bunker in a cliff.

"What do you think?" asked Rianna," Did it myself." She beamed as she pointed out her makeshift decorations.

"It certainly brightens up the place," replied Lamelie. She still gripped her sword as she walked. By now it was a habit, ingrained in her by her years of servitude and your experiences in life.

Brian stepped out of the main meeting room. "It gets dreadfully boring when you're gone, Miss Lamelie. No action."

"Brian!" exclaimed Rianna and she embraced him in her arms. She was almost six inches shorter than he was so her head just barely reached his neck. He smiled warmly and stared at her.

"I was worried about you," he said.

"And yet you left," said Lamelie. She grinned.

Brian's cheeks flushed and he felt defensive but didn't let go of Rianna.

Rianna jump to attention and pried herself from Brian. She saluted.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am for the inappropriate behavior we exhibited in front of you," shouted Rianna.

Lamelie broke out laughing. "It's fine," she said as she wiped away tears of joy. She thought," Of course, I'm not the only fool in love.