Hope

Belladonna listened to every word but despite her usual calm demeanor she couldn't stop the gentle tears running along her cheeks as she saw the nervous blushing girl before her. Belladonna had grown callous to the suffering she faced as even the handmaidens assigned to her were strict and cruel towards her despite her position. However the pain became hope.

"Oh no! It seems I have made you rather uncomfortable once more Lady Belladonna. Please inform me how I may mend my wrongs?"

"I apologize Princess Ishara but you need not do anything you already have done more than enough."

Ishara posture began to slum as the worry scrawled across her face melted away and into a look of utter defeat. Her heart slowly sank as Ishara believed at this point they had wrong Belladonna to the point of no return. The words that follows next however began to slowly remove the weight Ishara was beginning to bear.

"These tears are of joy for your honest words have seemed to melt the ice around my heart."

Belladonna had wallowed in shadows for so long that she had forgotten what sunlight felt and looked like but this girl before her offered her a dawn she never thought would truly come to fruition. With a smile Belladonna approached the now beaming Ishara as she gave a small polite curtsy to her beacon.

"Well my beloved princess, I am Belladonna Alteria and I am delighted to be in your company, my beloved."

"No need to be so formal and we have much time to properly get to know each other so at the moment there is no need for pleasantries or at the bare minimum I would like to earn such heartfelt titles."

"Well so be it my Princess but what would you have me do?"

It is rather easy to get lost in a moment and forget the world around you. Now that the pleasantries were out of the way and the conversation topics faded the air grew thick as they stood there in awkward silence.

"Oh! Let me show you around the garden and your new living arrangements. If there is anything you wish for please inform me so I can make the proper arrangements."

With a small polite nod and smile Belladonna happily interwoven her fingers with Ishara so that she may lead the way. To any onlookers the red on both girls' cheeks was plain to see.

"So that I neither wonder off or get lost, my Princess."

"Of course my Lady. Now shall we?"

The pair laughed and giggled as they stumbled through the garden taking in astonishing beauty. Belladonna loved every small compliment on her beauty, stride or even mental capabilities as Ishara was more than happy to compare Belladonna to every flower in the garden. The focus of Belladonna's subconscious as she listened to the doting Ishara was why she was so knowledgeable about flowers.

Unknown to Belladonna, Ishara had been in love with flowers ever since she was a little toddler. Ishara remembers the calm collected days living with her mother in a small cottage among a flower meadow in the Itari valley. Ishara wasn't a born princess after all but grew into the role. For Ishara remembers the days of the roaring fire that ravaged the lands she once called home and the day she picked up her mother's blade.

Ishara's appearance as a doting lover in the gardens of her private palace weren't truly indicative of the burning flame that dwells in her heart or the labyrinth that was her mind. To Belladonna this doting lover had quickly begun to quicken her heart rate with every passing moment until they found themselves wandering not the garden but the simple halls of the palace.

The walls held no decorations or photo's of various people she didn't know unlike her family halls but even the architecture was different. Her manor was supported by elegantly crafted and engraved marble towers while the pillars of the halls of the palace seemed to be living breathing trees.

The sconces which would normally hold torches were replaced by glowing orbs of crystals. The air was cleaner and cooler than the stuffy air of her room. A cool breeze seemed to filter throughout the palace which helped to soothe the overheating Belladonna as her mind continually sprinted to keep up with everything.

Then came Belladonna's room. The oaken door opened up into a circular room with a hemispherical roof of glass which allowed her to get an unimpeded view of the setting sun above. The eastern portion of the room were also glass panes which would slide open to a small patio which rested upon a lake. To the southern part of her room was a small cozy sitting area which surrounded a hearth.

Close to the door along the western wall was a small study nook made up of various shelves and a writing desk. Next to the study laid a plush bed that would comfortably fit two. Then just past the bed were two sliding doors one of which opened into a walk-in closet filled with various recent Valareshian fashion pieces and then the other opened into a well equipped bathroom. The whole room had a very open air cozy studio apartment bed.

"Is this where we will be residing, Ishara?" said Belladonna, looking around in awe.

"Oh? No this room is for you my flower but if there is anything at all not to your liking please let me know."

"So you will not be staying with me?"

"I would rather not impose on you my sweet flower."

"Well if that is the case then I would request one simple change."

"Just say the word flower and it will be done in a timely manner."

"I would like Princess Ishara to move in with me because a betrothed couple should learn how to live with each other."

The request didn't fall on deft ears but yet no response came for Ishara for despite her continual flirting she had not expected such a request from Belladonna.