Chapter 13

As the first rays of dawn filtered through her ornate window, Queen Isabella stirred beneath her silk sheets, the vivid remnants of the night's dream still clinging to her consciousness. It had been different this time; more vivid, more intimate. For the first time, she had felt the warm brush of lips against hers, a fleeting moment imbued with a longing that sent her heart racing. The mysterious figure of her dreams—a shadow that danced at the edges of her reality—had now moved into a realm she hadn't known existed. It was intoxicating and frightening all at once.

She arose with a flutter of excitement, the memory still lingering like a sweet perfume. As she prepared for a gathering with friends from neighboring kingdoms, her heart was a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. Her life had been one of duty, solitude, and the heavy weight of responsibility. Rarely did she allow herself the luxury of daydreams, but the shadow had changed that in ways she didn't quite comprehend.

As she donned a flowing gown of midnight blue, she cast a casual glance at her nightstand and noticed something peculiar—an elegant white rose candle beside a cluster of golden daisies. Next to it lay a page from her shadow's journal, the handwriting unmistakable, as if it had been etched by some ethereal force.

"Dear Isabella,

Even in shadows, I find my light in you. Know that I am always near, protecting you and others from the darkness that seeks to consume. As you read these words, remember that you are never alone. I carry your heart with me, wherever I go.

Forever your shadow"

The note sent a shiver down her spine, a tingle of warmth blossoming in her chest. A smile broke across her face; these words filled her with a sense of companionship she had long craved. So many nights spent in the stillness of her castle had been filled with silence, with only her thoughts for company. Now, here was someone who reached out to her through dreams and whispered sentiments.

She considered how she might respond. What could she say to him? She felt drawn to him, yet the mystery of his identity kept her at arm's distance. After all, he was still a stranger, an enigma cloaked in shadows. She had never so much as grazed the fingertips of a lover; how could she risk her heart so easily?

But as she sat at her writing desk with quill in hand, the call of her heart overpowered her doubts. The ink glided across the parchment as if her soul directed her hand:

"Dear Shadow,

Your words are a balm to my weary heart. In a world of duty and shadows, how can I not feel a light beckoning me closer? You bring warmth to my solitude, and I find myself longing to unveil the figure that haunts my dreams.

What is your name, I wonder? Tell me of your world, your light, so I may know you beyond words. Perhaps, one day, we might share more than dreams.

With every whisper of the wind, I await your reply.

Yours, Isabella"

With her heart racing, she lit the white rose candle and set her note next to it, a promise that she would wait for another response in the evening, after her gathering. The golden daisies twinkled under the candlelight, exuding a warmth that mirrored the burgeoning feelings inside her.