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"Thank you," Adele whispered back, and almost kissed him as well. But she remembered her parents and turned towards them, still clutching Caelan's arm. They had followed her out of the room and were now standing a few feet in front of her and the prince, expressions unreadable. The king spoke to Caelan, voice gruff and protective. "Don't try anything funny with my daughter. We'll be speaking with Adelaide about this... unexpected predicament, but for now I'll be keeping my eye on you." He glanced at Adele's hand, which was touching the prince's shoulder. Adele didn't move, knowing her father was protective of her, but also knowing that she trusted Caelan with her life and he would never hurt her. After a tense moment, the king said, still speaking to the prince, "You may leave now. Guards will escort you out, and your horse will be brought. Just remember, you are being watched." Adele watched, an apologetic look on her face, as two guards led Caelan out the huge wooden doors and disappeared around the corner. Adele worried for Caelan, knowing it would be hard for him to leave her, but she also knew that he needed to be able to function on his own. She took a breath and turned to her parents, ready for the impending conversation that was going to be awkward, loud, and probably very emotional. |
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Caelan nodded, walking out and riding home. He was looked at funny by his mother a few times, but kept walking to a certain guard's room. "Hello, your majesty" The guard grunted, his expression stiff. "Liutenant Scorn." Caelan acknowladged, nodding once. "I need you to send a message secretly without getting caught by guards." Caelan explained. The liutenant nodded and stood. "Tell the princess of the Day kingdom, Adele, that my coronation will be in two days. Deliver he message and report back to me as soon as possible." The guard nodded and put on a coat, heading out the door. Caelan sighed and walked back to his room, sitting on his bed |
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Adele was marched into her room by her mother, followed closely by Adele's personal maid, Mariana, or Marie, as she liked to call her. Adele looked around the room, suddenly feeling nostalgic as she realized it was exactly how she had left it. The notebook she doodled in, the extra-fancy bathrobe she never wore, and that one pair of high heels that didn't quite fit. Adele was brought back to the present when Marie coughed, drawing her attention back to her mother. "Adelaide Clio, I am astonished, simply astonished, that you would let such unconfined emotions take over you in such a place as the Night Kingdom! Tell me exactly why you like the prince, and it'd better be an extremely good explanation, or you are going to be grounded." Her mother was clearly upset, as she hardly ever spoke like this, undignified and brisk. Adele quickly organized a speech in her head, hoping it would be good enough for her mother. "What reasons are there for love? Can you explain why you fell in love with father? It's truly a magical thing, loving someone and being loved. The best explanation I can give is, he understands me. He deserves to be loved. He's a good person, a great person, and he's in a situation almost exactly like mine. I can talk to him without worrying about what he'll think, and he'll never hurt me mother, not on purpose. Like I said, he needs me. And I need him, too." The queen leaned back, trying to hide that she was impressed. Finally, she hummed in amusement, then said, "Well, that was sufficient. But what should we do about your arrangement with Prince August? It is hard to break such vows once they've been made. Adele thought for a few seconds then said, "You can go to his parents and explain that there's been a mix-up and we should remove the betrothal. They're good people and will understand that accidents happen. But..." Adele paused, cringing, then said, "So you approve of him?" |
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Caelan's mother came up to his room a bit later. "Caelan? Where is your servant?" She snapped, stalking toward him with a raised hand, clear with the intentions of slapping him. "She returned where she wanted to go. I'm unlike you and I wouldn't dare keep someone somewhere against their will. You should do the same." He responded, equally snappy |
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The queen smiled kindly, and said, "Well, I'll need to speak with him personally about it at his coronation, but for now, yes, I believe that he is a good person, because you said so." Adele leaped up and hugged her mother, tears in her eyes. "Thank you!" She whispered, then let go of the queen so she could breathe. "Anything for you, darling." Adele turned to Marie and hugged her too, simply out of joy. Marie was a little shocked, but didn't pull away until Adele did. Realizing she should write this moment down, she looked for her journal, then remembered all her things had been brought on Calvin. "Can I go down to the stables?" Adele asked her mother. The queen raised her eyebrows and replied, "May I go down to the stables. And yes, you may. Once you change into something... more ladylike." Adele rolled her eyes but nodded and chose a red and white gown with gold etchings down the front. After she was changed, Adele thanked her mother again, then raced, as ladylike as she could down to where Calvin was stalled. |
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Caelan's mother struck him across the face multiple times before backing up a step, panting. "You do not speak to me like that, young man!" She yelled, getting in his face as Caelan's face turned to one of rage. "I will be your king in a day! Do not raise your voice at me, nor strike me!" He bellowed, storming to his father's bed. He stormed in, rage filling his expression but quickly paling at the sight of his father statue still on the bed. He paused, watching for any breathing motion. Nothing. He took a shuddering breath as the reality hit him. His father was dead. He would be king by morning. It would be a small coronation, but enough to call him king. Many hours later, Caelan's father ws getting prepared for burial as his mother was in hysterics and Caelan wore a black bejeweled crown that shone with authority. He wore his usual outifit annoyed by the traditional king's wardrobe. Nothing about him had changed, after all, except his title and authority. He moved to a messenger nearby. "Send word to the Day Kingdom that I would like a word with the king now that I rule the Night Kingdom." Caelan instructed softly. The messenger nodded and headed to the stables t deliver the message on horseback. Caelan sighed and walked to the throne room. He was too scared to sit on the throne that was now his--feeling much like a 9 year old again as he watched his father yell at him from atop it. You're not him. His mind said, shoving the memory away |
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Adele had retrieved all her things from her bags and brought them up to her room with Marie's help, and now it was nearly 9:00 PM. She was exhausted from the day, and although she hadn't had supper she wasn't hungry enough to get a snack. Adele changed into her most comfortable nightgown, a baby blue one with white stitching, and fell into bed. She was nearly asleep when a sound came from her window. It sounded like someone whispering her name. Adele got up, annoyed that she couldn't go to bed but curious at who would call on her at this hour, and why they were at the window and not at her door. She pushed open the shutters and looked down. About ten feet below, two men dressed in black, one with a horse, the other looking exhaused, were standing, looking up at her. "We've been sent here by order of King Caelan," One of them said. Wait, KING Caelan?! Adele motioned to the guards that she would be right back, then lowered the ladder and clambered down the wall to them. "What do you mean, KING Caelan?" She asked in a hushed tone. The guards looked at each other, then the second one said, "I am Lieutenant Scorn, and the former prince told me to tell you that his coronation would be in two days." The first guard cut in. "But king Caelan told me to tell your parents that he rules the Night Kingdom, and he would like to speak with your father." Adele's head spun with this new information, but eventually she said, "So... What? There's no coronation?" The first guard replied, "There will be a small one in the morning, but no one outside the palace may attend." Adele nodded, though she had barely heard what he said. Caelan was king now. Right now. What did that mean for him? For herself? For them? Adele made up her mind. If Caelan wanted to speak with her father, they would let him come and let her mother speak with him about them at the same meeting. That way there would only be one trip, and hopefully her father would agree to the truce and she and Caelan could... What? Get married? Adele blushed at the thought, even though she loved Caelan, she wasn't ready to go that far yet. "Tell Caelan that my father would be happy to speak to him, and that he should come tomorrow, for lunch or supper. You don't need to speak to my father, I can handle that."
The guards nodded, mounted the horse, and trotted off into the forest. Adele slid on nighttime slippers and rushed toward her parents' room, footsteps echoing in the dark halls. |
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Once the guards returned, they went straight to Caelan who was then sitting in his room. The knock on the door jolted Caelan awake from his half-asleep faze. "Come in" He muttered, the guards complying. "The message has been delivered, Princess Adele says you shal travel tomorrow." The informed him. Caelan nodded. "I'll leave soon" He said, dismissing the guards. The guards nodded. Caelan slept to regain strength for a few hours. ~
Caelan woke and rushed to saddle Aurora before traveling to the Day kingdom. "I'm King Caelan of the Night Kingdom. Your king wanted a council with me." He told the guards at the castle's gate. |
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Adele reached her parents' room and knocked on the door, loud enough that they heard, but not loud enough that it would alarm them. Her mother, bleary-eyed from sleep, opened it. "What is it, honey?" She asked, looking at her daughter, but not really seeing her. Adele said, "I need to speak with you and father." Her mother nodded and stepped aside, letting Adele in. She sat on one of the armchairs in the room and waited for her father to come out of the bathroom. When he emerged she got straight to the point. "Guards came to my window just now, and they said the former king of the Night Kingdom is dead, and Caelan will be crowned in the morning. He's coming tomorrow to speak with you, father." Her parents looked at each other and nodded. After a little more conversation, Adele was sent back to her room to get some rest. She did so, and fell asleep within a few minutes. . Adele woke early, to the sound of birds chirping and servants rushing around, preparing for the Prince's arrival. Yesterday had been unexpected, and the castle was in a 'huge mess', according to the head servant. This time, they wanted to make a good impression. Marie pushed open her bedroom door and came in, a blue dress draped over her arm. "Good morning, your highness. Your mother has instructed me to have you wear this today." She laid out a gorgeous navy blue gown with silver stitching on a side table. She helped Adele get washed up, then made her bed while Adele got dressed. Once she was finished, Adele ate breakfast with her parents and waited in the throne room anxiously until Caelan arrived. The guards entered the room and and announced that King Caelan of the Night Kingdom had arrived. Adele shot up, ready to escort Caelan in. A look from her mother reminded her that was not the way for a princess to act. Her father greeted the prince--er, king, it was still so strange to think of him as a king, and invited him to join them for lunch. Adele followed her mother into the dining room, fidgeting with the hem of her gown. |
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Caelan strode in and lockd eyes with Adele. His composed, stoic look immedietly broke into a grin when he saw Adele, looking her up and down with his eyes but not making it obvious. He reluctantly turned his gaze to the king and queen. "Your majesties. A pleasure, as always." He said, nodding to the both of them |
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Sunny and Pleasant
