But he just couldn't, that was something entirely different.
Still in Liam's his vision, he replayed her immaculate shot. Not one of his guards could make that, besides making it look easy. He laughed silently to himself, confusing the eyes of eager court ladies ogling at him.
Liam was attending his mother's wedding council at her request, discussing time, location, decorations. It was a lot to handle.
He sat slumped next to his mother who was deep in conversation that she completely blanked him.
He didn't care however, as his mind was adrift to such wedding nonsense. The Princess, Elianna was invited to attend, but she politely declined. He huffed.
It had been a few weeks since the hunt, and he saw her frequently, her crimson glare staring through his soul. Her elegance and beauty striking him in the face every time as she walked past him in the corridors, not muttering a single word. The gowns she wore were quite something.
They would however talk in the mornings, at gatherings, and he grew quite comfortable with her, her smile reflecting happiness, yet he was unsure if she felt the same; always fidgeting with her hands, biting her lips and appearing like something was distracting her, playing on her mind.
However, he did notice a rather abnormal scar slashing her left palm and when he tried to ask her about it, she would shut him out, changing the subject abruptly. Her gaze would always lower and she would loose focus on him...
So Liam left it...
Elianna had wore a glove when they went hunting so he never noticed it then. It had looked like a deep burn, a mark of something scrutinisingly painful.
Childhood injury maybe?
Deciding that he had enough, Liam interjected his mother, "May I please be excused your highness, I need to discuss other matters that are of quite high importance?"
He stood, one hand covering his heart in respect. He only spoke with a firm tone for the reputation, as usually he would probably crack a cheesy joke at his mother and give her a warmer farewell.
She looked at him, hushing a persistant lady whose hands were holding cards of colours.
Liam wore a fine silk overcoat with a black shirt underneath. Trousers fit for a king, and shoes, polished to perfection, glinting back at his immaculate reflection. A few ladies broke their conversations just to stare, and not to his surprise began fixing their hair.
"Yes my dear, of course you may leave if this bores you" she winked, knowing full well there was no 'important matter'. Liam smiled genuinely, hazel eyes shining bright in admiration, mirroring his mother's.
He began to walk out when she said, "Oh- I almost forgot, if you see Princess Elianna, tell her that her father wants a word"
The tone of father shook him. A harsh sound for her mother's gentle voice.
Shaking the twinge off, the Prince bowed and exited the room hastily, dodging and ignoring the court ladies who were following his direction.
The Queen dropped her happy exterior to a concerned one and allowed the warmth of her son to invade the emptiness for what she knew what was going to happen. She was 'obsessed' with The Shadow for a reason.
"I do love you dearly my son." She muttered beneath her breath before engaging in conversation once again.
The Queen and the Prince were very close, having him at a young age of 19, she wished to be there for every step he took; to explain culture, wisdom through books of endless stories; to teach manners and respect... but also equality.
That was one thing her mother fought for. Women were looked down upon as the weaker sex, but she defied her father on his death bed, proving to all the strength she wielded, and the people loved her- and her cherished son.
He was unexpected, but certainly wanted as the moment his cries were heard in the hospital wings, she felt complete; vowing to protect her son with her life, and everything she has taught him, has been honouring that vow.
~~
As his mother had suspected, he had no important meeting to be discussed, instead, deciding to head to the great library past the great hall to collect his thoughts.
He didn't understand why he felt clouded, yet all he could do was weave through literature of the ages to help ease his mind... to help see a little clearer.
The Princess' shot even weeks later... needed answering, and to his luck the marble walls led him perfectly.
It was only a short walk away as he came upon the arch leading into the library, that was highly decorated with candles and leaves from nature itself. It's interior was so large that every step inward caused a small echo throughout the cavernous room.
He paused, spine straightening as he inhaled the smell of parchment, the books containing: wisdom, guidance- and adventurous detail of the fictional world.
This was where his heart truly lied. The limitless dictionary of knowledge stood before him.
Candle lights hanging from above on great chains rattled with the breeze through open windows as he walked in beaming, heading straight to a stack of books that was parallel to rows upon rows of, you guessed it- books. All shelved in alphabetical and age order; the deeper in, the more ancient the books became.
The floor was smooth concrete, wood not being strong enough to hold all the columns in place. Ladders scattered in each aisle to reach those high up. Small chairs gathered by a rustic table adorning a lantern were frequent. Enough spaces for people to read in peace, to which as he trickled a hand over a certain book, a squeak of a chair caught his attention.
Elianna.
She was sitting comfortably in a chair; not in her usual gowns, rather a grey night dress travelling below her knees, but resting upon her collar bones. A small necklace made of gold dangled around her neck while her hair, un-styled, framed her shocked face as she looked up; book open with pages flickering a shadow from the candle light.
It was around mid-morning... so why was she not dressed?
And sitting in the library reading?...
Liam gulped, addressing his posture as he bowed respectfully toward her as if to apologise for interrupting.
Even after 3 and a half weeks of her stay, they were still stiff towards each other, sticking to formalities often.
"Princess" he said softly, returning from his bow.
"Prince"
Her voice was tired, and as he examined closer, her eyes that were normally so bright dulled, the candle light dipping the crevice of darkness beneath her eyes.
Had she not slept?
Fidgeting with her gown while she sat, Elianna closed her book gently, placing the leathered parchment onto the table as she gestured to the seat beside her.
Every move was so delicate, a slow quiet version of the very energetic Princess.
Liam smiled, taking the seat in turn, his attire crumbling against the worn oak as his eyes couldn't help but look her over- scars, that were usually covered up seemed ever present...
His gaze lingered a little too long on the gash across her palm until she tucked it out of sight.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?" He asked, head moving to rest upon his palms, cursing to himself for getting caught.
Elianna sighed, blinking at an exaggerated pace, "I couldn't sleep, so I came to find a peaceful place"
Her head lowered, attention focused on her fingertips pulling at the cloth brushing her bare pale legs.
"It is very peaceful here.. I can calm my mind"
He knew exactly what she meant.
Her lips parted as she exhaled, a tiny yawn escaping while Liam's eyes followed the motion. "Do you always read like this?"
Elianna smiled, a forced gesture that brought no comfort to the prince as he returned the smile, listening to her tired words. "I've been doing this every night since we arrived in the castle"
Interesting...
Liam didn't allow an expression to come through.
"Except the day before our hunt 3 weeks ago"
How strange....
Liam raised an eyebrow, lips going dry as his exterior moulded further into the seat, into his thoughts.
Elianna's ruby eyes looked upon him. Even with the dim lighting and foggy shadows casted against his face, he was painstakingly good looking. That fact growing more and more evident every time abs saw him.
Her smile dipped, a hand brushed a curtain of golden hair behind her ears as she continued.
"I never sleep for long anyway, so I needed something to pass the time, your mother saw me one night and suggested this place" her head darted round the library, eyes squinting when the sun would peak through the windows occasionally.
What time was it?
But other than that, it was usually very dark.
"So I did, I came here and returned every night after"
He turned further into her, she must have noticed, reaching for the book placed at her side peevishly.
"I must have not realised the time, I should return to my chambers... eat something"
She swallowed harshly.
Even though they talked often, it was usually like this... one sided and awkward. The other never being able to convey their thoughts into words... leading to dry, boring conversations.
Elianna was reserved, he knew that... but what rattled at his mind was that she couldn't be completely comfortable with him because she was hiding something... a part of herself that when ever he had tried to pry, would instantly get met with a solid wall, un-wavering and silent.
If he could just-
"Wait!"
Elianna halted, turning herself half way down the aisle with the book buried closely to her chest.
"I'll only allow that informal command because I am tired and cannot be asked to retaliate" she chewed as her dress swayed with her motion, shoulders settling back to stand tall. The inside of her cheek being bitten out of sheer force.
Well that makes sense...
"How about, instead of coming here, why not go for a walk in the gardens? It is awfully calming there"
She thought about it, his suggestion, humming at the pace of her brain as her foot tapped the ground.
Liam pursued further, "I can guide you if you wish, I know the grounds better than the groundskeeper does" he laughed, hair bobbing with the laughter.
Elianna fell silent, drawn out for long enough that Liam had hushed himself, fidgeting out of nerves before she uttered, "Meet me at the gates at dawn then"
Relief...
A breath of relief...
"As you wish Princess"
He stood up to wave her off, her body light against the floor as she ushered her way out the library and became incased in the mid-morning sun streaming in.
Liam couldn't help but close his eyes and smile deeply. A silent heartbeat began to drum, and never in all his life did he wish for a day to move faster.