As promised, Liam kept his word, meeting the princess every night at dawn and delving deeper into the garden each time. It was calming, even if he had to forfeit his sleep, he would happily do so if it meant the most reluctant, self-restricted person he had ever known would become a closer friend.
A friend.
That's what he wanted, and would do absolutely anything to get- absentmindedly ignoring his stomach turning leaden whenever another man would gaze a little too long at her.
It was just protectiveness- no one wants to be ogled at like a object, a piece of raw meat ready for the feasting.
But one night, he had found her earlier in the day, apologising profusely when telling her he could not make it to their walk that evening; all due to princely duties that had just come in and required all his time and energy.
Elianna had nodded in response, an understandable exterior plastered on her face as he rushed off. She remained unreadable.
So why, standing here, as she had done so for the last week, was it more frigid than before? Bitter by the second? Even though her attire had grown thicker to combat the relentless weather, she had grown colder?
Why?
Hope... hope that perhaps he was lying.. that he would appear any second at the gates dressed in his cloak- still shivering as he would make his way over to her.
Hoped to see his smile that reflected the night sky each time he'd blather on about a rare flower.
Hope... was a child's thought.
Sighing deeply, after waiting twenty minutes in this weather, she decided to turn in for the night.
But before she could inch a step toward the castle, a cracking of snow could be heard. Footsteps.
Slow, and fragile footsteps sprinkled the floor as Elianna gazed upon the person creating them.
The Queen.
Her majesty, dressed in fine southern colours of green, yellow and brown walked hunched over to the princess.
She immediately rushed to her side, seeing the woman struggle very slightly.
"Ah, thank you young one" she said clearly, the honey like voice soothing to the ears.
Even though the queen was only 41, she had walked with as much difficulty as someone much older. Elianna supposed that someone who dealt with so much stress from a very early age must have taken a hit to the physical strength of her body... but her face.. time was kind to her.
"Your majesty, what are you doing out here so late? And in this weather?" Elianna asked, the shock soon fading, only concern lingering in the air.
"I heard you were in need of a partner to show you around the gardens"
Elianna froze. Did the prince ask his mother to take his place?
The queen squeezed Elianna's hands lovingly, as if she could read her thoughts.
"I thought who better to show you than myself?"
The princess nodded, a warm glow spiralling from her cheeks at the pure kindness this woman was giving her.
Gratefully taking the queens arm in hers, they strode past the gates and into the garden as her majesty had done many times.
"My dear, may I ask why is it you have to go for these walks?"
Elianna held back her breathing, the air tightening around her throat.
The queen's receptiveness picked up on the slight disruption in her movement, slowing their pace and patting her arm soothingly, "you don't have to answer Elianna if you do not wish too"
No. It was ok. She had a voice, and she would use it.
"I don't usually sleep, so I needed something to pass the time as you know"
The queen smiled, listening respectively as they passed a lock of roses swaying gently.
Usually the night was loud, the wind deafening, but now, the night hushed, and a light drop of snow landed on her shoulders. It continued to get heavier as the seconds passed.
It began snowing.
"I have a lot in my mind that keeps me awake, so I have to somehow process it..." her voice trailed off as a few buds of snow landed on her eyelashes, dancing among her hair as well as the Queen smiled happily towards the princess following the snow with her eyes.
It was breathtaking. Almost as if each piece of snow was a falling star.
"What is it that clouds your mind my dear?"
Elianna couldn't answer, to swept up in the snow to formulate an answer.
They both stopped.
The queen sighed, "Liam always did mention you were never one for conversation"
The queen chuckled lightly and a flash of hurt graced Elianna's eyes. She knew it wasn't meant in a hurtful way, but she couldn't control her emotions.
Sighing, the queen spoke lightly, "In no way is that a bad thing, in a matter of fact, it makes you interesting, a mystery that people will try and figure out"
Her hand clothed in wool caressed the princess' cheek, a motherly gesture that Elianna missed dearly.
Perhaps.. the queen could act as the mother she lost...
She continued, gazing upon Elianna with the warmest expression that she had ever laid eyes on... the look brining a maternal comfort.
"That's how you appear to my boy Liam, and I must apologise that I am the reason for his stubbornness, but he will never give up in trying to get closer to you"
Elianna knew that, relished in it, the fact that someone cared so much as to never give up.
The snow grew thicker, some patches scarce of snow and others clustered with it.
"I had never asked your majesty, but what is your name?" Elianna asked, her mind clear as she would decide to tell the prince everything... but the queen, she wanted to know the name given to someone who could make you feel as if you mattered in an instant.
The queen chuckled, releasing her hold on the princess while walking toward an aged oak tree with a sign dug in its soil.
The tree towered above most plants in this garden... and the sign, she hadn't payed it much attention before. Biting her lip hesitantly, she remained still.
The queen turned her head, glancing at her, hazel eyes bright and wide.
Elianna took the silence as an order to follow, and once she reached her side, brushing off the fallen snow from the sign, she read, "Her Majesties royal tree, Celimine Theoden"
Her name...
Elianna eyed the queen, eyed Celimine.
"My mother loved odd names" she stated, still focused on the aged sign slowly being re-covered by the waterfall of snow above them, "as did I, but I chose for people to call me Cel for short and convenience"
Her eyes watched the thin branches lined with frost above them. An umbrella almost.
Elianna whispered, "What does your name mean?"
Celimine raised an eyebrow, glad her curiosity was shining through.
Nodding with an appreciative face the queen went on, "My name means a mix of things, derived from an ancient culture it means 'elements of heaven, moon, and strength'"
Stunning.
Elianna relaxed her shoulders, feeling a proud buzz within her at the fact that she knew the queens name, a name which had such a beautiful meaning.
Cel faced Elianna, brushing a long strand from her face, "Do you know the meaning of your name?" She asked genuinely.
The princess halted, "I- I'm not sure your majes- sorry- Celimine" she corrected.
Her name sounded elegant on her tongue, a beam lining her lips.
Absentmindedly, the princess shuddered at the cold, to which Cel scrunched her brows, shaking her head lovingly, "I believe it is time to go in Elianna, the weather is much to cold to continue"
Elianna nodded, a hollow feeling etching its way in with the chilly air; the fact that she would be alone again, but before it could reach deeper, Cel took her arm in her own, holding tightly.
That reach kept her steady.
Almost as if reminding the princess she was no longer alone.
They both began their traipse back through the thickening snow, Cel guiding the princess out the way they came, following their footsteps home.
~
Unknowing to them both, Liam, while sighing and rubbing at his tired eyes peeped through an adjacent window high above the gardens, watching the final moments of his mother and Elianna's walk.
His cheeks reddened as the flurry of bitter wind flew through the gap and breathed onto his face, but he would not withdraw; eyes focused on the princess. A hint of guilt arose, but she was not alone, and that is what had concerned him when he approached his mother in the morning with an obscene request.
And he was relieved that she had accepted.