She just gave in.
Just like that.
No resistance in the street.
Something was odd, there was more to what was happening in that crafty mind of hers; yet the king could not decipher what. It was driving him mad, more so that he already was.
If she had a plan to escape, she could not escape alone, it wasn't possible...
That's when it hit him. "Summon the Prince to me" he ordered the closest guard stationed to him, hanging around his chambers doors as he sat at his table.
The Prince had outgrown his uses, needing to be dispatched with, and especially now when he could sense the Prince's mind buzzing with questions... he would not allow it anymore.
At first the king was skeptic, but that feeling of caution was soon overwhelmed by the frenzied rush of claiming what was always ment to be his.
"That crafty bitch will not escape me this time!"
~
Liam had spent the 3 days in his mother's study, refusing to eat until Teren literally grabbed him and shoved food down his throat.
He still had the hand prints around his neck to prove it... but that was beside the point.
The funeral had knocked him back for six, the emotions he bore being exhausting, his eyelids so heavy every time he blinked he thought he would collapse.
Surrounded by books that littered through the ages, Liam was sprawled against the desk, his fist clutching the ring, which he remained having no idea as to why it suddenly shone a light- that was yet to be explained.
Still, he read through mountainous books that included some needing to be cleaned; tucked away it grew a family of dust.
Now, the information that had hit him at his lowest... Aloysia... she was Elianna. He had his suspicions, but never payed them much attention.
The moment that hood drifted from her face, his heart had stopped and his hands ran clammy. How could she hide something like that??? He'd mustered enough clarity to be ashamed of his reaction, but the anger remained. A new lingering feeling scraped through his previous ones; no longer was there trust... every time he pictured Elianna's face, he couldn't help but see the hood instead, and that wicked smirk that would send lesser men running.
Another thought... her intentions. His coronation was due in a week, did she plan to undo it all?
Was she someone who he could call an ally, or a foe anymore? He didn't know where he stood with her, and remaining locked up in his mother's study occupying nothing but grief would not suffice an answer.
So he did what he knew best.
~
It was currently early morning, around breakfast time with the bright sun rays dancing upon the window; alighting all who were graced by its presence; and heard the early morning chirping from outside...
But...
The prince could see only darkness, the dimly lit stone walls confining him out of the suns ray.
Fumbling for a solid grasp on the overgrown walls, he could not hear the sound of fluttering birds, only the thundering of his heart in his rib cage as he descended.
Step by step he mounted each rocky stairwell with caution. Deciding to wear attire fit for the outdoors -just in case- and that had a secret compartment only he knew of.
Inside, his mother's letter, the ring and her key. He clutched it reassuringly, begging for it to provide him strength.
Liam at present should be at breakfast, but an alarm rung in his head that strayed him almost instantly. Like a phantom tap to the shoulder, showing him the way.
Liam's breath was locked in his throat as he caught sight of that blood drenched cloak; it being left hanging on a blood dripping wall.
The stone stairwell became increasingly unsteady beneath every step, yet he continued his stroll to reveal the open arch way.
It was crumbling; dying, left abandoned by those who inhabited it.
Leaving dust to be kicked up with every claw into the ground by his boot.
The minute dust scratched at his eyes, making him even more uncomfortable and fearful for what lurked beneath the castle walls.
He gulped, motioning for the tough guards stationed at her cell to leave.
The dungeon... it hadn't been used in his mother's rein- having no use for it... but before Liam could be coronated, the Northern King held the power, and so used it for his new prisoner.
The begrudging guards left with a discontented grudge, masking their obvious eye rolls.
Liam clearly got the message that they were trying to convey.
'If you are murdered, and we find your corpse lying dead when we return, it's not on us.'
Helpful, he thought, slowly regretting his mad decision in even traipsing down here in the first place.
By his count, the guards would wander for 10 minutes.
10 minutes...
Only had 10 minutes to talk to her...
It would have to do...
He needed it, needed to know why... how everything came to the way it was. He deserved as much.
Liam had been mulling it over in his head for the 3 days, spacing out between each book- planning the conversation before moving to the next.
Strands of hair fell into his face, bags under his eyes shadowed from lack of sleep.
The rusting of the iron bars were apparent the closer he came to reaching them.
The foul stench from previous rotting inmates, and all sorts of things churned at his stomach.
Only one lamp illuminating the entire damp space encased in stone and sweat soaked metal.
Play it smart Liam.
Even when he could only see a feint trace of her outline, he knew that she had realised he was there.
Cutting straight to the point without time to waste, Liam sucked up his courage.
"Aloysia... or Elianna... which do you prefer?" the Prince questioned, his voice a little shaky. "Are you alright?"
A huff was heard from behind the iron bars. A grin coming into view as she faced him.
"What do you think?" she mused, her tone feint.
"Can't you see my predicament?" her grin was animalistic.
At the sight of her fully turning to face him, he choked; clothes torn, whip marks roaring red; her body was visibly shaking ever so slightly and her eyes....
Her Crimson eyes were missing the flame sparking them to life.
Aloysia- no - Elianna was something the Prince could never understand, even when he had his suspicions that day he saw her on horseback, firing at a shot that no one would dare take, unless extremely skilled.
Now it was confirmed.
He gulped, reeling in a cool, calm contentment feeling that would provide a tough exterior; even though on the inside he was melting under the pressure and fear for what he was about to do.
"You don't look so good yourself, have you even slept?" She hummed, noticing the poor state the prince was in. When he didn't answer, she knew why.
A grim smile was broadcasted at him, bringing Liam back to the chains of reality.
He sucked in a breath.
"Did you do it?"
Aloysia stiffened. "Did what?"
"You know dam well what" Liam murmured. "Did you do it?"
She sighed, eyes scrunching at the pain it caused. "Even if I told you no, does it make a difference?" She swallowed, swearing internally at the searing down her throat- parched as ever. "Would you even believe me after everything I've done?"
Liam took in the words, a feeling of trauma crawling down his spine. He fought against it. "I believe you"
Aloysia peered up at him, for the first time properly; he was seeing her as she was- no secrets, everything she was, as vulnerable as she was.
"After everything, I do not think you did it, so I believe you are telling the truth."
He trembled. That was enough for Liam, continuing "I do not hold this against you, but I have lost a certain trust with you" he bit his lip. "Please respect that"
The burning was no longer from her wounds, but the one laying against her heart. Tears would gather in her eyes if it were not for the fact that she had only been given sips for an entire day.
"I respect your choice, and I thank you for not hating me as many have after learning the truth"
A pang of guilt. "But know-" she began, capturing his hazel eyes. "That I am the same person you grew a genuine friendship with"
"How can I be certain?"
"How can you not be?"
Liam breathed in the silence, facing away, holding his clambering heart; he couldn't process it all.
"Why did you need to get into the castle?" He turned his head over his shoulders. "How are you going to escape? I know you have a plan"
"Gosh- so many questions" she mused. Her exterior seemed to change once again. He assumed it was self-protection, shutting out the weak.
The grim smile turned wicked, her arm twitching in its restraints; it truly was a gruesome sight.
"Who says I plan to escape Prince?" she hissed at the pain.
Liam daringly took a step forward, now in the confinement's of her cell.
Was she pushing his patience?
"You let yourself be captured, that was obvious" his arms shrunk to his stomach, cradling it to stop his painful ache withering any further; the stench becoming all too pungent.
"You needed to come here, you're planning something, I can see it in your eyes"
Aloysia's eyes pinned his own to the back of his skull, waiting for him to say more before replying a straight, "You're right"
The prince's mouth gasped open, then collided almost instantly to a wall-
-In one swift move, the chains cutting of blood circulation were snapped, thrashing to the floor in a loud thud; her hand, outstretched to the back of the Prince's soft hair, shoved him to a wall.
He had not a second to process her reply before his face plummeted into the soggy stone cage.
Aloysia took a dangerous step closer, her breath mingling with his ear as she whispered "I came back for you"
A shiver shot down his spine at her ivy words, the realisation making his blood run cold, and muscles stiffen.
The slimy feeling ran down his compressed cheek, he could throw up. This was Aloysia... not Elianna- he had to be careful.
"You needed to be in the castle walls, you needed to be caught, needed to rile the king-"
"-I need you to hush if you care for your life Liam"
She wouldn't-
That zipped his lips; but his brain ran wild, plunging deep into his thoughts on his theories.
'I came back for you'
He knew it was necessary for her to return here, he knew she would try and escape... but for what main reason? Him?
He knew the king was dangerous... but would he be planning to come after his life as well as hers?
Escape...
The realisation of what she was trying to covey came to life... the king would stop at nothing to collect power- which meant killing the heir; or in this case, him.