The Queen flinched slightly when she saw Elyesa's face and she frowned, turning immediately to the guard.
"You Idiot!"
"M-my Que-" the guard stammered, stunned by the turn of events.
"Cease him and throw him in the dungeon!"
"But m-my Queen!" He protested as rough hands grabbed him, dragging him away. "You gave an order!"
"This is the wrong lady. How dare you harass her?"
"Surely, we can find a milder punishment," the princess advocated.
"A milder punishment will not be enough, Princess. This gullible's guard was about to cost us our newly founded peaceful relationship," she said, sounding as devastated as possible. Then she turned to Elyesa, "are you alright, my Dear?
"I--I'm alright," Elyesa stammered weakly to the Princess who still stayed rooted by her side.
"You are not harmed?" The Princess pressured, her hands on Elyesa's shoulders as she gave her a one over.
"I--" she stuttered. It was starting to get harder to speak, tears was filling her throat, choking her, straining her words. Her eyes misted with tears too, her heart was the heaviest it had ever been.
Why did it have to be like this? Why her?
She took a step forward, wanting to disappear from all these attention but the earth swayed under her feet. Like a piece of paper blown by the wind, she staggered, tripping, almost crashing against the floor if not for the strong pair of hands that had caught her just in time.
"She is weak," she heard the Princess cry out, her voice filled entirely of worry. "Harmed!"
"Our Physician will see to it that she'll be alright. Don't worry, Princess." Elyesa heard the Queen assure the Princess with that same convincing voice that she had used on her for years.
She felt stupid, used and trapped.
"I will go with them to ensure that she is alright."
"You can't." King Soka spoke up. "You have a wedding to complete."
"Oh, yes, the wedding. Bihishma, follow these guards and take her to the physician."
The Princess say and at that moment, someone croached right in from of her.
She hadn't known how weak she was until the hands that held her pushed her slightly to lay on Bihishma's back.
Bihishma rose, immediately running out of the hall like as if her life was in danger.
It was suddenly so loud in her head.
As they departed, Elysea opened her eyes slightly, her gaze landing on Guba who was looking back at her, his jaw tight, his eyes cold and his hands in tight fists by his sides, their gaze only breaking from his when the Grand Hall's doors were pulled shut.
Helpless.
They both were.
Her head was heavy, her sight blurry, her mind slowly clouding with dizziness, hot tears rolling down one side of her face, down to Bihishma's clothe. She could feel herself moving slightly from one side to the other Bihishma's back as she increased her pace. She could hear the guards rushing behind them too, boots hitting the floor.
Was she dying? Why were they all running for her life like this?
Then it became louder in her head, and louder and louder.
Everything was suddenly going black very fast, and the pounding in her head was starting to get painfully loud.
Then it went silent.
Darkness.
***
Wine goblets clashed against one another, leading to a spill here and there, then a loud hearty cheer.
The wedding celebration had started since over an hour ago. There was food, expensive wine, beer, rustic music, and different performances while they all sat around the long U-shaped table, laughing and talking.
They all seemed to be happy or at least they were pretending to be satisfied with the arrangements but Guba wasn't. Although, he had confirmed through a few whisperings among the maids and the whispering from Princess's woman warrior that had come to deliver a message to her, that Elyesa was alright. Still that wasn't close to being enough, he wanted to see her.
He had to see her.
He wished he could leave here, he would have done so hours ago. In fact, he would have gone with her to ensure that she was alright. If only he wasn't tied with all these stupid responsibilities then he would be with her right now!
Elyesa.
He wanted to know if she was alright and give her comfort, not just for her physical pain but also the pains of her heart that they both shared.
Right now, they were who the other needed.
"Not another goblet," he heard his mother whisper to him in a tight caution. She was sitting by his left, his father sitting between them.
"Let him merry, Misha," he heard his father's words come out slightly slurred. "Even though he may get more marriages in future, each must be greatly enjoyed."
He wouldn't have caught how drunk his father sounded, if he hadn't been sitting right next to him.
"We must look good to our in-laws, Aalim."
His hand tightened around his goblet, trying to keep his rage under control. He felt an insane urge to hurt someone, anyone.
If they said another word, he felt like he would absolutely lose his cool but they didn't. Maybe they had sensed his anger or maybe that had been the only thing they had to say to him, he couldn't tell.
Anyways, it was a good thing they had kept their mouth shut.
"My Prince," he heard the Princess whisper shyly to him from his right.
Her cheery voice only made him want to strangle her.
"I'm far spent. Shall we retire for the night?"
Retire for the night?
He scoff mentally.
He knew what that meant but he didn't argue with it, he wanted to get out here anyways.
He drowned the last of his wine in one gulp and stood up, giving a short speech about how he appreciated everyone being here before he ended it with.
"My wife and I," he had paused, the words tasting absolutely bitter in his mouth but he knew they had to be said. He was doing this for his Kingdom and her father was watching, "shall now retire for the night. You may continue to merry."
They all cheered and he turned away, the Princess following behind him. He had drank took much though, he swayed slightly on his feet as walked away, looking like he would fall any minute. He could feel many eyes on him but not once, did he turn back.
Throughout the evening, he had drowned himself in alcohol to deal with the torture. He must have taken way more than he could handle.
Finally they got to the door of his room. His hand held the doorknob and he pushed the door open immediately.
He frowned upon seeing that his room had been decorated for the consummation. Scented candles, flowers, even his beddings had been replaced.
His hand tightened around the doorknob, he stepped aside and the Princess stepped in.
Then he closed the door.
He starting walking aimlessly around, scattering some of the decorations in the process, while taking off all the heavy ceremonial robes he had been forced to put on for this sham of a marriage.
There was something he had to get, he knew he was here for that but his alcohol fogged mind wasn't thinking straight at the moment.
He had finally taken off all the bothering luxurious robes so that he was left in only his plain ones.
He pushed against the wall for support, banging his hand against his head in a futile attempt to clear out his mind.
The alcohol was really setting in.
"My Prince."
He heard the Princess call out to him but he didn't turn to look at her, he didn't want to see her face. Instead, he waited. What could it be that she wanted to say to him this time? Her voice infuriated him and he wished he wouldn't have cause to hear it till he breathe his last.
But he waited for what felt like forever. In anger, he snapped his focus to her only to be hit by waves of shock.
There she was, naked under the many soft candle light, all her robes dropped down to her feet.