Hazel and Idril returned to the caste almost at the same time as Arzaan did. A frown appeared on his face when he saw his mate with Idril and he glared at him. He walked over to Hazel and took her hand and accessed her to make sure that she was alright and not hurt anywhere.
He was aware that what happened had shaken most of the realm, especially the places around the castle and the Light forest. "Are you alright?" He asked and Idril stepped aside. He had already gotten a hard glare; he didn't want another.
"I am alright, Your Grace," she replied and he frowned lightly but he didn't comment on it. He nodded and looked at Idril who stepped forward again and gave a curt bow,
"Your Majesty!" He said and then stood up straight again.
"Wait behind, I have something to discuss with you," Arzaan said and he nodded and stepped aside again. His second-in-command walked in and bowed to the king and then his lord before standing mute in a corner. This alone was enough to let him know that whatever the king was going to discuss must be serious and important.
Arzaan then led Hazel away, ignoring every other presence in the room, and led Hazel to her bedroom.
Sage who hadn't left yet saw this and hurt flashed across her eyes. She was quick to mask it but her clenched fists did not lose up. This little change didn't go unnoticed by the elf who raised a brow at her.
"Lady Sage," he called and she turned to look at him. All traces of the hurt that she felt was gone, she wore her normal expression as she gazed up at him. "You don't have to get hurt over what was never yours," he pointed out.
There was a shock on her face at the fact that he had seen through her so easily. This elf was so good at picking out the small details of everything that many already hate it. To make it worse was the fact that he would tell it directly to your face without mincing his words, but no one could do anything to him, his strength, position and the head of Elves and his relationship with the king makes it very difficult for anyone to do any harm to. At least not unless you have a dead wish.
"Lord Idril," she called with a small smile on her lips.
"Let him go, lady Sage, the sooner you do that, the better it will be for you," he said without allowing her to complete her words.
She looked at where they stood, there was no one else beside them and the other elf whom she was sure wouldn't utter a word without permission. "I have never acted upon it, Lord Elenel, you can be at ease," she didn't deny because she couldn't. He has seen through her so there was no point in denying it.
"All the more reason why you should let him go, he is not yours, do not harbor those feelings any longer, they will prove dangerous for all three of you in the future." she clenched her fists by her side and started daggers at him but he maintained his calm and cool composure like he was being called at so fiercely.
"They are my emotions, what I do with the does not affect you in any way, Lord Elenel," she said and he smiled
"I would also like to remind you that the one who will get the short end of the stock would be you,"
******
"Why were you with him?" Arzaan suddenly asked after making sure that she was hurt anywhere. From his voice, Hazel could tell that he was not happy about it. But were they not close friends?
"He offered a tour," She said and looked away from him. "I have been here for many days already with books as my only companion and…" his expression softened as she spoke.
"I am sorry, I have been too busy to keep you company," he said and made her sit on his lap. "I promise to do better, always find time to spend with you," He said and she nodded.
"Thank you, Your Gra…" He stopped her with a kiss which shocked her.
"I have told you not to call me that," he said after breaking the kiss. Hazel was still shocked and she inked after hearing what he said. "You and I are equals, my love, you don't have to be so formal with me," He lifted her chin so she could look at him.
Her flushed and shy look right now was something he didn't expect and he couldn't speak for a few seconds. But then he smiled and brought his face closer to hers, afraid that he would kiss her again, she looked away.
"Hazel," he called. "I want to kiss you, can I kiss you?"
Her heart skipped a beat at his request. She didn't know how to answer that. He had already kissed and now he was asking for permission to kiss her after taking her first kiss without asking. She touched her lips but he pulled her hand and licked the finger that had touched her lips and then leaned closer. Her heartbeat picked up its pace. It was beating so loud that she felt he could hear it even if he was six feet away from her.
"May I?" He asked, their lips barely an inch apart. She could feel his warm breath again hers and it made her toes curl. She nodded and said,
"Yes," shocking herself that she had agreed. Has she started Developing feelings for him? She would but answer this yet. But she couldn't take back her yes after it had left her mouth. Now she was anticipating what his kiss would be like after getting her permission.
Having received her permission, he closes the little gap between them, sealing her lips with his. The kiss was tender but longer this time. He was gentle, he was always gentle with her even his kisses were gentle.
He broke the kiss and placed his forehead on hers and whispered. "I love you," but he received no words from her. "You can take your time my love, I will wait until you are ready to say back to me,"
"I have decided to stay with you," she said out of the blue and he froze for a moment. He didn't expect her to say that at all. At least not yet. "I want to stay with you," she didn't know when she came to this conclusion, to tell him so straight without finding some other words to use, maybe it was because of the question that Idril had asked her earlier, but she was glad that she had said it. She knew she would not regret her stay here as long as she was with him and yes, she felt safest with him.
His touch and closeness were welcoming and comforting even his kisses… She loved it too. "Don't you want me here anymore?" She asked, becoming nervous because of how still and silent he was right now.
A slow and beautiful smile appeared and his face and he cupped her small face in his large palms, the happiness he felt at the moment could be seen in his eye. "I will always want you," he said. "Would you like to accompany me to the great hall? There are some issues that I need to address," he asked her.
She had agreed to stay and not just to stay in Arcadia, but to stay with him, so she was willing to be his queen. Dealing with things like this was something that she would have to learn and wanted to teach her by himself.