I stumble as I try to keep up with his pace.
"Can you please walk slowly if you'll pull me along like this." I say.
He ignores me and we keep walking till we get to the entrance of the Royal building, there's a carriage and a guard there. He opens the carriage door and gestures me in. I walk in to exquisite interior of the carriage and sit on the plush seat at farther end. After giving out some instructions to the guard, he comes in and sits opposite me folding his arms with his right leg placed on the left.
The carriage begins moving and he looks at me intently while I skillfully avoid his gaze looking at the window.
"What were you doing in there? And who permitted you to wander off?" He asks in a cold tone.
Knowing he was angry, I decide to keep mute but it doesn't salvage the situation.
He disentangles his arms and legs and leans closer interlocking his fingers with his elbows on his knees, "I just asked a question, didn't I?"
"I went there to... to see Aine." I stutter.
He nods, "And who permitted you to wander off? Are you aware of the imminent danger lurking after you the moment you step out that room?!"
At this point, I get angry and lose control, "Who permitted me? I permitted myself because I'm a seventeen year old for crying out loud Aidan! For the past month now, I've done nothing but stay in that room all cooped up, I have my life to live. Talking about imminent danger, there wouldn't be any if your family hadn't bought me in the first place!"
His eyes darken at my last sentence, he chuckles, leans nearer to me and say in a cold low voice, "You have your life to live? As far as I can remember, you didn't have any in the first place when your father sold you off and your family did nothing about it. Maybe I should've left you with Maverick, you'll consider it 'a life' then."
My eyes brim with tears at his words. I feel a sharp pang at my heart remembering my father and the day he dragged me out, I vividly remember my mother's face that was turned away from me. Then Maverick, his attempted abuse!
Tears roll down my cheek which I hurriedly wipe away, shift my gaze to the window and make a resolve, 'to run away from here', and I won't be returning to my family.
AIDAN'S POV.
I watch as a tear glides down her cheek followed by another and she frantically wipes them away looking at the window.
I lean back in my seat, and rake my fingers through my hair tousling them. I realize the impact of my words as guilt crashes upon me. The carriage rides on for a while and stops.
I open the carriage door, step down and she follows suit not saying a word. Holding her hands firmly without any word of protest from her, we walk slowly into the woods before us. The crunching sound of dried leaves are heard as we walk further in.
ZELDA'S POV.
Holding my hands firmly, we keep walking until some sounds are heard. Like chirping of birds and rushing water.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrive at a dead end. Right before me is a waterfall with gliding light smoke around. The environment is filled with trees and with birds perched upon them chirping loudly, the sight is breathtaking.
He releases my hand from his grip, walks to a large swing hanging from a tree which I just noticed and sits. As though on cue, I walk and sit beside him.
We sit in silence as the sound of waterfall and chirping of birds fills everywhere.
"This sight is breathtaking, where is this?" I couldn't help but ask, still angry at him though for his earlier words.
He takes a deep breath with his eyes focused on the waterfall, "This used to be a place of solace for my mother as I was told by my father. Now it is a place of solace for her son." He says with a chuckle.
"You were told by your father? What about your mother?" I ask, although I'm aware of the story or rumour surrounding his birth and his mother.
"I'm sorry." I say when he doesn't reply, thinking I might have gone too far by asking him that.
"It's okay. I actually haven't met my mother, I've seen what she looks like because my father has her painting but I've not just met her. I was told she disappeared into the thin air after my birth but I don't think so." He says with a sigh.
"Why do you say so?" I ask feeling confused.
He chuckles and leans on the swing, crossing his legs with an arm placed on the swing's back. "I'm not daft Zelda. A mistress the king loves more than his wife, disappearing after giving him a male child? Hilarious!"
"Do you wish to meet her? Your mother?" I ask.
He squints his eyes staring at the waterfall with seriousness, "It won't make any impact in my life now. It would be better she stays wherever she is, I don't wish to add anyone else to my weakness."
"Your weakness? Do have any weakness? What or rather who is it?" I ask feeling confused, the almighty cruel Aidan having a weakness?
He turns his gaze to me, staring at me intently not uttering a word.
"Who is it? Your father or a hidden mistress?" I ask.
He says nothing and keeps staring at me then his gaze shifts to my lips. He leans in, hold my jaw lightly and take my mouth in his. I curl my toes as tremor courses through me. He grazes my lips lightly with his fangs, I feel a weird sensation within me.
It's all new to me, 'the feeling'. The only person I've been close with is Kayden, and we've never done anything beyond his rare light pecks on my cheeks and hugs.
"Have you gotten your answer?" He says in a low husky voice.
I look away in embarrassment as a pink blush spreads through my cheeks.
He chuckles and looks at the waterfall again, "You're the only one I've brought here, the only occasion I came here with someone was with my dad, when I was made the crowned prince. He recounted to me then the pitiful story surrounding my birth." He says with a voice choked with sadness.
Out of instinct I wrap my arms around him to comfort him. Shocked at first by my actions, he stares deep into my eyes, before leaning in to peck my eyes lightly. He holds my hands and places his forehead against mine.
"Zelda, I'm sorry for my words earlier." He says with a sigh.
"I promise to be better, just for you… Just for you." He says in a whisper as our breath entwines and his lips brushes lightly against mine.
I suddenly have this growing soft spot for him but keep it to myself, owing to the fact that our relationship is not yet defined, and my unacceptance to him and his family for consenting to my father's proposal of selling me off as his mistress.