Dusk came sooner than expected, the last of the sunrays cosetted behind the soft grey skies. Slowly, the view started to fade into blackness. The air was temperate, the breeze was cool and the stars filled the dark blue blanket of the night with their ethereal glow.
Rubbing both her hands to at least get a little warmth, she started to head towards her room. Her footsteps were slow and her mind preoccupied with hope that Javier would show up and he did.
'What a quick way for God to answer my prayers.' she thought and as she got closer to where he stood, she became a little nervous whereby it took her a deep breath so that she could calm down.
"Thank god I finally got to see you." Javier stated and when he came to stand in front of her where his height towered over her small frame.
"We did not get a chance to end our conversation last night."
As he said that, Evelyne's mind was taken aback by his presence in this kingdom because as she could remember, it took her two days to get here and not seeing the need to suppress her curiosity, she was quick to inquire,
"How is it that you are here.._"
"I came with other three knights. We were told to keep an eye on king Zain so that we could know whether he would know about the missing magic balm. By the way, have you thought about what I told you yesterday?"
Getting an explanation and a question at the same time, she raised her face to meet his brown eyes.
"I did. And my answer is yes."
When she gave him the response that he was hoping for, he felt the urge to embrace her.
Princess Evelyne was beautiful, not only on the outside, but also in the inside and ever since he had laid his eyes on her, he had always been attracted to her and knowing that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him made him more than happy.
Delicately picking her hand that rested by her side, he placed a kiss on its back which brought a tingling sensation that spread through her body.
"You don't know how happy you have made me princess. You will not regret your decision." Saying that, he released her hand.
"So, when do we get to leave this place?" She inquired.
The smile that had been on Javier's face faltered and noticing that, Evelyne started to become worried.
"I would have wanted to take you today but some circumstances can't let me." He remarked and seeing the questionable look on Evelyne's face, he further explained.
"The king wants us to go back so that we can be one of the men fighting against Enzalnia and the battle might take weeks or maybe a month. Will you wait for me?"
"But you don't have to go." Came Evelyne's quick words.
She was being selfish and she knew that but her selfishness was instigated by the fear of losing him in the battle. Being born a royal, she had grown up watching men dying on the battle ground where their families had to suffer for the loss and she did not want that to happen to Javier.
Taking her hands in his, he searched for her eyes and then said. "I have to. With the money that will be given to us if we get to win, I will be able to protect you and take you far away from here where we can start our own lives."
"But what if something happens to you..-"
"Nothing will happen to me. I will come back to you in one piece. That one I promise." He interrupted her and then added,
"Will you wait for me?"
Giving him a weak nod that was filled with uncertainty, Javier cupped her right cheek with his palm. "And I will come for you."
He not only promised her, but he also made that promise himself.
When he finally got to leave, Evelyne stood there. Rooted in one place while watching him walk away until his back turned into a silhouette that soon disappeared. When she started to leave for her own room, her only prayer was for his safety. It would be a painful thing if she was to lose him.
When she got into her usual dimly lit room, her feet led her towards the small window and drawing the faded curtains aside, she stared into the sky where the golden full moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over everything in sight where the world was hush. It was also a night where she was counting another day away from her own family and now that she thought about it, maybe it was time for her to let go.
Instead of living with expectations, it was better for her to live with disappointment of knowing that no one cared.
The only person who would have been there to care was her mother but since her birth, no one ever mentioned her to which she considered the woman dead.
Finally closing the curtains, she dragged her feet towards the bed and blowing off the candle, she embraced the darkness that had always given her peace and solace.