Although Elise had planned to use this free time to rest, she found herself unable to settle. Listening to the sounds around her, the calling of birds, muffled voices and shuffling of materials surrounded the hunting camp. It wasn’t exactly a small camp, it was full of people that Elise knew she couldn’t openly trust right away, this would be the perfect opportunity for some sort of assassination plan, and she knew she shouldn’t always worry about that.
Will I ever not worry for my life?
Eyes flicked to her wrist as she pushed up the sleeve of her dress revealing the faded scar that she kept hidden to everyone. She could count on one hand at how many people knew the truth behind this story and one of them was a man she never thought she’d confide in like that. Oddly it had felt nice to be able to open up, but at the same time she couldn’t help but think at how worrying for her life was going to be a natural part of her day.
Is this a natural thought for him?
Brushing her finger against the scar as she began to think about Ozragad and wondered if he had consistent thoughts about the threat to his life. Earlier on the trip he had spoken about how he had felt so afraid the first time he had a brush with death, but that it also became less the longer he kept surviving and she wondered if that was truly the case. The fact he understood the very feeling she had spoken of, feeling the moment when you thought your life would slip from your fingers she wondered if he truly ever could forget that feeling when faced with yet another attempt on his life. Questions she wished she felt comfortable enough to ask, but yet she knew it was best to keep some distance for now.
Right now, they were playing a game of politics, appeasing the people before them with their marriage and showing a united front even though she was sure he still suspected her of the earlier attempt. It did make her wonder about Treville, what if he had a hand in it without her knowledge? What if somehow, he was still taking orders from her father now that they were behind enemy lines.
No, surely not.
And now Elise was left with conspiracies plaguing her mind as she started to doubt those who had been sent here to help her.
“Your highness?”
After having been left in her tent alone for a few hours Elise heard the voice from one of her ladies that had chosen this time to disturb her. Glancing up from the book she had been reading she smiled and nodded towards Flora who stepped inside bowing to the Princess before lifting her head once more. “I thought you’d might like to eat something.” Flora spoke her eyes glancing towards the plate that had been brought in for the Princess earlier, the fruit still intact untouched and the jug of water looked the same. Atarah who oversaw the Princesses household had mentioned for her to keep an eye on what the Princess was eating, but it was more the lack of food they had been watching for the past week. The elder Formori was incredibly perceptive, and Flora knew this, it was probably why she had been entrusted by the King with looking over the household for the Princess.
“Oh, right. I didn’t realise the time.” Elise smiled politely not catching the glance from her lady in waiting as her own eyes went to the plate and bowl in hand which had to be some sort of dinner that had been cooked by the campfire.
“Did you manage to get much rest?” Making idle chatter as she placed the plate down that held the warm bowl that was filled with a healthy serving of stew.
“I did.” The lie left her lips before she could even think of correcting it or consider opening up to her lady in waiting about the sleepless nights and failure to get enough rest at the moment. “Any news on the hunt?” Changing the subject completely meant she could stay in control of the information she wanted to give.
“Not yet, though I suspect it won’t be too much longer. The King does not hang around when it comes to hunting, he is certainly skilled in that area.”
“Of course, well thank you for bringing me dinner. I appreciate it.” Elise spoke calmly her tone suggesting for Flora to leave if there was nothing else needed. Flora of course picked up on it, smiling in response knowing she had been dismissed and bowed her head respectfully before she left the tent knowing that she needed to relay the information onto Atarah. The elder Formori would know what to do, they were trying to mitigate the Eorzian girl falling sick whilst under their care but there was only so much, they could do.
By now nightfall had fallen and Elise had returned to her tent after having spent the early hours of the evening pushing herself by talking with the guests that had attended their premarital tradition. Flora and Ida had been ready to assist with names and general information, everyone had been mostly polite to her, but it was clear there was still some resentment towards her because of her heritage. Elise caught the sneers, the side eyes and scoffs that people thought they had hidden very well, but it had been so obvious to her that not everyone liked her.
Elise hadn’t let it show, the polite smile had remained plastered on her face throughout as she endured the idle chatter of his people and remained positive. As she often reminded herself this was a show and any sign of weakness would just cause problems in the long run, there were people out here that wanted her dead and not just her but Ozragad too which was even more concerning to know. Now, however sat in the tent she was exhausted from all the acting that she had kept up for the evening but the thought of actually sleeping whilst so exposed didn’t feel right with her.
Even so she leaned her head back closing her eyes thinking that maybe she could get a little bit of rest, pushing back all the worries of someone just coming in to cause her harm. Just as she was about to finally nod off the calm soothing her, she jolted awake startled as she began to panic at the sound of someone bursting into her tent. Out of instinct her hand went to reach for some sort of weapon, there was nothing around for her to grab so she rose to her feet to defend herself only to realise it was one of her ladies who had burst inside.
“Sorry your highness, I did not mean to wake you. It’s just. There is news of the hunt.” Ida stated bowing quickly catching how startled the Princess had been at her sudden interruption. On reflection Ida knew she probably should have approached it differently, but Atarah had told her to inform the Princess right away of what had happened.
“No need to apologise, you said there was news?” Brushing herself down as she calmed herself from the sudden panic she had felt. “What happened? Is he… the King, okay?” Without realising she had started to worry that something bad had happened to Ozragad and she quickly put that down to her worry about her own survival and not anything deeper than she wanted to admit.
“Well, he has been injured. It’s nothing too serious, and he still brought back a mighty prize, but he has been woun…”
“Take me to him.” Without even letting Ida finish her last sentence Elise demanded to see Ozragad, she needed to see with her own eyes what had happened. Striding out of the tent she followed Ida who quietly escorted her to him.
Will I ever not worry for my life?
Eyes flicked to her wrist as she pushed up the sleeve of her dress revealing the faded scar that she kept hidden to everyone. She could count on one hand at how many people knew the truth behind this story and one of them was a man she never thought she’d confide in like that. Oddly it had felt nice to be able to open up, but at the same time she couldn’t help but think at how worrying for her life was going to be a natural part of her day.
Is this a natural thought for him?
Brushing her finger against the scar as she began to think about Ozragad and wondered if he had consistent thoughts about the threat to his life. Earlier on the trip he had spoken about how he had felt so afraid the first time he had a brush with death, but that it also became less the longer he kept surviving and she wondered if that was truly the case. The fact he understood the very feeling she had spoken of, feeling the moment when you thought your life would slip from your fingers she wondered if he truly ever could forget that feeling when faced with yet another attempt on his life. Questions she wished she felt comfortable enough to ask, but yet she knew it was best to keep some distance for now.
Right now, they were playing a game of politics, appeasing the people before them with their marriage and showing a united front even though she was sure he still suspected her of the earlier attempt. It did make her wonder about Treville, what if he had a hand in it without her knowledge? What if somehow, he was still taking orders from her father now that they were behind enemy lines.
No, surely not.
And now Elise was left with conspiracies plaguing her mind as she started to doubt those who had been sent here to help her.
______________________________________________
“Your highness?”
After having been left in her tent alone for a few hours Elise heard the voice from one of her ladies that had chosen this time to disturb her. Glancing up from the book she had been reading she smiled and nodded towards Flora who stepped inside bowing to the Princess before lifting her head once more. “I thought you’d might like to eat something.” Flora spoke her eyes glancing towards the plate that had been brought in for the Princess earlier, the fruit still intact untouched and the jug of water looked the same. Atarah who oversaw the Princesses household had mentioned for her to keep an eye on what the Princess was eating, but it was more the lack of food they had been watching for the past week. The elder Formori was incredibly perceptive, and Flora knew this, it was probably why she had been entrusted by the King with looking over the household for the Princess.
“Oh, right. I didn’t realise the time.” Elise smiled politely not catching the glance from her lady in waiting as her own eyes went to the plate and bowl in hand which had to be some sort of dinner that had been cooked by the campfire.
“Did you manage to get much rest?” Making idle chatter as she placed the plate down that held the warm bowl that was filled with a healthy serving of stew.
“I did.” The lie left her lips before she could even think of correcting it or consider opening up to her lady in waiting about the sleepless nights and failure to get enough rest at the moment. “Any news on the hunt?” Changing the subject completely meant she could stay in control of the information she wanted to give.
“Not yet, though I suspect it won’t be too much longer. The King does not hang around when it comes to hunting, he is certainly skilled in that area.”
“Of course, well thank you for bringing me dinner. I appreciate it.” Elise spoke calmly her tone suggesting for Flora to leave if there was nothing else needed. Flora of course picked up on it, smiling in response knowing she had been dismissed and bowed her head respectfully before she left the tent knowing that she needed to relay the information onto Atarah. The elder Formori would know what to do, they were trying to mitigate the Eorzian girl falling sick whilst under their care but there was only so much, they could do.
______________________________________________
By now nightfall had fallen and Elise had returned to her tent after having spent the early hours of the evening pushing herself by talking with the guests that had attended their premarital tradition. Flora and Ida had been ready to assist with names and general information, everyone had been mostly polite to her, but it was clear there was still some resentment towards her because of her heritage. Elise caught the sneers, the side eyes and scoffs that people thought they had hidden very well, but it had been so obvious to her that not everyone liked her.
Elise hadn’t let it show, the polite smile had remained plastered on her face throughout as she endured the idle chatter of his people and remained positive. As she often reminded herself this was a show and any sign of weakness would just cause problems in the long run, there were people out here that wanted her dead and not just her but Ozragad too which was even more concerning to know. Now, however sat in the tent she was exhausted from all the acting that she had kept up for the evening but the thought of actually sleeping whilst so exposed didn’t feel right with her.
Even so she leaned her head back closing her eyes thinking that maybe she could get a little bit of rest, pushing back all the worries of someone just coming in to cause her harm. Just as she was about to finally nod off the calm soothing her, she jolted awake startled as she began to panic at the sound of someone bursting into her tent. Out of instinct her hand went to reach for some sort of weapon, there was nothing around for her to grab so she rose to her feet to defend herself only to realise it was one of her ladies who had burst inside.
“Sorry your highness, I did not mean to wake you. It’s just. There is news of the hunt.” Ida stated bowing quickly catching how startled the Princess had been at her sudden interruption. On reflection Ida knew she probably should have approached it differently, but Atarah had told her to inform the Princess right away of what had happened.
“No need to apologise, you said there was news?” Brushing herself down as she calmed herself from the sudden panic she had felt. “What happened? Is he… the King, okay?” Without realising she had started to worry that something bad had happened to Ozragad and she quickly put that down to her worry about her own survival and not anything deeper than she wanted to admit.
“Well, he has been injured. It’s nothing too serious, and he still brought back a mighty prize, but he has been woun…”
“Take me to him.” Without even letting Ida finish her last sentence Elise demanded to see Ozragad, she needed to see with her own eyes what had happened. Striding out of the tent she followed Ida who quietly escorted her to him.