Chapter 17

The sun's golden rays poured through the window when Ely stirred and rolled over onto her side. Sleepy eyes fluttered open as her hand slowly caressed the smooth purple silk sheets.

Wait...

The sheets on the bed in the tower were brown.

Ely leaned up on an elbow, now fully awake and gazed around at a totally different room. It was much larger and more elaborately decorated. Heavy, velvet tapestries, sheer curtains draped around the bed, dark oak furniture. This was not the Eastern Tower.

The slight movement behind her on the bed stole her immediate attention. Heart racing, Ely turned to see who it was, half hoping it was Vanessa and the other half fearing it wouldn't be.

Her eyes fell upon a handsome man sleeping on his back, head turned away from her but she was able to see the side. His bare muscular chest rose and fell steadily from his breathing. One arm lazily spread across chiseled abs, the other bent above his head. The sheets lay lazily across him covering what lay beyond the chiseled V of his abs.

Was he...naked?

Though obviously older than her but not by too many years, the mans face was relaxed in this peaceful sleeping state. Ely couldn't help but admire the strong, handsome man next to her. His strong arms toned and ready to bring comfort or security with a single embrace. A swell of safety flooded in her chest mixed with vague familiarity.

Without even realizing, Ely outstretched her hand and was about to touch the arm closest to her when the man sighed. His face turned toward her, eyes fluttering open to reveal two bright blue irises as brilliant as the ocean.

A sleepy yet warm, loving smile crossed his lips despite the surprised expression that must have been across Ely's face. He reached out to pull her closer to his, yes, naked form.

"Good morning, my Queen," Killian stated simply as he began to reach up and lovingly caress Ely's cheek.

****

Ely sat up straight in bed, sweat beading on her chest, neck and back. Surveying around quickly she took in the familiar dingy surroundings of the Eastern Tower. The movement beside her in the bed made her jump and yelp. Ely relaxed when she saw it was Vanessa stirring in her sleep.

Hugging her legs to her chest, Ely laid her forehead on the top of her knees breathing deeply to get her heart rate back to normal again.

What kind of dream was that? What did it mean? Killian was in it. First thing in the morning after they...

"My Queen," Ely muttered to herself in confusion.

Vanessa turned, peering over at Elyena with a startled half asleep expression. "Who is queen?" she mumbled.

Ely jumped as she heard Vanessa speak. "Oh, n-no one is queen, Vanessa. I am sorry I woke you. G-go back to sleep." She turned her back to Vanessa, quickly changing into a plain, round neck navy woolen dress with a gold cord to tie in front. "I need some air."

****

While wandering the halls, Ely replayed something Killian stated during their conversation. He had been gifted with the power, talent and vision to change the world. Lost in her recollection of the conversation, Ely barely noticed she had wandered down a corridor that led to the side entrance to the Strategy Room. Muffled voices discussed intensely, so Ely padded closer, staying pressed against the wall outside the limestone framed arched doorway.

"We have halted skirmishes here, here and here," One man clad is armor pointed around the table. The emblem on his breastplate of a high ranking General.

"They are getting closer," Killian's voice grumbled. Ely peaked around the corner cautiously, seeing he was obviously displeased. "Patrols need to be increased closer to the borders. They are not needed as frequently in the towns and villages now that Elyena has been located and returned. Now we need to focus on Kildare's safety."

Ely rolled her eyes. Now they needed to focus on safety?

"If any of these brigands fly Oriel's colors, General, bring in at least one alive for interrogation," Killian continued, fingers tapping on the edge of the table. His shoulders were tense, an anxious frown marring his features.

"Yes, Your Highness," the General answered, clapping a fist across his chest, bowing then exiting.

Ely strained to peer around the doorway more, eager to see the layout of the table but with Killian's dismissal, the advisor's began clearing it away. Killian remained hunched over, arms spread, fingers curled around the edge. His back and shoulders were tense, straining at the leather vest layered over a white tunic shirt.

"I want an update on the prison guard shift change," Killian demanded.

A captain according to his emblem, stepped forward. "The squadron in charge of the prisons, My Lord, have been removed and executed for treasonous acts against a royal."

What? He had them punished? Ely didn't know what to think of that. Vanessa should be pleased to hear justice had been done.

"Excellent. Soldiers now monitor the prison as I asked?"

"Yes, Sir."

Killian nodded, standing straight at his full height. "If there is nothing else."

One of the advisors came up beside him.

"Your Majesty," he began, fingers twiddling at his front. Killian's head turned slightly in the man's direction. "N-now that the Princess is back, sh-shall we make the announcement about your marriage?"

"No."

"B-but, My Lord," another advisor spoke up. "Did she not agree?"

"She did, but for her sister's freedom."

"Have you considered the eldest sister as a viable option?" The first inquired.

Killian's head snapped up, turning toward the advisor. "She is not a legitimate choice."

What? Ely frowned, leaning closer. Did Killian mean he didn't like Vanessa? Wasn't attracted to her? Then why not word it as such? His choice of words was baffling.

"Eavesdropping is not a very royal trait, Princess."

Ely spun to glare at the soldier who snuck up behind her. "Neither is sneaking up on a royal!"

"It is if they are a possible danger to the King!"

Roughly grabbing Ely by the upper arm, the soldier shoved her through the archway into the strategy room.

"Let go of me, you brute!" Ely argued, attempting to yank her arm out of the soldiers grip.

"What is the meaning of this?" Killian bellowed. The soldier gave Ely a shove forward.

Due to how Killian spun toward the voices, she slammed directly into his front with an ungraceful oof. Strong hands steadied her, drawing her up against him.

"I foun' thisa one eavesdropping, Your Highness," The soldier grinned, shoulders squared in pride.

Shyly glancing up at Killian, Ely was confused to see the expression of anger marring his features. Brows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line, curving into a sneer. Dark circles shadowed under his charcoal irises she hadn't noticed before. Despite his aura of seething anger, his grip on Ely was soft, gentle yet firm to keep her from falling. Strong hands snaked around her waist possessively.

"This one," Killian repeated gruffly, "Is Princess Elyena. She is welcome whenever she wishes! Do you understand me?"

"Yes, My Lord, my apologies," the soldier mumbled, head bowed in shame.

"Dismissed!"

With a click of his heels and fist over his chest, the soldier quickly exited. Now turning his attention to Ely, Killian gently stroked her arms, head dipping to meet her eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Numbly Ely nodded, unsure how to interpret his contracting affection. Another manipulation, likely.

Eyes flicking up to his, she narrowed her gaze on him. "What did you mean Vanessa was not a legitimate choice?"

He released her arms as if the contact burned him. Fingers curling into a fist, Killian stepped away. "Elyena, do not ask me questions you do not wish the answers to."

The sadness, or was it guilt, tilting his eyes sent a cold rush through Ely's veins.

"But I am asking you, ohh Great and Mighty Killian Cattevaria!" Ely grimaced. Boldly stepping forward, she poked his chest. "How are we supposed to have any kind of partnership of whatever sort if you are not honest with me! Will you only be when it is convenient for you?"

Squeezing his eyes closed, Killian turned his face away, hands balled into fists. Over his shoulder, he groaned to his advisors, "Leave us!"

Killian spun around, turning his back to Ely, hands gripping the ledge of the table as if to steady himself. Back arching with heavy breaths, Ely thought desperately how to get him to calm down. She should not have gotten him so angry. Whatever slight progress they may have made, Ely could have just burned to ashes.

She stepped closer, hand tentatively reaching out but Killian pivoted to face her, charcoal eyes blazing, causing Ely to flinch. "How can I speak with you when you do not hold up your end of our bargain? Hmm? Two dinners you left me waiting like a fool!"

"M-my sister wasn't well..."

"Will you always hide behind her?" he seethed, stepping closer until their fronts nearly touched.

"What?" Ely stepped back, Killian stepped forward.

"You hid while I had her dragged away. You hid in the forest until my men found you and now you hide behind the excuse of her not being well! Can she not feed herself so you can dine with me?"

"How dare you." Ely breathed out, barely above a whisper. A few rogue tears fell down her cheeks but she made no move to wipe them away. "You selfish, arrogant swine! You wish to win my heart? Give me patience, show some compassion for the condition YOU put Vanessa in! Show some care for the home you stole from me instead of being the monster the people say you are!"

Brushing passed him, purposely slamming her arm against his, Ely lifted the skirt of her dress and ran from the room. Sobs tore from her lips as she sprinted down the corridors that, though unlit and dusty, still were familiar.

Soldiers patrolling continued on their way. If they gave Ely odd looks, she didn't notice anything passed their boot clad feet. The family crest etched into the stone floor caught Ely's attention. Peering up, she realized which part of the castle she had wandered. Her feet carried her a little farther down the corridor then turned to a stop in front of a light oak door. With her palm flat on the cool surface, she pushed it open, relieved it wasn't locked into secrecy.

Untouched, covered in a thick layer of dust, it was still Aunt Elaine's cherished library. Floor to ceiling shelves, every inch of space occupied by a leather bound book of knowledge. The smell of old books still lingered in the air even though it was likely the room had been unvisited since the siege.

As Ely continued into the room, she descended the four tiled steps to the lowered level. Tears pricked her eyes. Covered in grimy evidence of time, a globe the tutors used for the princesses history lessons still stood proud on the table.

The tears finally fell, wetting Ely's cheeks. She tilted her head up, attempting to blink away the emotion. Her sniffles echoed through the spacious room but ceased, brows wrinkling. Lining the wooden panel that separated the first and second floors of books, were portraits of the previous Kildarian rulers. All of them Ely's descendants.

Five generations of rulers, dressed in their finest. Stoic expressions displaying how seriously they took their roles as leaders. Ely's eyes lingered on her great-grandparents, the ones who began the treaty with Oriel. Her grandparents, Ely only knew her grandmother for a few short years before she passed away in her sleep. Then her parents. This portrait beckoned tears again. Her father held the tiny hand of a chubby, rosy cheeked toddler Vanessa while her mother, smiling in pure joy, cradled a very swollen belly.

Uncle Aedan and Aunt Elaine were next. Painted several years later, they each eld a hand of their orphaned nieces whom they adopted and raised. Vanessa was around seven. Ely around four, was the only other one in the portraits smiling. The curve of her lips matching that of her mother's. Hanging beside it were the individual portraits commissioned of Ely and Vanessa months before the siege. The one of Ely had been turned into wanted parchments.

Golden sunlight burst through the large window at the far end of the library, illuminating the family portraits in a bright yellow glow. It brightened the hues on each painting, bringing one feature in particular to the forefront. Ely, Uncle Aedan, her mother, grandfather and great-grandfather were all auburn haired. A symbolic feature of each Kildarian royal who brought their spouse to share the throne. All the royal children had auburn hair. Until Vanessa. Her golden tresses, a slight curl on the ends shimmered in the sunlight, dramatically displaying the difference.

"Ely?"

Jolting at the voice, Ely wiped the tears and took a few deep breaths to steady her heartbeat. "In here, Vanessa."

"I have been looking everywhere for you," she chuckled, padding across the room but glancing around. "Wow! Nothing in here has changed."

Eyes back at the portrait, Ely mumbled, "I feel as if much has changed."

Vanessa paused beside her sister, twiddling her fingers. "I uh...came looking for you because lunch is ready."

"You go on," she whispered. "I am not hungry."

"Ely, what happened?"

With a sigh, Ely turned to pace the room. "I overheard Killian and his advisors."

"And?" Ely scoffed at how excited her sister sounded. "Did you learn anything?"

She shook her head, auburn tendrils bouncing over her back. "H-his advisors inquired a-about our wedding. They asked if he ever considered you instead of me. Killian said you were not a legitimate choice."

Vanessa crossed her arms under chest, scoffing the comment away but Ely's eyes flicked to her sister. "Of course I am not a legitimate choice, Ely! Can you imagine!"

"I am no fool, Vanessa." She turned her gaze back to the portraits. "Though I have been one."

"What do you mean?"

Ely chose to keep her suspicions to herself. The possibility that her family had lied to her for her entire life churned her stomach with nausea.

"Nevermind."

"It is not like you to keep your thoughts or feelings from me," Vanessa coaxed, rubbing a hand up then down Ely's arm. "Fate dealt us this cruel hand. What you do decide to share or not affects us both. We must work together."

Ely sighed defeatedly, eyes casting down toward the wooden floor. She did not watch her sister walk away, but the retreating sound of her footsteps revealed Vanessa had. Tears burned her eyes. Ely chose to not follow her sister, needing time alone to process.

****

Disappearing into the overgrown garden, Vanessa burst into tears at Elyena's reaction. She hadn't expected her to ever figure out their family's best kept secret. But then again, things were so simple as they had been growing up. Those years were long gone.

A weight of sadness yanked on Vanessa's heart. Sitting on the edge of a small, softly humming fountain, she stared at herself in the water's reflection. Both raised princesses, true but Vanessa was not born a princess. Their father had an affair before married to Ely's mother. When Vanessa's own mother had died of illness, her father raised his daughter but never claimed her as legitimate. Vanessa was simply a ward, taken in out of the kindness of his heart. Regardless, Elyena was still her sister.

Vanessa wept in the gardens, wringing her hands together. She had upset her sister. Her baby sister who needed her strength so very much. A darker part of Vanessa's thoughts snapped. This part of her whispering that none of this would have happened if Killian hadn't been turned down in the first place.

Maybe even their Uncle would be still alive if Elyena didn't have such a strong air of authority about her. Elyena was always the strong one. Though Vanessa was the older by three years, she often sought her little sister for support.

Sighing deeply, Vanessa wiped her eyes on her sleeve, feeling guilty for her selfish feelings. It was not fair to tell Elyena that Killian's words were ridiculous. She had to keep up the facade for fear of Killian doing away with Vanessa.

Despair overwhelming her, Vanessa peered around through those teary eyes, not sure if she dared risked going back to the tower or staying out here as long as she could get away with. Finally, she settled on walking through the garden.