Darkness engulfed her apartments with a cold air of grief.

The once burning candles had gone out with the vanishing sounds of feet. Along with it, all semblance of warmth.

It was in the early morning hours when her spy had visited her with news from England.

His presence alone made her become restless.

News had reached Lord Devonshire's ears four days previous that the Dowager was sending people to assassinate the two year old boy.

He had rushed from England to deliver the news to her as soon as he could.

As a loyal friend of Edward, he vowed to do everything in his power to protect his son from harm. It only saddened him that he could not stay to comfort her, but he needed to return as swiftly as possible to avoid suspicion.

Of course, she was no stranger to death as a handmaid of a Dowager Queen. The old witch would surely strike at him without hesitation if his loyalties ever became public. She wished it not upon such a loyal friend of Edward.

It was therefore that she pretended to be alright for his sake. It was kinder in her opinion to ease his mind of any woes before he left.

Isabeau watched the constellations from her window. As a girl her uncle had taught her how to find and navigate them. It had always served to calm her during times of difficulty.

Not tonight, though.

She couldn't stand it any longer.

If her friend was correct, she didn't have much time before they would attempt something. For all she knew they could already be in the castle.

That thought made her mind up for her.

Wrapping a blue cloak around her shoulders, she made her way down the passageways of the castle.

The de Martels would not be able to keep them safe as they had promised Robert. It fell upon her own shoulders to protect her son. For who would recognize a spy?

Isabeau took off running. She did not care that it was unseemly for a lady of her station.
The heavy velvet material of her cloak barely touched the ground as she fled down the hallways.

Thoughts of her enemy sent her heartbeat into wild thros and spun her head dizzy.

Her heavy hair braid became undone as she turned around the corner towards her son's chambers.

The ringing in her ears was becoming unbearable.

She would request him to be moved in the morrow, but for now she just needed to see him.

His green eyes and fair hair would comfort her.

His heartbeat would calm her and assure her that he was safe.

"Your Grace," a voice interrupted her inner ramblings, causing her to halt to a stop. Her chest rose and fell heavily.

She had no time to spare and turned around with an annoyed expression.

Elijah could hear her heartbeat from across the castle and came as quick as he could to assure himself that none of his siblings was hunting the girl.

"Are you alright?" He asked gently.

She shook her head, not having the breath to answer, before taking off again. Ignoring his following footsteps that resounded from the walls.

The woman reached her desired destination, knocking against the door with determination that could unseat rulers from their thrones.

"Marie, Marie are you awake?" She cried desperately.

When no reply came she tried opening the door, resorting to violent and unladylike attempts, all the while screaming for Marie to open the door.

Elijah gently pried her body away from the door before shoving it open with his vampire strength.

Isabeau wasted no time and rushed inside, not caring to thank the nobleman.

The disgraced princess ran through the apartments calling out for Marie and her son.

"Edwin!" She called out desperately.
"Answer me!"

Elijah helped her search to no avail.

"I'll search the castle and alert the guard." He said trying to calm the woman. When his words did not reach her he held her tightly to his chest trying to calm her down, whose cloak had long since dropped from her shoulders.

That was how Lucien found them.

"What did you do to her?" He accused the vampire. The princess's state of undress was upsetting him in ways he never thought possible.

"I did nothing, her son is missing and so is his nursemaid." Elijah shot back.

It was then that the nurse appeared at the door with her son in hand, having heard the commotion.

"Where were you?" She screeched with tears in her eyes, making her way towards them.

"My lady..." she tried to explain their absence from the quarters.
"I only went to fetch the boy some milk from the kitchen, for he was thirsty."

She bowed low, trying to avoid the piercing gaze of her mistress.

"You careless girl!" She screamed at Marie.

It shocked Lucien to see the woman he admired going off on a servant such as other nobles would. The girl hadn't done anything wrong to merit the princess's outburst.

Isabeau grabbed her now crying son and rocked him in an attempt to comfort him.

It didn't take long for her to break down in tears, falling down with her son in her lap. She felt like a crumbling heap of tinder.

Elijah held the young woman in his arms once more, understanding that she, too, needed comfort.

Lucien didn't know how to feel about this situation.

Elijah just looked at the poor young woman before helping her up.

"He's safe, don't worry, he's safe." He tried to soothe her.

"But he's not." She dissolved into more tears.

"What do you mean, my lady?" Lucien asked in confusion as he helped Marie up from the floor.

He really wanted to go to Isabeau, but it would be highly improper. Even more so I'm her state of undress.

"The Dowager." She sobbed, cradling her boy to her breast. "She sent them. Their after him."

Her rambling was at least enough for the three other people to realize what she meant.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Isabeau found Lucien the later that day as the sun was setting below on the hill. She felt ashamed for the way she reacted and had already apologized to poor Marie, whom forgave her in light of the circumstances.

She thanked the good Lord that he was alone, for she knew that interacted with someone below her own stature was frowned upon.

"Excuse me." She cleared her throat to announce her presence. Another unladylike trait that her mother would have frowned upon if she were still alive.

"Your Grace." Lucien bowed as low as he could.

"Please rise, I have no wish to interact with anyone who wishes to kiss the floor in my presence."

It was evident from her speech that she did not pay much mind to proper customs.

"How may I serve your Grace?"

"Lucien, is it?" She chose to ignore his question.

"Yes-"
"Please don't say 'your grace.' I don't care much for my station and will not use it as an excuse to exalt myself. I am not God."

He smiled slightly. "Yes, my name is Lucien."

"You were there last night, weren't you?"

"Yes, I heard the commotion and became concerned."

"Thank you." She said quickly.
"And I want to apologize for how unjustly I acted. Marie didn't deserve what I said to her."

"It's not me you have to apologize to." He said gently. The green-grey mixture of her eyes were brilliant in the orange light that bathed the castle.

"I've already apologized to Marie. I just felt as though you deserved an apology, too."

His hazel eyes were making her mind hazy.

Before he could take a step towards her, they heard Lord Tristan approaching with his friends.

"I shall see you tomorrow then. That is all." She said loud enough for Tristan to hear before Lucien left as quickly as he could. They both knew what Tristan was capable of.

She left soon after him, heading towards her new, larger chambers. At her behest the Count had allowed her to move so that she could have her son near her at all hours.

•

Elijah was waiting for her to return so that he may have a word with her.

Princess de Marques had sparked a curiosity in him that he hadn't felt in years.

Her reaction last night was one he had witnessed only once before. It had been many years ago when his own mother lost her youngest child.

And so, for the first time in a long time, he felt empathy for someone besides his own siblings.

He could hear her soft footfalls coming towards the apartment, which caused a smile to tug at his full mouth.

"Your Grace." He bowed down as she entered.

"My Lord." She gave him a slight curtsy.
"Is there anything you wish to discuss?"

In truth, she had dreaded seeing him again after her behavior the previous night and her heartbeat showed it.

"My lady, please do not be upset with me. I merely thought that you would like to have a friend by your side."

"No one wishes to be friends with me."

She turned away before he said, "But I wish to be. I understand what it's like to be an outcast."

Isabeau made her way towards the settee, signaling for him to sit down next to her.

"There are things you ought to know about me, my lord, if you wish to be my friend. If you decide after this that you do not wish to affiliate with me, then I understand all too well."

Elijah gave her an encouraging smile.

"It bothered me not, my lord, that Edward had begotten a son by me. I was gladly his."

He took her hand in his to give her a comforting squeeze.

"The only thing that makes me bitter was his murder at the hands of those who shoved his half-brother of twelve onto the throne of England."

"The same people who would harm your son?"

"The same."