Song inspiration: Beauty of the Dark ~ Mads Langer

Arwen brushes her little sister's hair as they sit in their bedroom at the Black Cottage. 

"Ow," Carina complains, looking up at Arwen, "Arwen, you said that you would use a hairbrush this time." 

Arwen smiles, in a sinister way before she goes back to brushing her sister's long straight black hair, 

"But Rina, a knife gets the knots out so much better," she says as she cuts out another chunk of Carina's hair out, adding to the odd bald patches on her head and few layers of bloodied skin that lie out her feet, like fallen red autumn leaves. 

"Arwen, you're not brushing it through enough," Carina whines, "I still feel knots everywhere, next time I'm getting Nalani to do it for me." 

Both sisters look to Nalani who is slumped over at the other side of the room, she looks perfectly fine except for the dark black holes where her ears should've been, lines of dried blood coming from the holes are down either side of her face and hair; her missing ears lie next to her. 

"Nalani won't be much better," Arwen snaps, "when I brushed her hair she kept moving so instead of brushed hair she got cut ears." 

Carina nods and sits quietly and doesn't dare to move. Arwen smiles,  "Now that's much better, " she says as she begins to cut scalp now instead of hair, "I'm going to brush it more tightly now." 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Arwen screams as she wakes up from her nightmare. She sits up quickly, panting heavily as tears stream down her face. She grabs her hair to see if it's still there, stroking it in relief when she feels her soft smooth hair. Looking around frantically, Arwen feels for her hairbrush on her bedside table and sighs in relief when she sees that it is just her normal hairbrush and not the knife in her bad dream.  Tears still stream down her face as she hugs her knees and just cries uncontrollably. She just wants the nightmares to go away, she needs the memories of them to leave her. For they are ghosts to her and they can't stop haunting her.

But the ghosts of the past are nothing compared to the monster that lurks beneath her skin, the darkness that fuels her shadow gift. It constantly torments her but after all these years she has learnt to lock that monster deep down in a stony cage. She knew long ago that her innocence was lost when she realised she was no longer afraid of the darkness surrounding her. Instead, Arwen she discovered that she fears the darkness inside her.

She hates herself sometimes, she feels so empty. Wouldn't it be easy to end it all now? Kill herself and save her sisters the bother.

Then she could spite the Goddess and finally sleep peacefully without any nightmares. 

Her door is suddenly thrown open forcefully and Klaude rushes in, his face as frantic as hers, except his face conveys frantic worry.

Of course he came, his rooms are the closest to hers unfortunately while Cierra and Ebony's chambers are at the other end of the mansion and it's an incredibly enormous property.

It's strange to see him without his smirk and easy going nature. He's now genuinely worried.  Klaude sees Arwen crying and rushes over to her.

"I'm sorry for waking you up," she says shakily barely able to contain her emotions. She doesn't want him to see her like this but she can barely help it.

Klaude only looks at her for a moment, unseen emotions swirling in his dark blue eyes as he studies her.

"Come here," he finally says and she clings to him desperately, like she is a child and he is her teddy bear. Any form of comfort will do. Even if it's from someone she doesn't particularly like. Anything to stop her from sleeping. To stop the ghosts and nightmares haunting her. 

"I had a bad dream," she whispers, fresh tears staining her face, "it was horrific and my sister's were in it, we were children."

"I hurt them," she whispers, her voice shaky, "I am a monster." 

Klaude murmurs comforting words as he strokes her hair before saying, "It was just a nightmare Arwen," he pauses for a moment before continuing, "they cannot hurt you as they only exist in the darkest parts your mind and that is where they shall stay. And from what I've seen you are not a monster Arwen, far from it, you are just surrounded by shadows," Klaude says, still stroking her beautifully smooth hair.

"It was horrible," Arwen murmurs, tears starting to dry on her face, "I don't want to kill them, they're just my little sisters." 

She has used her gift of heightening or lessening emotions and she has tried so hard to make those feelings disappear, she would cut them out herself if it meant that she didn't have to feel that fear and guilt of having to hurt them anymore. For how can she kill those she remembers loving?

She doesn't want to be a queen crowned if the road to it is such a bloody one. She just wants to be good but Cierra calls her weak. Perhaps things will change when she sees her sisters in reality. After all, they are not children anymore. They probably have no qualms about killing her. They aren't burden with the level of empathy she has.

Klaude keeps stroking her hair and replies, "not anymore, they are full grown now and you have no choice. Kill or be killed that is how things work on Fennbirn Island and you cannot escape the fate that the Goddess has woven for you." 

Arwen tilts her head up to look at him, forgetting her sadness for a moment as her black eyes flash with curiosity, 

"How do you know so much about the island?" She asks, forgetting her sadness for a moment, "you are a mainlander." 

Klaude just smiles at her, looking up at the ceiling and then back down to Arwen, 

"My mother was an islander and she had a slight drop of the oracle gift," he explains quietly, "she was an initiate priestess at first but she didn't like the brutality aspects with the sacrifices. Later she became a delegate and went to Valostra for negotiations and trading, eventually she met my father who charmed her into marrying him." 

Arwen notes that his tone is almost bitter as he speaks about his parents and them marrying.

It's a strange tale. His mother was a delegate of Queen Halia's. A high ranking woman to be trusted with going to Valostra on Fennbirn's behalf. Especially as the island was still repairing ties with mainland countries after the vanquish of Fennbirn's mist in the generation before.

Yet his mother gave it all up. Her position, her power, her family. Arwen knows Klaude's father is a prince but still. Women have to submit to men on the mainland which is ridiculous. Most women stay of Fennbirn where they have the power. His mother must've really been in love with that Valostran prince.

With Klaude's bitter tone Arwen suspects his life may not be as glamorous as Cierra makes it out to be. But any place is better then the island. At least he will get to live past eighteen and come and go as he likes. 

Arwen could try to leave but she knows deep in her bones that she will never escape, the Goddess will never let her ago. The Goddess is truly a spider weaving her web just as she is a fisher catching fish in her net. Arwen will always be the weak prey.

"An initiate priestess and a delegate?" She asks her tone curious as she gives Klaude her full attention once again, "I know initiate priestesses have the choice to leave before the dedicate themselves fully and give up their gift but I'm still surprised that the High Priestess allowed her to leave and that Queen Halia let her go to the mainland permanently. The war queen was known for her temper."

Klaude nods and sighs, "My mother didn't exactly ask Queen Halia but they managed to negotiate since my father is the younger brother of the king and they made it an alliance which benefitted Fennbirn more so the war queen let it slide." He takes another breath before continuing, "I grew up hearing about the island and the tales of the Goddess and how generations ago she sent the first triplets and the strongest slew her sisters, whose blood fed the island," he says, his tone now fonder as he speaks about his childhood stories, "she told me how the dead queens bodies were thrown into the Breccia Domain and how their bodies are still falling down the bottomless pit, I have always wanted to see the pit to make a judgement. I heard about the wild naturalists from Wolf Spring, the mad oracles from Sunpool, the brave warriors from Bastian City, the wild elementals from Rolanth and the sly poisoners from Prynn, particularly the Arrons."

Arwen continues listening and wonders how the island must appear to outsiders. How exciting it must sound. How exotic and foreign. But it is just a nightmare dressed up as a daydream.

"It was perfect for my father and uncle you see, they knew I would have good knowledge of Fennbirn because of my mother so I was always intended to be a suitor," Klaude says somewhat begrudgingly, "it didn't matter what I wanted. This was my fate."

"Fate," Arwen says as she contemplates, "I've grown to hate that word but at least while you are here you will be able to see the Breccia Domain during Beltane then Innisfuil Valley for the Hunt and the Disembarking."

All the traditional ceremonies and festivals of Fennbirn and it's queens. Going back generations. Except this is the first time in hundreds of years a shadow queen will be participating. That is why Cierra educated her so much because many in Umbra forget the ways of the whole island. But the Goddess is always watching. No one forgets that.

Klaude smiles at her, pressing his cheek into her hand further as he says,  "I cannot wait for Beltane but it is an inconvenience that I will have to leave to go to Longmorrow Bay so that I can row with the other suitors for the Disembarking." 

He shakes his head as if it were such a hardship, "Though I'm disappointed that I will miss the Hunt by a day where most of the islanders go into the woods to to catch mighty stags and the like, well the naturalists at any rate - my mother told me that the naturalists  hunters always get the biggest feast."

Arwen laughs and nods her head in agreement,  "That is true, the naturalists always do have the biggest feast. They pride themselves on it," She says before shaking her head with a slight smile, "they are a wild curious bunch, they would happily splash about in muddy puddles rather than eat a refined feast like us shadows and the poisoners do." 

Klaude nods before he changes the subject, "What are your aspirations?"

"To become queen crowned," Arwen answers automatically. She knows it is what Cierra would expect and she is well versed in what answers to give and what answers to not.

Klaude immediately shakes his head, "you're lying," he challenges, "even you must have dreams."

Arwen goes red instantly and decides to not say anything that might get her in trouble later. Klaude may not realise but this is a dangerous topic

There is no room for a simplicity such as dreams in Umbra not for a queen. Not when she is Cierra's key to power over the entire island. Choice? Freedom? The concept is so foreign to her it's almost laughable.

Klaude chuckles to himself slightly, "so you're ignoring me now? And here I thought we were starting to become friends."

Arwen tilts her head to his face sharply at her and he raises his eyebrow in amusement, "careful Klaude don't push your luck, you were just starting to get on my good side."

"I'm not worried, you like me," Klaude says smugly.

"No I don't," Arwen immediately denies. 

Klaude looms down at her redness and smirks, "yes you do, you're just too stubborn to admit it."

"I don't have time for you or your stupid questions Klaude," Arwen says abruptly, shuffling away from Klaude as if she's only just realising how close they are.

"Just humour me," Klaude says, looking faintly amused at Arwen's antics.

There is a long silence that fills the room before finally Arwen sighs.

"I've never really thought about my dreams I suppose," she muses, "they are irrelevant to someone like me. The only dream that I can have is that I hope to rule my people well one day, have a blessed reign and then bear the triplets."

"Do you ever think for yourself," Klaude groans, leaning further back on her pillows. He looks so handsome when he does so, Arwen thinks for a moment.

"I am a shadow queen of Fennbirn, we do not get such liberties," Arwen says stiffly.

She doesn't want to think what would happen if any of Cierra's spies were listening and she spoke out of turn. Which is why she speaks lines that Cierra has fed to Arwen her entire life. She knows it is always better to obey Cierra.

"You seem reluctant to tell me how you actually feel, what are you scared of?" Klaude questions and Arwen instinctively breaks eye contact as she becomes uncomfortable, "or who?"

"Stop with this nonsense Klaude," Arwen says, worrying that someone might hear, "besides you are wrong about me, I'm not afraid of anyone."

Klaude only rolls his eyes, smirking as he plays with strands of her raven black hair, "alright I will stop but first I'll give you one last piece of advice," he says as he goes closer to her ear, "if you're going to be queen you need to be a much better liar."

"I didn't ask for your input Klaude," Arwen says, shivering as she moves her head away from him.

"I know," Klaude says, smirking again as he sees the reaction he has on her, "but as your friend I thought you needed to hear it anyway."

"We're friends now?" Arwen says, smiling at his boldness but when he sees him looking at her she quickly shields it which makes him raise an eyebrow.

"Yes," Klaude says, "perhaps in time we will be more but for now I'm going with what I know."

"And what do you know exactly?" Arwen questions.

"I know that you are a queen and both queens and kings alike need allies if they are to sustain their reign," Klaude says, sounding serious for the first time, "let me be your ally and I promise to always stand by you."

A bold declaration. One that Arwen doesn't quite know how to answer without giving it some thought. A courtship is one thing. An alliance is something else. Can she afford to place her trust in Klaude?

"Alright I will consider it," Arwen eventually answers, "when we are closer and have built a stronger foundation of trust perhaps I will share my secrets with you."

Klaude nods in understanding, knowing he can't press her any further. Though she must trust him a little, to allow him into her rooms alone and to allow him to stay in her bed. Though not in the way he would've hoped, but there's plenty of time for that sort manoeuvring to come in to play. 

He won't let his father down but he doesn't have to think about that now, he truly does enjoy talking to her, listening to her burdens when she in turn listens to his. It is nice and she is nice, she is truly a nice girl whom he could see himself one day marrying. As much as he wishes it could be that simple it isn't. 

As his father likes to say, niceties won't make him wealthy and it won't get him the crown. His father says nice people are naive and foolish. But Arwen though nice, isn't foolish and certainly not naive, especially when it comes to him. Being wealthy and getting the crown is what his father expects and wants, it isn't what he wants but his father does not care nor does he listen. 

In all honesty, Klaude would want to marry Arwen more so than the others anyway. He likes her and if she were just a Valostran girl and they were both back in Valostra then he would certainly peruse her and bed her. It would be easier. But they aren't in Valostra and Arwen certainly isn't a common mainland girl. She is a queen and the biggest challenge Klaude has ever faced. He is eager to accept the challenge. 

He takes the time to properly look at her and realises that she is in pain and that she has darkness inside her. But somehow through the pain, Klaude sees her. And she is so beautiful. 

Without saying a word Arwen leans her head back down to rest in Klaude's arms and as he feels the movement he blinks out of his deep thoughtful and resumes stroking her hair at a gentle pace. 

They stay like that for a moment, watching as the rays of the golden sunlight of a new day start to creep slowly up on the wall, kissing each spot it passes. The moment stays and everything stops. For a moment it is just Arwen and Klaude. Together but at the same time alone. There is nothing and nobody else but them. Then later the moment passes as the new dawn of reality sets into their minds. 

She wants to push him away because he presents himself as one of the many annoying suitors that she will have to bear, meet and smile at but yet when she needed someone he came running. 

Not Cierra. Not Ebony. She wonders why she allows him to stay in her room, why she let him comfort her at all. He's been nothing but insufferable since he came to Umbra. Yet, he came when she needed someone. That thought keeps plaguing her mind but she cannot make sense if it. She cannot make sense of her feelings either. 

He expresses care towards her that nobody ever has before and that is why she lets him stay. She trusts him a little now even if she hates herself a little for doing so. They've both shared personal things despite not liking each other or even being friends. Though they both know a connection has been established and Arwen wonders what it will mean to her. 

But she cannot help but feel a sinking feeling that she has just entered a new game. And games of Fennbirn are not for the weak of heart.