Chapter 4- Shadowed Tides

Trumpets sounded in the distance waking the princess; her red hair stuck in cool strands against her face and neck. Cracking open her sleep tainted eyes against the orange glow cast by the torches set at intervals within their gold trimmed sconces. The sight which met her gaze froze the blood in her veins; she exhaled a panicked breath creating a small puff of mist which hung silent and white before her twisting and dissipating as it rose towards the ice covered ceiling. The room was covered in a translucent blue its surface as shiny as the mirror which stood draped in frost. Peering down at herself through a thin layer of ice she could see her body pale and blue tinted, her eyes trailed their way down her body pausing momentarily upon her small breasts, her elegant nipples stood hard their pink radiance standing contrast to the flickering light of the room pushing herself up, a chill passed through her as a slight breeze struck her moist skin raising goose flesh over her smooth body slipping out of the cold water her bare feet struck the snow covered stones her feet leaving imprints as she dug through the snow to her robe wrapping its frosted silk over her skin. Aylien strode to the ice covered wooden door her hand pausing momentarily upon the steel handle with a twist and a yank it sprung open revealing her bedchamber a low fire blazing in the small hearth warming the high vaulted chamber. Aylien cast a furtive glance back at her bathing chamber, a bare stone floor met her gaze repressing a shiver she reached out a hand and braced herself against the tapestries wall the solid wall lending her the comfort of reality, going to her armoire Aylien rummaged through her silk gowns going past the rich purple that her mother favored on her so much according to the queen it brought out the natural highlights in her eyes. Aylien giggled what a Joke the only thing she looked beautiful in didn’t involve frills and poof instead it involved steal and chain-mail like her father before her she wished to be a warrior dreamt of it almost as much as she dreamt of the knight with silver hair and grey eyes Aylien shivered beneath her robe letting it fall off of her shoulders, Aylien stood unclothed her pale skin reflecting the low fire crackling merrily in the small hearth, tracing the blue line of a vein beneath her skin she shivered her small hairs standing on end as she once again thought of the knight with silver hair, shivering she placed her head against the small obsidian mirror situated on one the closet door her breath fogging its dark mystical surface, turning back to her silks she began anew to riffle through her dresses digging with renewed effort. At the very back of the large closet she found the black leather breeches that she had hid there from her nosy mother. Slipping them on over her bare legs, the tight leather formed over her almost like a second skin the laces in the front brought the two pieces dark leather together making one unending seam. Pulling the laces tight she smiled her waist had shrunk once more her mother would not be pleased. She then pulled out her smooth silk shirt, the poufy white arms where always an annoyance but who could complain when you had to sacrifice a fine silken dress to make it. Turning to look at herself in the obsidian mirror she stood stunned for the person which stood looking back at her was not her reflection, stead the woman looking back at her had a silver lock draped elegantly within her crimson hair, her emerald green eyes had slits where the pupils been the elongation of which reached from eyelid to eyelid, her appearance had almost a feline look to it. Too make sure it was indeed herself she saw Aylien put her hand to her mouth, the woman in the mirror followed suite. Aylien screamed falling backwards tripping over her discarded robe. A knock sounded beyond her chambers door loud and heavy with a quick look around her room to check if any of her weaponry was visible to the naked eye once satisfied, she darted back under her covers in a slight voice she grumbled “come in” making herself sound as groggy as possible her door opened slowly on silent hinges the light from the outer corridor silhouetted a giant figure. Aylien popped up from her blankets warm embrace, her face beaming “father!!” she squealed jumping out of her bed she rushed into her father’s arms, in a voice full of tearful excitement she blabbered questions flying from her mouth just as fast as she could think of them looking up she saw a grizzled face marred by a huge scar running from left eye to right jaw pulling his attempt at a smile downward. “Aye princess it looks as though you’ve mistaken me fir your pa.”
Aylien stepped back abruptly her face burning with embarrassment “I…I…beg your pardon Lord Knight.” Her voice quivered in silent rage as she berated herself for her childish outburst. “Nay milady it should be I begging her graces forgiveness for barging in upon her sick bed.” That damnable smile still pulled up at his blasted scar a merry glint reached his purple eyes. “I heard a scream as I was wandering these dreary halls and was afraid for the safety of the one ray of sunlight this stone has to offer a grizzled knight such as myself.” Still that condescending tone remained as though he were speaking to a child in a snappish voice Aylien replied “of course Lord Knight but I am afraid that I must go back to bemoaning my ruined tapestry if you will excuse me I shall return to my grieving.” In an instant the merriment left the knights face “milady I am afraid I can’t let you do so it shall besmirch mine honor if I let a lady such as yourself be alone in agrievement wouldst thou consider Joining an old knight out upon the ramparts for a dance?” a smile split light up her face “I would love to my lord knight shall we?” the knight smiled back kindly “ you are to gracious lady now let us go afore your mother finds us I have escaped her clutches but with her you never know when the queen shall need her brave handsome king and her elegant daughter to wait upon her.” Winking a bright eye at his daughter the king and princess strolled through the dark musty corridors while servants bowed and scurried away from the royal couple at the door to the ramparts Aylien paused the hair on her neck standing straight she felt a pair of eyes upon her person their gaze and intent violent shivering she followed her father through the thick iron bound door and out into the cool night.