Chapter 5

[Cahalle]

I miss her. The one person I love driven away by an unseen force. I have tried to find her but it has been months. I sigh. I wish I could find her to tell her how much I love her. I still remember the last night I saw her and the agonized look on her face; the tears in her eyes, how she trembled with anger and hurt. The memory washes over me.

Walking through the rose garden, I look for her. I want to tell her how I feel. I hear a sigh and walk in the direction from which it came. She is sitting there in the middle of a circle of rose bushes. 

She sighs again.

"Cecilia, are you alright?" I ask her. She is silent for a moment and tear slides down her face. "Cecilia?" I repeat, this time catching her attention.

"I'm fine." She whispers so silently I barely hear her. She stands up and brushes past me but I grab her arm, she tries to pull away but I only grip tighter. I have to tell her before I lose her.

"Let me go Cahalle." She demands of me. The anger and hurt in her voice shocks me. I feel my grip loosen. She yanks away and runs. I am hurt. I wonder what could be hurting her, if she is going through the same pain I am. Even if I can't share my feelings with her, I know I must find father and tell him. So I do.

"Father!" I call, seeing him in the hall. He turns around to face me. "What is it?" He asks. I feel nervous, I don't know how he will take it. He always dreamed of me marrying a princess, and uniting two kingdoms.

"It's about Cecilia." I begin. "I love her, father" He doesn't seem surprised like I thought he would be. He just sighs.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asks.

"Yes." Of course I'm sure, I want to yell, how can I not be sure of who I love? But I do not yell. It would be wrong, disrespectful. There is a pause. Father smiles and then pulls me into a hug.

"Then tell her." He says, still grinning. I smile back. I plan to. I go to find her, but she is nowhere to be found. I try the rose garden first, thinking she might have gone back. She isn't there. I then try every other room in the castle, save for one, but she isn't in any of them either. Finally I try her room, only to find her sleeping. I debate whether or not to wake her, but choose not to. I will tell her tomorrow. I sigh, and leave for my own room, excited for tomorrow to come.

That day didn't meet my expectations. When I went to find her that morning, she was gone. Her clothes and precious possessions, gone. My love had left me.