BASIN P.O.V

  This evening had taken an unexpected turn. How did Lorelei end up engaging with the Prince? This is pure madness. And I can do nothing but meekly obey orders. Which I am doing now, escorting Lorelei to the blue room. She quietly followed Marquess Eiran and me out of the dining hall. I think this is the first time I meet the Kings Brother.

  Outside in the hall, the young miss Alva sits on a chair. It is a mystery to me why she wasn't included. She glances at us, it reminds me so much of her mother. Princess Zora does not hesitate to approach Alva and say, "Valor have lost his mind," How true that is.

  I do not hear what else is said. As the Marquise addressed me. "Captain, continue on without me. I wish to speak with my nephew. I also wanna make sure my brother did not murder him." The last statement was made as a joke, but I do not see the humor in it. "Of course, your Excellency." He looked displeased. For a brief moment, I thought he might tell me not to refer to him as his excellency. As it's common knowledge, he chose to take a lesser title. But he does not say anything.

  I bowed and bit the Marquise farewell. Lorelei does not hesitate to follow me through the castle halls. She is quiet and seems fragile. As if she had lost all will to fight. As we approach the halls that are not lit up. I pause to pick up a torch that hangs on the wall. In the dark passageways, the only life we see is a few guards. As I pass, they stop to pay homage.

  The blue room is named after its blue tapestry. As we open the door, the room is pitch black. The furnishings can only be sensed in the darkness. Lorelei takes a few steps into the room, while I hang the torch on the wall.

  It's an elegant room. There is a bed big enough to fit four people, with pillows so plenty it could make up its own bed. A grand couch with chairs and a lovely carved wooden table, as well as shelves filled with books and trinkets. The air is stuffy, and a light layer of dust sit on top of the furniture. One notable feature is the lack of a single window. The only way out is the door, which can only be locked from the outside. This place is a prison, a beautiful prison, but a prison nonetheless. Reserved for individuals who are too important to be thrown into the dungeon.

  Lorelei looks at the shelf with books, she was always fond of reading. Her clothes she is wearing can not be her own, the dress is too small. Her feet are bare, they must be cold. She looks misplaced in this room.

  How did we get here? Two days ago, she was an enemy to the kingdom. I was to apprehend her and have her executed. And now. In less than a day, she will be in a position of authority. How did this happen? What kind of megalovania has consumed her? How did she convince the Prince to marry her?

  I coughed to grab her attention. "I have to put this on you." I pulled out a bracelet made of silver and iron. Different sigils are edged into the metal. This is an anti-magic charm. It doesn't look any bit dangerous, but don't be fooled into thinking it's harmless. There is a needle on the inside, and if you try to force it off, it will leave deep cuts on the hand. Lorelei doesn't argue as I lock it around her wrist. "This is hardly necessary. I know maybe five spells and non of them can get me out of here."

  "I prefer to be on the safe side."

  "Where are the twins?" She ask. "Do not ask questions you know the answer to," I reply shortly, not interested in conversation. "How are they?" I look away from her, I can't stand to look at her face. "Neary is fine. Narin is another story. But he is strong."

  She stares down at the floor and whispers, "I am sorry." I do not believe my ears, did she just say she is sorry? "What are you apoligising for? Your rudeness, becoming a traitor, or that you kidnapped Prince Valor." My words are harsh, but after all she has done my anger is justified. She looks back up at me, her eyes glossy. "I am sorry I could not be what you wanted me to be, that I failed you." Her voice is cracking. Then the tears began.

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  Through her sobbing, she said, "I can not do this, I can not marry him. This is insane." I stood there not knowing what to do. It appears that I was wrong in assuming she convinced him to marry her. Her tears tug at my heartstrings and the feelings I still have for her. I couldn't just stand here and look at my child, so I did something I shouldn't have done, I hugged her.

  We sat on the floor, her head buried into my chest, quiet sobs coming from her. Curse my feelings, I should not be her shoulder to cry on. But even after all she has done, she continues to hold a place in my heart.

  After a while, she let go of me. I almost wish she hadn't because the longer she wept, the longer I could pretend we where back to when she was a child and my duty was taking care of her. But when she asks. "Basin, what am I to do?" I am no longer her ward, I am the royal captain and I have obligations to fulfill.

  "What you do is honor your promise to marry Prince Valor."

  She looks down and sniffed a few times. "Basin he is delusional.-" Her voice is pitched and raspy. "This will only go bad, and when he realises what mistake this is, it will be too late."

  "We all make mistakes. But we have to live by them and make the best of it." I got up from the floor by placing my hand behind me. Moaning as my back hurts.

  "The best! I am going to be Queen, that is insane!" she makes a frustrated sigh and leans back to lie down on the floor.

  "If you are so reluctant to marry him, why did you agree?"

  "He did not give me any other option. How did it come to this? I just wanted to learn about my family. And all I learned is I inherited a singing voice that defies a stupid curse." Inherited? I suppose that makes sense.

  I tap my pocket, I still have it. "Here I found this among your things." I show her the old leather strap bearing the strange letters лорeлеи. "It is your name, you know."

  "Right my name..." She sits up and takes it. "Basin, do you think... never mind." I know what she wants to ask, if her parents maybe looked for her. "I doubt they left you because they wanted to."

  "We were raised among people who all was abandoned by family, I doubt I am any different.-" She whispers. "What you said about me running away being the biggest mistake of my life." Having her remind me of the hard but honest words I told her in my office, makes it feel like it was eons ago. In truth, it has barely been a few days. But a lot have changed in that time.

  "We do not have to talk about that Lorelei," I say, mainly because I do not want to talk about it.

  "But you were right, it did not take me long to realise that leaving was a mistake. We thought we knew what we were getting into. After all, you had ensured we had the necessary skills to survive. However, life outside is far from the safety of being a guard. There is no respect, especially not for women, men not only see me as inferior to them but think they have a right to me because I am female. Their nasty and vile. " She hugs herself tenderly, allowing her hands to slide up and down her arms.

  "Did any man harm you?" I ask, my voice trembling. "No, there were attempts, but as you said, I am the best." I see a faint smile on her face, but it disappears in an instant. It gives me a sense of relief knowing how good a fighter Lorelei is, I know she can defend herself. I bet any man who got inappropriate quickly regretted it.

  "How did you get by?" I ask, curious to know how she survived. "Plenty of odd jobs. Especially near Vouris copper mine."We also fished and hunted, and at times we relied on my singing."

  She yawns, and then I yawn too."I wish we had never left. We had no idea what we were getting into. But we could not have regrets because there was no way back."

  Her disappearing number would cost her her life. Even if she came back with regrets and promises to behave. It would not undo it, and she still be punished.

  "And all this because of Lennon." She finished.

  "Who is Lennon?" Prince Valor stood in the open doorway, with the Marquess right behind him. I hope they did not hear much of our conversation. "Your highness." I greet and bow.

  "Who is Lennon?" Prince Valor asked again, more assertive. Lorelei stands up, "It does not matter who he is."

  "It sounds like it matters. Captain, who is he?" This puts me in an unpleasant situation. Lorelei gives me a murderous glare. She does not want the Prince to know about Lennon. But I am obligated to tell the Prince the truth.