Chapter Nine: Daelyn - Of All the Moments to Know

  Everyone was gathered in her brother's office.

  Lucas and his councilmen were huddled around the communications desk, waiting for any word from the returning mission party. It had been over twenty-four hours since they'd received word of the explosion at the compound, and reports were still fragmented.

  Around the room, sleeves were rolled back, ties undone, and strained expressions were shared as all of them were hanging on by a thread.

  "Perhaps we should call my father," Pilar suggested, cradling her arms around her body as if physically holding her insides from exploding.

  Daelyn was doing her best to console her, but the truth was, she was just as concerned about Andrik. The reports suggested there were survivors, but no names had been confirmed yet.

  After Lucas and Pilar's engagement party, Andrik had stayed with them for the past month. At first, she'd been annoyed by his presence; she didn't enjoy playing hostess. Showing him around and making conversation were not her usual duties.

  Surprising herself, it was during their time together that she'd begun to find similarities between them. She felt at ease with him.

  It hadn't taken long before she realized she was looking forward to seeing him at the table each morning. Daelyn found herself using more care with her hair and makeup, even though it meant losing sleep.

  Eventually, she was spending nearly every available second with him. If her brother knew it, he didn't say anything or object to her seeing him.

  Pilar, on the other hand, had made a comment before, the rehearsal dinner that had been playing in the back of Daelyn's mind.

  The comment wasn't directed at Daelyn, but she heard it loud and clear. Pilar's other ladies-in-waiting had arrived, and the girls were all gathered in the sitting room of Pilar's temporary suite. Of all the girls, Daelyn was the youngest and the only one from Wintergate. The rest came from Belraithe and were daughters of nobility from Pilar's childhood.

  One of them, (Daelyn had a horrible time remembering names) asked, "How is your brother doing? I heard he is home from the Academy?"

  All at once, Daelyn's heart began to beat fast. Of course, Andrik would have a past, she thought to herself.

  Good-looking and heir to a throne, every available daughter of nobility probably had eyes on him.

  However, it didn't mean that she wanted to be aware of it.

  Folding her arms, she leaned against the bay window overlooking the gardens. She'd spotted her brother and Andrik, along with others, having a drink on the patio that evening before the mission departed. She wished she could have joined them.

  Pilar had been lounging on her chaise, turning on her side to look at her friends.

  "Andrik graduated from the Academy, but he's been here since the engagement party," she'd said, her voice with a touch of annoyance.

  "My father asked that he stay until the wedding, probably to make sure I don't do anything to ruin the alliance. But I think he's also been trying to arrange a marriage for Andrik," she'd paused, while her friends gasped.

  One serious look from Pilar was all it took and her friends grew quiet.

  Toying with her champagne glass, she'd continued. "Anyway, Father has always mentioned that he hoped to retire when Andrik finishes at the Academy. He's graduated, and my father asked him to be here with me. With him here, he'll be staying out of trouble. At least, he has so far."

  The girl with brownish hair and blue-green eyes had spoken up, "Is Roland staying as well?" she'd asked.

  Pilar had barely acknowledged the girl's concern. "No, he hasn't."

  "Has your father shared who the prospects are for Andrik? I mean, there aren't many eligible noblewomen available, are there?" she'd said.

  The girl had glanced at Daelyn for a brief second, then as if she'd ruled her out, looked away.

  Raising her eyebrows at her friend, Pilar had looked intently at her. "No, there are but a few of us left. Knowing my father, he'll keep his selection to himself. I doubt Andrik will even know until it's made public."

  It was then that Daelyn had caught on that the young man who'd been spending so much time with her during the time leading up to the wedding was also slowly creeping into her heart.

  She'd been so surprised by the realization that she'd excused herself from the girls' festivities and run to her room.

  Hurrying down the hall, her eyes concentrating on the floor, she barely registered it but she ran directly into someone. Losing her balance, she fell onto the marble floor and smacked her head on the wall.

  Praying that she hadn't run into one of her brother's councilmen or King Konrad, she bit her lip and looked up at the man towering over her.

  She didn't recognize him. He was dressed in scrubs. A doctor.

  "I'm sorry," she mumbled.

  Offering his hand, he leaned down and helped her up.

  "That's alright, no harm done... to me at least. Are you okay?" he asked, as he looked her over.

  His dark eyes searched hers for any indication of injury.

  Rubbing the top of her head, Daelyn felt pain but was sure there was no bleeding.

  "Here, let me take a look at your head," he said.

  Removing her hand from her head, the doctor examined it.

  Once content, he turned to face her.

  "There's a bump, but if you start to have any dizziness or nausea, you let the staff know."

  "I'm fine. I shouldn't take up any more of your time, Dr.—?"

  Nodding his head, he introduced himself. "My manners. I'm Dr. Archibald. I'm an old friend of... Princess Pilar's."

  One of the ladies-in-waiting assisting Pilar approached them. "Hi, Dr. Archibald. Pilar is ready to see you now," she said, gesturing the way.

  He smiled apologetically at Daelyn. "Well, it was nice to bump into you."

  Daelyn laughed. "Nice to meet you."

  He followed after the lady's maid.

  Later that night of the engagement party, barely knocking on the door, Andrik had come waltzing into her room. These past weeks he had been getting very familiar with Daelyn's room, perhaps too familiar.

  Dressed in tailored pants and a white button-up, he looked like he normally did. But for Daelyn, she was seeing him differently for the first time.

  She was speechless as he crossed the room.

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  "Hey, I was looking for you?" he said, as he sat on the bed next to her.

  Daelyn was unprepared for his visit. Butterflies and dread filled her stomach.

  "You feeling okay? You look pale, maybe feverish?" he asked, as he felt her head for a temperature.

  Her head reeled again, she touched the spot she had hit it.

  "I took a fall in the hallway," she explained, still holding her head.

  Moving closer to the bed, Andrik leaned over her to examine her head.

  "No bleeding, but I can see a bump where you hit it. Looks red. Have you had the doctor look at it?"

  He was close. Daelyn breathed in his smell...rich and intoxicating, like stepping into an exotic market where spices simmer over open flames, with a sweetness that lingered after everything else faded. Warmth filled her cheeks. Her entire body felt like electricity was running through it.

  "I, uh—the doctor," she stumbled on her words.

  Andrik's eyes were intense, he didn't move. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he waited for her to respond.

  Trying to remove her eyes from his, she looked down.

  "I ran into a doctor, and fell, so he looked me over."

  "Well, that was fortunate then," he laughed, his blue eyes sparkling.

  "I guess it was," she hadn't thought about it like that.

  Stretching out he laid out on the bed, Andrik rested on his side to face her.

  In the past month, they had sat like this numerous times. Not once had she felt uncomfortable or anxious. But here she was, trying not to make eye contact with him, fearful he would see right through her.

  Reaching out and touching her arm, Andrik looked at her curiously.

  "Is everything else okay? You seem preoccupied. I thought you would have been joining my sister and the festivities she had planned for tonight?"

  Involuntarily she began to shake, she prayed he didn't notice.

  "I'm fine. Really. I just needed to be alone."

  Wrapping herself in her arms, she tried to believe the words that she said.

  But she knew the truth. Things were different. The reality of it hit her core.

  Glancing at the man across from her, she wondered how she had been so naive about her feelings.

  Who wouldn't develop something for him? Why hadn't she guarded her heart?

  Sitting up, Andrik ran his hand through his hair and then broke the silence between them.

  "Are you sure your head is okay? Do you want me to leave and get you something?"

  Anxious at the thought of him leaving, she touched his arm.

  His skin was softer than she had expected. The summer spent in the sun had left him with a bronze glow.

  "Don't leave," she said, her eyes pleading with him.

  Moisture spilled from her eyes, and she tried to hide it from him, but she saw that she failed.

  Without making a sound, Andrik pulled her in close and wrapped her in his arms.

  She could hear the beating of his heart. The softness in his kiss on the top of her head, she wondered if maybe he felt the way she did.

  Surely, most friends didn't hold each other so intensely.

  Breathing deeply, Andrik whispered to her, "I'll stay as long as you want."

  They sat there in the quiet, peaceful for quite some time. Neither of them said a word, while Andrik ran his hand through her hair. She couldn't feel any more pain in her head.

  It was as though time stood still, unfortunately, it hadn't, because a half hour had gone by when one of her maids knocked on her door asking if she was ready for the rehearsal dinner.

  Andrik darted out of sight, while Daelyn told her maid she would be down soon enough.

  "I guess we have a party to get ready for," she said.

  Daelyn looked cautiously at Andrik. He was looking out her window at the gardens below.

  Joining him, she smiled at how her home had transformed in such a short time.

  Romantic melodies were spilling in from the ballroom. Guests had begun to explore the premises. Lanterns twinkled and lit the area below.

  Her brother would be looking for her soon.

  The rehearsal would be starting.

  Looking at his watch, Andrik raised an eyebrow.

  "It's almost time. I'm going to go and get changed. I'll meet you downstairs?" he asked.

  "Yeah, I'll see you down there."

  "Okay," he said.

  Daelyn's eyes followed him as he walked to the door.

  He turned and looked back at her.

  "I'm glad you're feeling better," he said.

  "Me too."

  That had been the last moment they'd had alone before he left for the mission.

  Her 18th birthday had came and went.

  As they awaited word, Daelyn found herself pacing by the windows overlooking the front entrance, hoping to see the returning vehicles.

  Suddenly, she spotted movement at the gates. Three vehicles. Far fewer than had departed were making their way up the drive.

  "They're here!" she called out, her voice catching in her throat.

  Lucas rushed to the window, Pilar at his heels. Their shoulders sagged with visible relief at the sight of the returning party.

  "Thank God," Pilar whispered, her voice quivering.

  They hurried downstairs to meet them, Daelyn's heart hammering so hard she thought it might burst from her chest. She didn't care who saw her concern anymore, she just needed to know Andrik was safe.

  The vehicles pulled up to the entrance, and Daelyn held her breath as the doors opened. King Konrad emerged first from the lead vehicle, his face like stone. He barely acknowledged Lucas's greeting, his eyes scanning for his son.

  From the next vehicle, Dr. Archibald emerged next, followed by Andrik and Roland. All three men were covered in dirt and what appeared to be dried blood, their expressions grim with exhaustion. Andrik leaned slightly on Roland for support as they made their way toward the entrance.

  Pilar rushed forward, but King Konrad stepped between them.

  "Not now, Pilar. They need medical attention." His voice was gruff, but Daelyn detected a note of worry beneath the harshness.

  The second physician nodded in agreement. "We need to get them inside. Dr. Archibald has done what he could in the field, but they need proper care."

  Lucas immediately issued orders to his staff, directing the wounded to the medical wing. In the chaos, Daelyn found herself standing directly in Andrik's path as they moved him toward the entrance.

  For a brief moment, their eyes met. Despite his exhaustion and pain, something flashed in his gaze when he saw her; relief, perhaps, or something deeper. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. Then the moment was gone as King Konrad yelled another order and they continued past her into the palace.

  Dr. Archibald paused briefly as he passed, giving her a curious look before following the others.

  Later that evening, after the wounded had been tended to and reports given to Lucas and his councilmen, Daelyn found herself wandering the halls near the guest quarters where Andrik was resting.

  She slowed as she approached his door, not entirely certain why she'd come. What would she say? What did she want to say?

  Before she could decide, the door opened, and one of the palace physicians emerged, speaking quietly with a servant.

  "...needs rest above all. No visitors until tomorrow at the earliest," the physician was saying.

  She waited until the physician and servant disappeared down the corridor before daring to move closer to Andrik's door. Just a few steps, enough to hear the muffled voices inside. King Konrad's voice carried through the thick oak, his tone rigid with barely contained anger.

  "The mission was a disaster," he hissed. "We've lost men, resources, and credibility. The treaty hangs in the balance because of this failure."

  Andrik's response was too quiet to make out, but something in the weary cadence of it made Daelyn's chest tighten. She pressed her palm against the door, the wood cool beneath her fingertips. She wanted nothing more than to knock, to see him, to offer some small measure of comfort.

  But she couldn't. Not with his father present. Not with the palace eyes watching her every move.

  She would have to wait until tomorrow when the commotion had settled. When she might have a chance to see him alone.

  A soft cough behind her made her spin around, her heart leaping to her throat. Dr. Archibald stood at the end of the hall, watching her with an unreadable expression. For a moment, their eyes met, and Daelyn felt heat rush to her face.

  But he said nothing of finding her eavesdropping. He simply inclined his head in silent acknowledgment before continuing on his way.

  Daelyn exhaled shakily and hurried back to her room, the memory of Andrik's gaze from earlier still in her mind. They'd barely exchanged a glance, yet somehow she'd felt the weight of everything unspoken between them.

  almost did. Everyone’s waiting for answerrs...Daelyn, Lucas, Pilar… and maybe you too.

  didn’t mean to fall for comes back bloodied and bruised. They barely say a word to each other, but you can feel what’s building.

  Dr. Archibald Nicolai… good. Pay attention to him. He’s quiet now, but that won’t last long. He’s not just another doctor. Not even close.

  What do you think happens in chapter 11?