Aria's POV
I stepped out into the garden, the warm sun on my skin a welcome respite from the cold, dark castle walls. Ryker, my constant shadow, followed closely behind me, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a mixture of caution and boredom. I hated being accompanied by him everywhere I went, hated the feeling of being trapped and watched all the time. But I'd grown accustomed to it, and now it just felt like a normal part of my life.
As we walked along the winding paths, I tried to engage Ryker in conversation, hoping to break the monotony of our daily routine. "So, Ryker, how's it going?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
He grunted in response, his eyes never leaving the surrounding area. I sighed inwardly, knowing that I wouldn't get much more out of him. Ryker was a man of few words, and I'd long since given up trying to get him to talk. I'd tried everything – asking him about his family, his interests, his favorite foods – but he always responded with the same monosyllabic answers. It was like trying to get blood from a stone.
I continued to walk, my feet carrying me along the familiar paths as my mind wandered. The garden was beautiful, with its vibrant flowers and lush greenery, but it was also a reminder of my captivity. I was trapped in this castle, with no way to escape, and the garden was just a small, gilded cage. I thought about all the few times I'd tried to escape, and failed. A voice in my mind kept calling me weak for giving up so easily, I was nothing but a coward but I've seen what Kael was capable of and that was probably just a glimpse of his abilities but it was enough to deter me. As was the number of soldiers I see patrolling the castle walls from my room. The truth was I was in a strange place I knew nothing about escaping is a rapidly fading dream. It was a depressing thought, and I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the present moment.
The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the flowers were blooming. It was a peaceful scene, one that I'd grown to appreciate over the months. I'd learned to find joy in the small things – a beautiful sunset, the feel of the sun on my face, a warm meal. It was a survival mechanism, one that I'd developed in order to keep my sanity but it was sadly also nothing new. My father would punish me sometimes by locking me in my room for days. No one was allowed to talk to me or let me out. So, this case wasn't that different.
As I walked, I noticed the different types of flowers that were in bloom. There were roses, lilies, and sunflowers, along with the strange looking flowers, I made a note to ask Elara for their names. I stopped in front of a particularly beautiful rose bush, admiring the delicate petals and the vibrant color. Ryker stopped beside me, his eyes scanning the area before coming back to rest on me.
"The roses are beautiful, don't you think?" I said, trying to make conversation.
Ryker grunted again, and I smiled wryly. It was a futile effort, but I couldn't help trying. If not that he had spoken a few times I would have thought he was mute.
Maybe one day, he'd surprise me and actually talk.
I continued to walk, my mind wandering back to my encounter with Kael. It had been a few days ago, and I still couldn't shake the feeling that it had left me with. He'd apologized, actually apologized, for his actions. It was a shock, to say the least. I'd never expected him to show any kind of remorse, and yet, he had. The question was, why?
I thought about all the possibilities, all the reasons why Kael might have apologized. Maybe he was trying to manipulate me, to get me to let my guard down. Maybe he was trying to make amends, to make up for his past mistakes, I scoffed at that. If he wanted to make amends he would let me go instead.
Or maybe, just maybe, he was genuinely sorry although I doubted that.
I didn't know what to think, and it was driving me crazy.
We walked back to the castle, Ryker's presence beside me was a stark reminder of my reality. I was a prisoner, and I wouldn't be forgetting that anytime soon. I thought about all the things I didn't get to try. I was so close to freedom only to realize I was walking from one cage to another.
When we approached the castle, I saw Lyra waiting for us in the doorway. She was the first person I met here, she was a willowy but graceful woman, with a kind face and a gentle smile. "Aria, Elara has your lunch prepared. I was hoping we could have lunch together" she said.
I smiled, feeling a pang of gratitude towards her. Lyra was one of the few people in the castle who treated me with kindness, and I appreciated her for it. "Thank you, Lyra," I said, following her into the castle.
As we walked, Ryker fell back, allowing me to precede him. I knew he'd be watching me, always watching, and it made me shiver. I didn't like being trapped, didn't like being a prisoner. It has always been my reality.
As I followed Lyra into the castle, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The apology from Kael still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I tried to push the thoughts aside and focus on my lunch, but my mind kept wandering back to the encounter.
Lyra led me to a small dining room, where a simple but delicious-looking meal was laid out. I took a seat, while Elara dished the food, Ryker stood guard by the door, his eyes fixed on me as always. I tried to ignore him and focused on my food, but I could feel his gaze on me.
"Ok seriously, stop drilling holes into the poor girl's head Ryker" Lyra said startling me.
I didn't even realize she noticed how uncomfortable it made me.
"You can leave now, you don't have to watch us eat" she said, dismissing him.
Ryker grunted but turned and left the room.
"Thanks for that" I said, truly grateful.
Lyra looked up at me and smiled.
"Don't mention," Lyra said. "I noticed you haven't visited the library yet. We have a great expanse of books if you're interested."
"I've never been much of a reader," I admitted. "But It wouldn't hurt to start. I seem to have great amount of free time. What kind of books do you like to read?"
Lyra's eyes lit up. "I'm a big fan of romance novels," she said. "I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but I just love getting swept up in a good love story."
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You really believe in happy endings, don't you?" I asked.
Lyra nodded, her smile faltering for a moment. "Well, I think they're possible," she said. "I mean, why not? Life is full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises can be wonderful."
I shook my head, feeling a pang of cynicism. "I don't believe in happy endings," I said. "At least, not in the way that romance novels portray them. Life is messy and complicated, and things rarely work out the way we want them to."
Lyra looked at me with a curious expression. "You're a bit of a pessimist, aren't you?" she asked.
I shrugged, feeling a sense of resignation. "I just think it's more realistic to expect that things will go wrong," I said. "That way, you're not disappointed when they do."
Lyra nodded thoughtfully, her eyes never leaving mine. "I can see why you'd think that," she said. "But I still believe that happy endings are possible. Maybe not in the way that we imagine them, but in their own way, they can happen."
I smiled wryly, feeling a sense of admiration for Lyra's optimism. "You're a hopeless romantic, aren't you?" I asked.
Lyra laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Guilty as charged," she said. "But I think it's better to hope for the best, even if it doesn't always work out that way."
I nodded sadly "It never seems to," I said referring to my captivity.
Lyra's expression softened as she looked at me, her eyes filled with understanding. "I'm so sorry, Aria," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can only imagine how scary and overwhelming this must be for you. You were trying to escape a bad situation, and then you ended up in an even worse one."
I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat as I thought about my failed attempt to run away. "I just wanted to be free," I said, my voice cracking. "I wanted to make my own choices and live my own life. But instead, I'm stuck here, with no idea what's going to happen to me."