Leal swung off his second floor balcony and onto the roof below into the shadows. He crouched down, closed his eyes and concentrated. He opened them and could feel the power inside of him become ready to be unleashed. He looked down and saw three palace guards below him. He waved his hand and they all looked at one another before running to their left towards the front of the palace.

Leal sat on the roof and swung his legs over the side. He imagine himself as one of the palace guards and then pushed himself off the roof with his hands at his sides, palms to the ground. He glided down and landed softly on his feet. He turned to the left and walked towards the west gate that led to the small area of trees before him that stood in front of the Fortress.

He walked through the forest quickly, much too quickly for a normal man. He felt himself glide from tree to tree, always looking to see if anyone was lurking about. He wanted nothing to get in his way of meeting with Dracia tonight. He was desperate to be with her. They had never been apart for so long.

Dracia had grown up in the house of the High Lord of Winsdell. She was the youngest child and only daughter of Lord Arwel and Lady Owena. She grew up within the palace grounds, educated alongside Leal and later Leal’s sister Lexine. Leal and Dracia had always been close. They played together as very young children. They sat and learned under great tutors together in their adolescence.

In their free time, they ran around the palace, and snuck out to observe the Sentinel training often. They would try to recreate the Disciplines as best they could. They would work on Mystics together. They would sword fight, and go on long rides on horses through the hills outside of Winsdell. They were never apart long. Even when the royal family would go on trips in the kingdom, the High Lord and his family would accompany the royal family. Leal’s mother like that Lexine had a friend in Dracia.

Leal found himself very attached to Dracia by the time he reached his sixteenth year. He finally kissed her a year later on her own sixteenth birthday. He knew he loved her then, but that love only grew until Leal knew he would never love anyone else. When she turned eighteen, Dracia applied to the Sentinel and was accepted. Leal asked to participate in the Discipline’s that year. It was a very normal thing for a prince to do, so no one questioned it.

Leal did enjoy the training, but his real reason was to be close to Dracia. She was spectacular. It was easy to see how she moved to an Elite after only one year. Leal worried about her being in danger constantly. She routinely was sent out on dangerous missions throughout the kingdom, but she was never gone for long. She always came back victorious with her fellow Elites singing her praises.

Though Leal didn’t like her serving as an Elite, he had accepted it for the time being. He knew one day when the time was right, she would retire from the Sentinel and come take her proper place in the palace as his wife. When Leal turned twenty-one, he approached his father, ready to declare himself. His father was against Leal marrying Dracia. He said Leal would need to make other alliances.

Leal declared he would have no one else. His father had asked him to wait a few years to make sure he knew what he wanted. Leal did not like it, but after talking with Dracia, Leal agreed to satisfy his father. Now she had been made High Captain. He knew it was his father’s doing. Leal didn’t doubt that Dracia was worthy or able, but he knew his father was only too happy to make sure she was placed in a position it would be almost impossible for her to leave anytime soon. Leal didn’t care, he would find a way to bring her to the palace as his wife, and his father would have to accept it.

Leal approached the Fortress. He stopped at the edge of the trees and closed his eyes, imaging one of the Elites. He opened them, knowing he would blend in with the men and women who lived in the walls of the mighty Fortress.

It was a large stone building, that was square. At each corner was a large tower with battlements on the top. Each side had a door to enter the Fortress. Leal looked up at the tower on the west side. He could see a window at the top with a small light burning in the window. He smiled a little knowing Dracia waiting for him in that room.

Leal walked up to the closest door and put his hand on it, looking up to the large clock on the side wall. It was only a minute until the bells started to ring for the hour. At the tenth ring, Dracia would take her wards down, allowing Leal to enter her room. Leal concentrated with his hand on the Fortress door as he felt the protection ward fall down. He opened the door and stepped inside.

He entered an empty hall, seeing the long staircase in front of him, and Leal started swiftly climbing the stairs. He passed a few Elites on his way, but they paid him no mind. Leal walked faster and faster until he reach the top. He walked down the small hallway found there as the bells started tolling. He reached the door and waited until the last bell tolled. Leal opened the door and stepped inside. He closed his eyes and let his glamor fall, looking up to see Dracia staring at him from the sofa in her small sitting room.

Leal smiled at her as he walked towards her. She was wearing a simple white nightgown with a robe. Her luxurious dark brown hair was down and flowed around her, resting well beyond her shoulders in soft waves. Her eyes were soft and bright in the firelight. She looked so beautiful. She looked like his Dracia, not the strict High Captain she was usually seen as during the day. She gave him as small smile as Leal approached her. He sat down next to her and took her hand, staring at her.

“Would you like a drink?” she asked.

Leal nodded and let go of her hand. She bent down in front of her and poured two glasses of wine from a pitcher she had on the low table in front of them. She leaned back and handed Leal a glass. She sat back on the sofa and took a sip of her wine. Leal took a large gulp of wine and thought of something to say. He had not been with her for so long, he found he was almost just happy being in her presence as she smiled at him.

“I received your schedule for Galen,” said Dracia taking another drink of wine. “It is satisfactory as is. We will see how it goes.”

Leal nodded again at her as he drank and stared at her. This is all he ever wanted. He wanted to spend all his evenings with Dracia by his side. He could imagine being in their rooms at the palace holding her as they watched the fire. He could imagine having conversations and even arguments with her about kingdom business. He could imagine walking with her through the corridors, stopping to kiss her, knowing they didn’t have to hide their love from anyone. He wanted to her to live with him as his wife.

“You are very quiet tonight. Is something wrong?” asked Dracia, putting her glass down in front of her.

“No,” said Leal as he finished his wine quickly and put his glass down. “I’m just happy to be here with you. I have missed you so much.”

Dracia looked down. “I have missed you as well. I need you to understand that staying away from you was never what I wanted to do. I thought it would be best for you. I don’t want to come between you and your father.”

Leal leaned over and raised her head with his hand, kissing her softly. “It is my father’s choice if he will not accept my love for you, but it does not make what I feel for you go away. I can’t let you go, Dracia. I need you to understand that. No matter what princesses or ladies my father puts in front of me, none of them will mean anything to me. My heart is so full of you, there is no room for anyone else.”

She leaned in and kissed him as Leal wrapped her in his arms. She felt so good against him in her thin nightgown. He had hoped to spend some time with her before he moved on to other pleasurable activities, but he didn’t think he could wait much longer to be with her.

The broke apart slightly. “Please know that no matter what happens, I do love you. I haven’t forgotten the promises we made. I will never forget them, but if you have to move on for the kingdom and your family, I will not resent you,” said Dracia quietly.

“You are being silly, Dracia. I could never move on from you, and you know it. You know how bound I am to you. There is no way to untie all that we are to each other. Eventually even my father will see it.”

He kissed her again, and she held on to him desperately. Leal could feel himself losing control a bit. He knew his eyes were starting to change. He concentrated for a moment as Dracia kissed him, keeping his power from escaping him.

“Dracia,” he said as he pulled back slightly. “I must have you, now.”

She smiled as she pulled back. “I find I am rather anxious as well.” She stood up and held out her hand to Leal. He took it and stood up, gathering her into his arms. He kissed her and then scooped her up, carrying her into her bedroom.

He spent a wonderful night loving Dracia. He held her after and watched her sleep, feeling more complete than he had in a long time. It wasn’t right that it had to be like this. He shouldn’t have to sneak around to be with her. She was not some secret lover to be ashamed of. She was meant to be his wife, and eventually, his queen. His father was a fool not to see it.

Leal held her tighter thinking of everything she was to him. He was scared constantly that she would give up on them. He couldn’t imagine what he would do if she denied him, if she told him it was really over. He couldn’t imagine losing her, or her not being a part of his life. He would not let it be so.

He looked down at Dracia, watching her sleep against him. He let the peace he felt with her in his arms wash over him, calming him. He eventually fell asleep, satisfied that at least for tonight, he was holding the woman he loved. He was awoken just before dawn by Dracia kissing him gently. She told him he needed to go, but he managed to stall his departure for a little while longer in a way she didn’t seem to mind. He made her promise he could come to her again before he agreed to leave.