"What?", he breathed.

No, no, no, no, no. It's not true. I can't get married yet. She's lying.

His mother looked at him with teary eyes and sniffed.

"I'm so sorry".

He thought he'd be angry. But he didn't, he just felt numb. Then it hurt, his chest was aching and he felt as if no air was reaching his lungs.

"Why?"

His mother breathed in and closed her eyes.

"The prince saw you looking outside the window, he demanded his father that he wanted you. I didn't agree at first and when I didn't give in after a number of attempts to bribe me they threatened to kill you and your father", she sobbed, "I don't want to loose you, Aerin".

She held his hands tightly, he felt like he was going to cry, but he didn't want to do it in front of his mother, he knew she tried to do what she could, but now his life was being controlled and he couldn't do anything about it, he felt so helpless.

He didn't say anything and entered his room, his mom tried to follow but he slammed the door behind him and leaving his mother outside.

He went over and saw himself in the mirror, he suddenly felt deep anger unleash inside him, he pushed the mirror as hard as he could and it fell, shattering loudly and breaking into small pieces.

"Aerin? Are you okay?", he heard his mother's voice outside the door.

No, of course I'm not okay.

"Go away!"

She didn't say anything else, he stayed still until he heard her footsteps as she walked away.

He sighed and jumped on his bed, rubbing his face the pillows under his face. He groaned loudly and laid quietly until his breathing evened out and he fell asleep.
***

Someone knocked on his door, waking him up from his deep slumber. He cleaned the drool off his mouth with his left hand, his other arm numb beneath the pillows where his head had been resting. He looked outside the window and saw the sun starting to disappear behind the horizon, the silhouette of dead trees covered part of the light, he held a breath and waited for the same terrifying pain he'd felt once, years ago.

There was another knock at the door.

"Go away mom!", he said, voice raspy because of his dry mouth.

"Aerin, it's me", Mara's voice was hushed and he almost didn't hear it.

He lifted his head from his arms and said a quiet "come in".

She came in with a candle and things jiggling loudly in the hidden pocket of her dress.

She calm expression turned panicked almost immediately when she saw the bare window, she set the candle on the desk and quickly ran to the window drawing the curtains to cover the light. She turned around and glared at him.

"You know you can't look outside while the sun sets down, you could die"

"Sorry...", he muttered.

She sighed and sat beside him.

"I'm so sorry, I heard what happened".

He looked at her and suppressed a sigh.

"Well, there's nothing we can do".

"There's always an option".

She sighed when he didn't answer.

"Let's not worry about this right now, lift your shirt and roll up your pants".

He nodded and did as she said, she was much more careful than his mother. She knew when he was in pain and always tried to help him.

After he finished he laid with his back facing up. She took some of the medicine she sneaked inside and started rub in it on the places his mother had cut the plants off. She did it so carefully and whispered soft apologies when she rubbed too hard or he hissed from the rashes that'd appeared.

She took a wet towel and cleaned his face, the freckles on his face reappeared.

She finished and held his hand, rubbing her thumb across his knuckles.

"We'll find a way out of this", she promised and walked away, closing the door softly to not make any noise.

He got up from his bed and walked to the window, the only one in his room, and the one the prince had seen him through. He looked outside, and saw in the distance of the forest, between the woods a small light, like a torch's. It could also be a campfire, he touched the window with his fingertip, exactly where the light was.

He'd never been outside. If he married the prince, he would be confined to the walls of the palace forever.

He'd hoped he'd go outside once he turned 18. His birthday was one week away and Mara had promised him that her gift would be to take him outside for the very first time.

Now that will never happen.

Or would it?

He touched the surface of the window with both hands, adding pressure.

Something clicked.

The surface beneath his hands gave in and opened. He smiled.

His eyes brightened with excitement.

The night's cold breeze fluttered on his face, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked around, no pain. He couldn't wait to tell Mara about it, she'll definitely help him out.