➸◈⑧◈➸
The Library
A prince.
Could it be that he wasn't all glam and dances?
Erlan Dolos was becoming more of a prince in my eyes by every passing day, but I was scared. What if it wasn't right? Princes are supposed to be white and tall, with blond hair and tight suits. But the more I thought about it, the less sense it made. Starry blue was the colour I loved now and so was the prince who had chosen me over. . . whatever he had left behind. I slipped through the library door and crept to one of the sides of the massive room to find a good book. I had read every book about princes, where they kiss and kill dragons, save the princes and have their happy ending, so I picked a book that Erlan had advised. It was dusty and dark, with pale gold lettering on the side. “The bird and the dragon” was its title and so I sat with a small candle lit beside me to read the favourite story of the starry blue prince. The book made ups and downs until the last page turned over and revealed the chained down silhouette of the dragon with the same pale gold lettering underneath reading out a dreadful end of the book.
“Erlan?” I asked into the dark, and an answer soon followed.
“Yeah?” He said with a dim voice that seemed lower and filled with a bit of a growl.
“How long have you been here?” I asked, leaning forward to get up from my sitting position, but before I could, Erlans voice erupted from behind me.
“Astra, could I ask a favour?” He said in a hurried voice. I sat back down and listened. I could almost see his broad shoulders from the sound alone. They were right there, between me and the bookshelf. “Please do not . . Look over my way,” he said with a long pause, trying for it to sound still, so that a curious child like me wouldn't find it fun to break his rule. I made myself stay as I was, trying to steal a peek from the corner of my eye, but it was too dark.
“How long have you been here?” I asked again.
This time the wizard answered. “Since yesterday, I just wanted a quiet place to hide away in.”
“I too love this place for some alone time! It's so peaceful!” I said with a laugh, but the hoped laugh from the wizard didn't come.
“Is the king . . I mean, your father, is he looking for me?” He seemed scared, for his voice shook with great width. That or he had grown twice as big.
“I haven't seen him since breakfast and he didn't say much, but I'm guessing he went to see you in your room,” I hoped he wasn't too worried, and I managed to reassure him just a tiny bit. He huffed and hot air shot through the room with a rush. Was this one of the wizard's magic? “Are you alright? You seem out of breath . .” I was concerned about my prince. He mustn't feel well if he had been here alone all night and all day, without any food and company. And I knew well that he most importantly needed the company.
“I'm Okay, I'd feel better if you'd let me be for a little bit more . .” He said with a whisper. Would it be so bad for me to sneak over by his side and comfort him? It seemed very important to him that I didn't, but I knew for a fact that he did it with great might for the Erlan Dolos I knew loved company.
“I respect that, but . .” I stuttered, for I didn't want to come off as rude, “I do not want to leave.” I might have overheard, but there was a warm gasp, and I could feel the room light up with wisps of happiness. I stood up, taking my first steps. He heard and started taking his steps backwards into the back wall.
“Astra?” He asked as a helpless kitten, and I rushed my steps around the bookshelf.
What stood before me was a beady eyes creature with scales and feathers, wings and claws. I stood in utter shock as the winged lizard begged, stepping back, closer to the wall behind. “Astra! Please!” He struggled to tuck himself back in a tinny eyed being and I covered my eyes with embarrassment. He took his torn clothes and put them on with less care than he did before, with a little wimp in his voice. I slowly removed my hands, revealing a young man with starry blue eyes that were lizard-like at the same time. His hands were trying very hectically to close all the buttons on his shirt to cover the blueish scales that were covering his neck. The wizard then stopped and stood helplessly gazing at me with disbelief.
He glowed.
I thought. And then I saw it. His eyes were bright, and I could feel his warm presence in the room from where he had just been with his wings and claws. He shook in disbelief as I stepped closer. “Can I touch them?”
“You want . . To touch my scales?”
I nodded in excitement and ran to my prince with open arms. I touched the starry scales with my fingertips and Erlan flinched back. “They're warm!” I exclaimed, and the wizard got back some of his courage.
“You are not scared? Or . . Disgusted?”
Scared? Disgusted? Why would my prince fear his own skin? Was this the reason he was scared to get too close to me and father, or why he had fear in his eyes when things went out of plans that he had made to hide himself? Even his pretty coat was there to hide him. I guess handsome princes use pretty clothes to hide their imperfections, but even after seeing my starry blue prince under his crown of a coat, he was still . . . My prince.
I hugged him tight and squeezed until he giggled.
“Erlan?”
“Yeah?”
And I broke out in laughs because this was him. My prince. My Erlan Dolos and my warm scaly lizard creature.
Tears of joy ran down his cheeks and I knew so, for they were as warm with joy as our hearts.
Comments (0)
See all