rikon alone [c]

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Rikon paced around. He paced around back and forth when no one was looking, which was anytime of the day when he wasn't being tutored. He didn't think this day would ever come but now that he had wrapped it around his mind, it seemed so easy. What had stopped him until now? What had stopped him from packing his clothes, tome, and gold, and some food he always had an excess of and then leaving? He imagined the faces of those who would be the first to notice.

"None," Rikon thought, his heart pounding madly. No one would notice. Not his father who was preoccupied with his duties and pretended he did not have a son, not his fiance who lived in another castle and - for the past few years - had only visited during special occasions, in which they didn't even make eye contact and just waited for the evening to be over. There were no servants he ever saw - not since he was thirteen - only waking up once every month to find the stock in the kitchen magically refilled. The caretaker of the castle had never gone past the door to Rikon's quarters, where he would glance by Rikon's notes should he need anything.

Rikon checked through his memory repeatedly, trying to find a forgotten person that might have somehow squeezed through the cracks of the poor list of people that knew he existed. He was starting to get convinced no one would know he died for at least an entire week.

So much freedom was entrusted on him despite the solidarity. Rikon never once abused this freedom. He never once disobeyed. Now he was going to shatter ten years of unquestionable trust and betray everyone's expectations, including his own. They never thought he would be capable of doing something like this. Until today, he wouldn't have either.

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“What's her name?”

Rikon smiled, fanning himself with the front of his shirt. “Her name's Marie.”

“Hi, Marie!” Elliniss – at least that's the name Rikon caught her mother called her – tiptoed and reached for Marie's mane. As soon as Ellinnis' hand touched her, Marie shook her head. This made Elliniss giggle more than afraid much to Rikon's relief. It wasn't the first time Marie had acted unfriendly. Girls were too overzealous or noisy and Rikon was immediate to jump in Marie's defense. Marie was reasonable. Rikon wasn't going to berate her for acting that way if she didn't like it.

“You all right?” Rikon asked, genuinely concerned. It wasn't just for Elliniss. If the girls didn't overreact, Rikon would be more sympathetic.

“Yeah,” she said, giggling with half-embarrassment. She continued to stare dreamily at Marie. “Her manes looks like real hair. It's long enough to be braided.” Elliniss looked at Rikon, laughing. “Or done with your hairstyle!”

Rikon laughed. “You know, I actually thought of that but it's going to be embarrassing like hell!”

“For Marie, you mean. It's her who'll be forced with your hairstyle.”

“Touche.”

Ellinis studied the feathers on Marie's feet. “I don't think I should reach out for them, do I?”

“Yeah, not a good idea to do with horses. It will be like reaching for dog's mouth. Marie—” Rikon whistled, bending down and patting her right leg twice. Marie raised both her front legs, startling Elliniss and letting out a light scream. Rikon grinned, catching Marie's right leg, and held it out for Elliniss to see.

“Go ahead,” Rikon encouraged when Eliniss hesitated. She reached out for feathers, a goofy smile popping from her face.

They talked for about half an hour before Rikon mentally hit himself on the head and offered to eat dinner. Ellinis politely declined, saying her family would be setting off to Plegia tonight.

“Plegia? Sorry, but are your parents nuts?”

“My uncle, probably,” Eliniss said, crestfallen. “There's war in Plegia and where there's war, there's business...”

“You should stay.” When Eliniss didn't reply, Rikon repeated himself firmly. “You should stay. I'll talk to my father. There's enough space in the castle for you. You'll have your privacy, I promise.”

“Castle?” Eliniss echoed, staring wide-eyed at Rikon. “By the gods – I'm sorry, I didn't know.”

“No, no! It doesn't matter!”

“But—”

Rikon shook his head. “Please, hear me out. It's a noble's job to protect his countrymen. If you were in my position, you would do the same.”

Elinniss looked down at her feet, her brown fringes falling to the side of her face. “Thank you, really. But I don't want to be left behind either.” She sniffed, wiping the back of her hand to her teary eyes. “I don't want to leave. It's so peaceful here in Talys. I wish we could settle down here.”

Rikon, seeing that he had caused her more pain, decided it was best to not bring the topic anymore. He stretched out his arms and they hugged in silence, listening to their harsh, shaky breaths that were the rumblings of contained sadness.