10 Isll Do My Bes (1/2)

He stopped, his fingers on the door handle, his face almost blank as he stared back at her. Tendrils of shadow, thick and deep crept across the floor towards her and she pulled her feet back under the long skirts of her dress, her heart quickening in her chest.

Wait, she thought, I don't want to offend him again. She released the tension in her body, letting the long stretch of shadow slip over her shoes and around her ankles as she blinked back at her husband.

”Isilla,” he said, her name coming out in a single breath, his voice thick in that moment before he swallowed and moved his hand over his eyes. When he opened them again, they were cold, the shadows drawn back to him.

”Isilla,” he repeated, this time more casually as he crossed the room to her. She moved to stand and he stopped her. ”Stay, I wish to speak with you before the meeting.”

She looked at him questioningly as he waved his hand, a chair appearing opposite of hers in front of the window. He sat in it, the light from the sun darkened by his very presence.

She looked down at her hands and smiled. She showed him the book and pointed at the shelf where she had left her own, using her finger to signal that she would be back in just a moment.

He stopped her, leaning forward he grabbed the larger book, plucking it from her fingers. Standing he crossed the room himself, replacing the tome and returned with her much smaller book.

”You should hold on to that. Unless you do not care for your gift?” he said, his tone even.

She nodded her head in thanks and opened the book. I'm sorry, she wrote, I was distracted. What meeting?

He waved away both her apology and question, ”It's fine, we'll get to that in a moment. We have to talk about your position here first.”

She nodded and waited for him to explain.

”You were supposed to marry my brother in order to solidify the treaty between our lands and stop the war. After my brother's actions, the state of peace between our lands is,” he paused, choosing his words carefully, ”fragile.”

She nodded, showing that she understood.

”My brother's ways are not everyone's. We cannot maintain this war. Our people are weary of it. They are more and more unsettled. Our country needs this peace. I need you to help me attain it.”

I have no political power. I'm sorry, you saw how quickly they left me to die, she wrote.

He nodded, ”I know. You're just a symbol. Continue our marriage, show your people that we want this peace too. That is what I am asking of you. I will give you whatever you like in return. If you cannot, I will send you back, unharmed.”

She frowned down at the book, her pen lifted for a moment before she scrawled her request.

I want to know who wrote me all those letters. I went to meet them, she showed him the page before fear could change her mind.

Arren's eyes widened for a moment before his face resumed it's usual coldness. ”Alright, if you do this, when the peace is secured, I will introduce you to the man who wrote you those letters. Are you sure that's all you want? Aren't you worried it will cause trouble?”