The Dragon Bond: Heirs of Lyra

Chapter 10

Elysia's muscles ached from her recent lack of activity. She had being laying in bed for the past two days, refusing to get out and face the real world. Never before had she disappointed her father more than the night she came home late with her two guards drunk and throwing up in the bushes. For the first few minutes he had been silent as he escorted her by the arm back to the castle.

It hadn't been until they were in her room with the door shut that all hell was unleashed. King Alan was furious, pacing back and forth in the room as he scolded her for her behavior. Not only had she disobeyed his orders to stay within the Square and with her guards, but she had come home with her guards completely wasted.

Needless to say, the lecture she earned from her father was a lengthy one, with several promises to make this punishment by far the worst. Due to the complete and utter despair Elyisa felt from her fight with Phillip, she welcomed any and all punishments her father saw fit. She already felt miserable, she might as well be treated accordingly.

Yet to this very hour, her father had yet to give her a determined punishment. This only made Elysia feel worse, waiting to hear what her father had planned for her. Would it be an increased number of guards? Or a tighter leash to the castle? Would she even get to leave the castle grounds?

Instead of carrying on with her life until her punishment was received, she refused to get out of bed. She had not breathed fresh air in over forty hours and she had kept her curtains closed as to keep the gloom in the room.

Sirey had even once knocked on her door and entered with a chocolate cake to shake Elysia from this stupor. Yet not even chocolate cake was enough to make the miserable princess feel any better.

Refusing to converse with anyone, Elysia stayed on her bed and stared at the ceiling, reliving her conversation with Philip. He had seemed so angry with her for not being able to continue to see him or bring him food. But it wasn't her fault! She would visit him daily if she was allowed.

Again, anger would surge within her when she thought about how unfair Phillip was with her. She risked her relationship with her father for Phillip and he wasn't even grateful. Instead he was mad at her, upset that she couldn't go to his village anymore. Yet he never once offered to visit her. Sure it wasn't common for people of Phillip's status to waltz through the upper class living area outside of the castle, but it wasn't impossible either. He could visit her if he really wanted to.

Apart from her anger with Phillip and her frustration with her own life, Elysia was sorry she was letting everyone down. She had let her father down, Phillip, and cute little Emmy. Elysia hadn't even gotten to say goodbye to the little girl with wild hair. She may never even get to see her again, depending on the punishment her father had yet to issue.

A knock on the door muffled her guilty thoughts. Instead of answering, she let the person on the other side continue to knock.

"I know you're in there," Elysia recognized the voice as Sirey's. "You haven't moved in days, I just want to make sure you're not desiccating."

The princess thought about telling her friend to go away, but that required too much effort. Besides, she hadn't used her voice in a while, she wasn't sure any noise would come out at this point.

When she heard the door creak open, Elysia rolled over onto her stomach and pulled the sheets over her head.

Within moments she felt Sirey plop onto the bed, right next to her. "Time to get out of bed!"

Elysia groaned.

"Come on, you're being ridiculous. Your father can't be that mad, it's not like you haven't done worse."