The snow crunched under my feet as I ran down the street. People moved out of the way without sparing a second glance as I weaved through the crowd.
It felt like it had been just minutes when it started to snow. But now there was enough to cover the cobblestone path of the streets. I could no longer hear Aiden's footsteps after me.
I decided that he had either lost me in the crowd moving towards the heart of the village where people were dancing or stopped chasing after me altogether.
It had gotten pretty dark and the stars were twinkling in the sky like tiny diamonds. I wondered what day it was. I lost track of the days somewhere along the line.
The houses were not placed in any particular order. Some were big and some were small. A few more were oddly shaped while the rest had sweet smelling gardens lining their houses. Street lamps stood at the corner of the lanes. A few trees dotted the street.
In my trance of looking around my surroundings, I bumped into somebody just as I turned a corner.
"Oomph!"
"Heavens! I'm sorry m'lady, are you hurt?" The stranger said, as he helped me up.
"No I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." I said, dusting my pants.
When I did look up, I found the green eyed guard from earlier smiling at me. He blended in with the night in his black uniform and dark hair. The only thing that stood out was the crimson cloth most guards seemed to wear on them. Whether it was around the neck, waist or just tied loosely around their arm or wrist.
"What are you doing alone here in these streets? Are you lost from the rest of your company?" He asked.
"Not exactly. I was just looking around." I said.
The guard smiled.
"Do you know your way back?"
"Of course I do! I think so.." I trailed away looking at the way I just came in slight alarm.
"Come on I'll take you back. Your friends are probably searching for you." He said.
Something glistening in the moonlight from the wall, caught my eye a few feet away.
"What is that?" I asked, pointing behind his head.
He turned around to see what I was pointing at and then smiled.
"That's the mural of the royal family. How don't you not know that?" He said, looking suspicious for a second.
"I am sort of new to this place." I shrugged.
He looked back at the wall and then back at me. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at my face.
"Come along."
As we went closer, I realised that the glistening rocks were crystals. Of various colours. The mural covered the whole wall. It was carved into the stone wall and decorated with coloured crystals.
The mural was not completely visible with only the moonlight to shine on it but I could make out the picture when we got close enough. My amulet glowed brightly as I took in the picture. A wave of familiarity and longing washed over me.
It wasn't difficult to guess who the people in the mural were. Especially when the queen held an uncanny resemblance to me and the little girl she was holding looked like a younger version of myself.
Out of nowhere, a feeling of sadness spread through my heart and I swallowed back tears. My head was pounding to a point where it became painful. My voice was inaudible to my own ears when I spoke.
"Queen Genevieve, King Trystan and-"
"Princess Elina." The guard finished, his voice barely above a whisper. Without warning, he brushed his fingers on my arm.
My amulet gave a bright glow of light that even I had to shield my eyes from. I felt the mixture of warmth and chill spreading through my body. When I dropped my hand, I knew the disguise spell Aiden had cast on me was broken by the look on the guard's face.
He fell on one knee before me, bowing his head. I jumped back in alarm.
"W-What are you doing? You don't have to, get up!"
When he did get up, his face looked radiant. His smile was so big, that I found it contagious. I glanced at my wrists to see that the swirls were back there again.
"But how did you get here? Where were you all this time, your highness? I can't believe you're alive!" He gushed.
I blushed, slightly embarrassed.
"It's a long story. And please, call me Elina."
"I'm Julian."
I looked back the mural. The Queen, my mother, had the same shade of hair as me with gentle honey gold eyes. She had a crown which was decorated with red and white crystals. She had her left palm placed lightly on her stomach while her right hand rested on the shoulder on the little girl in the middle.
Me.
I had the mixture of honey gold and silver eyes with my short platinum blonde hair. I had a small tiara placed on head, also decorated with crystals. All our clothes had these crystals spread across them, casting a ethereal glow on the whole mural when moonlight fell on it.
And there was the King, my father. He had light brown hair with silvery gold eyes. His face had a regal yet gentle look. He too, like the both of us, had a circular crown bedecked with crystals. He had the royal crest on his shirt near the chest. His right hand was placed on my other shoulder while his left hand held onto the tip of the sword placed in its sheath.
But despite their smiling faces, there was something about the mural that showed the sadness in their eyes. They looked happy and troubled at the same time.
"What happened that night?" Julian asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't remember. I don't have memories. I get flashes of images but nothing more than that. I don't even remember my own birth parents." I said, nodding at the mural.
When I looked back at Julian, he wasn't looking at my face, but rather he was staring at my neck in mild shock.
"You're bonded to somebody." He said.
It was more of a statement than a question.
"Being bonded to somebody is rare."
"What? I thought it happened to almost everyone." I said, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion.
"No! Having an eternal bond with somebody is not an everyday phenomenon. It only happens if the Goddess herself wishes so. I'm really happy you found someone like that." He said, with a smile.
"I did not know that. But thank you." I said, not having the heart to tell him what's really happening between Aiden and me.
Julian opened his mouth to tell something but shut it again when we heard somebody shouting. It became more clear when the person got closer.
"Rora! Rora!"
"Aiden?" I said, cracking a grin.
We heard him cursing, a crash and a few splashing sounds. I stiffled in a giggle.
"I swear to Gods, when I find you, you're going to regret running away from me." His voice echoed through the streets.
I rolled my eyes.
"He's all bark and no bite." I scoffed.
"Rora! Ro-"
Aiden stopped short when he found me standing by the mural. He narrowed his eyes and walked steadily towards us. I saw Julian take a step back, even though we had a respectable amount of distance between us. Aiden caught the movement and clenched his jaw.
"What do you think you're doing?" He said in a low voice once he was close enough. "Do you even understand how dangerous this place can be? Why do think there are so many guards present everywhere?"
"Geez, I was just looking around. I know my way back." I said.
Julian snorted and then tried disguising it into a cough. Both of us glared in his direction. Aiden more angrily than me.
"And you! What do you think you are doing? You knew with who she came along with. It was your duty to see to her safety and instead I find you here with her. Alone." He snapped.
My eyes widened. I felt anger seeping through my veins.
"Apologize." I said.
Both of them whipped their heads in my direction. I glared at Aiden.
"Apologize to him at once. He was doing his duty. I asked him what this was and he came along to show me." I said, pointing at the mural behind us.
Aiden seemed to notice it just now. He straightened up and looked at it. Then at me. Then at Julian.
"What happened to your disguise spell?" He said at last.
"Your spell was too weak to conceal my beauty for too long." I replied. He gave me 'are you serious' look but said nothing.
Julian looked in my direction and I shook my head at him. His face looked as if he was deciding if he should be amused or creeped out by us. He glanced at Aiden's neck for a fleeting second before looking away. I tried to see what he was looking at and found that the bond mark on Aiden's neck had reappeared. My cheeks grew hot. It seems Aiden had seen Julian look too, for he pulled his cloak so that it was covered the mark once more.
"I'll take my leave, now that you're in good hands, Princess." He said, bowing his head. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Your Highness."
"Thank you for your help. We'll see you around." I said with a smile.
Aiden stood observing Julian. I stamped his foot. He yelped and then breathed out deeply.
"Keep this a secret. Don't tell anyone of this meeting or about Ro- Princess Elina. We want to keep her safe and hidden for a while." He said, glancing at me.
I rolled my eyes at him but said nothing.
Julian said nothing for a few seconds and then nod his head curtly.
"I swear it with my life."
Aiden gave him a smile that was barely there but a smile nonetheless. Julian bowed once more and then left, leaving us alone.
"Never do that again." Aiden sighed, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. He looked at the mural once more. "Do you miss them?"
I looked at the glistening picture.
"I do. I only wish I could remember my time with them." I said at last.
"It will be alright. You have us now." Aiden said softly. Then he punched my arm lightly. "That was for running away from me. You also owe me a dance. Now come on, let's go find the others." He grinned down at me.
He muttered a few words under his breath and the bond mark concealed itself. I shut my eyes and concentrated on the disguise spell he taught me, and felt a familiar warmth spread through my body.
I turned to look back at the mural one last time before before turning the corner and smiled.
'I wish you were here.'