Ileus: The Dark Prince

Ileus wanted to spring up from his place and dash to Vilinski, but how could he show that he was that desperate. But he was. Terribly desperate. "What… about you?" he asked in a tone that he thought was nonchalant. 

Adrianna rolled her eyes and shook her head. "We will come next week. There's a lot that needs to be done here." 

"I see…" Ileus nodded in agreement. 

Adrianna picked up her cup and remarked, "I wish I was as free as you are princeling. I wish I had no burdens of taking care of kingdoms—both me and your father." 

Ileus winced.. He knew it was a jab on his behavior. He scratched his head. "When I return from Vilinski with Anastasia, I will start attending the court regularly." 

"Oh!" Adrianna sipped her tea. "That would be a miracle." 

Ileus bit the inside of his cheek. He knew that this conversation would only go down if he stayed here another minute, so he started to get up. 

"Wait," Adrianna stopped him. She placed her cup back on the table, got up and disappeared behind her bedroom's door. 

Ileus frowned and tapped his foot on the ground, waiting impatiently. When his mother came back, she was holding a blue velvet box in her hands. He handed it to her and said, "This is for Anastasia." 

Ileus' eyes sparkled and he looked at the box. 

"Give it to Anastasia and tell her that it is from your side." 

"W— Why?" he asked. If it was a gift, then he himself was the greatest gift Anastasia could ever get, he told his arrogant self. 

"Did you give her any gift after you came to know that she was carrying the heir of Draoidh?" Adrianna asked, tilting her head and letting out an exasperated sigh knowing exactly what her son was thinking. 

Embarrassed. That's what Ileus felt. "No…" he said in a low voice that was barely audible. 

"Then give it to her from your side," she said. 

"Thank you, Mother." Ileus couldn't help but feel that his mother was just too wise for words. 

"Now get out of here before I issue orders that you cannot go to Vilinski until next week." 

And Ileus was on his way to the east wing. Adrianna laughed and laughed. Dmitri came out and circled his wife's shoulders as he too watched the smoke and shadows trailing his son's body. He sighed. "I remember our days."

Adrianna craned her head to look into her husband's eyes. He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. "I still think that your beauty has only enhanced in all these years. And I still think that I can never get out of your hold," he said. 

"Flattery won't take you far, husband," Adrianna giggled. Gods, this man always affected her. Her knees became wobbly. 

He scooped her in his arms and walked inside the room saying, "We will see, love." 

She smacked his chest. "You are just as arrogant as you son!"

"Hmm," he kissed her temple. "The fruit doesn't fall far from the tree." 

--- 

Anastasia was sitting in her bedchamber as her maids were dressing her up. Nura and Tara. Nura was braiding her hair with small pearl pins as Tara was smoothening her light blue chiffon and silk gown. It was one of those rare sunny days that Vilinski was experiencing but Anastasia's mood was plummeting as each day passed. She missed him, she missed his warmth and she hoped that he was with her. Why didn't he come to Vilinski? It had been a week and there was no news from him. She had become irritable. Every small thing hurled her into a snappy mood. She fidgeted her hands and snapped her Nura. "Hurry up. You don't have to put all those pins!" And Nura hurried up. She had to go to visit the tombstones of the ancient ones with her parents. 

Once she had come to Vilinski, she had thought of visiting Etaya, but the name brought so many bitter memories and such acrid taste in her mouth that she delayed the visit. According to her father, she was being held very safely in the celestial prison. And according to her mother, Etaya was wishing to meet Anastasia. 

There had been too many celebrations, too many gatherings. And she was now tired of attending them. 

"You look beautiful, princess," said Tara as she glanced at her, bringing her out of her reverie. "We are so glad to be at your service." 

Anastasia smiled. Suddenly her thoughts went to Nyles. She clutched the sides of her gown. In a shaky breath she asked, "What about Nyles' family?" 

The two maids stiffened. 

"And what about Ráild? I know that he wanted to marry her." 

Tara looked at Nura and after a moment of contemplation, she said in a low voice, "It is not our place to tell you princess, but all we can say is that Nyles' family was outcast soon after King Ian took over. As for Ráild, there is a general belief that he is hiding with prince Aed Ruad somewhere in the Lore." 

"Good!" Anastasia remarked and got up. 

They walked out of her chamber directly to where her parents were waiting for her. Áine surveyed her daughter from top to bottom and placed her hands on her shoulders. She said, "Do you know that with every day, your glow increases? Your baby is making that happen." 

Anastasia giggled. Only a mother would say that to her child because she loved her. Little did she know that this was actually the case. 

Áine held her daughter's hand and tugged her out. "Come." Anastasia had talked about her encounter with the first king of the fae kingdom to her parents and they were genuinely stunned. In fact, her father was unable to come out of the shock. This had never ever happened before. 

As they walked towards the ancient tombstones, Anastasia remembered the cold blizzard of the night when she had first visited the tombs in a ghost form. And today… It was so sunny. Her gaze went to the mountains in the distance. Ice was already cracking up and melting into slow glaciers. Cold winds had given way to the warmer ones. Birds seemed to return as everyday they chirped even more. Tufts of green grass erupted from beneath the soft crunch of ice. 

When they reached the cave of the ancient tombstones, they were handed wreaths by the servants, who stopped at the entrance. Anastasia along with her parents walked in. As soon as she entered, the smell of moss and mold hit her nose. And the flutter of blue butterflies. She noticed her mother getting tense beside her as she held her father's hand tightly. 

A smile tugged her lips up when she saw the azure butterflies fluttering their wings and scattering in different directions. Anastasia placed her wreath on the tombstone of the first fae king, and so did her parents. She closed her eyes in silence and thanked him for his help. She was surprised when a feather-like hand touched her cheeks in a caress. Perhaps a blessing from the fae king. 

When she came out after paying tributes, she found herself staring right into eyes that burned with golden fire. She gasped.