The Talamute Prince

It has been a few days since we landed I have yet to have a single moment of quite time. I find it rather annoying to have someone right there during my personal space. Nothing I do is unseen by someone's eye. The fact of it all is above irritating as I cannot even seem to find solace in my own mind without being interrupted with someone asking me if there is something wrong or something, they can get for me. I find I might just as well explode at the idea of not being able to have some alone time. The only place I can find refuge is on the floral balcony, my own little space. Even out here though I'm not always alone. He hasn't come back, but my eyes have caught figures of his people on the roofs that are adjacent from my own. The castle is indeed the tallest building, but my balcony isn't at the very top and comes about even with the larger structures of the other islands. I still haven't brought it up to Patrick. He has been a bit off here lately and I'm not sure they mean any harm. They haven't tried anything. I wish I spoke their language.

While the lower parts of the castle bustled with excitement at the Coronation ceremony to officially announce the new king of the Raspites. Other than the very uncomfortable meals with the family or Patrick, I just saw my maids. It was so lonely, but Patrick had made it so that I couldn't be alone if the Talamute who had entered the city were caught. I'm knelt with my hands in the soil of one of the flower beds outside my room. There isn't much to do with how high from the ground we I were had yet to find a single weed, but I liked getting my hands dirty. It's the only peace I can find amongst the chaos of my new life and roll.

"Is there anything you need your majesty?" One of the girls that has been assigned to me asks. She approaches with soft footsteps from behind. I stand dusting my hands of as I turn to see a beautiful display of colors stretch across the sky. I move to the edge looking out at the sun rise.

"No, Heather. I'm good for now, just let me know when breakfast arrives please." I have learned all their behaviors rather quickly. After all they are really the only ones, I talk to other then Patrick. Heather is the most talkative even if it's just to ask if I needed something or tell me good morning. The normal small talk between civilized people. Marcy is a slightly older woman very quiet. She tends to only bow and follow orders. Occasionally she may say yes ma'am or yes, your majesty but that is it. Then Tasha who is the youngest and just barely what would be considered a woman. I can't help but wonder if they miss their families. Or if they have them. The only answer I ever get about such things is 'It is an honor to serve in the castle.' It was sort of annoying at times because all I really want at this point is a friend. Someone I can confide in.

The breeze picked up as the sun rose causing my dress to flow backwards highlighting the curves of my body. My hair was up in a half ponytail that whipped wildly. I took a deep breath in and exhaled.

"How is it you always manage to look like a Goddess?" Patrick's voice asks as he steps out onto the balcony. I turn and look at him as the new light of the day hit him. He is indeed very handsome especially when he smiles. I see why it was so easy for him to fool me now that I've seen a wider selection of men. He stands out from the rest.

"Patrick, I wasn't expecting you till lunch, I'm a bit under dressed." I pull the bottom of my sun dress down. It bothers me now for him to see so much of me. He steps over to me and grips my hands rubbing dirt from them he smiles but doesn't kiss them.

"You seem to have found a way to pass your time." I pull my hands away and push through towards the curtains.

"Is there some other reason you've come?" I ask as I see only one tray sitting at the table.

"Tomorrow night is the ceremony, I sent one of your hand made dresses to the royal seamstress."

"Patrick I can make my own dresses." I interrupt him.

"We have expectations to meet and traditions to uphold. I've had her throw something together. What you have on is fine for everyday use but not for something like this." Taking my seat at the table I begin to eat not responding to him for a moment.

"Do I have a choice in the matter?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"I won't make it a habit." He comes over to the table and stands beside me. I can tell he wants me to look at him, but I have no intentions to.

"It seems you already are." he places his hand on my shoulder then moves his hand gently over to my chin lifting my gaze into his.

"There are just some traditions we have to follow, and it would be better to have someone use to our ways make something for you." He seems to be trying to persuade me the way he was able to before with those hypnotic green eyes.

"I guess I don't have a choice now. It's already been done." I say my voice matching the look in my eyes of annoyance. I feel a deepening disappoint that it seems to have been a waste of time following this man here. I feel I would have been better taking off before we got here. At this point I don't believe he would have just let me take off.

"Relax, I promise this will be the last time I force you to wear a gown you don't make."

"The very last because next time I won't do it." He grins but I don't think he heard me.

"She'll be up here any minute now to measure you in the gown she has made." I'm now turning completely away from him as his promises don't mean much. My fork plays with the food in front of me.

"If you make it a habit, I will burn every outfit she makes." Patrick glares at me as though he is trying to gage if I'm bluffing. There's a look of disbelief in his eyes but a knock at the door interrupts his chain of thought.

"Your maid says you stay out there most of the time. I'm glad you like it, but I had no intentions for you to stay up here." He has set across from me know as my maids get to door.

"I really don't care to go anywhere else." Tasha's face looks shocked as she comes around the corner.

"Why not? I thought you wanted to see the main greenhouse." He reaches his hand across the table, but I don't reach for it like he had hoped.

"What is the point of exploring if I have people with me no matter where I go. Why make their job harder than it has to be when I'm happy here?" His stern scolding glare comes into his eyes. It fades quickly when all I do is blink blankly back.

"I tell you what I'll post some extra guards around the castle after all this coronation stuff is done and you can explore the castle alone." He stands and walks over to my side. Patrick takes a knee beside me.

"Promise." My entire body turns toward him. He grips the side of my face and looks deep into my eyes.

"Promise."

"Pardon the intrusion your majesties, the seamstress has arrived." Heather came up when she realized Tasha wouldn't interrupt Patrick. I must admit I like her timing. She interrupted just before he leaned in to kiss me. Perfect I wouldn't have to find a way to make him think the other kiss was real. Or worse think about the Talamute again and fool him further. I hope my thoughts are better hidden than his are. I can see the disappointment in his eyes.

"Thank you, Heather. Well I will need my strength to get through today. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to finish eating before being fitted. I'm sure having someone else do it while you stand there can be a bit challenging for someone who doesn't like holding still." The look of dismay on is face is almost at the same level as my disappointment of being forced to wear clothes designed by someone else.

"She will work with that I'm sure. I'll see you at lunch." The look of defeat on Patrick's face brought me a sick sense of satisfaction. It may not have been as devastating of a blow to him as all his lies were to me, yet his face made it joyful in my eyes.

"Why?" I ask.

"Do you not wish me to?" I glance at him for a second but something outside my window catches my attention and I rise going over to the curtain and look out. I don't see anything at first.

"I guess since it's not an order, perhaps I can handle a bit of company." I don't want him to but as I look at him, I can see for the sake of my peace he should join me. I can't stand hearing him whine.

"I have my own uniform to be fitted for. I'll see you at lunch my queen." He says. He walks up behind me and peers out as I turn back to him.

"Guards!" I spin back to face the outside. My attention shifts to the reason for his alarm. I hadn't noticed that on the highest roof adjacent to my balcony stood one of the men from Talamute.

"Patrick." There is a hint of fear in my voice. Patrick pushes me behind him. I couldn't really make out which one it was, but I had a chill run down my spine as the four guards rush in and aimed their guns towards the man.

"Laoonica, you shouldn't be out here. You could be in danger." I look at Patrick with a blank stare on my face. He mistook it for my naive kindness, but it was more than that. The man stood unfazed by their fire as the guns would not have reached that far and he knew it.

"Get guards to the cathedral in sector four Department b!" I heard the one of the guards say into the speaker on his shirt. That's when I'm pushed back into the safety of my room surrounded by my maids as they had been brought up to give their lives for mine if necessary. I weasel my way out of my maids and rush out to the edge of my balcony and look as I could make out uniforms like tiny ants running in his direction. I watched as he waves then jumps from roof top to roof top until he reaches the bridge between that isle and the castle isle, then just like before he dives off the side. He is gone, just like that he is gone vanished from sight.

"I won't let them hurt you. So far as I know they can't reach this level but to be safe I'll be placing guards out here as well." Patrick says to me as he escorts me back into my room.

"If they wanted to hurt me wouldn't they have done so already?" This time my expression changes. The idea of further having this place feel like a prison is out of the question. How can he not see that if they can so easily get up here there will be no stopping them from reaching myself or anyone else? They are obviously cleverer than a band of brainless savages they have been labeled as. I didn't mention that the one he assumed was the prince of the Talamute had already been here.