Chapter Text
Lilliana blushed as she made her way through the castle. Her heart was thundering against her rib cage as she made her way towards Master Hendrickson's office.
Thoughts clouded her head as she wandered. 'That's where he should be. He said he has been spending many hours with the Great Holy Knight.' She thought as she hurried down the hallways.
As she approached her desired door, Lilliana's hands began to sweat and her heartbeat became heavier in her chest. She tried to calm herself down before knocking on the door. The knock was soft but it sounded like a drum banging in her ears but she was sure it was just her heart.
There was a quick moment of silence and she could feel herself getting more nervous when nothing happened for a minute or two. Just as her nerves were getting the best of her, the door opened and revealed the Great Holy Knight, Hendrickson.
"Hello Master Hendrickson," Lilliana greeted him politely as a princess should.
Her cheeks flared as she looked at him. For twice her age, he will still very handsome.
"Hello Princess Lilliana, what do I owe this pleasure?" He said opening the door wider with a smile.
Lilliana smiled even more and walked through the gap. His office was relatively big. There were two large bookcases filled with all kinds of books with covers of many colors. The window and the candles on his desk brightened the room, but it still had an eerie feeling to it. She shuddered and turned to face the man she had sort of grown up with.
"Princess? Is everything alright?" He asked with a fake sense of compassion.
Lilliana was oblivious as she blushed under his gaze. "I was wondering if you knew where Gilthunder was at the moment. I desperately need to talk to him, but I haven't seen him all day."
He smirked on the inside but shook his head on the outside. "I surely do not Lilliana. Why do you ask?"
"Oh n-no reason at all sir!" She said quickly as she turned around and faced the door. She was almost at the door when Master Henrickson started speaking again.
"Are you sure darling?" His voice grew deeper, more dangerous than she had ever heard it. She shivered and turned around but before she could shake her head, he was speaking again. "Were you planning on telling him your feelings?"
Lilliana gulped as she stared at him. "W-What are you t-talking about?"
"Oh please," Henrickson scoffed. "You are so innocent, Lilliana. You could be so powerful if you wanted to be. Yet these feeling cloud your conscience and your judgements. I could show you everything in the world.I could help you become something truly extraordinary."
Lilliana gasped as he approached her. Confusion clouded her thoughts as he trapped her between his body and one of the bookcases.
"What are you saying Master Hendrickson?" She gasped pushing against his chest. Hendrickson laughed as he grabbed her by the waist pulling her towards his body. His breathe fanned across her face and neck.
"I want you, Lilliana!" He growled and at that moment, Lilliana's loud scream pierced through the entire castle. She grabbed his hands and a powerful golden white light erupted from her body.
"Get away from me you bastard!" She screamed and ran out the doors. She collided with the armor of a Holy Knight.
She looked up and tears of joy fell free from her blue eyes. Gilthunder looked down at her with complete worry. She grabbed his hand tightly and took off down the corridors of the castle. After countless turns and running up and down stairs, they stopped to catch their breath. Well more like Lilliana had to stop to catch her breath.
"What happened in there Lilliana?" He asked concerned. His palms grabbed her upper arms so he could see her more clearly. Her pale cheeks were rosy and wet with the trail of tears. Her blue eyes stared into his own as she tried to get the words out of her mouth.
"I have no idea Gilly," she whispered causing his heart to melt at the sound of his childhood nickname.
"Why were you doing in there anyways?" He asked sharply. He could feel the beady red eyes on his back. His jaw clenched as he tightened his grip on her.
"I was looking for you actually," she whispered looking into his eyes. He raised an eyebrow and continued her to go on.
She blushed and smiled lightly before hugging him tightly. He tensed under her skin. He had no clue why. They always hugged. They were best friends after all yet after all these years, she still made his heart beat just a little faster.
"Why?" he whispered holding her elbows. She stood back a little and blushed.
This was it. This was the moment it all came down to. The moment she had been dreading, yet waited so long for.
"Gilly," she said smiling using his nickname again. "Ever since that first day I met you, I knew you were going to become someone special to me. Ever since you smiled at me the first time, I've been in love. As well as you laugh, your skills, your hair, your personality. I've been in love with every part of you since the moment I met you. Yet every time I try to tell you, I always cower away in fear. You mean so much to me that if anything was to ever happen, I would surely die. You mean so much to me."
She closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself down. She couldn't believe she had actually told him her feelings. She opened her eyes when she felt his hands leave her body. She frowned as she looked at his emotionless face. His blue eyes clouded as his jaw tightened.
"W-What's the matter Gilthunder?" She stuttered as she grabbed his arm. Her heart dropped as she thought the very worst.
"Get away," he whispered looking directly at her. His hand wrapped tightly around her wrist, removing it from his arm.
"W-What?" Lilliana stuttered her heart freezing as a chill went through her body.
"I don't love you like that Lilliana. In fact, you were never really special to me. I felt bad for you. You couldn't defend yourself. You can't even run without falling. You're a weak person and you will never benefit this kingdom!" Gilthunder said sharply breaking every piece of Lilliana's being.
Her body went slack as her knees gave out, crashing into the cold stone floor. Her heart stopped as her mind went blank as she watched Gilthunder with wide eyes. Her body shook like a branch in a tornado and her stomach was turning like a wagon wheel.
He could still feel the eyes on his back as he glared at the second princess of Liones. He would do anything to keep her safe and alive, even it meant ripping both of their hearts out and electrocuting them. Her safety was much more important to him than their happiness.
"You heard me," he snapped walking past her and down the hallways.
A sob pierced the silence and his name screamed from her mouth over and over again. Every step he took away from her, his breathing became more labored and the thought of crying was very real. Thunder rang throughout the castle as a raging storm started to form outside.
"GILTHUNDER!" Lilliana screamed as the lightning crashed over the land. Bright lights appearing and disappearing out of the castle's windows.
He turned the corner and walked away from the one special person left in his heart. The tears cascaded down his face and onto the floor.
The thunder boomed with an ominous threat in the land. Many citizens of Liones felt the danger coming in the wind as the thunder roared.