Chapter Text
The sweet summer air shook small blossoms from their trees as Harper rose that morning.
She rubbed her eyes, tied back her thick curls with a ribbon and eased herself out of bed. Her left knee gave way, nearly leaving her on the bedroom's carpet.
Harper rolled her eyes. Some days, her bad leg gave her a bit of trouble, which was fine.
Back in DC.
But this was Emberfall. To remind her of such, Freya hurried in with a gown, a necklace and a handful of flowery creams.
"There is much to be done! First, brunch. Then, your presence is requested in the town square. Then-"
The woman stopped short, a motherly concern in her eyes.
"Should I fetch you a chair, my lady?"
Harper refused, scoffing at herself. The last thing she needed was to be coddled, hoisted upright like an infant.
"I just need a minute."
Freya set down the items and organized herself, giving the young lady some privacy.
Harper staggered to the stool sat in front of a mirror. The set had belonged to one of Rhen's sisters, who had used it to brush her long hair for hours. Harper tore a stocking off of her foot and hissed in discomfort.
Her ankle had swelled considerably. Everything below her knee felt as if it had been set aflame.
"I was born this way and I'm going to die this way, so teach me to work around it." Harper recalled herself saying long ago.
The challenge of learning combat had been a difficult one, but one that could be overcome in time and with practice.
But the smaller battles? The ones that lied beneath the skin, deep in her mind?
Those, she couldn't seem to shake.
Harper felt weak. She felt ridiculous for feeling weak. Rhen, her and Grey had faced a war together, for goodness sake!
A firm hand knocked upon the door.
"Harper, may I come in?"
The young woman's heart fluttered as the prince said her name, pronouncing every syllable with strength and warmth.
It was almost enough to make her forget the hefty gown and frilly socks.
Well, one sock.
"Sure."
Prince Rhen smiled, the scar across his face glistening in the candlelight.
"You've taken a while to get ready, Harper. I'm starting to think you don't want to spar."
"Ha. You wish." Harper feigned a laugh. "It just took a while for Freya to find anything to wear that didn't take a small army to put on."
"The struggle of royal life, I'm afraid." Rhen teased, motioning to his jacket, adorned with ribbon and gems and bows .
"What's the occasion?" Harper snickered.
"Tycho made it with Lia Mara. To appease my brother, I must wear it."
"Oh, you poor soul."
"Well, lace up your shoes and meet me outside. We can worry about the stares later." He chuckled.
Harper had seen her fair share of staring since coming to Emberfall. Some looked in curiosity, others in admiration. However, there was another kind that she noticed, one that faced downward.
Crowds watched her limp shift the petticoats of her dress, whispering amongst themselves. They would look to her left side, to where Rhen held her arm with a look of pity.
The same look Rhen was giving her now.
"Are you alright, Dear?"
Harper didn't want pity.
"Lost in thought. Go get a head start and I'll be right there."
Hastily, she put her socks back on, taking the boots beside her bed.
The aching returned as soon as her foot touched the floor, but she forced herself to go faster. Out the door, down the stairs and to the courtyard.
Everyone would be waiting for her, and wouldn't-
She couldn't disappoint them.