Alena Wilhelmn's Story

Alena reached her fathers throne room. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself for the worst. "Father?" The king looked up and opened his arms to his daughter. "I was so worried. You make it seem like we accept thievery in our kingdom." Alena snuggled up in her fathers lap like she did as a young child, "oh father his mother was dying I only wanted to prove we are understanding people. Mother would have done the same thing." His face softened and he held his daughter close to him his heartbeat loud in her ear. "I know. I know."

Alena laid in her bed that evening wondering aside herself what Tristan was doing. She shook her head and got up walking to ber window. I shouldnt be taking him from his family, she thought. Although she knew it was him she wanted to help her, she felt guilty. If only Arinia hadnt gone missing she could have someone to talk about it with. Arinia always understood Alena. As the princess laid back down, a new maid Flora came to check on her. After a sip of tea, Alena fell right to sleep.

Alena walked by herself through a forrest. She wandered along until she saw movement our of the corner of her eyes. She tuened and saw Arinia. "My sister," Arinia smiled. "Be not afraid. At the moment im safe. Do not come for me alone." Suddenly her sisters eyes became startled. Alena reached for her. Arinia screamed and disappeared.

Alena screamed and sit up quickly. A guard and her father ran in. "Alena! Alena my sweet daughter. Whats wrong ?" Alena shook sobbing. Arinia, she saw Arinia. I need to talk to Tristan, she thought. It never once occured to her that she had begun to trust this boy. A stranger. She stood and grabbed her cloak and took off out the door. Her father called after her. She didnt stop to explain just called over her shoulder, "I'll be back later, i promise." She turned and ran toward Tristans home.

Approaching the door, she knock cautiously. Her eyes red and her cheeks stained from the tears that still streamed down her face. Please answer, please, she mumbled. She looked around realizing exactly how late it was. Her guilt returned as she sank to her knees ahaking again.

Alena laid in her bed that evening wondering aside herself what Tristan was doing. She shook her head and got up walking to ber window. I shouldnt be taking him from his family, she thought. Although she knew it was him she wanted to help her, she felt guilty. If only Arinia hadnt gone missing she could have someone to talk about it with. Arinia always understood Alena. As the princess laid back down, a new maid Flora came to check on her. After a sip of tea, Alena fell right to sleep.

Alena walked by herself through a forrest. She wandered along until she saw movement our of the corner of her eyes. She tuened and saw Arinia. "My sister," Arinia smiled. "Be not afraid. At the moment im safe. Do not come for me alone." Suddenly her sisters eyes became startled. Alena reached for her. Arinia screamed and disappeared.

Alena screamed and sit up quickly. A guard and her father ran in. "Alena! Alena my sweet daughter. Whats wrong ?" Alena shook sobbing. Arinia, she saw Arinia. I need to talk to Tristan, she thought. It never once occured to her that she had begun to trust this boy. A stranger. She stood and grabbed her cloak and took off out the door. Her father called after her. She didnt stop to explain just called over her shoulder, "I'll be back later, i promise." She turned and ran toward Tristans home.

Approaching the door, she knock cautiously. Her eyes red and her cheeks stained from the tears that still streamed down her face. Please answer, please, she mumbled. She looked around realizing exactly how late it was. Her guilt returned as she sank to her knees ahaking again.

Tristan was sleeping soundly with his sister snuggled in his arms when suddenly a few knocks came at the door. His eyes slowly opened as he sighed. He never got much sleep anyway. He listened for more knocks. The house moaned and creaked, something scuttled on the floor. The usual. Thinking his mind was playing tricks on him he briefly closed his sleepy eyes until a few more knocks came. Slowly but surely he arose from his bed, tucked his sister back under the covers, rubbed his eyes and sauntered out of his room and over towards the front door. Nobody ever visited the Hoults, and it wasn't even more rare that someone was at his door so late. Half asleep he opened the door just a crack to see who was there. He saw no one until his eyes fell upon the Princess who was on the ground shaking.

Startled, Tristan crouched down and held the Princess close, his arms wrapped around her in comfort. "Princess Alena!" He pulled away and looked in her eyes with concern. "Whatever it is, it's okay, everything is going to be fine. What are you doing here? Has something happened to your sister? Are you hurt? Maybe you should come in before the town gets worried as well. We definitely don't need them involved. You can have some tea and explain to me what is going on. You have me so worried, Princess!"

Alena looked up into his eyes a look of fear and determination in her own. "I saw her... i saw Arinia. In my dream. She she-" a burst of sobs interrupted her sentence. She turned against Tristan hiding her face and sobbed. "I..im so sorry i.... ccame so... so late" she mumbled trying to control herself. "Im so sorey," was all she managed at a whisper.

"Shh. It's fine. You can come to me at any time you need, Princess. If you need anything you know I'm always here. Just come on in. Everything is going to be fine." Tristan gathered Princess Alena in his arms and carried her inside to the decorative bench they had near the front door. As carefully as he could he placed the lovely Princess on the bench. He could tell she was very distressed, she needed comfort and a peace of mind. He took her hand. "My lady, you needn't apologize for coming so late... Like I said I am forever in debt to you. We'll start looking for your sister at dawn, alright? She will be returned home safely."

It was then when Meridia stumbled out of Tristan's bedroom with her blonde locks a mess. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and looked around for the voice of her brother as for she hated sleeping alone. At first she didn't realize who he was talking to and as soon as Meridia saw the Princess she shyly began to suck her thumb and then stumbled into the shared bedroom with her mother.

Tristan watched his sister go, then turned back to Alena. "Would you something to drink? The only thing we really have is herbal tea. My mother makes the best when she can. It'll help you relax for sure." Frowning, he looked down at he floor. "I can't even image what this must be like for you, how stressful it must be. I'm truly sorry."

She held tightly to his hand as if letting go of it was letting go of hope. "I just want my sister back," she whispered softly her eyes staring hard arlt the ground. Alena was afraid to look him in the eyes for the fear of guilt taking over. "I feel horrible asking you away from your family." Her voice crackes as she struggled to swallow back her tears and sobbing. "They need you. I need you." Her body shook with her voice. "But your family is most important. I can ride off in search." Her mind flashed back to the dream of Arinia begging her not to come alone. What had she been through, Alenas thought brought a tear to her eyes and it fell before she could blink it away. "I... I..." Alena could not speak for she knew if she tried she'd cry once more.

"I'm not letting you go anywhere alone, Alena. Especially if this is a dangerous task. We don't exactly know what kind of trouble your sister is in. If something were to happen to you... I'd be a mess. I'd be lost in this life. Don't cry anymore." Tristan wiped a tear off of her cheek. "No more tears from those beautiful eyes, okay? My family will be just fine. Sure, they rely on me for their essentials, but if I leave here everything they need they'll be just fine. Meridia is a smart little girl, she could surely take care of her mother with a little assistance. She's going to have to learn somehow, especially if something were to happen to me." Tristan knelt down on one knee and examined her lovely features. She was beautiful, perfect even when she was upset. He placed a hand on her cheek. "Princess, look at me. I understand what you're going through. For the last time you needn't be afraid to ask me for your help. It would surely be an honor to serve you." He sighed, he felt a pain in his chest. He coughed, wheezed, then continued, "Alena... Everything is going to be fine. I promise." He glanced at her seemingly soft lips, then back into her eyes. He could get lost in them.

He felt like he was almost beginning to favor her. She was stunning to him, graceful, elegant, kind, and most certainly perfect through his eyes. The fact that she was a princess made his heart sank. She was destined to be with a prince, not some peasant like himself. He was probably the poorest peasant around, yet she was the richest. From a family of luxurious royalty, a kind that Tristan had only dreamed of. Tristan had never felt this way about anyone, but then again he never really socialized with any girls around town. This feeling was so... different. He desired to be at her side, to protect her, hold her close and never let go. He longed for the adventure with her, because just being by her side made him happy. He just wanted her to stay safe.

Alena leaned toward him and pulled herself into his arms. The closeness was comfort but the warmth was even better. Slowly she relaxed, but the more she relaxes the more she felt exhausted the weight of being tired making her shake. She rested her head on his shoulder. "Tristan," she whispered. "Stay with me... please. I cant be alone." She looked up into his eyes and tried to smile.

Tristan held her close, "Anything for you, my dear." He smiled at her and brushed a few strands of hair out of her face. "You're so beautiful, Alena. Has anyone ever told you that?"

Alena shook her head. "No one has said it and meant it." A blush spread across her cheeks. He was the attractive one not her. So why was he complimenting me, she thought. Alena tilted her head watching his eyes curiously. For a moment she forgot all her worries, and just relaxed.

Tristan glanced at her lips, feeling a sudden desire to kiss her lips. He'd never felt this way towards anyone before. Alena was just perfect. He stared into her eyes wondering if she'd even feel the same. "Well.." He smiled shyly,"Now what do you want to do? It's pretty late, Princess. Would you want to stay the night? I know my home isn't much but... You could have my bed and I could sleep on the floor."

Alena nodded, " thank you but ill take the floor. It is your home." She stood wobbling slightly from exhaustion and looked around. "Besides, if we are to go out searching, there won't be comfort. You should take the last of it you can." Alena sat still wobbling then tried again. As she stood she balanced herself against him and giggled more from exhaustion then humor. "I've never felt so unbalanced." Suddenly her body tensed and her eyes looked straight ahead. Arinia stood straight ahead a new bruis forming on her once rosey cheeks. "Alena," she whispered. "Ride south I am south. I love you and father. Please be safe." Arinia then disappeared. "Arinia!" Tears formed in Alena's eyes once more. Her sister was hurt she needed to find her.

"I'm not letting you sleep on the floor, Alena. It's really not comfortable. I insist you sleep on the bed." Tristan wrapped his arms around Alena instinctively once he saw tears in her eyes. "Sh... We'll find your sister. It's okay. Those visions you're having are an advantage at least. If you keep having them perhaps it will lead us straight to her... You're so weak Alena. Here, let's sit you down." He led her into his bedroom and sat her on his bed. "There."

Alena looks up into Tristan's gentle eyes. They calmed her so easily. Her own eyes though began to slide shut in exhaustion. She curled up, "stay with me." Her voice barely above a whisper her eyes hardly staying open. "Don't leave me alone," with the last whisper her eyes shut and she fell into a dreamless sleep.

Tristan pulled the blankets up over top of her and tucked her in, then whispered, "Goodnight Princess." He watched her peacefully sleep and suddenly felt at ease. She was beautiful indeed. Exhausted he laid down on the floor, his body stiffening due to the hard floorboards. He coughed a little, glanced up at the princess, and fell asleep quickly. What a day.

Alena woke as the sun rose. She looked down seeing Tristan. She smiled and stroked his cheek lightly careful not to wake him. "Sleep well," she whispered then got up. Alena let her hair fall down her shoulders and stepped outside. Slowly, she walked walked to a patch of sun right infront of the house and lowered to her knees. She lifted her face eyes closed as the rays fell on her. It was a beautiful day, herblack curls shimmered in the sun. It was calm and relaxing. The quiet unlike the noisy bustling if the castle. She liked the quiet much better.

Alena sighed a breath of peace, calm and soft. She pulled a piece of fruit and ate her eyes still closed. She didnt want to overstay her welcome. "I wish it was more like this in the palace garden, but even the quiet of the garden was loud. I hope he doesnt think ive gone, she thought. I hope he isnt mad. She turbed her face back to the sun and smiled softly at the warmth.

A smile spread across the 11 year olds face. "Right away sir!" The boy saddled up Sundara and brought him to Tristan. "Here sir." He looked briefly up at the man. "Sir, i could get in trouble for this, but please help the Princess'. Especially Princess Alena. His majesty would go into depression. With the queens deat-" He looked away. "Im sorry i spoke out of line."

Alena rode on refusing to stop to eat. How far south, she wondered. A sudden burst of wind made her shiver and thunder clouds rolled. She slowes Luna to a walk and sighed. She felt so alone, cold and scared.

A snake hissed across the path, yet it was the snake that scared Luna it was the wild cats growl. Alena froze and all was still. Then suddenly Luna reared back knocking Alena from the saddle. She hit the ground with a whimper and a shudder. Luna stayed close but remained spooked and alert. Alena was in to much pain to be afraid any more.