Chapter 5

Elin was having a hard time breathing. Her vision was tunneling on the other guys as they headed toward the table.

That white table in the middle of the colorful rose garden with white exquisite chairs and ornate tea sets.

It was the same table. Everything was the same. Just like back then.

And like back then, she was going to watch him get hurt. She was going to watch him as he...

No! No! This wasn't it! This wasn't right.

She wasn't back there. It wasn't going to happen again! It couldn't happen.

It couldn't, because he was already gone...

That realization hit her harder and her chest tightened in pain making it even harder to breathe.

She needed to get it together. Right this instant before any of them noticed her.

Noah was talking to the black-haired man at the table. Will was following them waving his hands, probably throwing one of his jokes again. And... Where was Azeph?

"It's okay, Just breath." Someone said from behind her as a hand gently guided her sideways.

She resisted for a moment but the voice came back again, this time more gentle and reassuring.

"It's okay just follow me,"

Noah` was turning around, probably to check on her. Just as she thought he was going to see her they disappeared behind one of the bushes.

Noah didn't see her, but she met the steady gaze of the black-haired man seated at the table just before she disappeared behind the bush.

"Azeph! Elin! Come over here!" Will called

"We'll be right back. Elin Just dropped something earlier. We'll pick it up and come back," Azeph called out from behind her before he turned her around and looked into her eyes.

"You can do it, breath," He whispered and Elin slowly nodded not managing the task very well,

"Here mimick my breathing," He said taking her hand and putting it on his chest.

Slowly, Elin began to breath normally again following the systematic and repetitive action of Azeph's breathing.

Slowly relaxing, she realized that there was something soothing about his kind blue eyes that drew her out of the dark place she was falling back into.

"There you go. Everything is okay now," He said with a gentle smile that made Elin want to cry.

She didn't like being this vulnerable with anyone. Especially not someone she just met for the first time at the royal academy.

Hell, she didn't even know what faction he was from. He could be someone out to destroy her. And she couldn't afford that. Not before she accomplished her goal.

"Do you want to head back to the dorms?" He asked

"No, I'm fine now. Thank you. And sorry for all this inconvenience," Elin finally said feeling more tired than she already was.

"No problem. I used to suffer through something similar a lot a few years ago. Although I wish Will had been more gentle about handling me back then. It would probably have saved me a few slaps on the face," He said and Elin laughed.

She LAUGHED, right after an episode. That never happened. It usually took her hours to manage a smile.

This man was dangerous to her... 

"Would you like to head back now," He asked, "Before Noah comes out here to look for us,"

"Sure, although he's younger he's more protective than you would imagine,"

"Yes, I guess he knows how to cherish people more than any of us does," He answered

Elin walked back to the tables with Azeph. The guys were gathering around the table already discussing something.

"You're back," Noah said, "Let me introduce you to our friend Alan Tarrow. He's the son of our ambassador to the east, his grandmother is the late duke Herzog's sister,"

She looked at the young man as he stood up from his seat to greet her. He has long black hair that reaches his lower back tied with a white ribbon and distinct eastern features.

He bowed to her respectfully with a small reserved smile. She smiled back and returned his bow while saying,

"It's an honor to make your acquaintance, I'm Elinor Pendragon, I will be studying alongside you starting today"

Alan rose to his full height and with the grace of a crane, and extended his hand for her to shake as a sign of respect and equality. The same way Will had done for her.

Maybe this wasn't going to be such a lost battle after all. There was still some hope for this Academy.

" All the honor is mine, Lady Elinor. I'm Alan I came from the east to study here and learn more about my country," He answered as if nothing had happened earlier.

"Alan's mother is from the east and Alan lived most of his life there so he's practically a foreigner," Noah announced with good humor.

The man was quite well mannered and his speech and demeanor spoke of great education and a high level of discipline.

He was also tactful enough not to mention anything about earlier. As if he hadn't seen her so disgracefully vulnerable as she struggled to do something so simple as breath.

"I hope we can learn from you as much as you learn from us. There's so much we could learn from the east and its rich culture and beautiful disciplines," Elinor answered and Alan gave her the slightest hint of a smile.

Progress.

"So I take it you're related to Louis?" She asked

"We're distant cousins," Alan responded as they all sat down.

She gave Will a smile for helping her with her seat and he returned it with a wink.

The man could probably charm an unmoving object into a giggle fit. She had no doubt that he was very popular among the female students.

In fact, all of the guys sitting with her were probably having their share of popularity. They were all handsome in a diverse and intriguing way. And they all came from good families.

She wondered how that worked for them on campus.

Their conversation continued right into the afternoon until Azeph declared that she must be tired after the long day she had.

Realizing that she truly was tired, and surprised at how much she enjoyed her conversation with the men, she allowed Azeph to escort her to the dormitories where he left her in the care of a fussy mothering dorm mother.

By the time she managed to have the room for herself, it was already dark outside.

Entering the adjoining bedroom, she saw it.

There was a flower on her bed and underneath it an unsigned envelope.

Then reality hit her.

It was already there waiting for her while she was probably still enjoying her tea with the guys.

Picking up the envelope, she opened it and read its content. Then she lit the candle carefully burning the envelope and everything that came with it.

She was going to have to make sure that they kept the fireplace on in her room. At least until it was near summer.

Then she would have to find another way to hide her tracks.

If everything is still not resolved by then.