Contrasting emotions

Ayden was shocked about the tunnel he was staring at, right inside the garden he had always been at for so long. Who on earth dug that there?

'What if it was a trick by someone to get him implicated again?' his mind questioned suspiciously, but staring right at the tunnel that could lead to somewhere was so tempting.

He wanted to close the lid back, arrange it smoothly and turn to leave like he had seen nothing. Nevertheless, he jumped right into the tunnel to see just where, he could land his feet safely on.

As he walked down down the narrow and dark tunnel which got darker, he began to regret why he had taken the risky trip into where he had never been to before. His entirety was quaking in great fear with each step he took, as he continued to walk down the dark lane until he reached the end of the tunnel.

Already scared that he could be trapped in, probably forever. He saw another opening at the end of the narrow tunnel, which he could see through the rays of light from the moon that escaped through the opening.

There were sturdy bent metals that was inserted strongly into the walls for leg support meaning, someone had intentionally built it there and used it for a purpose. He wondered who it could be.

Gently, he climbed up and used his hand to push the lid up, his eyes glancing around to the slightly dark view around him. The strong scent of the herb plants around met his nostrils, pulling his face into a familiar grimace. The smell of the royal infirmary which he really hated going.

He immediately held his breath from breathing in the scent around, as he climbed out of the tunnel to find himself outside the palace walls.

The tunnel had led him to a bush a little farther out of the palace walls, from where he could still see the guards that guided the rear extension of the palace. The realizing knowledge of being able to sneak out from the palace, without much stress really elated him. No one had ever gone to look for him at the garden before and would never, because that was only where he could breath peacefully by himself alone. It would be a successful escape outside.

Still thinking excitedly of how he could maximize the use of his new found discovery, he had seen someone walk out through the gate of palace rear extension. He watched keenly to see who it was, but it was too dark from the far angle he was squatting.

Judging by the person's back physique and walking manner, it almost looked like Elliott but judging by the height, it was exactly Zachary's since he was taller than Elliott.

What could any of them be doing outside this late at night? Why would the guards open the gate for any of them, that late at night?

Curiosity suddenly surged over him that he felt the need, to follow whosoever it was and he instinctively did. Slowly and carefully, he matched the from a far distance the steps of whosoever it was, trying to get closer at a better angle to see him. The person suddenly took a part down a sloppy plane and turned right and then left, which confused Ayden who had come in contact with a cobweb that had irritated his eyes.

That was how he lost the person he was following which made him run back as fast he could, because he could not afford getting caught or missing his way back to the palace either.

*****

Azalea's thoughts wandered often and often, as she just stayed around to work and help her mother around. If Hama had not seen her mother after that time, was there any possible or slightest chance that Alaina could still be alive? But she had left since all those years without looking for Hama too, wasn't that cruel?

'Maybe she couldn't find us and gave just up. She could have come back if she could. I mean someone that gave her life to save her daughter.

What do I mean gave her life? She could still be alive!!' Azalea countered in her mind, amidst the glut amount of thoughts that kept invading into her mind, as she watched Hama from the corner where she sat.

Everything she was just hearing now were just too much for her to handle, coupled with Hama's sickness. Even the recent weather conditions, was not even helping sales of things at all. Everything felt so hopeless and sad, that Azalea's throat stung painfully in dryness.

The tears were threatening to drop with the stuckup blocked feeling in her chest, but she couldn't let them drop freely. She needed to be strong regardless of what has happened, is happening and will still happen. The moment she finally lets her emotions show and break down in sadness, it felt like nothing would ever give her hope, or the reason to give Hama the strength to live again.

*****

Right at the huge royal palace and in Ayden's room, the young prince laid happily on the bed thinking of how he would leave the palace in the evening the next day. He thought about where he would visit freely, without having to calculate his limited time.

Though he was still a bit bothered in his heart, about whom he had followed earlier from the palace, and where the person was going that night. He could never ask any of his brothers about it because, they might make the tables turn against him, exposing his yet to be explored discovery and cover.

Through his steep room window he could stare at the huge moon, that shone some of its beautiful rays into his room. He felt happiness just by looking at the bright moon, while at the city suburbs in Hama's hut was Azalea looking the huge moon, with pain in her heart as she tried hard not to cry.

The next morning felt so good to Ayden as he had woken up earlier than usual, and had taken time to wash himself thoroughly in his water bath. He stood in front of the mirror he had made turn its face to the wall for a long time, as he checked his very charming and elegantly proportioned self through the mirror. He was going to make sure he didn't get his mood ruined by anyone throughout the day, and he was sure he would do very well. Not until he was informed that the king, would like an official dinner with his royal family.

Something he totally detested.

Drawing in air through his lungs, he breathed out slowly as he made his way to the dinning room. The servants who had seen him on his way, were surprised at his seldomly cheerful self. He was wearing a modest facial appearance, that made him look more noble that the nobles. His appearance was almost intimidating and at the same time heart warming.

There was a collective glare as Ayden entered into the huge dinning room, where every of the royal family member had already taken their sit. It was the usual sitting arrangement they always maintained, regardless of how and what time they entered into the dinning room. They could obviously notice the difference in his usual cold demeanor, which was a sharp contrast to the outward whiff of peaceful air, they could see circling around him.

He bowed gently to the king and the queen, before taking his seat right beside Zachary, who was still puzzled and threw side glances at him.

"I can see the young prince is in a good mood today," the king observed, clearing his throat. He looked brighter without wearing any crown of sought on his head.

Ayden just smiled modestly in regard what his father had commented about, which got them all so surprised to see him react positively to the king in a long time. It was even more astounding to see a beautiful but soft smile on his face. How could they not be surprised to see, how alluring his smile they had rarely seen, looked almost perfect.

The mood at the breakfast was peaceful and relaxing, that the feeling of warm breeze was palpable.

*****

Azalea had gone into the market to buy some food that would sustain them till the next week, but she could not get half of what she had budgeted for due to insufficient money to buy them. The medicinal herbs she thought she could get from the wilderness, had signs of poor growth and rot in them, and that had her plans to sell something ruined.

Her mind quickly let out a brilliant idea of where, she had followed Maude and the others to weeks ago. It was better to have something than to sell than nothing. Even if the distance was a very far one, she would risk getting home later than she had intended, by running as fast as she could to her destination hoping the plants there will do well.

Ayden who had found a perfect time to leave the palace, made sure that the king and the queen were already in the meeting with the elders. Elliott had left for his usual trainings, while Zachary had gone into the city to see the affairs of his personal life outside the palace. He made his way into the garden and positioned his canvas and paintings, right at the spot where he always sat, like someone had left his or her work undone. He made his way straight under the hidden tunnel, and then right out of the end of it, carefully out and into the wilderness.

Azalea who had seen and picked a reasonable amount of good herbs, was busy garnering them together. She had not noticed the approaching clueless prince who was taking his time to look around, to see if no one was really around.

She slowly heard footsteps approaching from the direction her back was facing, and suddenly heard a timid but strong voice right from her back, "Who are you?!"

Fearing that she might have intruded into someone's private property, Azalea slowly picked the already tied herbs and stood up without looking back. Without any warning, she retreated by few steps and took the unmindful prince by shock, by hitting him right in his eyes. She immediately picked to her heels and ran as fast as her legs could carry, leaving the young prince in his painful and dazed state.