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It was four in the morning when Blake walked across the bridge that led to the castle. The pale stone rocks shone in a soft glow from the torches that burned.
The guards stood straight up at the sight of him.
Blake stopped in front of them, seeing them glance down at the girl he was carrying. She slept quietly in his arms, then they looked at each other, confused.
“Did you set up the room like I asked?” Blake wondered.
“Y- yes, Prince,” one of the guards said.
Blake entered the castle without another word, making his way up the grand staircase while holding Ella close to him so she stayed asleep.
Once he made it to a wooden door, he softly pushed it open with his foot, catching a glimpse of a maid sweeping the floor in the hallway.
He stopped then, in the doorway.
“Mary,” he said.
The maid looked up, the same cloudy look came in her eyes as the guards when she saw Ella.
“Yes, Prince?”
“Do you mind getting Mia?” Blake wondered. “It’s kind of urgent.”
“Of course.” And she placed the broom against the wall, disappearing down the hall.
Blake stepped into the room, seeing lamps glow softly at the edge of the king mattress. Soft white sheets were spread across the bed, tucked neatly with their hospital corners.
After making his way across the wooden floors, he settled on the bed, holding Ella in his lap as she automatically rested her head against his shoulder.
Gently, he brushed her hair out of her face, trying to get a good look at her.
She was beautiful. Bright red hair that reminded him of a flaming star. Long crimson red lashes that sent soft shadows down the length of her cheeks. Her skin that glowed a baby pink in the firelight.
Already, she was getting better. The illness must’ve caused her to be so pale.
In the morning, Blake was going to feed her a big meal. Ella would get to eat anything she wanted, however much she wanted. She would be treated like she was a Goddess, and Blake worshiped her even now.
Seconds later, a tall girl with long black hair entered the room. Her golden eyes studied Blake for a moment, then they moved to Ella.
She let out a gasp, closing the door and she half-tip-toed, half-ran to them.
“Careful,” Blake warned as she stood in front of him and Ella. “I’m trying to get her to stay asleep.”
“Is this her?” Mia whispered in astonishment, kneeling down beside Ella.
Blake nodded. “I finally got her to sleep without being afraid of what she’ll wake to.” He felt a great wash of empathy and happiness to the words.
“Do you need anything in your room?” Mia wondered.
“No,” he said. “I’m staying in here tonight. She needs to have someone help her sleep. I even tested it, when I let go, she starts whimpering as if she’s having a nightmare. But she calms down when I’m holding her like this. It’s like she can sense I’m here even when her mind’s not really here.” He said the last part more to himself.
“What did you need then, Prince?” Mia asked, looking up at him.
“I need you to get me the softest blanket we have, a basin full of warm water, some soft towels, and a new comfy dress that fits her style.”
She stood. “Water, towels, and blanket, yes. The dress, I’ll see what I can do, but we’ll probably have to have them make her a new wardrobe in the morning.”
“Thank you, Mia,” Blake said softly.
“Of course,” she said.
“Oh, and,” Blake added, “I would appreciate it if you would change her tonight. Just find something comfy.”
“Do you want me to bathe her as well?”
“In the morning,” he stated. “For now, just get the basin so I can wash the ash and dirt off her.”
“Yes, Prince.” And she disappeared behind the door.
*****
AFTER MIA STRUGGLED to put a soft velvety dress on a sleeping girl, Ella was back in Blake’s arms, whimpering softly.
He just ran his hands down her arms, murmuring soft sounds in her ear until she relaxed, tucking her head into his shoulder.
“I see what you mean,” Mia stated. “She must’ve had a rough childhood.”
“She still does,” Blake corrected, gently guiding Ella’s feet into the basin. She didn’t stir or flinch. It seemed as if the warm water helped her calm because she sank further into Blake.
And he dipped the rag in the water that was starting to turn cloudy with the grime on her feet. He delicately wiped away the soot and black smudges that covered her arms and legs.
“Prince,” Mia uttered, “do you want me to do it?”
He shook his head. “You can go to bed now, Mia. I’m sorry for calling you so late.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded.
Mia stood there, hesitating. Then she left the room, softly closing the door behind her.
Blake dipped another towel in the water as his other hand brushed Ella’s hair out of her face. Then he began wiping the ash stains off her cheeks and forehead, noticing her expression relax a bit.
After she was clean, he let her rest her head on his shoulder as he bathed her feet, lightly scrubbing her skin with his hands. He took all the blood, dirt, and soot off her white skin.
Blake didn’t know why he never noticed it before, but Ella was always barefoot. She never wore shoes. And he knew it was probably because she never had them.
So when he remembered the infirmary fire earlier, he checked the bottoms of her feet for burns, cuts, or infections. He was relieved to find none.
Blake took the basin away once Ella was clean and dried her off with some more towels.
After pulling one of his knees up lazily and guiding her to rest on his stomach, he brushed his hands down her now clear skin. He never thought it could be so soft. That Ella’s arm could be a fabric or a sheet.
“See?” Blake whispered even though she couldn’t hear him. “Isn’t that better? Now you should be comfier, Princess.”
Ella didn’t respond. She just breathed softly, her chest rising and falling against his leg.
Blake let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “You’re so precious,” he said quietly. “Like a gem or diamond. Like gold or platinum. I can’t believe you were abused like that. It hurts to see such a beautiful girl like you be treated that way....” He brushed his hands down her arms, unable to get used to her silky skin. “That changes today. Now you’ll be treated with respect. Like a true Princess. And I’ll treat you like you’re my Goddess, my Savior, because you are. You saved me from my dark side. I’m not sure if you remember, though.”
“Where am I?” Ella whispered into his stomach, her voice taking him off guard. She sounded exhausted, like she just woke.
He was about to ask how long she was awake for, but she spoke first.
“Oh, God... where am I?”
Blake stayed silent, just watching what she was going to do. It seemed as if she didn’t notice him yet...
“No....” She turned her head, looking around as her chest rose and fell faster. “No, no, no, no! Where am I?” She shot up then, about to run, but Blake caught her arm, and pulled her back onto the bed.
Ella looked up at him, eyes wide with fear. “Where... did you take me?”
“It’s just the castle, Sweetheart,” he promised.
Ella looked around again, clearly starting to panic. “No! I don’t want to be here!”
“Hey,” Blake pulled her back down when she tried to get up again, “it’s okay.”
“No. No! Let go! LET GO!”
Ella raised her hand, about to punch him in the face, but he brought her up against him, holding her as she tried to get out of his grasp.
“Do you need to hit me?” Blake wondered gently. “Will that make you feel better?”
Ella froze. “What...?”
“Will letting your frustration out help you calm?”
“No!” She kicked, struggling against his hold, but he wouldn’t let go. “No! I don’t want to hurt you! But I can—” She broke off.
“Hurt yourself?” Blake read. “Mmm... no... That’s why I won’t let you go.”
“Please...” Ella whispered. “I... I don’t want you to hold me....”
He sighed. “Why are you lying?”
“Because I hate—!” She broke off again.
“Because you hate yourself?” he read again. “That’s not a valid reason. I mean... it’s true... but I won’t take it as a reason to do as you say.”
“Prince...” she whispered sadly.
He knew she just met him, that it would be stupid for him to ask her to trust him... Idiotic for him to blame her for her lack of trust... But... that didn’t mean he was going to let her go.
“You saved me...” Blake murmured.
Ella stilled. “What?”
“You saved me,” he repeated.
“What?” She said again, but she was thinking, How could a worthless person like me save a Prince like you?
He paused for a moment, feeling his heart pound against his chest with the anger at her self-hatred. “You saved me, Princess.” Luckily, he managed to keep his voice calm.
“I... saved you?” Blake could hear the happiness in her voice.
He felt something warm consume him. That something he said made her happy. He could feel her fear cloud with a calm excitement as he read her thoughts.
“It’s true,” he stated.
Ella hadn’t moved from her position. She just relaxed into him, her head resting on his stomach, stopping the fight because curiosity got the best of her. After wincing, she let him run his hands down her arms.
“If you don’t mind me asking...” she whispered, “how did I save you, Prince?”
Blake felt a smile curve at his lips. “Do you remember, when you were ten, that you would open your window and sing to the animals?”
“How did you—”
“I was in a really dark place then,” he continued. “I was angry, scared, and very depressed. But one day, I was walking through the woods, about to hurt myself.”
Ella looked up at him, her blue eyes glistening in the soft lighting.
“But,” he said, letting his thumb run along her cheek, “I heard your voice. It sounded so soft, unique, and kind. I was almost certain it was an Angel. So I followed where the voice was coming from, and I saw you, at your window, singing so beautifully, that I couldn’t stop listening.
“So every day,” Blake said. “I would walk to your house. And I would sit on a rock and listen to you sing. It brought out something great in me. Something I didn’t know I had. And I thank you for that, Princess.”
Her brows pushed together. “Why did you bring me here?”
“So I can keep you safe.”
Ella gazed into his eyes, but she looked upset. “Why?”
Blake chuckled. “I just told you why, silly. You saved me.”
The confused look in her expression didn’t waver.
He sighed, a soft smile settled on his face. “We’ll talk in the morning, okay? Now I want you to sleep.”
As Ella rested her cheek on Blake’s stomach, she still stared up at him. Her eyes were so dark in the lighting, like an ocean.
He lightly draped a fluffy blanket over her shoulders, and she tried to twist out of it, but she failed.
“No...” she whimpered. “I don’t want it....”
“You’re cold,” Blake said, pulling it up to her chin.
She twisted again, no luck. “Stop... comforting me....”
Blake took the fabric of the blanket and gently ran the softness on her cheek. Ella’s eyes widened, but she couldn’t help but relax. And she couldn’t stop herself from snuggling into it.
“It’s soft, isn’t it?” Blake wondered, amused.
“I’m not sleeping again...” Ella admitted, her voice muffled from the blanket.
He guided her head to rest on his stomach again. “Go to sleep,” he said in a silly voice.
She turned to glare at him, pulling the blanket over her mouth, clearly trying to hide the anger, but Blake could see her eyes boiling.
His mouth was set into a soft curve, happy but sympathetic, and he brushed her hair out of her lashes, gently rubbing the length of her arm through the soft fabric that rested on her, slowly and delicately.
Ella’s lashes lowered at the gesture. “Stop it... you can’t always get what you want....”
“I can’t?” Blake questioned, amused.
And seconds later her eyes were closed. And she slept in his arms once more.
“You’re right,” he whispered in her ear. “Only you can, Sweetheart.”