Chapter 15: What was Started

                                    

                                          
"Lucian! Where are we going?" Seren asked on a laugh as Lucian pulled her along. In the few weeks that he'd been there, they'd grown closer and he seemed to get along with Ian better as well. She felt that there was something between them. She was sure it was friendship, but she'd read too many books to not notice the way their glances would meet when the other thought one wasn't looking, the way their hands would brush against one another... or maybe she'd read too much and she was fooling herself. She bit her lip. This wasn't like her. She was fearless and answered to no one but herself. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to ask him what he thought about her.
                          
"Come on!" he tugged at her wrist.
                          
"Lucian, you realize you're taking us deeper into the forest, right?"
                          
"Yip!" he replied cheerily. He turned to look at her, a quirky smile playing on his lips, "What? Don't think I can keep you safe?"
                          
"Ha! I think I would probably end up saving you!"
                          
He gave a rich laugh that made Seren smile. She liked that he laughed at her little jokes, just as much as she liked laughing at his. They headed deeper into the forest and Seren realized that he was taking her to the cave.
                          
"And we're visiting the cave why?" she inquired, her brow rising.
                          
"A surprise." He waggled his brows.
                          
She waited for more, but it appeared that that was all he was willing to give. What on earth could he want from the cave? And why would he drag her there too?
                          
"This is something I wanted to show you for a long time." He explained as they entered the cave.
                          
"What?" she pressed.
                          
"You'll see." He grinned, "Stay close to me."
                          
They huddled together and Seren let him lead her. It was odd for her to have to rely on someone else's guidance. It wasn't a comfortable feeling, but at the same time, it eased a burden off her shoulders that she hadn't realised she'd been carrying. She wasn't familiar with trusting people, but she had to start somewhere right?
                          
"I saw this when you sent me here to collect those flowers," he informed her as they continued forward, "I was a little surprised you kept them."
                          
"Well, they were very pretty." She admitted. The blue one lived in a little pot by her bedroom window.
                          
"So you like pretty things? Good to know." He led them still deeper into the cave. The hum of insects wove into the sound of the breathing and beat of their footsteps.
                          
Seren twiddle with her fingers, building up the courage to say the words that needed to be said. She'd been stewing over them for a long time. She knew that he deserved them.
                          
"I am sorry about lying to you..." she apologized softly.
                          
"Are you really?" He asked, a half smile crossing his lips. He knew her too well by now.
                          
"Well, no, not really," she replied, "but I am sorry that I hurt you."
                          
"All's forgiven." He shrugged, "besides, I might have done the same thing, in your situation."
                          
"You're very kind." She commented and walked with him deeper into the cave.
                          
"Of course, I am a prince after all." He winked, "Ok, we're nearly there. See that glow?"
                          
She spotted that warm glow in the distance, "Yes?"
                          
"I'm going to blindfold you before you can see the rest of it, is that ok?"
                          
"Why do I need a blindfold?"
                          
"You don't like surprises, huh?" He raised his brow.
                          
"I like knowing what to expect." She said testily.