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"Oh, baby, don't cry..." He murmured softly, shoving his own feelings down for now. Be a man! No emotion! His father's words bellowed in his mind. He took Adele into his arms gently. "It's okay, darling" He said softly, pecking her head |
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Adele buried her face in her hands again, hating herself for being like this. Why couldn't she be normal and happy? Why did she think so much? Adele's tears slowed, though her mind was still spinning. She pulled away from Caelan and, not making eye contact, mumbled, "I need to be alone," before pulling open her door and quickly making her way downstairs, avoiding guards, servants, and her parents. She wiped her eyes as she ran out one of the side doors and into the woods. After a few moments of trying to find the trail to her clearing, Adele gave up and fell to her knees in the thick underbrush. Letting the tears fall again, she sobbed, having no idea why she was so upset, in the middle of the forest. |
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Caelan nodded and watched her go, his heart shattering. He sighed and wrote a quick note before leaving it on her pillow. Adele I'm heading back to my kingdom. Please don't hesitate to send word that you want me. I love you more than words can express and if there is anything you need--even if it's me gone--tell me. -C |
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After a few minutes of crying, Adele had run out of tears. Her eyes were red, but dry. She stayed kneeling on the ground, deciding what to do next. 'Why did I run away? I should have stayed there with Caelan. I overreacted! Why am I so sensitive?!' She chastized herself, rubbing her forehead. Finally, Adele decided to go back up to her room and get some rest. She trudged through the castle, ignoring her mother when she asked why she looked so dishevelled. When she got back up to her room, Adele flopped on her bed and was about to fall asleep when she noticed a note on her pillow. After she read it, she felt even worse. 'Great. Now he's gone because I ran away.' Adele set the note gently on her side table and lay down on her bed, wondering why she couldn't be normal. |
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Caelan quickly said goodbye to the king and queen of the Day Kingdom before riding home. "Where the hell have you been?!" His mother screeched, smacking his face over and over. "That is no way for a king to act!" She bellowed in his face. He just nodded, eyes empty. "Yes, mother" He said, waiting until she'd punched his chest and smacked his face enough. "Go to your room." She demanded, pointing down the hall toward his room. Caelan nodded and trudged into his bedroom, just sitting on the edge of the bed. The pain was excrutiating in his chest and skin where she'd struck, but he welcomed it. There was nothing he could say or do that wouldn't make her angry. 'Why the hell do I keep pushing people I love away and ones I hate pulling closer?' He asked himself, meantally chastising himself for leaving and not waiting for Adele as well as letting his mother strike him. He sighed, still welcoming the pain that was ebbing, and lay down on his bed. He closed his eyes, a single tear falling and the words "You're not enough" on the front of his mind before the darkness closed over him and he fell asleep |
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Only after she woke up did Adele realize she had fallen asleep. From the way the sun was angled outside, she could tell she had only been asleep for a few hours, and it was around dinner time now. Groggy and unsure where she was, Adele stood and was about to grab her brush to comb her hair when she saw the note from Caelan and remembered what had happened before she fell asleep. Immediately she knew what she had to do. Adele considered getting a messenger, but decided to relay her message to Caelan personally. Adele changed into the clothes Caelan had given her and climbed down her ladder and ran to the stables. She hopped onto Calvin bareback and and cantered him toward the night kingdom castle. |
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Caelan woke a few hours later, not hungry enough to eat but persuading his mother to eat. She had thrown a fit and huffed over what to have before finally eating three helpings of soup. He sighed, going up to his study and glancing at some old notes. He sighed once more, his mind barely keeping from shoving him into the dangerous headspace again as he walked the castle |
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Adele pushed Calvin as hard as she dared, getting to the castle in record time. They trotted through the streets of the night kingdom, people staring in confusion at the woman in men's clothing, riding a horse bareback through town. Adele ignored them all, slowing Calvin to a walk near the palace. At the gate, she slid off Calvin's back and handed him to a nearby groom. "Take good care of him," she instructed, before striding up to the nearest guard. "I'm princess Adelaide of the Day Kingdom, I need to see prin-- king Caelan immediately." Confused, the guard nodded and ducked inside, then came back out and said, "The king will see you. Please follow me." Adele nodded and did as he said. |
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Caelan heard familiar footsteps coming down the hall and he instantly became interested. He saw Adele and his face glowed. "Adele" He breathed, running to her and scooping her up. He spun her and kissed along her neck. "Is everything alright? Are you okay?" He asked gently, noticing she was wearing the clothes he gave her. |
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"Well hi there," Adele giggled as Caelan spun her around and kissed her. "You know you saw me only a few hours ago, right?" Inside, though, she was happy that Caelan was glad to see her. "But I came to tell you..." Adele's voice trailed off as she examined his face. It looked as if it had been hit over and over again. Her heart broke for the prin-- king, at the pain he must have to go through. She caressed his cheek with her hand, whispering, "Oh Caelan, your mother again?" Voice cracking at the last word. |
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Heavy Downpours, Flood Warning
