The Summer Court

Chapter Seventeen

Conor's rock hit the water with a loud plunking noise, sinking to the bottom. Elsine stifled a giggle as he braced one hand on his hip and the other rubbed the back of his neck.

"One would think rock skipping to be a simple task," he mused.

Elsine nodded slowly, turning the smooth stone over in her fingers as she came to stand next to him. Glancing up, she smiled because he really was so much taller than her and looked so distraught. Looking back over the pond she hesitated as the words of Terwyn and the older ladies of the court echoed in her head about how a Queen must never show up her King. She didn't think, however, that she should water herself down for anyone. Especially not for the pride of any male― title or no. Determined to be herself now, she used the technique Darius had taught her and skipped her rock at least 4 times.

Turning a coy smile up at Conor she folded her hands behind her back, "I think it just takes some. . . practice."

He crossed his arms over his chest and smiled more widely than she had seen since first meeting him. His dark, almond eyes lit up. "A lady of many talents, I see."

Elsine shrugged, smiling back at him as they turned to sit at the bench. The afternoon had been pleasant so far, though Conor was very quiet and Elsine had to do most of the talking. The conversation was not as easy as it was with Ander, but there was an odd sense of comfort in the silence. Like they could be old friends who enjoyed the simplicity of a quiet walk or even watching the world around them.

She also felt that for some reason she could speak honestly, and did not fear he would be offended by questions, so she leaned back and looked at him seriously, "Can I ask you something personal, Sir Conor?"

He raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Elsine, you do not need to keep calling me by title." She smiled, forgetting again to drop formalities. He didn't look hesitant or caught off guard by the looming personal question, however. He looked at her curiously. "You may ask whatever you wish."

"I wondered if―" She paused, pulling at her fingers as much as her mind was trying to pull at the question that had been bouncing around in her brain. She had felt there was some kind of barrier or wall Conor had up, though it didn't feel personal. She looked back at the pond to watch the koi curling and winding around each other lazily and pushed on, "Did you want to come here? To take part in the Summer Court, I mean. Or would you have chosen something else for yourself?"

She felt him watching her, a moment of quiet passing and the princess could not help but turn to look at him. He looked surprised, and his eyes were far away like he was living some fond memory in his head. Taking a breath Conor brushed his dark hair back into its place, away from his forehead, "I don't know that I should answer that, Elsine."

"Please?" She asked, "It will not offend me. Truly."

He looked unsure as he stared at her, but he seemed to believe the princess. Tracing a line in his tanned palm he smiled faintly, "When we got the summons, I tried refusing my father. Obviously, that did not work." Elsine listened intently, surprised that he sounded sad. He folded his hands together and leaned back into the bench only glancing at her for a moment, "I would have chosen something else. . . and it had nothing to do with you, Elsine. I had never heard an ill word about you, and knowing you now, I know you are kind and that all the talk of taking after our beloved Queen was true." He smiled then and Elsine's throat burned. She smiled.

"Thank you." She offered quietly, still wanting him to continue if he felt inclined.

He nodded, taking another breath, "To be honest with you, my heart was already promised to another before I came here."

There it was― the barrier. It didn't make her feel jealous or much of anything besides curiosity. She sighed, realizing that she was not alone in feeling that her fate was not her own. "What is her name?" She asked softly.

"Inara." He smiled, but it faltered, "But she is below my station and my father would not have it. Not when I had the chance of being King."

Elsine reached to squeeze his shoulder, "I'm sorry. . . you must miss her. And― I imagine it must be so hard for her." Her chest felt heavy thinking about sending someone you were in love with to court another.

"Thank you, it has been hard for us both." He shifts and looks at the princess apologetically, "I have wanted to be honest with you from the start. I know my duties to the Summer Court are expected because of the parents I was born to; my honor is important to me."

There was an end to that sentence he seemed to bite back, but Elsine heard it and if Conor wouldn't say it, she would so he knew she understood, "But the duty and honor of your heart are also important." He seemed surprised, and Elsine continued, wanting for him to not feel trapped in this, "I would not want to come between you and your heart, Conor. If you need me to put on airs, and then let you leave in peace I would do it."

He blinked at the princess, a funny grateful smile tilting his lips, "You are not what I expected, Elsine." He studied her as she grinned, happy to have found an ally.

"Do we have an agreement, then?" She asked, laughing and holding out her hand.

Conor glanced over to where guards were standing just at the edge of the gardens to watch them, but they couldn't hear. Sweeping her hand up and lifting it to his lips with a mischievous glint in his usually serious eyes, he grinned, "I believe so, my Queen."

**Edited Kylie R. Trask 2022**