The Lady of the North

Her emerald eyes piercing through the thickening mist, Illia, Lady of Northern Rakuen, stood at the window of her lavishly decorated chamber. The night was setting in fast and her Lord was yet to return to her. Fearing another night alone she squinted her eyes, as though attempting to pierce the mist with her stare, willing her husband to hurry home. Since the first day they had met the bond between them had been exceptionally strong, to the point where Illia could feel his every emotion and read his every thought. But now the mist was clouding her judgement and she was finding it difficult to sense him at all.
Turning away from the window with a sigh, the Lady paced to her bedside cabinet and lit a candle. The solitary dancing flame comforted her and a small smile graced her Elven lips.
Her memories had been troubling her lately and she was finding it difficult to be alone, especially at night. So the light of the tiny candle was almost like a companionship to her. She had never spoken her fears outloud to anybody, and made it her priority to confine them deep within her and to focus on the wellbeing of the people of Northern Rakuen and her marriage to her Lord. They were, of course, the people who came first and foremost in her life, and she went to any lengths to please and protect them. It was only moments like now, when she was alone, that she was forced to dwell on her past, and she hated it. The thoughts of how her mother had abandoned her in such a way, and how she was brought up by her elder sister. How she had not known until just 10 years ago what it was like to be part of a civilised, near perfect world, with a roof over her head every night and somebody to talk to when she was down. How her Lord had saved her from the evils of life and had given her everything she could ever desire and more. How....
A sharp knock on the door dragged Illia back to the world around her like a drowning man being dragged from water.
Gathering herself, she rushed over to the candle, which was still flickering, blew it out and with all the authority she could muster spoke.
"Enter".