Hideaway
By Kayleigh (xgracefulx)

“Aldo dear,” said Anna stiffly, her voice muffled through the door.
“Yes mother?” he replied, half asleep.
“Mya has arrived. Get up! Come down and greet her.” She pounded on his door violently to hurry him out of bed. Minutes later he was dressed and downstairs in the entrance hall. There she was, framed in the doorway – Mya, the Duke and Duchess of Russia’s only daughter. She had come to stay in Kakova, Romania with the Ivanties while her parents were away on a 3 month trip.
The early morning sunlight illuminated her golden hair, surrounding her head like a halo.
“Bonjour!” he tried, hoping to make her laugh. She looked at him, blinking.
There was silence.
“Good morning sir…” came suddenly and forcefully from her lips. Briskly she was whisked away by Anna to the library for some tea. Aldo followed politely, while his father Darren went off to finish something up. Aldo tried – sparingly – to add to the conversation Mya & his mother was having. Sipping the tea along with them, and sitting up straight. Every time he spoke Anna would disagree, or cut him off rudely. Finally Darren entered the room booming a greeting in Russian to young Mya. While they were conversing Anna grabbed Aldo aside and pulled him into the hallway “ALDO!” she spat, “Why are you being so difficult and ridiculous? The poor girl had a long trip, and I’m sure your nonsense doesn’t interest a girl like her. I wish YOU acted more proper…like her,” Her eyes narrowed “But no…I am stuck with a joker like you, who needs to get some manners, and grow up!” She turned and went back into the library shutting the door in his face.

Enraged, Aldo left. He went to the stables, and climbed onto a large black stallion, which he’d named Bailey when he was younger. Bailey galloped across town, and out to the countryside with him upon her back. Aldo tied the great horse to a towering oak, and sat atop a large hill under a willow tree. An old enchanting forest stood to the right of his view, and nothing but plains lay in front. The willow swayed in the wind around him, its branches like fingers reaching around him, and swirling about his body. He sat, in the quiet, breathing heavily. No noise but that of his own breath and the soft whistle of the wind. He sat on his riding cape, and ran his fingers along it…he’d noticed it was velvet to the touch and it flowed just like silk, in the wind.

A faint trudging noise suddenly caught his attention; he squinted his eyes and looked across the plains. A large figure seemed to be drifting towards town. Bailey reared, as Aldo heard the distant whinny of another horse. The figure was advancing quickly; he suddenly realized the ‘figure’ was horses…thousands upon thousands of them…with armored men atop them!
“Oh no!” he muttered under his breath, scrambling back onto Bailey, and untying her as he went. He drove his heels sharply into her sides and raced home.
Tossing the great horses reins at a guard as he arrived home, he dismounted and entered the castle, catching his breath.
“ENEMY” he gasped “Enemy troops approaching!” he yelled over and over. His father hurried down the stairs, nodding at Aldo as he went swiftly to the commander of the artillery, ordering his troops to be assembled at once.

A good fifteen minutes later, there came a deafening rumble from above and the whole castle shook around them. Screams came from the upper levels; the Duchess and Mya were promptly escorted downstairs to the Duke’s side, by the guards.
Another deafening blow and the castle shook so fiercely Aldo was almost knocked off his feet. “We must leave here immediately!” The Dukes eyes lit up with frustration and sadness.
The Duke, Duchess, Aldo, and Mya were taken through the dungeons and in through a hidden door in the wall. There awaited a camouflaged carriage in a dank underground tunnel. The trip, they were told, would take at least 2 hours if they were to get far enough away from the battle, and to the Duke’s hideaway; he’d prepared it years ago, for emergencies such as this.

Darren sighed “I guess we did not assemble quick enough to hold them off…there probably won’t be much of the castle left when we return…Aldo I thank you for the advanced warning. Without that we may have not made a clean getaway…” He trailed off. Aldo nodded and looked to the floor. There was silence for most of the remainder of the journey. Aldo was lost in his thoughts, and the women were visibly shaken. Darren was just grief-stricken, and worried his troops would not overthrow the powerful enemy army.

They emerged from the tunnel, up and into some woods, and finally arrived at the hideaway. Opening the door, Mya gasped as she walked in. Chandeliers lined the ceiling; baubles of all sorts glittered and twinkled atop various objects all around the gracious dining room. A small garden lined the outside of the house, with flowers so bright and glossy they could have been made of glass. The Duke and Duchess got settled upstairs in the study, while Aldo walked into the lounge. A large grand piano beckoned to his fingers, he sat down gingerly on the stool, and began playing. Mya sat on the sofa behind Aldo, and closed her eyes, letting out a large sigh. She remembered when she and Aldo used to be best friends as kids. He seemed disinterested in her friendship today and very distant, and he’d mocked her when she had arrived. This baffled her. It had been almost 6 years since they’d seen each other though, they’d drifted away as they entered their later teens, as Mya had begun going to high-end social events and spent more time at balls and dinners than writing to her dear friend. She was relaxed in his presence now though, she loved it when he played piano. It seemed as if he was playing only for her.

Aldo sensed her comfort. He was wary of her intentions earlier because she had snubbed him several times already. But out of politeness he asked “Would you like to play?”
“Hmm? No thank-you. I’m not much of a pianist anymore, Aldo”
She used to play wonderfully, much better than Aldo ever had. He envied her back in the day.
“Are you not? You showed so much love and potential as a child.”
“Yes, well I’ve had other things to occupy my time and thoughts…such as dance, and social events. I’ve recently started learning to play the violin though.”
“Have you? That’s great Mya!”
“Yes I suppose it is…” She smiled warmly at him.
Aldo got up, and stood in front of Mya for a moment before asking,
“Mya…how would you like me to show you around the tunnels below the hideaway? They are incredible…with statues and engravings of all sorts!”
“I’d like that” She answered “You have been here before though than haven’t you?”
“Yes when I was younger I was here. 5 years ago I think. Our town was under attack, only mother & I came though, along with some guards and a servant of course. Father stayed back and helped plan the retaliation.”
“Oh.”
“Well then, let’s get going!” Aldo said enthusiastically
“I think I should change into something easier to move in, Aldo”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting here”

She had had on a gold dress that puffed out like soufflé, its bottom lightly brushing the ground, and a corset enhancing her hourglass figure. Embroidered onto the dress were diamonds and rubies, and silver silk threads.
Mya came back shortly, wearing a simple white gown that came down only to her knees, and pink slippers. Her hair had been let down from its once high ponytail, and now rested gracefully on her shoulders in ringlets.

They exited the exquisite house by the back door, and walked to where the tunnel lay. The earth sloped downwards, into the tunnel and under the ground. Following the second tunnel - the tunnel they had not taken to get here – they walked on for a good half hour. Mya commenting occasionally on the statues, mosaics, and murals she liked. They came upon a rough section, it looked like someone had once tried to bomb their way out of it from the inside. The walls and floors were cracked, and the ceiling had missing pieces, which were evidently the debris that was on the floor in front of them.

“Eek!” Mya screamed. She had tripped on a large stone, reaching and grabbing onto a statue to catch herself. The statues arm bent, and a large rectangular slab of stone slid away beside it. Aldo gasped.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh my! I’m fine…that just startled me…but maybe that’s why someone tried to blow this section up…because they were looking for that passage?”
“That is very likely…” Aldo stated, starting towards the newly opened passageway. Mya followed closely behind him. The passage was a lot darker, smaller and damper than the one they had just left, and smelled strangely of copper. Soon after a bluish light emanated at the end of the passage, glowing and flickering like a fire.

The room at the end of the passage had appeared finally. A large golden dog statue, carrying a chest with jewels and money pouring out of it, stood at the far end of the room. A pool sat in the center, the lights reflecting off the water and dancing on the walls, making the whole room glitter. Statues of dolphins lay beside the doorways and around the pool, and there were 2 waterfalls flowing into the pool, its rushing water creating foam where it entered. It was quite warm in this room Aldo noticed. Mya rushed over to the pool, took her slippers off and placed her feet into the water.
“It smells lovely over here Aldo!”
He walked over to the pool, and sniffed the air. It smelled like roses & vanilla. He took his own shoes off, and sat beside Mya. His feet entered the water and he could instantly feel warmth spreading through his body. This room seemed so magical. He wondered what it was doing here.

Aldo and Mya went back to the hideout shortly, and ate a fine dinner with the Duke and Duchess, not mentioning the room to either of them. They went to this magical room several times over the next few weeks, each time looking more intently around it. Inspecting the statues and the engravings on the walls, and trying to figure out what it all meant…but always making sure to close the entrance so no one else would find it.

Late one night Mya couldn’t sleep. She wanted to go back to the room; something was drawing her to it. Mya crept into Aldo’s chamber and awakened him, putting her cold hands on his warm face. She said not a word and motioned for him to follow. He yawned, and followed her curiously. Immediately he knew where they were going, he tried to protest but she kept shushing him up.
They sat, as usual beside the pool with their feet in the water. Suddenly she let herself down into the water, and pulled him in with her.
“Agh!!” he gargled, splashing her.
“Why are we here at this time of night?”
“I just wanted to come here. Doesn’t it look prettier at night?”
The lights were dimmer, and the water reflected more boldly around the room than it did during the day, making it almost spooky, but more magical as well.
“It does…”
She was right, he thought. He swam a lap around the pool, grabbing her ankle as he went past her. She screamed and swam in front of him. He chased her all around, into the deeper part of the pool. Mya grabbed onto the edge of the pool, to keep her head above the water. They swam to the shallow part and she pulled his head underwater, she went under and looked at him. She put her arms slowly around his neck.

Aldo’s heart was racing, it pounded in his chest like a hammer, and it felt like it would explode. His hands awkwardly found her waist, and he pulled her closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and whispered to him.
“When I first got here…I didn’t think you liked me anymore! It’s been so long…”
“I’ve always liked you, Mya” Aldo replied quickly.
“Me too…” She said “And I’m sorry I came off like a snob last week. I’ve just learned to hide my emotions and feelings, all the events I go to…you can’t have a sense of humor…they’re all so stuck-up, you just have to be strong. I’m so used to it…I’m so ashamed...”
“Don’t worry. It’s okay.” Aldo reassured her.

Mya’s blue eyes glimmered as he looked into them. He leaned in and kissed her. Her lips were like ice, and she kissed him back lightly. Aldo put his hands around her head, and ran his fingers through her wet hair. Mist had formed around them as they moved towards the waterfalls. Little water droplets rested on their hair looking like cobwebs. Mya had such calm about her now. It seemed like old times…only she was 17 now, and he was 19. And that he was actually kissing her, not just dreaming about it. She pulled away and smiled playfully.
“Well…I’m glad we worked out our differences Aldo” She giggled.
“Me too…” he replied. He grabbed her hand. She held onto it tightly.
Aldo crawled out of the pool, and pulled Mya gently out after him. They were drenched from head-to-toe and they both got chills as they walked back through the passage to the main tunnel. She was shivering violently, so he picked her up and carried her all the way back to the house. He laid her down on her bed.
“Get changed, I’ll be back” He whispered.

Mya changed into a long, warm nightgown. Aldo returned shortly, knocking before he entered to make sure she was already done changing.
They sat on her bed and talked for a while. They talked about how they used to be, about what would happen now…and just about life…and how things were going in each other’s lives. Aldo fell asleep next to Mya, and they both woke up late the next morning.

Once they awoke and ate lunch they headed for the study to play some chess. Moments before Mya had Aldo in checkmate, Darren stormed in the room.
“Alright, alright…time to go kids! The battle has ended! Off to see what is left of our beloved town…Oh how I’m not looking forward to seeing the destruction they have caused….We have finally won, though not by a landslide. Most of our troops have been taken out…I’m sad to say” His eyes went from happy, to somber. Mya and Aldo bowed their heads then hastily set off the pack their belongings. Aldo was thrilled the battle was over, but distraught at what would happen now. Where would they live? Where would Mya go? How long would it be until he sees her again?

They got back into town late that afternoon. The castle was in complete ruins, and bodies were everywhere. Mya let out a gasp of horror, and turned away from the scene, burying her face in Aldo’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and hugged her tightly. The houses all over towns were destroyed too. A change in the direction of the wind revealed a stench as grim as the sight. Aldo wrinkled his nose at the smell.
“I think it’s time to go” Anna said hotly.
“But where?” Asked Aldo
“I…I don’t know. We’ll go to another town, and rent a room until something is done about this mess”
“Stay at my place!” Mya suggested at once. “We can go back to Russia; my parents will be gone for another 2 or so months.”
“That sounds like a fine idea” chimed in Darren. “That will be a safe place for you to stay while I get this town back on its feet, and rebuild our castle.”

So the Duke summoned a larger carriage for his family, and Mya, and they left cross-country towards Russia. They would spend the next few months at the Duke and Duchess of Russia’s palace, mourning the loss of their fine troops, and starting new. During that time Aldo and Mya became much closer and got engaged, but only with Mya’s father’s permission. Their wedding was set for the next year, after Kakova’s rebuilding, in the luxurious gardens of the Ivantie’s castle.