This place...
Prince Siegfried padded steadily along a hallway, the length of stone before him dwindling rapidly. A crystal chandelier hung above, but unlit, as daylight still provided clear illumination from the windows. His jumping gaze had the agility he usually reserved for dance, but it was strangely solid, almost cold. Certainly unflinching, even though the hornet's buzz in his heart that he now knew as fear was growing with each sight that met him. There were no people, it seemed, only beautiful architecture, but the graceful arches along the ceiling and the curled patterns on the door frames must have been designed for somebody.
He would very much have liked a word with that person, or at least with someone who could explain this place to him, not that he was terribly interested in the decorative elements. As lovely as it was, the ethereal elegance was unfamiliar to him in every way. This was not his palace. Though he had been gone for such a long time, he remembered the entirety of his home, and this was not part of it.
So, despite having no idea where he was, he needed somewhere to go. The particularly large doorway at the end of the hallway stood out, that had to be as good a place as any. He passed quickly through the windows' light and the walls' shadow to get there, building days and nights' worth of courage from each transition. He paused before the door at last, searching it from top to bottom with an odd desperation, as if trying to decide whether or not it might take him home somehow. However, he soon sighed faintly, and closed his eyes under a creased brow. No, and it was rather silly of him to consider that, wasn't it? He found the hilt of his sword with his palm, but didn't draw it. If he needed it, there it was. One thing he was sure he didn't need was enemies, and charging in with an exposed blade might well be a quick way to make them. He allowed himself a cutting smile. They would just have to accept his entrance, because he was not going to wait. His countenance assumed its seriousness once more, and he slammed into the next room.
"Now, if someone would please tell me... What is going on?!" He wished he could have thought of a more precise demand, but there was too much stirring in him, more swiftly than he could name all he felt.
He would very much have liked a word with that person, or at least with someone who could explain this place to him, not that he was terribly interested in the decorative elements. As lovely as it was, the ethereal elegance was unfamiliar to him in every way. This was not his palace. Though he had been gone for such a long time, he remembered the entirety of his home, and this was not part of it.
So, despite having no idea where he was, he needed somewhere to go. The particularly large doorway at the end of the hallway stood out, that had to be as good a place as any. He passed quickly through the windows' light and the walls' shadow to get there, building days and nights' worth of courage from each transition. He paused before the door at last, searching it from top to bottom with an odd desperation, as if trying to decide whether or not it might take him home somehow. However, he soon sighed faintly, and closed his eyes under a creased brow. No, and it was rather silly of him to consider that, wasn't it? He found the hilt of his sword with his palm, but didn't draw it. If he needed it, there it was. One thing he was sure he didn't need was enemies, and charging in with an exposed blade might well be a quick way to make them. He allowed himself a cutting smile. They would just have to accept his entrance, because he was not going to wait. His countenance assumed its seriousness once more, and he slammed into the next room.
"Now, if someone would please tell me... What is going on?!" He wished he could have thought of a more precise demand, but there was too much stirring in him, more swiftly than he could name all he felt.