Chapter 42: The Silver Dress

Time dragged on, and for the longest time, Bel feared her mother might not reply, but her mother's lips steadied, and she closed her eyes. 

When she opened them, there was a different look in them. She didn't look angry or annoyed, just determined, and Bel could almost see the sadness in her mother's eyes. She stepped closer and lightly touched Bel's hair, tucking and untucking it from the back of Bel's ears.

"That's not true," she started to say. "I can come visit you, and likewise. You're not going to some prison, Bel. Yes, it is a new place, but just because you won't be in Landerfell anymore doesn't mean I will never see you again. Don't say things like that so casually, Bel."

Queen Eleanor sniffled. "It might not seem that way to you, but this is also hard for me. You're my daughter, my baby, and as much as I would like to keep you next to me forever, I can't do that."