The Last

A week had passed and still no sign of Caldwin. She took to taking a bath every day, the warm water glorious on her damaged skin. She fell into the habit of her routine easily, although she had everything she desired some part of her longed for more.

Occasionally Rue would stop by to talk with her. He always complained about what a pain Caldwin was being. He was either complaining about that or how his mother was having him run around doing so many different tasks it infuriated him. He’d never had responsibilities before, he moaned on and on about how his life was a disaster now. He always made sure to cover up his complaints by claiming they were not her fault and she was the best thing to have happened to him in a long time but Amira knew it was only a half-truth.

It was during one of their conversations where Amira sat cross-legged at the foot of her bed and Rue paced back and forth in front of her when she abruptly asked,

“Is he avoiding me?”

Rue stopped in his tracks chocolate eyes snapping to the Princess sitting before him,

“I thought you didn’t want to see him?”

“I don’t,” Amira answered quickly, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

“Righhhhhttt,” Rue drew out the word a sly smirk lighting up his devious face.

“I don’t,” Amira repeated herself stubbornly and Rue raised his hands in surrender,

“I’m not arguing,” the Prince said, “buuuut maybe if you would be willing to speak with him…. You may be doing me a favor,” He said working his way around the wording so that by doing this it wouldn’t be for her, but rather for him

“Oh? And what favor would that be?” Amira asked, tilting her head slightly, dirty blonde hair spilling down past her neck, interested in his proposition.

“Well, if I told him you were willing to speak with him, he’d probably stop sulking and being a royal pain in my ass long enough for me to take a goddamn break.”

“Hmmm I see,” Amira mused leaning back slightly and picking up her glass off the bed beside her, she had developed quite an affinity for the wine the palace served. She sipped at it lightly before stating, “By doing this I would be doing you a favor,” she mused,

“Yes, yes it would be a huge favor,” Rue was almost begging now, this hadn’t been his idea, to begin with, but now that he had it he certainly didn’t want to let go of it, the Prince desperately needed a nap. “Please Princess.”

“Very well,” she mumbled over the lip of her cup and smiled softly as Rue jumped with excitement pumping his fist in the air.

“Thank you thank you thank you,” he said hurrying to her side and kissing her forehead, “you are a goddess,” he exclaimed before nearly running to the door sliding to a stop before turning back to look at her. “Are you sure?” he asked concern flicking over his features for a moment as he remembered the implications it meant for Amira.

“I’m sure Rue,” she said with a light laugh, “go on, you deserve it, besides, you’ll pay me back with a favor some other time when I need it.”

“You got it!” his voice carried down the hall as the Prince was already gone. Amira shook her head as she rose to her feet. Well, if she was going to face her mate, she mine as well make a lasting impression. Throughout the past week, Josie had fetched her clothing that was more suitable to the Princess besides loungewear. She chose a plain black dress that she had ripped up herself in just the right places that exposed just enough tempting skin, but hid the rest. It clung tightly to her skin and she let her blonde hair spill down from where she typically had it tied up.

Once she was content with her appearance, using her reflection in the glass doors for reference she crossed the room and opened the door Josie popping up from her seat and saluting the Princess as she had now been instructed to do instead of a curtsy. The Princess had tried to break the girl of the habit but she refused, so they settled on the compromise of a salute.

“Josie love, will you fetch me a bottle of my favorite,” she said with a playful wink, “and two glasses” The girl gasped hand flying to her mouth,

“It’s true?” she asked, eyes lighting up with hope, if Amira had learned anything about the girl was that she was a hopeless romantic. “Never mind don’t answer that," she said, waving off her question, “I’ll go fetch it now!” She said and hurried off down the hall. As Josie passed, Rollo looked up sharply from where he was stationed, she could see the question in his eyes. Rollo was loyal to Caldwin without fault, but his first loyalty belonged to his Princess. Over the time they’d spent together Amira questioned how much those lines had blurred.

“I’m okay,” she reassured him speaking softly but knowing her voice would carry down the hall. Rollo nodded in acceptance, but she couldn’t help but notice the tenseness in his shoulders and the way his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

“I’ll be right here,” he promised and Amira smiled softly and nodded at the reassurance. She knew what he meant, and knew what he couldn’t say. All she needed to do was shout for him and he would be there. She was just about to walk back into her room when the male added, “you look beautiful.” Amira paused her back to him her skin heating up slightly,

“Thank you,” she said softly without turning around as she walked back into her lavish prison and shut the door gently. Amira took a deep breath and let it out slowly settling the nerves that suddenly gripped her chest and the heat she had felt overwhelm her body. How had his small comment thrown her off so much? The Princess did not know, but that was a problem for another day.

She had to focus. She ran her fingers through her hair once more, a nervous habit before she realized what she was doing, and forced herself to stop after arranging it the way it was before once more. She decided to walk back out to the balcony where she often calmed her nerves dragging her chain behind her, its weight having become so familiar she hardly ever noticed it anymore.

The sun was slowly setting once more, lighting up the garden in the most beautiful colors, her favorite time of day. She smiled softly to herself enjoying the last bit of sun warming her skin. The days had been slowly getting warmer and longer, summer was approaching, she wondered if her uncle and aunt had heard of her fate. Or if they thought she had died… she would have to remember to ask Josie for the paper to write them.

Speak of the devil, she thought turning around expecting to see the girl entering the room, but instead it was the Crown Prince. In his hands, he held the bottle of wine and glasses, as if he’d insisted he bring them himself. The two silently stared at each other, neither breaking eye contact in their small battle of wills until the Prince risked a step to the side, setting the bottle and the glasses down on the dresser, Amira’s golden eyes following his every movement. The silence was deafening as he turned back to face her.

He looked horrendous, his eyes were dark and hollow as were his cheeks. It was as if he hadn’t slept since the last time she'd seen him. At least he’d gotten dressed appropriately for the day it seemed. His golden silk top was tucked into his staple black dress pants held together with a simple belt. Finally, Amira couldn’t stand it anymore, so she said exactly what she was thinking.

“You look like shit,” silence followed. His onyx eyes swept up and down her as if assessing for injuries, making sure she was okay. His search proving satisfactory results his gaze returned to her own,

“I feel like it too,” he said, at last, not arguing with her. His eyes swept around his room, the changes Amira had made were small but noticeable, books stacked in a corner, a desk for her to write and draw on, flowers from the garden below on a vase by the bed. “You decorated,” he stated blandly and the Princess rolled her eyes starting to regret this favor she decided to grant Rue.

“You didn’t leave me much choice,” she retorted, matching his tone, “there’s only so much you can do chained up in an empty bedroom,” she said lifting her foot slightly causing the chain wrapped around it to click together in a harsh metallic sound. “Some meeting you had,” she added remembering the note he left for her to wake up to nearly a week ago.

“I’m-”

“Sorry?” Amira demanded cutting him off, “when aren’t you?” she said exasperation clear in her tone, rolling her eyes as she turned her back to him.

“So tell me what to do,” the Prince begged, moving around the bed towards where she stood but remaining a safe distance away, giving her space so as not to crowd her. “I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to make you happy.”

“You can’t-” Amira stopped herself, they couldn’t change the past, she could not resurrect the dead. She’d had this conversation with herself over and over again this past week and convinced herself to give this life, this hand she’d been dealt a chance. She rubbed her face with her hands and took a deep breath steadying herself against the anger that threatened to boil up within her. She sighed heavily and turned back to face him.

“I would like a drink. Please,” before she finished the statement the Prince was moving back across the room to where he’d left the bottle and glasses. He poured her one as well as one for himself and returned, extending a glass to her. Amira took it, their fingers brushing just slightly and the electricity she felt a jolt through her skin was intoxicating. She cleared her throat and drew away. Moving out onto the balcony fully, and the Prince followed while maintaining his distance. They both stood quietly looking out over the gardens as the sun sank below the horizon.

“I stayed away because I thought you didn’t want to see me,” The Prince admitted speaking softly as he broke their silence once more. “I figured I had caused you enough pain already even if it was hell for me to not see you… you-you deserve to be happy. Even if that means you’re happiest when I am not around.” He swallowed and Amira watched him out of the corner of her eye, she knew he meant it. If she told him she never wanted to see him again he would see to it that it would happen no matter how great the pain to himself. “Rue… Rue said you were doing well here without me so I didn’t want to disturb you,” Amira nodded slightly, eyes dropping to the ground at her feet.

“I think… I think we ought to give it a chance” she said, not looking up from the ground although she could feel more than see him change eyes lighting up with hope as he looked at her. “My family isn’t coming back. My sister might be out there somewhere… There’s no changing what has already been done.” She slowly looked up and met his gaze. “There is only moving forward. To writing our own future.” she said softly, “and to do that, I have to give you a chance,” she concluded reluctantly.

“To writing our own future,” Caldwin echoed, lifting his glass slightly in a small toast. Amira mirrored the action and the two touched their cups together delicately and drank. They turned back to the quickly fading sunset quietly adjusting to each other’s company. A soft knock broke their peace and Caldwin turned away from the railing. Amira didn’t move as he left to answer the door. Moments later he returned, empty-handed. “I have to go, there are urgent matters I must attend to,” he said hesitantly, “are you going to be okay?” he asked as if he could feel the sadness that had welled up in her chest.

“Yes,” she said closing her eyes gently, “go."

“May I come back?” he asked, and she could feel him hold his breath nervously awaiting her answer. An answer that would determine quite a lot for the two of them.

“Yes,” she spoke before the thought fully passed through her brain, although she supposed she did want to see him again. The Prince nodded in thanks, breathing regularly once more.

“Thank you, I will return as soon as I can,” he promised before quickly turning on his heel and rushing out of the room. Amira felt as though she could breathe easier now that he was gone. She went about picking up their glasses and left them on the dresser. She undressed, stripping down to just her undergarments, and crawled into bed. She laid there for a long time, wondering if and when Caldwin would return, finally, the exhaustion pulled too strongly on her and she slipped into a dreamless sleep.