บท 2: Last meeting with the lover
The leaves crunched under her feet as she walked. Directionlessly and mindlessly.
There was no destination for her. She walked and walked. Until she could not anymore.
Then, she suddenly stopped. Her breaths were a little ragged from walking so much.
Turning around on her heels, she glanced back at the big castle that stood before her. Her home. A castle made of stone. Stronghold and own white-walled. One of a kind. The strongest castle that did not fall even after countless attacks. Yet, the walls were slowly falling now.
She wondered what it would have been like if she was born a century ago when this same castle stood big and ominous, high and well-fortified because now if it was still a glorified sight, it looked simply just horrible.
The memories of bloody war were etched upon those strong walls and it was not long before these walls were going to fall, leaving the people of Mylvania without any humane Ruler.
She inhaled deeply, the foul smell making her head dizzy. The smell of blood and destruction. She should have gotten used to it already but every day, she felt like she inhaled it for the first time. She silently wished for a day to come when she would be able to just take in the fragrance of beautiful flowers and the earthy smell of the rain.
Throwing her head back, she stared at the sky that was pinkish in this fall season. The leaves had fallen, leaving the trees exposed. The grounds were covered with those fallen pale leaves that were dead now - gone.
Everything was gloomy. Winter was approaching. A harsh winter that was going to push the people into a season of great famine. There were going to be dead bodies lying around everywhere. Dead bodies of people dying from hunger rather than the bloody ongoing war.
It's been fifty years already. They fought for fifty years but never gave up but now...
Fighting was just too hard.
If they wanted to stand a single chance at survival, they needed to forget who their enemies were and form an alliance.
Alliance. The word was so foreign to her yet at the same time it became the most dreaded one.
" Kiara. " The soft masculine whisper coming from behind her caught her attention.
Her head whipped around and her eyes met with those captivating, deep emerald green eyes. Eyes exuding the aura of mysteriousness and at the same time...Power.
He was standing behind her at some distance, wearing his blue armor. His features were still hard. His thick pinkish lips were pressed in a straight line, his straight nose stood proudly, his black hair tousled a little, and his spine as straight as possible which highlighted his huge height.
He was taller than her. A lot taller than her. She barely reached his shoulders even if she had the ideal height for a woman.
" Calic. " His name rolled off her tongue efficiently, sounding more unfamiliar than it ever did.
Perhaps when her soul was falling apart, everything felt foreign to her now.
He marched to her, each step precise and measured. He stopped a few steps away, reminding her about how they both needed to stay far away from each other.
His hand that was placed on the hilt of his sword, left it as he pulled it forward and clasped both his hands together. A habit of a general. The general of the Army of Kingdom Mylvania.
" You are leaving today? " There was no hint of emotions in his voice but his eyes...His eyes spoke volumes. They conveyed all his emotions to her.
Pain, Sadness, Anger, Disappointment, fear, and Love...
All for her. Just for her.
His eyes made her think of the future they both had planned, the future they both were never going to have. They did not even get the chance to let the beautiful feeling of love settle inside their hearts and they already fell apart - torn away from each other.
" I am leaving today General. " She whispered, a sad smile curving up the corners of her lips.
He did not say anything. He did not move. It seemed like he did not even breathe.
Time was skipping past them. But they were lost in each other's eyes. Only if time could be lenient enough to stop and let them stay here - right in this moment and nowhere else.
Without minding what she was doing, she crossed the distance separating them and placed her hand on his armor, his heartbeat covered by the thick protection of steel, and iron.
He watched her. When she raised herself on her tiptoes and let her cold lips come in contact with his warm ones, he let her do it.
Just for the last time. Just for the last time, she wanted to know what it felt like to kiss him.
Sighing against his lips, she stayed unmoving and relished in the feel of his warm lips that tasted like cherries. Her eyes were closed tightly but she was sure that a traitor tear had left them, breaking all boundaries to let him know about her true feelings.
Slowly, he snaked his hand around Kiara's back and pulled her closer. Her soft body pressed against his hard armor.
His right hand rested on her neck, sending chills down her spine. He deepened the kiss, letting her stay in his embrace for a little longer without caring that someone might see them in the open.
Her mind relived the old memories as he kissed her. The times when they sat down beside the trees behind the castle to stay in each other's arms. The times when they talked about love, the future, and hopes.
More tears fell down her eyes. The salty taste of those tears invaded their mouths but he did not let her go. Letting go was hard, like one's soul was ripping apart. Slowly and painfully.
She wished they could stay like this until the end of time.
She wished they could be with each other just a little while longer.
She wished they could relish in each other's warmth and feel each other for the rest of their lives.
She wished.
She wished with all her heart.
He pulled away abruptly like her touch was gradually burning him just like his touch burnt her now.
Stepping away, he left her. He left her colder than before, allowing the coldness to settle in her heart instead of the hopeless love.
He did not say anything when Kiara opened her eyes to stare into his emerald orbs once more. He did what was best for both of them. He turned around and started walking away.
Her eyes were glued to his back. Her ears took in the sound of his armor and sword clinging with each step he took. The sound started fainting just like his figure.
Until Calic Kroner, the General of Great Mylvania Amry, disappeared.
Leaving her standing there alone.
" My Princess. " Kiara heard the familiar small voice which pulled her out of her grieving trance.
" Your Highness - Crown Prince Zuko is waiting for you, My Princess. " She turned around to face Lily, her lady-in-waiting, a personal maid who accompanied her from the start of her life.
Some said she along with other two of her lady-in-waiting were born for Kiara and it was an honor for them to serve her but she did not want this.
" The time has come, right? " Kiara sighed, trying to confide in one of the three loyal people she had in her life.
People who knew her - everything about her.
" Yes, My Princess. The time has come. " Her head was bowed in respect as it was forbidden to look a royal in the eye.
Kiara hated this. She hated how Lily behaved like her slave but she could not do anything about it. She asked her so many times to stop doing this but Lily never listened.
At least Lara and Mary listened. They were a lot more friendly to Kiara than her but she had some kind of special attachment to Lily.
Lily had looked after her like a mother even when she was just a kid herself when the Queen - Kiara's mother died. Kiara was only ten at that time when an incurable illness took her mother's life. She did not even get to see her dead body. They said the illness might spread, so they burnt her.
At that time, Lily was there for her. All the time. She was only fifteen herself yet she acted like fifty and looked after Kiara well because she refused to let anyone else come near her.
" No one can go against fate and duty here, My princess. " When the deafening silence between them stretched horribly, Lily finally glanced at her and said those same words that she had said so many times that Kiara could barely ever forget them.
" There is no fighting fate or duty. " Kiara nodded her head slowly and marched towards her.
" Don't leave me alone Lily. " She raised her chin as she whispered to her and she bet she could see a smile trying to break its way on Lily's lips.
" Never in this life, My Princess. " She declared as she waited for Kiara's next step respectfully.
Sighing for the nth time, Kiara raised my chin and fixed her slumped posture. Standing tall while wearing a Golden, Gold Embroidered gown...she looked like the princess she was.
Her amber - Golden hue rare eyes matched the dress perfectly. Her red tainted lips tingling with the taste and warmth of Calic's lips were pressed together, their heart shape highlighted. Her amber hair fell on her back in curls that Lily made sure looked as smooth as they could. Her pale white skin complemented the whole look.
The final thing that completed her identity was the crown resting on her head. A Golden Crown with small red stones embedded in it. The identity of a royal.
Kiara was ready. Not emotionally but Physically.
She was ready to leave mhery home behind because of the duty or more like vengeance that resided in everyone's heart here.
As she started walking, Lily followed behind her. Kiara knew Lily's eyes must be on her dress that trailed behind her smoothly.
Kiara kept her head raised, her eyes void of any emotion. She would act as the Princess of Mylvania now. Princess Kiara Sindlaire, who was going to marry the Crown Prince of the former enemy Kingdom - The Kingdom of Keragania.
She walked gracefully to reach the place where everyone was waiting for her along with the Royal horses and carriages, Knights, Maids, Protectors, Gifts to complete a marriage, and her Elder Brother - Only brother and sibling, Zuko Sindlaire.
Her eyes met his Light brown orbs from far away as she read the complaint in his eyes.
You should have met Father before leaving. That was what he wanted to say but she did not care.
Your grace - Her father, King Manuss did not care either.
All heads bowed in respect, and curtsies were presented yet her eyes never left Zuko's orbs. He was in his formal attire of a Crown Prince, his crown resting atop his head arrogantly.
She did not know what fate had in store for her but she wished she did not have to marry Crown Prince Kylo Antiglone who was rumoured to be in love with someone else. Someone that was not Kiara.
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