Only Love

A thick branch caught the edge of my cheek, slicing it open. My breath was ragged as I forced myself onwards. I ducked and wove around the trees, my eyes blurred with tears as I ran as hard as I could. My skirt snagged on leaves, tree roots, anything that was in my path. I didn’t care. I pushed harder, just needing to get away. My hair whipped around my face, tangling in my mouth. The air streamed past my ears, my arms and legs pumping as hard as they could. I could hear my parents and that prince calling for me but I ignored it. I needed distance and I needed it fast.

I knew exactly where I was running. He would be there. I knew he would. He had never let me down yet. He had seen my face as I streaked through the corridors, stifling my sobs.

I pushed past the edge of the forest, darting into the middle of the opening. This was our spot. I had been coming here for years and my parents hadn’t even a clue.

I saw him clear the opposite edge as I came to a stop, my hair sliding down the middle of my back. My lungs burned and fresh tears pricked my eyes as his eyes met mine across the tiny opening. I sobbed loudly as I forced myself into a run again, heading towards him. His arms opened and I threw myself into his chest, crying openly when his arms enclosed around me, tucking me softly into him.

“Nyssa,” he crooned softly to me, his hands smoothing down my back.

My body shook against him. I buried my face against him, my tears wiping against his bare chest.

His fingers tucked under my chin, lifting my chin. He towered over me, standing at least a foot taller than me. I stared into his emerald eyes and cringed. He didn’t know.

My chin quivered as I fought back another wave of tears. My fingers tightened on his arms. I wouldn’t let go. I couldn’t.

His brow crinkled with worry, “What is it Nyssa?”

My eyes fluttered shut at the sound of the worry that smothered his normally deep voice.

“They are forcing me to marry,” the words came out harsher than I had intended, but I couldn’t help it. My parents talk of responsibility and age came crashing down on me. I had heard every word but none of it had sunk in. The only thing I had been able to wrap my head around had been the fact that they had found someone to marry. I had no choice, they had said. I had waited too long. So they had chosen someone for me. Someone fit to marry a princess, they said. They didn’t know about Kalen. I couldn’t tell them about him. He wasn’t allowed to marry a princess. It had been a relationship we had entered in secret and now I was being forced to marry.

He blinked down on me, my words clearly not sinking in yet. I saw the confusion in his eyes and then finally, understanding.

“No,” he whispered softly, his pouty lips turning down in disproval.

We had known this day would come but we rarely spoke of it. And now that it was here, I wanted to kill myself.

I couldn’t imagine a single day without him. I needed him. He was my life.

He stumbled back from me, his arms slipping through my fingers. He turned his back towards me, his hand running through his curly black hair. It just barely kissed his ears, hiding the pointed tips that marked him as a peasant. Mine were tiny and completely hidden beneath my waist length golden hair. But if I tucked the strands behind my ears, it would be seen that mine were rounded, marking me as royalty.

“Kalen,” I called out softly, reaching towards him.

He spun around so quickly it startled me. I jumped backwards, a little frightened when I saw the flash of fury in his bright eyes. He had never been quick to anger before, but when it came to the one you love, all bets were off. I knew what he was feeling. I was feeling it also. My heart was breaking every moment I stood here with him. I could remember days spent lying in the knee high grass, holding each other, laughing, kissing. To think of my life without him tore my soul to pieces.

“Nyssa,” he responded, his hand reaching out for me. The moment I responded, his fingers clenched into a fist, shaking from the pressure. His eyes fluttered shut as he fought to control his emotions.

He took one step then, closing the distance between us. And instantly, I was swept up into his arms again. Without even opening his eyes, he lifted me in the air to his height, his lips crushing down on mine. I felt the panic in him and my own responded. I wrapped my arms around his neck, clutching tightly to him. I angled my head and parted my lips. My kiss deepened, our tongues meshing in sync. His arms tightened around my back, pressing me as hard as he could into him. A soft sound of torment fell from his lips just as he pulled away, staring directly into my eyes.

“I can’t live without you,” he whispered roughly.

My pulse thumped madly in my ears, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn’t live without him. I knew this. And the prince they had chosen me to marry, it was said he was cruel and unloving. I couldn’t be with someone like that! Not after being with my Kalen. He was the most loving man I had ever met. My needs always came before his. Besides, Kalen actually loved me. This prince I was betrothed to didn’t even know me. His father had chosen me from a pile of names and contacted my parents to enter into negotiation. Negotiation! As though I were a possession, something to better their politics with. It made me sick just thinking about it. Kalen was nothing like that. How could I be with anyone but him?

I kissed him so gently, my lips barely even touching his before leaning my forehead against his. He continued to hold me, the effort nothing to him. His muscled arms barely even showed the effort.

“We knew this day would come,” I whispered, our faces so close I could smell my own sweet breath.

He jerked in response, his eyes wide, “So you’re just going to give up? Give in and marry this prince?”

I pulled back and lowered myself back to the ground, the grass soft beneath my bare feet.

“Kalen,” I whispered, “There is no way out of this for me. I am the princess. I am expected to marry this prince. No one knows of you because it is forbidden for you and I to be together. There is nothing I can do.”

He turned his back to me again, this time in anger, “I don’t accept that.”

Fresh, hot tears trailed down my cheeks.

“Do you truly love me?” he asked softly, gazing out at the trees surrounding us.

A sound of pain escaped my lips, “Of course! You know I do!”

He turned back to me and clutched my hands within his, “Then come with me. We’ll leave. We’ll go somewhere where no one knows who you are. We can keep your hair down, hiding your ears. We’ll just leave. Then we can be together. Forever.”

The idea was so tempting. I stared into his face, so many thoughts passing through my head it was hard to keep track. The thought of being with Kalen, alone, the rest of my life was something I had dreamed about. But to do so I had to abandon my people, my family, my kingdom. I knew in my heart Kalen was worth it, but my head disagreed. I had my responsibilities, I had my beliefs. The royal family must always put their kingdom before all else. I knew this. And I was the only heir. If I left, my parents would be left with nothing but themselves. If they died, the crown would pass to a cousin. I thought on my cousins. They were all greedy and didn’t know the first thing about running a kingdom. My kingdom would come to an end. But without Kalen I knew I would be the one to die. Slowly.

I pulled my hands back, our finger sliding from one another. His face closed down at my reaction, his lips turned down into a grimace.

“Kalen, I can’t. I am the princess. My people…”

He shook his head, “I don’t know what to do Nyssa. I can’t live in the kingdom and watch you marry another.”

“Don’t leave me,” I whispered, panic growing in my gut. The thought of not even being able to see him was almost more than I could take.

His lips quirked into an odd smile, “I could never leave you. Wherever you go, you take me with you.”

“Kalen…” I whispered.

He gathered me into his arms again, his one hand cupping the back of my head and holding me so close to him.

Sorrow burned through my lungs as I struggled to breathe. We had known this day would come, I kept telling myself. But that didn’t make it any easier.

“We’ll figure something out,” he whispered softly, his fingers running through my hair.

I nodded against him, willing to believe anything at this moment.

He lifted me slowly again, his lips much softer against mine. I struggled not to cry. This was a final kiss, I knew it. I could sense it in him. He was giving me up. He knew I had no option. We had entered this doomed relationship with no hope. And I could see it in his eyes. He was trying to be strong. He would give me over to this prince, but we both knew my heart would beat only for him.

His body jerked suddenly against me. His eyes widened in shock, his lips parted in surprise.

“What is it?” I asked softly.

He slowly lowered me to the ground, his gaze far off.

The tears dried on my cheeks as I watched him in confusion.

“Kalen?” I whispered.

A trail of blood trickled from his lips, down his chin and I gasped.

“Kalen!” I cried out.

He dropped to his knees, the weight of him bringing me to the ground with him. When he fell onto his stomach, I saw the arrow protruding from his back.

“No!” I screamed, so confused.

My fingers fumbled around the edge of the arrow shaft. I clutched the wooden shaft in both my hands, ignoring that they were shaking, and broke it off. He groaned in pain. I pulled him into my lap and rolled him over so I could see him.

“Kalen,” I whispered, my heart beating erratically.

I glanced up, confused as to where the arrow had come from. There was movement at the edge of the trees and I watched as the prince I had been betrothed to entered the opening, his bow help haphazardly in his hands.

“You!” I shouted, my anger building within me to a dangerous level.

“Nyssa…” Kalen whispered, drawing my attention back to him.

I smoothed his dark hair back from his forehead, bending over him. My tears dripped from my chin to his face and I rocked him back and forth, my sobs almost deafening.

“Don’t leave me,” I whispered again.

His eyes drooped and I could feel his blood soaking through my skirt.

“Love you,” he choked out.

“No,” I wheezed, “Please no…”

His eyes glazed over and his body went slack in my arms. I froze, waiting for him to move, but he was completely still. I shook him, begging him to wake up again.

“Kalen!” I shouted, my hands clutching him tightly to me.

“Let’s go,” I heard the prince say from in front of me. I glanced up at him, my eyes slanted in hate.

“Why?” I demanded of him, my voice low in anger.

The prince sneered, “Do you think I’m going to have it known that the princess I am to wed was having an affair with nothing more than a peasant?”

I bristled, trying to swallow back the rage that was growing within me.

“This was about politics?” I growled.

He looked away, “Would you please stand up. We need to clean the blood off you before we can take you back to the kingdom.”

My teeth ground in anger. I stared down at the one I loved, his blood covering me. His body had grown heavy on me but I wasn’t going anywhere. This was where I belonged. This was where I should have always been. And now it was too late.

I slowly rose from the ground, Kalen’s body sliding from my lap. The prince looked at me, carefully weighing my reaction. I stepped up close to him, coming only to his chest.

“You killed him because he was with me?”

The prince smiled belligerently, “You’re quite the catch, Nyssa. I wasn’t going to allow you to be sullied by lowering yourself to his level.”

My breath was coming faster and faster as I stared at him. Before I even knew what I was doing, I reefed the dagger from his belt.

He backed away almost immediately, his hands held out defensively, “Don’t be silly,” he chided me, “Killing me won’t bring him back.”

This time it was my turn to smile. I knew he was right. Killing him most certainly wouldn’t bring Kalen back.

With a single breath, I plunged the dagger hilt deep into my stomach. Pain blossomed across my entire body and I staggered beneath it.

His eyes widened and he took a single step towards me, his hands reaching for me.

“Now you have nothing,” I snarled in pain.

I sank to the ground right next to Kalen, where I belonged.

My blood trickled over my fingertips, mixing with Kalen’s. I lay myself next to him, my head resting in the crook of his arm. Darkness slowly ate away at my vision but the last thing I saw was the prince sneer once more at me before turning and walking away. My eyelids drifted shut but instead of darkness, I saw light. And in that light a figure walked towards me. His face was sad but I knew who it was. I would know him if a thousand years passed. Light shone on him and he held a hand to me. I reached for him, the pain subsiding the moment our fingers touched.