"You did WHAT?!" Jemma sprayed her wine across the table.
"I arranged a marriage between you and Prince William from the neighbouring kingdom, I thought you would be delighted to help our kingdom repay the debt we owe." Queen Melinda sat across from the princess, with an air of superiority and power.
"No! I can't! I just- no!" Jemma's eyes began to water, she was so confused, how could her father allow this to happen?
I stood at the King's end of the table, filling his cup. But my mind escaped me, and I dropped the pitcher in his lap.
"Your highness, please forgive me, I- uh- I'll get something to uh- clean that up. Right away!" I stumbled to the door, stuttering my words as I went.
How could this be happening? I thought as I threw open the grand doors of the dining hall. I turned down the torch-lit corridor. The walk to my chamber was only down the hallway, but it seemed endless.
I slammed the frail wooden door behind me and numbly stumbled to my cot. I was still in shock of what I had just witnessed. I couldn't believe my best friend of 18 years was being sent away. She was the only one who cared for me, when my own flesh and blood did not. The only one who loved me when I was alone. She was the one I loved, but now she's being ripped from my hands.
"That boy needs to learn to control himself." remarked the queen, as she took another bite of her meal.
"I don't even know you anymore, mother." I said with a shaking voice, pushing the chair out from the table and fleeing out the door through which Fitz had exited only moments before.
I turned left down the hallway and strode across the marble floor, trying to keep my quivering lips from being noticed by the people walking down the corridor opposite me. When I reached the door to Fitz's chambers I was about to knock, but I hesitated. Should I give him a moment? No, I need to speak with him. But maybe now isn't the right time…
I sank down in front of the door, leaning the back of my head against it. I could hear Fitz's breathing from the other side of the door, I could tell he was on the verge of tears. I don't know how to comfort him, after all, there was only so much I could do about the situation myself.
*Knock, knock knock, knock* The wood I'm leaning on reverberated with that familiar beat. *Knock knock* I reply. When we were only eight years old, we made that secret knock so we would know if the other was at the door. It seems silly, but right now anything happy, no matter how childish, was the only thing keeping me going.
The door opened behind me and Fitz's heartbroken face greeted me. Before either of us said a word, his arms wrapped me in a warm hug. Sobs wracked his body, and I tried to comfort him as best I could.
"Do you remember when we were really little, and we snuck out into the woods?" Fitz says shakily, pulling away from me. I could see the tears coursing down his rosy cheeks.
"How could I forget, I had so much fun that day…"
"So did I, until you wandered away from me… I thought you were gone. I thought I'd never see you again!" A few stray tears found their way from his eyes, I wiped them away with my sleeve.
"But I found you again, didn't I? You see, we'll never be lost from each other." With that, so overcome with emotion, I threw myself in his arms once more. "I promise to never lose you."