Chapter 21, ladies and gentlemen! I hope you enjoy it and I really enjoy getting so much love from all of you. It makes me so happy. Feel free to leave all the love you want.(:
When they arrived back to the castle, they went their separate ways. Bash to tell Mary and Francis that the debt was paid, and Arianna to see her grandmother being too wound up for her adventure in the forest and the kisses her and Bash shared to sleep. Entering her chambers, she found a note informing her that Emese had travelled to Paris for a shopping trip. Her exact words were she was getting more suitable clothes for Arianna for when the Bulgarian men arrived. Relieved that she wouldn't have to deal with her grandmother for a few days, she went in search of girls, needed someone to talk to about the mess that was her life at the moment. Especially since she let herself go in the forest with Bash.
Arianna decided before going to see the girls, she needed to clean herself properly. Calling for a bath, she relaxed a little in the hot water and washed away all the evil that found her in the forest, all the bad memories it brought back. After feeling clean, Arianna got dressed and was about to head out on her destination when there was a knock at her door. Opening it, she was surprised who was on the other side.
"Bash?" Arianna had no idea why he was here. It was only midmorning by now but she didn't expect to see him again so soon.
"Aria. I think we need to talk." Bash said entering her room.
"What about?" Arianna asked, though she had a feeling she knew what he wanted to talk about.
"What happened in the forest." Bash stated.
Arianna had moved to sit on her bed. "Oh." Was her reply. Bash raised his eyebrows, signaling for her to say more. "I know that I shouldn't have gotten to upset about the blood and then with killing the man, I just wanted to protect you." She started to ramble on but Bash's eyebrows furrowed together at this.
"That's not the incident I wished to talk about right now. I mean the kiss. However, I do wish to discuss those things as well." Bash told her.
Looking down, she but her lip before speaking. "I shouldn't have done that. It was reckless and stupid—"
"Do you still love me?" Bash interrupted. Arianna's eyes widened at his question.
"What?" was all she could say.
"Aria, do you still love me?" Bash repeated, moving closer to her.
"Why are you asking this, Bash?" she evaded.
"I want to know. Stop evading my question. Do you still love me?" Bash pressed.
She wouldn't look at him. How could she answer this? Of course she loved him. She loved him so much it hurt to be apart. Though, Daymen was coming and if he found out…no. She couldn't let him find out. Who knows what he would do to Bash. She could not let Bash get hurt because of her. She felt his hand under her chin, pulling her face to look at him. He was now standing in front of her with the most heartbreaking look of sadness on his face. She couldn't lie to him, not about this. She could never lie to Bash.
"Arianna?" Bash questioned.
"Yes." She whispered closing her eyes.
"Yes?" Bash repeated.
"Yes is the answer to your question. Yes, I still love you." Tears began to form in her eyes. Quickly, she squeezed them shut so he couldn't see.
"You still love me?" she nodded. "Then why are you acting as if you don't? Why are you pushing me away?"
She shook her head vigorously. She didn't want to explain things. Not now. She had to keep her composure when Daymen arrived and if Bash brought all this stuff up, made her talk about all this right before he arrived, she could never get her composure back.
"You're doing it now!" Bash exhaled clearly frustrated. Throwing his hands in the air, he began pacing around the room. "Why, Aria? You keep pushing me away, and then you'll let me in briefly before you push me even farther away. I can't keep doing this!"
Arianna stayed quiet, watching Bash pace in front of her. She wanted to speak her mind like she always did with him, but this subject was one that he did not understand. He couldn't understand. He'd be so angry with her, she was certain of it. Knowing would put him in danger.
"Why aren't you speaking? You always have something to say! Something else changed you while you were gone. What happened?" Bash demanded, his voice becoming louder.
That made her snap. "My parents died, Bash! Do you think that I would be the same after that? I lost my family, I almost lost my brother. I am now a Queen, something that I never thought I'd be! And it's all my fault! My parents were murdered because—" she stopped midsentence, clasping her hands over her mouth, realizing what she just said.
Bash walked over to her, seeing her eyes wide and her hands over her mouth. "Murdered? I thought it was a fire that killed them? How is it all your fault?" Bash moved closer to her, holding her face in his hands. "Aria, what aren't you telling me?"
Arianna felt the tears spill over. She tried to break free of Bash's hold but she couldn't. His hands felt too good to really try and move from his touch. "I can't tell you. I just can't! You'll be hurt and it'll be my fault! I will not let you get hurt because of me!"
"Aria, look at me. I don't care." Bash said quietly. She looked into his eyes, tears falling from hers. He gently took his thumb and wiped a few of them away. "I love you. Do you hear me? I love you more than anything. You are everything to me and I cannot stand being away from you. It hurts to be apart and I can't stand not being to touch you, hold you, and kiss you. You can trust me don't you know that? You can trust me with anything. I will always be here for you. I will always protect you because I love you."
Hearing this, Arianna began to cry more. Bash moved next to her on the bed and pulled her into his chest. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on so tight she was afraid she might actually be hurting him. She kept shaking her head into his chest, not having the voice to protest in any other way.
Bash's arms were around Arianna so tight he was afraid he might be hurting her, however, he did not let go. If he let go, he didn't know when he'd be able to hold her again. So he held onto to her, as she held him. He buried his face into her hair, remembering how wonderful it felt to be this close to her. He felt her stop shaking her head, and instead of pulling back like he expected, she nuzzled into his chest. Bash chuckled under his breath at this. No matter how much he wanted to stay like this, he needed answers.
"Aria?" Bash started.
"Bash, don't. Can we just stay like this a little longer?" Arianna asked tiredness thick in her voice.
"Of course." Bash whispered, laying his chin on top of her head, stroking her hair.
He didn't know how long they stayed there like that but it must've been a while because he felt her grip start to loosen and her breathing became slow. He looked down to see Arianna asleep, and still holding onto him. He laughed a little at this, he slowly and carefully, not wanting to wake her, moved her to where she was now lying on the bed. He went to move away, but she stirred a little, gripping tighter onto Bash.
"Don't leave, please. Stay with me." Arianna said quietly, trying to open her eyes. "I don't want to have nightmares. Stay with me so I won't. Please?"
Bash couldn't say no to her, he never could. So he pulled the blankets over her, and then lay on top of them. She scooted closer to him, laying her head on his chest.
"Thank you." She whispered, before falling back asleep.
"Always." Bash said, kissing the top of her head. For a while, he sat there, just watching her sleep, enjoying just being next to her again.
He knew that if someone found out he were here, he virtue would be compromised and that it could be horrible for her. Yet, as he was looking down at the girl he loved, he couldn't leave her alone. He could never leave her alone. Bash was slightly upset that he didn't get the answers that he wanted but he knew that she still loved him. That was enough for him. With that hope, Bash could try and get her back. No matter what it takes. With that thought, Bash's eyes started to become heavy and he fell asleep next to her.