Chapter 6:
(Clio POV)
I backed up to the side of the nest closest to the mouth of the cave. I thought out the best plan I could think of and was waiting for the Roc to fly in before using the smoke screen and getting out of here. I thought about what James had told me from when he was at Chivalry Hall. I was being as smart about this as I could be and waited. My hands were shaking as I held onto the charm in my hand. I would break it under my shoe when the bird was all the way in the cave and then I was going to run out of there and find somewhere safe before the smoke dissipated. After I would just have to wait until I could get out of there. I heard the bird screeched and I shuddered. I needed to stay calm. If I got scared, I was more likely to make a mistake. I heard a thud and saw the Roc come into the cave and towards the nest. I stomped on the charm and watched as smoke filled the room.
(James POV)
I was getting closer and closer to the Roc's nest that was in the cave. I saw the Roc land and enter the cave and knew I had to hurry. If Clio was safe she wouldn't be for long if she was now in the Roc. I made my way to the mouth of the cave when I saw smoke start to pour out. The smoke screen I gave Clio. I saw a figure run out and saw Clio crash into my arms. "J-J-James..." she said. I separated from her, "Clio I need you to start going down the mountain, I will be there soon but, first I have to deal with this." She nodded and began running down.
I refocused on the cave and unsheathed my sword. I knew that the smoke wouldn't stay for long so I had to move quickly. I went into the cave and saw the shadow of the Roc. Go for the wings I thought. I quickly ran in closer and went for the wings. I was able to cut one clean off but the monster turned to faced me and its large beak came for me and the tip slashed my arm. The moments that followed were an adrenaline filled blackout. All I remember was leaving the cave knowing that, that monster was never going to hurt anyone, especially Clio again.
I made my way down the mountain and saw Clio by my horse. I finally got a good look at her and saw that she was clutching her sides where the monster had grabbed her and could see stain from some cuts. "Are you ok?" I asked. She smiled up at me, "I'll be fine, but what about you?" Her eyes drifted to my arm. "Clio it's nothing..." I started but she immediately ripped off some of the fabric from her dress and began pressing it into the wound. "Come on, we need to get you to a doctor," she said. We rode to a small physician I knew about that was nearby in silence.
We went into a small cabin and I saw the doctor and his wife. "Sir James," "Hello Doctor Jones. Mary." He looked at the fabric on my arm and saw the gauze poking out from under my armor, "Come into the examination room." I shook my head, "You need to examine her first." She turned to face me, "James you are the one that is bleeding..." "Clio," I said stopping her. I grabbed her arm, "You are going first." She opened and closed her mouth before nodding her head. She was still holding onto her both her sides, crossing her arms against her chest, as she walked into the examination room. Doctor Jones and Mary followed her and I sat down. I removed the piece of armor that was over my shoulder. I saw that the gauze I had put on was a bright red but, that wasn't important. I just needed Clio to be ok.
(Clio POV)
I walked into the small exam room. I sat down on a small table as the doctor approached me. "May I, Miss?" He asked and I nodded. He began the examination and looked over all the wounds I had received. "Well you broke some of your ribs and you have some flesh wounds but, it looks like you are going to be ok." I nodded, "Thank you." We walked out of the room and I looked over at James who stood up when he saw me come out, "How is she?" Doctor Jones then spoke, "She has a few broken ribs but, she will be alright in a few weeks." James nodded but didn't seem to believe it, "James I'm fine. But, now it is your turn." He gave me a look but I shook my head, "Your turn." My voice was calm but, James knew that he had to go in. I was going to sit where he sat but he held my hand. I looked him in the eye and saw that he didn't want me to leave him and I nodded.
We walked into the exam room and James removed the pieces of armor he had on and the doctor removed his shirt to get a better look. I went to turn away but, James just kept squeezing my hand. "Clio, please don't go," I turned to look him in the eye and nodded. Putting my other hand on top of his. "Ok" I whispered and gave him a small smile. The doctor then said, "Well I'm going to need to stitch these up." James gave a firm nod as the doctor took out ale. He began to pour it on James' shoulder and James was hissing through his teeth. The doctor then poured some in a cup and gave it to James, "You're going to need it." James nodded and quickly swallowed it before the doctor began working on the stitches. He then moved James' arm and repeated the process before wrapping them both. "Alright Sir James you are going to need to rest for a couple of weeks and you aren't going to be able to go out on missions for a while," he then turned to face me, "make sure he doesn't do anything too strenuous." i nodded, "Yes doctor, thank you."
We looked outside the window and it had grown dark. Neither of us was in the best condition to ride. "Why don't you both stay here tonight?" Mary asked as we turned back to her. "We can prepare the guest room for you Sir James and your wife..." I opened my mouth to say something but, James quickly said, "Thank you so much Mary." I smiled and nodded, "Thank you Mary."
(James POV)
I know that I should have corrected Mary but, I didn't want to let Clio out of my sight right now. We walked upstairs and I looked back at Clio. She was just looking at the ground as she followed me. We walked into the guest room and saw the small bed that made up most of the room and a small trunk at the foot of it. Clio walked over and sat down on the trunk. I sat down next to her, "Clio I want to ask you something?" She looked up to me and her big brown eyes pierced my gaze and made the pit in my stomach grow as I asked this question, "Do you still want to court me?"Her lips parted slightly, "Because if you don't I understand." She put her hand on top of mine, "Why would you ask me that?" She asked. "Well look what happened. I'm a knight and that means that I'm going to be facing more of these monsters and terrible people. I don't want them hurting you too." She shook her head, "James we are royalty, we are always going to have some type of target on our backs even if we weren't courting each other. What is the real reason you are asking?" I sighed, "I didn't kill it the first time I faced it. I let it live and it hurt you. It would have been all my fault.. I could have lost you." "But you didn't. James it wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known that the bird was able to severe its talon from that cuff thing. And you were the one who saved me." I nodded and looked down at my lap. She squeezed my hand, "James I want to continue courting." I turned and saw her smiling up at me. I smiled back to her.
I then looked at a clock, "It is getting late, we should probably get some sleep if we want to leave at a decent time tomorrow." Clio just nodded and looked over at the bed. "Clio," I said bringing her attention back to me, "I'm taking the floor." That seemed to relax her. I hadn't realized how worried she had been over this. "Thank you," she said wrapping her arms around me. I wrapped my good arm around her and nodded into her shoulder.
(Clio POV)
James, reluctantly, took all the pillows from the bed and fashioned a bed for himself on the floor. We both laid in the dark but, neither of us could sleep. I don't think if we even knew why. It could have been that we were in shock or maybe it was the pain or maybe it was because of the situation we were in... but after a while of starring up at the ceiling I said, "James do you ever wish you were going to be King?" I heard a shuffle from his makeshift bed below before he said, "No. I mean at first I was mad when I found out I wasn't going to be King, thought Amber was stealing my destiny or something like that, but I have come to realize that it was never something I wanted. I care about my people and my kingdom but, being that responsible for them and making sure that they are taken care of... I don't think I am the person who would do well in that position." I nodded into the mattress. I honestly couldn't picture James as king, not in a bad way it is just... He is a protector, always has been, and he could better protect people as a knight.
"What about you Clio? Ever want to be a Queen?" I leaned my head further back. I know that that is what my mother expected of me, to marry a first born and become queen of a different kingdom, but honestly, "No, I have never wanted to be a Queen. I know that Amber, Hildy and I used to talk about it but, my heart was never in it. My oldest brother is taking the throne in Corinthia and I could never see myself as a Queen. I'm a performer. I would rather be out on stage than trapped in a throne room." It was the first time I ever said anything like that out loud and I was glad that I said it to James. I heard another shuffle below and then I rolled to the side and saw him on his knees next to the bed, "Well it is a good thing neither of us is the firstborn then is it." I smiled at him, "Yeah it is a good thing."
"Where do you picture your life then?" James asked, "If you aren't going to be trapped in a throne room." He smiled the last part. I reached out my hand and held onto his, "Well I am still going to have a title no matter what but, I want to continue to perform in musicals. Maybe go on a few more tours. But, when it comes down to it I'd want to live in a manor on the countryside. Close enough where I could visit everyone when I want to but, far enough away where I can forget about the world for a few hours." James smiled at me, "And maybe I could find room in my manor for a strong, gallant knight to have a family with." James sat up a little straighter, "Which knight?" I laughed a little and shrugged, "Remains to be seen." James laughed a little to and we continued talking until before I knew it I was asleep still holding on to James' hand.