Chapter TWENTY-ONE: Spring-DEVIN

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As spring was quickly approaching, now nearly a month after Queen Alisandra's death, Alicia Pendragon was adjusting to her new duties as Queen of Thais. However, her father, who was still very sick, had insisted that she focus more on replacing him as king and find a suitable husband as he had wished for the past several years. Mainly, he wanted her married because it was required if the unfortunate event of his death occurred. A new king was needed to usurp him as ruler. But as any caring father would want, he also wanted to ensure Alicia's happiness.

As before, Alicia had been adamant at first about marrying, but soon realized that finding a husband was the perfect excuse to set aside most of her royal duties to care for her ailing father; and also, secretly visit Devin in Animalville. However, because of her father's improving but slow recovery, she had not been able to speak to her father about Devin for fear of troubling him when he most needed rest and tranquility.

Devin and Alicia had hardly spoken of his impending return as a knight. Devin, however, was more than willing to wait for her father's health to improve as he wished nothing more than for the king to have good health; but at the same time, it was an ideal hindrance for him to avoid going back to Thais.

Alicia had been waiting patiently for the right moment to speak to her father and felt that it would soon come.

The right time finally did come. The day before the new spring season.

...

Devin heard a loud knock at the door, awakening him earlier than usual, and was about to get up, but Alicia didn't wait for him or Frederick to answer and flung the door open.

"Devin! Devin! Father is feeling much better!" she exclaimed as she opened the curtains, letting the bright sunlight pour into the room, blinding them, and making Frederick suddenly turn into a lion. She then bumped happily into Devin's cot, pushing him off to the cold ground.

"ROARRR!" Frederick groaned, startling her, and then he rolled over to fall asleep again.

"Frederick, that wasn't very polite!-But Devin, come on! You need to get up!"

"Did you have to scare all of Animalville to tell me this?!" Devin exaggerated as he got up from the floor, quick to cover his lower waist. "Have you even told the king that I'm alive yet?"

"No. Not exactly...but I was planning on telling him today! But I just came by so we could spar, since I do not need to watch my father today. I thought..."

"-Your slave-puppet-of-a-friend would be happy to take his lively queen-master out for the day; that's what you were thinking?" Devin finished for her and both laughed.

"Of course, my subject. You always did know your place well in my kingdom," Alicia said half-jokingly as she turned to let him get dressed.

The two walked to the lower plateau below Animalville. Alicia remained suddenly very quiet and concerned, thinking about what could happen when she told her father of Devin's desertion. She knew her father to have an iron fist for those who committed treason or other debaucheries; some, more minor than what Devin had done. On top of this, she still worried for the king's health and the grueling task of finding the future king of Thais.

She had managed to avoid marriage for so long only because of what happened when Devin went missing. Her parents had set their pressures aside for her to grieve. But now, she was Queen of Thais, motherless, and perhaps the unthinkable: to be fatherless soon too.

I have Devin...With him I can do this, Alicia thought, but felt nauseous as well.

Devin, too, thought nervously about tomorrow and speaking with the king. Even more so, he thought of having to let go of his resentments towards Thais and having to also let go of Talia after so long. I will be ready, he thought at last, making up his mind. For whatever comes, I will face with courage.

Alicia and Devin began to swing their weapons towards each other as the sun rose higher. His sword and her rapier collided making countless hits and clashes; but foolishly, their minds and hearts were not with their actions.

All too sudden, Alicia wounded Devin's arm and blacked out. Devin reached for her before she hit the ground. His arm began bleeding heavily.

"Alicia?! Alicia!?" Devin yelled frantically as he laid her on the ground. Her ashen skin was cold and bright pink. "No! Please wake up! Alicia!- HELP SOMEONE!-Alicia, wake up!" Devin yelled for a response, but got nothing.

He pushed her ruffled blonde hair to the side. Devin's hands shook violently as he picked her up and immediately began moving towards the steps back to Animalville. His heart raced with each pace he made, thinking the worst possibilities that could happen. Until now, he had not realized how much he cared for her.

"...Devin? What happened?" Alicia said weakly. "Stop... Put me down, I think I can walk Devin..."

"Alicia!? You're okay! I don't know what had happened...You just fainted...My Queen," he tried explaining as he placed her on the soft grass and stroked her forehead using his unwounded arm. Devin suddenly realized that he had only taken about five steps after she fainted, but it felt like an eternity.

Alicia smiled at him in a dreamy state and finally got up, using him for balance. He walked her closer to a tree nearby for shade still holding her close.

"My King..." Alicia uttered softly and caressed his face with her hand.

"Alicia...you are not yourself..." Devin began, but trailed off. She now stared deeply into his brown eyes. He gazed into her hers, entranced and mesmerized, and could not say more, nor did he want too. And perhaps because he had lost so much blood, Devin felt his head being pulled down by gravity towards hers. Their noses touched and they remained still...closing their eyes.

"Devin?! Queen Alicia?! Where are you two?!" Frederick shouted as he saw them and ran towards them in a panic. Devin looked up trying not to stumble to the ground and waved to him. He suddenly felt better and looked towards his arm and realized that it had stopped bleeding. Alicia straightened up also; her mind still blurry from what had happened.

"Devin...I feel better now... I think I should go talk to the king-I should...We can practice some other time," Alicia said after a moment.

"I will go with you, my queen, back to Thais," Frederick offered, knowing she should not go alone.

"Please, Frederick," she accepted. They began to carefully walk towards the bridge.

"Alicia...I will be ready tomorrow," Devin affirmed, sensing that the pressure of having to speak to her father had to do with her collapsing.

"I know you will, Devin. And I nearly forgot! Tomorrow is the Spring Equinox Festival. If father permits, I hope you will be able to attend."