Chapter TWENTY-THREE: Best Intentions-DEVIN

...

The festival was nearly over as Alicia grabbed hold of Devin's bad arm, making him shriek. This time she led the way as they moved quickly towards the castle. Devin began to laugh (and also groan in pain from his arm) just seeing how panicky Alicia had become as she practically shoved people out of her way to get him to safety.

"Alicia, slow down. You don't have to protect me-I will protect us both if I have to," he said and then pretended to coughed. "Uh, um, remember, Lord Zorom all those years ago?"

"No, no. I do not need to be reminded again for the millionth time! I had that situation all under control, thank you!" Alicia retorted, stopping suddenly in front of him, near the castle entrance where several guardsmen recognized Devin with the queen. But oddly enough, they decided to leave them alone.

"I...I just can't stand the thought of losing you again, Devin. I...I care if something...If something bad were to-"

"-Alicia, my Queen, thank you for everything... Right now though let us just worry about your father," Devin interjected as he gently kissed her forehead twice making her blush. "I feel more like a coward now, after coming back. I should have come back a long time ago...At least...for you," Devin said as he lightly brushed her long hair to one side.

"You're right...We should worry about father. Devin, listen closely, when father is mad it is best that you do not look at him directly. Although he is bedridden, bow all the way to the ground; at least, in your case, you really should-Oh, and don't try to make excuses. He hates that..." Alicia continued giving Devin advice as they walked towards the king's chambers.

Both of them inhaled and exhaled deeply when they reached the king's doors.

"Devin, I'll walk in first. Better he see me than you in case he tries throwing something at you," Alicia said as she held his hand tightly.

King Alexander was sitting up in bed reading a long parchment, one of many rolls on his bedside. He immediately saw Alicia and smiled when he noticed the bouquet of marionbells in her hand, but frowned upon seeing Devin holding her other hand. He rolled up his scroll quickly and then batted in his hand. Devin curtsy all the way to the floor, as Alicia had told him to, and stayed in place.

"Daddy, how are you feeling? I brought Devin," Alicia said as she sat on the bedside beside her father. The king grinned, content to see his daughter happy again after so long.

"...Just fine, my princess...I see you have flowers. Did you two...enjoy...the Equinox?" King Alexander said with difficulty.

"Yes, daddy, we did. Devin got them for me. We had such a wonderful time," Alicia said, noticing that he had gotten worse since morning. He was struggling to breathe again.

The king reached for her flowers and pulled out one and broke the steam.

"A lady as lovely as my Alicia...can only become lovelier wearing a marionbell...Isn't that right, young man?" the king spoke as he tucked the flower in her hair, making Alicia cry. Devin felt out of place, but nodded as Alicia went over to him again. Her beauty was enhanced, but she really didn't need anything, he briefly thought.

"Well, knight...or deserter, I may say...I suppose you are here for your punishment for defiance and treason against the throne...Under the circumstances, I would normally send you to gallows or exile you in a desert...But today...we shall have you catapulted!" King Alexander said loudly as he stared at Devin who gulped, suddenly remembering what he had jokingly said earlier.

"Oh daddy! You cannot do this! I won't let you!" Alicia begged as she kneeled beside his bed. The king began to laugh weakly, making Alicia look up and sneer. "That's not funny, daddy! You never do this! I believed you!" she said angrily, but was too relieved, and began to laugh along with Devin and her father.

"My dear daughter, I, at very least had to scare him after what he has done. You knight...I believe your room is still available," he looked to Devin as he spoke with a lot of difficulty. "...You may return...as highest knight of the court, since we have not replaced you since you went missing. I am being lenient as you did save my daughter all those years ago and you did save the world from Zorom... But let it be known that I am being light on you only for my daughter's sake and the late Queen Alisandra's last wishes... Alicia's happiness is what is most important, so I trust that you will never, never...NEVER, let my kingdom down again! Is that clear enough?!" King Alexander finished with absolute firmness.

"Aye, Your Highness. You have my word- I'm too grateful and undeserving to have your forgiveness and also Alicia's," Devin answered, puzzled over the king's decision, and even more over his generous words.

"Err...Your 'friendship'... with my daughter is the only thing saving your hide. Other than that, your presence was missed by all of us, and it is a shame that my dear wife did not see you return since she was very fond of you," the king stopped and looked over at Alicia, who was now smiling cheerfully again. "Devin...please step outside while I have a word with my Queen."

Devin did as he was told and waited for Alicia outside. A few minutes later Alicia emerged. This time the smile had been wiped off her face and was replaced with a blank stare.

"Alicia, is everything okay?"

"Yes... I guess it is for now. Father has arranged for a ball in a few days. My first in over two years! I will have to choose a husband, he told me..." Alicia said as she was now coming close to being speechless. "I just don't understand...And he wants you to be a guardsman as punishment for the evening.

"Devin...I have to go now to prepare for the ball. I would show you to your room, but I have a lot to do."

"Alicia, perhaps, it is... for the b-best," Devin stammered as he tried not to sound upset for her. He suddenly wondered why she hadn't married after all this time, but there were so many reasons and he didn't want to ask.

"Yes. For the best...By the way, I have kept your room up since you've been away. I will also let everyone know that you are back so you will not have any problems getting around the city." Alicia finished as she quickly turned and began to walk away, now feeling tears forming in her eyes she did not want Devin to see.

He watched her as she left the corridor unable to say more.

...

Devin then walked outside the castle to the knight's quarters to find his old room. He nudged the door carefully open as though not wanting to disturb anything. After all, it no longer felt like the place he had called home. At first glance, it became immediately apparent that Alicia had been here many, many times. The thought of two years of her grieving for him in this very room, crossed his mind with heavy guilt and remorse; but in a way, this was a softer side of her he never knew.

She had taken the initiative to adorn the room with a rug, a fancy chair, and a few small paintings, giving it a cozy feeling it didn't have before.

The last time he was here, he had scorched the bedding after finding out that Talia loved him; but now, the sheets had been replaced and the bed was neatly made. And despite the new items, everything was as he had left it. Even the square shaped indentation where he had kept Talia's journal was still there. Though to his surprise, he noticed something in its place. It was a golden ring.

Alicia's, he thought, as he held the jade green stoned ring and read the engraving within: Pendragon Sigma.

It was too late to give it back to her, but there would be time later on. Devin carefully stared at the ring and thought of Alicia for a while and then placed the ring under his pillow as he fell asleep.