41. Fork In The Road
Shadow stares down at the road divided into two paths, eyebrows furrowed as he contemplates which road to travel.
"You know, for a brave knight or whatever the hell you wanna call yourself, you're not very good at directions, are you?" Shadow almost forgot about the weight that's settled against his back or the sturdy thighs that his hands are cupping. He glances back, and Princess Sally stares at him, her sapphires eyes twinkling in amusement. Her gown, a gorgeous orange color that stops a few inches above her ankles, swishes gently in the light breeze, and her crown, silver with pearls adorning it, sits crookedly on her head, complementing her auburn hair.
"First of all, I'm a renegade, meaning I do whatever the hell I want. Secondly, how was I supposed to know there'd be a fork in the road?" he grumbles, scowling as she continues laughing at him. Perhaps he is wrong to have freed her from that tall tower she was trapped in, but then he reminds himself of how much he loves her, of all the precious moments they'd shared before her father decided to betroth her to another. That's actually why she ends up getting kidnapped. She fled from home because she didn't want to be royalty anymore because if she was an ordinary girl, they could freely be together, no longer separated by their differing statuses.
He caught wind of her kidnapper, sought after her, found her and beat the shit out of the people who dared to try and hurt his beloved, and made passionate, sweet love to her seconds later. He feels his face heat up as he recalls that moment. He knows he shouldn't have done it, shouldn't have given in so easily, not that he regrets it. He loves her dearly; however, he's all too aware of her status as a princess, and while he isn't a bad guy, he's certainly not the ideal saint her parents would want her to associate with. People will surely disapprove of their relationship, but Sally seems unbothered by it all.
"You won my heart, Shadow, and I want no one else to have it but you." Her sweet, heartfelt words echo inside his mind, and he knows he'd travel through the depths of Hell for her if she asked him too.
"Let's go down the road to the right," Sally declares, her voice coaxing him out of his musings.
"You do know that could be the wrong one?"
"But, it could be the right one. Besides, I don't hear you comin' up with any helpful suggestions, and I really do feel like it's the path." He sighs, adjusts her more comfortably on his back, and does what she says. If something or someone tries to harm them along their way, he had plenty of weapons and can easily defend the both of them if need be.
"What are you going to tell your parents when we return back to your kingdom?" Shadow asks, already breaking off into a run. He wants to make it back before dark. Sally is silently, contemplating and admiring the scenery that passes before her very eyes. She loves the wind whipping her hair in all kind of directions and being outside. It's like she's a bird finally escaping its cage and spreading its wings.
"I'm going to tell them that I found love with you and that I'm going to marry you as soon as possible. I don't care that you're not a prince or something really prestigious in their eyes. I love you, and you make me happy as hell. If they can't accept that, then tough tits. Plus, Elias's wife isn't a princess, and she was already with child from someone else when they met and fell in love, but do you think he gives a shit? He doesn't, and it's because he loves both her and her daughter and treats them very well."
"I shouldn't have to explain my happiness if I don't want to. They'll warm up to you once they see how good you are for me," she assures him, pressing a kiss to his cheek before nuzzling against his neck, her hands gripping her shoulders. Shadow says nothing else, but the smile on his face speaks volumes.
They'll be fine. Love conquers all, after all.
Finally, after what feels like eons, I update this baby. Thanks so, so much for the continued love and support! You guys rock! Hopefully it won't take me forever and a day to update again haha.