Chapter 10 – A Strange Visitor
As time passed, Ann seemed to accept Liam's love. She was even starting to show some affection towards Liam. The knights sighed at the sight of them together. They became an inseparable pair.
One night, after crossing the border at the beginning of the third week on the road, Liam summoned Ann to his tent.
He put an arm around her as she leaned against him. He then spoke softly while stroking her hair. "Ann, I love you. Please say you love me too. But even if you don't, that's okay."
"I love you too Liam, even though you can be clueless sometimes," she chuckled.
Liam lifted Ann's face up so she met his sapphire eyes. Ann's heart skipped a beat when she saw the love in them.
"Ann," Liam whispered, "Will you be my bride?"
Ann stared at him and trembled. She didn't know what to think.
"I don't know Liam. It, it's too sudden, too fast. I need time to think about it."
Liam's heart sank. He had expected her to say yes right away. He tried to read her face, but the light was too dim. He had no choice but to nod and let her leave.
Ann couldn't forget the look of disappointment and sadness on Liam's face. It broke her heart to see him like that. When he asked her, at first she was surprised and confused, then happy. But then she realized that if she married Liam, she would be princess, and then queen someday. She wasn't sure if she was ready for such a responsibility or for marriage yet, especially marriage. She had seen what happened to her mother. Mother told me that He was nice to her before they got married. They had only known each other for a couple of months when she accepted his offer. Although Ann loved the prince, she didn't know if she loved him enough to be able to spend the rest of her life with him.
The next day, neither spoke to each other. Liam was giving Ann time to think, and Ann still couldn't decide. The prince was in a state of melancholy and anxiety while the knights looked on helplessly.
Two days later, when they were almost at their destination, Ann came up to Liam. She looked at him, her face sad. Liam's heart sank, fearing it might be bad news.
"I'm sorry Liam. I, I don't think I'm ready for marriage yet."
Liam started to turn away, for he didn't want Ann to see the tears forming in his eyes.
"I still love you Liam," Ann called after him. "I'm just not ready for marriage and being a princess." Then she added softly, "I don't want to hurt you. But I also don't want to do something I might regret."
Liam took a deep breath, wiped his eyes and faced her. "All right then. I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes."
The next couple of days, nobody spoke, not even the knights. The storytelling at night stopped, and so did Ann's music.
When they were almost at Briar City – they could even see the tallest towers of the castle through the trees – Sir Henry reported that someone was coming their way.
"Hold your weapons," said the man to the knights, who had their swords unsheathed. The knights watched the man and the three knights accompanying him warily.
"Who are you?" Liam asked.
"It doesn't matter who I am, Your Highness. I come in peace." The man, dressed like a noble in rich gold silk, showed his empty hands.
Liam was surprised, how did this man know he was royalty? He was wearing peasant clothes.
Seeing Liam's confused look, the man laughed. But he stopped laughing when he saw the girl next to him.
"Ann? Is that you?" he whispered as his eyes widened.
Ann's eyes widened. Without saying a word, she took off on her horse.~*~
I know you will call me evil, such a short chapter with an evil cliff. So I'll say beforehand that I know I'm evil. Muahahaha!!!
At least the update was fast.
