Hiya all of those out there who read this! (of course, this applies to about four people.) Welcome to chapter four! The entire chapter is written from the perspective of Darres. For all you out there who can't tell (which is everyone but me) Darres's feelings for Ishtar should become apparent in this chapter. Gah, this one was so hard to write! I really don't know enough about him. For someone who plays such a central part in the manga, he really doesn't get much page-time. (oops, I'm rambling! Time to start the chapter!)

Broken Dreams: Chapter Four

Reflection

Darres stood guard outside of Ishtar's room. He lounged against the door, his feet and legs crossed and scowl upon his face. He hated guarding the princess. Well, he used to not mind it so much, but ever since she had started running away on a frequent basis, the task had become a nightmare. At least he knew she was in there at the moment; she was talking to that cat of hers. The girl needs some friends her own age, he thought to himself. It's not natural to talk to a pet. At least, I don't think it is. I never had a pet. But still... she's not normal. She doesn't have anyone close to her age around her. I guess, in a way, I really am her only friend outside of the family...maybe it was natural for her to fall in love with me.

He could remember the first time she told him that she would marry him.

/ "Darres, Darres!" called the little girl.

It was spring in Pheliosta. Both the princess and her guard loved spring more than any other season. The fields overflowed with flowers, and the sky was a multicolored masterpiece of butterflies and birds. There was a light breeze to accentuate the beautiful weather.

An eighteen year old Darres turned to the young princess, a smile lighting up his face. "Hey, squirt!" he called. She bounced up to him, her face radiating pure joy. The soldier knelt down to face her at her level.

"Darres, look!" she cried happily, thrusting a flower in his face.

"It's lovely, princess." He grinned. He picked her up and spun her around. She giggled and clapped her hands in delight.

"I really like you, Darres!" she laughed. "When I grow up, I'm gonna marry you!"

Darres of course was surprised at this omission, but he assumed it was childhood innocence that made her say such a thing. He decided to play along.

"That would be fun. But right now we have to go back to the castle."

She pouted. "But I don't wanna go back .."

"I'm sorry, princess, but it's time." He lifted her up onto his shoulders, and they began the trek back home. /

Darres smiled to himself at the cute memory. Back then, Ishtar had been such a sweetie. What had made her change so much?

More than he wanted to admit it, he worried about the girl. Every time she went missing, he would fret like an old hen. Nowadays, the amount of trouble she got into was on a rise, and it was driving him insane. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Why does she have to make everything so hard for me? And the way she was acting at breakfast...

When he thought of how Yuginn had winked at her, he felt anger rising in him. What does he think he's doing? He doesn't have a chance, he thought scornfully.

W-wait a minute...what am I saying? I don't care who the princess ends up with. I don't!!

But, even as he thought it, Darres knew it wasn't true.

The soldier cut off his internal monologue as Ishtar's voice wafted through the door. "...Duzie, you dork! Of course I think Darres is cute! But he's an idiot and heartless jerk."

Darres snorted. Jeez, Ishtar, ya sure know how to make a guy feel loved. He strained his ears to hear what she said next.

"But, that Yuujel! Oh, he's sooo gorgeous!!!! And to think that he likes me!!!" she giggled.
A muffled voice said something before the princess continued.

"...Well, sorta. I just gotta get used to the idea. But.... I think that, if he asked me to marry him, I'd probably say yes."

The guard jumped backwards like he was burned. What, what, WHAT???? Her magic instructor? She'd MARRY him??? He shook his head to clear the very notion out. It was too disturbing.

Darres didn't know how to rule the world. He didn't know how to cast a spell worth his life. He couldn't write a novel, or conquer a nation, or play an instrument. That type of thing was for rulers, scholars, and wizards. There was a lot he didn't know, but there was one thing he did know:

He knew this was not the way things should be.

So yeah, that was chapter four! If anyone still doesn't know, Darres likes Ishtar, although he seems to be in denial. As for what Duzzell said after ishtar started gushing about Yuginn, he asked if she liked him. Now, review!! I won't post the next chapter if I don't get another review! (only kidding. I love you all and would never do that)