Okay! So after a long wait here is my second chapter. Sorry that its not too long. It was like 2 pgs on word, but anyways, I hope that you enjoy.

Her hand raised reflexively to touch her brooch and fade into the night but he caught her arm, holding her back. She could read the need in his eyes... she knew that he wanted an answer, and though she had one, she just wasn't ready to give it to him yet.

"Why are you asking me this?" She whispered, knowing the answer before he replied.

"I am willing to fight for my people, Karigan, and I am willing to fight for you. I want nothing more than to throw away my crown and status and be with you… if you would have me." She looked at the door, judging her chance at escaping, but he still gripped her arm tightly, waiting for an answer.

"I can't tell you." Karigan could see how her response had hurt him, but she couldn't tell him that she did love him, and that if things were different, she would fight for her heart. She knew better than to get herself mixed up in these affairs.

"Sometimes, I envy you. You are free to make your own choices, live your own life. All I wanted was to go back to Hillander… to govern my province until … but that would never have worked out. With Amilton on the throne, my father knew that there would be disaster. I could have said no, but I never want to see my country in the hands of someone like Amilton. Letting Sacoridia fall would mean letting down my people, and I never want to do that. Everyone expects something from me, everyone but you. You have no limits, no expectations…" He sighed, giving a sad smile. Karigan stood up, her back turned to him, anger flooding through her.

"I am free to make my own choices? No! I never asked to become a Green Rider and give up my normal life to come here and serve you. I never wanted to give up my life as a merchant's daughter. For so long, I tried to resist the call, but even in my sleep, I could not escape it! I am not saying that I don't enjoy being a Green Rider, but I never wanted to be one. I never had a choice. Why can't any of you aristocrats understand that?" She felt the rage slowly leave her, and a single tear fell. She turned away, wiping it away with her hand

"Then I guess that in that, we are the same." He responded, a hand resting on her shoulder.

"Did you know that Lady Estora said the same thing to me, about being free to make my own choices? That day… on the tower?" She said softly, whispering the last few words.

"No,I…" She cut him off, spinning around to face him.

"You are a king, and I am a rider. There can never be anything between us, and you know that. Please spare me the guilt and leave me alone!" Karigan shouted, lifting her hand to her brooch. She faded into the night and started running to the exit, not wanting to look back at him and see the pained look on his face. Tears blurred her vision as she ran past the weapons and out of the private gardens. Things were going from bad to worse, and she feared that if she ever spoke to him alone again… she would break.

She had never felt as alone as she felt now. No matter how many people surrounded her, she felt like she didn't belong, and she didn't. The other riders were all talking about the upcoming marriage and they were so enthusiastic about it… all it brought to her was misery. Standing up, she silently left the room, knowing that no one would miss her this morning.

Walking through the corridors aimlessly, Karigan sighed. She wished that she had some place where she could be in solitude. Someplace where she could be free from the talk of the marriage. Every corner she turned, she feared that she would come face to face with King Zachary.

An hour must have passed since she left the Rider Common Room. Walking down a set of stairs while thinking, Karigan finally noticed where she was headed. Her eyes widened as the door at the bottom of the stairs opened.

"Karigan?"

She turned around quickly, running, disregarding his calls behind her. As she ran up the stairs, a hand grabbed her wrist, forcing her to stop. She turned around, staring into almond-shaped eyes, and a nervous feeling flooded through her body.

"I…I…" she stuttered, unsure of what to say. A smile spread across King Zachary's face, but it soon faded away into an earnest, pleading look.

"Karigan, please forgive me for what I said yesterday. I… I shouldn't have said what I did. I'm sorry." He looked down sadly, staring at the floor. Karigan glanced at the steps behind her, unsure of how to respond.

She felt guilty for running away from him then… and now, but the way he kept trying, even though he had signed the contract, was frightening. It proved the depth of his love for her, and that scared her. They stood there in silence, neither making any attempt to break the silence.

"Do…do you really need to know?" she asked, glancing nervously around to make sure that no one was coming. He nodded, waving his hand in the direction of his new study.

"I already have the papers planned… if I could break the contract, then…" He looked at her in the eyes. "If you were willing, I would send them to the lord governors. I would never force you into anything you didn't want. You know I love you. The choice is yours…"

"I…can I…get back to you on that?" Karigan asked, her voice unsure. She wished so badly that she could tell him, but she couldn't say the words without feeling like she was betraying Estora. He nodded, a hopeful look in his eyes, and then turned and walked away. Walking back up the stairs to her room, she wanted to smack herself in the head. Did she just agree to tell him? What was wrong with her? Friends with two aristocrats, in love with one… what was she doing? Maybe if she had just stayed at Selium to wait for her father instead of going off on her own… she sighed. How was she ever going to tell King Zachary that she loved him?

So, how was it? I hope you liked it. Let me know what you think! I'll try and update ASAP because now, I have some free time.

Naturelover5628