Chapter 9

Karigan was in the garden, sitting on a bench, when Estora found her. Estora was taking a daily walk though the gardens when she saw Karigan. She walked up to her.

"Karigan, are you all right?" she asked as she sat down beside her. Karigan looked up in surprise. This is odd. I hardly catch Karigan off guard like this Estora thought.

"Yes…. no…. gods, I don't know," Karigan said as she stood up and pace in her gown.

"Tell me what bothering you," Estora said. Karigan looked at her. Should I tell her? She thought. She sighed and sat back down. She decides to tell her, but not directly.

"You see, I have this friend who is love with a man, who is engaged to marriage another woman," she started. Estora smiled inwardly. She knew where this was going.

"The man and the woman love each other very much, but my friend's honor is too great and refuses to be with him if he is to be with another woman. He keeps coming to her and telling her how much he loves her and that he will find a way for them to be together," She said.

"What about the other woman? How does she feel about the whole thing?" Estora asked wanting to know how Karigan saw her as the woman engaged to the man she loves.

" I honestly don't know about her. I know that she doesn't love the man and that she lost her one true love. She hope for security and respect," Karigan said.

"Um…. and what about if that woman knew about the man love for another woman?" Estora asked, seeing if Karigan would catch on.

"That's impossible, unless…." Karigan trailed off in realization and looked at Estora. "You know. You know that I love Zachary."

"Yes, I do. It's so plain to see if you look at it closely," Estora said softly. Karigan sat back down beside her.

"You don't hate me?" she asked very softly. Estora laughed at that.

"Hate you? Why would I hate you for loving the king?" she asked as she took Karigan's hand into her own. " You are my dearest friend and I don't want to take away your chance at love." Just then King Zachary walked in on them.

"Karigan," he said as he watched. Estora watched them, feeling the tension.

"well, I suppose I will finish my walk. Good Day, Sire, Karigan," Estora said, ingoring the look from Karigan that told her to stay. When she was gone, Zachary walked up to Karigan. He clenched his fists to stop himself from grabbing her.

"You told her," Karigan whispered. "Why?"

"How could I not? She is just as unhappy as I am about the match," he said, "and beside, she deserves the truth."

"so now what?" she asked, looking anywhere but at him. Zachary put a hand under her chin and forced her to look at him.

"I don't know Karigan, but I can't stay away from you," he whispered, "gods, Karigan, I love you so much." He leaned in and covered her mouth with his. He kiss her and then pull away.

"I will find a way. I promise," he whispered.

End of chapter 9

A/n: how's that? Well, what do you guys want next? I told you I was running out of ideas.