Chapter Six: Telling Corin
(Corin)
I'm finishing the wrapping on Lucy's bow when suddenly there's a knock on the door.
"Corin, it's Lucy. Can we talk?" a feminine voice calls. I stiffen, looking at the wrapped present sitting on the desk, but force myself to try and act natural.
"Of course, Lucy."
The heavy oaken doors creak open. Lucy walks in gracefully. She looks worried. Before I know it, I'm in front of her.
"Lucy? What's wrong?" I ask gently. She takes a deep, shuddering breath and looks up at me with tears in her eyes.
"Corin…" she begins. "The Duke of Galma is threatening war if I do not court him." My throat constricts…would she give herself up like that? She rushes on.
"I said no, of course, I love you, but if he doesn't accept that then I will be dueling with him. And if I lose…I may have to court him." I kneel before her.
"Lucy, I will fight him to my last breath before that happens." I whisper. She frowns.
"Corin, no, I won't let you fight for me!" she exclaims.
"But I will be!" I growl. "I will not risk you getting hurt!" She looks ready to argue more, but I cut her off.
"Look, let's just discuss this when we find out his answer, alright?"
It takes a while, with her being so stubborn, but finally she nods. I smile.
"I have something for you." I laugh at her curious expression and hand her the wrapped bow. She unties the ribbon and the paper flutters to the ground. Seeing the glossy bow and gleaming arrows in an ivory quiver, Lucy inhales sharply.
"Corin, did you make this?" she asks.
"Yes, is it not right?" I query anxiously.
"Oh, Corin, it's perfect!" she exclaims, setting the bow down and throwing her arms around my neck.
"Even more so because you made it." She whispers.
I chuckle and we kiss. Then Lucy pulls me out the door.
"I have something for you, too! It's in the forges!" she says excitedly. "Come on!" So we rush to the forges.
Oh, Lucy. I think to myself as we hurry along.
What am I going to do with the Duke?
(A.N. So cliché, but I needed a little filler. I'm so sorry it took so long to put this up, but my geometry teacher was trying to murder me with the amount of homework she gave every day! It kinda limited my time to come up with this. –Lucy)