That night, Kori sadly wandered through the gardens. She brushed her fingers against the red and white roses that poked out of the bushes and sighed. Usually, she would hang around in the gardens to regain some form of peace but at that moment, she was only contributing to wallowing in her own self pity.
Kori watched the fenorbla flies as they fluttered around in the night sky and she frowned. Even the beautiful little creatures couldn't bring her mood up.
She didn't want to marry Prince Da'akaar in the slightest. There was nothing about him that seemed remotely attractive. He was not very handsome and his personality definitely didn't match well with hers. He seemed like the type of person to be all about himself whereas Kori was very much about helping others.
Kori pulled a red rose loose and sniffed it briefly. She ambled over to a stone bench and perched upon it. The Princess sighed heavily as she ran her slender fingers over the soft rose petals. She hated the current situation that she faced.
Dick hadn't spoken to her since her inevitable engagement to Prince Da'akaar. He hadn't even come to find her. She understood that he was angry but she wished that he also understood that she didn't have a lot of choice in the matter. She had an obligation to her family and her people.
Of course Kori was furious about it but she couldn't do anything to change it either. Any form of attempt would be in vain.
Kori shivered as a light breeze picked up and ruffled her long auburn hair. The quick gust of wind caused her to look to the side. She noticed Prince Da'akaar strolling towards her. She quietly groaned but got to her feet and clasped her hands in front of her form.
As he approached, she curtsied to her fiancé out of respect, "My Prince..." She greeted, standing up straight once more.
Prince Da'akaar nodded to her and his signature grin returned upon his face, "My Princess... How are you?" He asked,
"I am wonderful," Kori lied,
"Is there any particular reason why you are out here?"
"I... This is my favourite place in the kingdom and... I felt hot... I needed the fresh air."
The Prince nodded as if saying that he understood her reasons,
"So... What are your thoughts?"
"On... Our engagement?"
"No, what are your thoughts on the war?" He paused and glanced directly at her, "Do you think Tamaran can win with my planet's help?"
"Oh... I... I am hopeful for such an outcome but I am unsure..."
The Prince briefly frowned, "You doubt Solturi's abilities."
Kori gulped and shook her head, "N-No. Forgive me if I offended you, my Prince. I merely mean... This war sometimes seems quite unpredictable."
"Mm... Well, I am going to retire to my chambers, my Princess..." He flashed her a quick smile, "Goodnight,"
Kori nodded her head to him, "Goodnight, my Prince..."
Prince Da'akaar stood up from the stone bench and marched away from the gardens with a discreet smirk upon his face, unbeknown to Kori.
The Princess sighed shakily and allowed her shoulders to slump in a very unladylike manner. She used the back of her sleeve to wipe her eyes. Since the moment she agreed to marry Prince Da'akaar, all she had done was cry. Kori had become so depressed about the whole situation and all she wanted to do was run away from it all.
Kori sighed heavily and slowly moved across the gardens so that she stood upon the small crossing bridge. She rested her hands on the stone barriers which prevented anyone from falling into the beautiful river that ran beneath it.
She heard a number of footsteps suddenly and tensed up. She had begun to distrust those around her. Someone must have known about Prince Da'akaar's intentions and yet nobody, not even her own parents, found her beforehand to warn her.
The Princess immediately relaxed as she witnessed Ryan rest his hands on the stone barrier too. He and Dick were the only people that would have told her if they had known; that she was certain of.
"I am so sorry, Kori..." He whispered, turning his head to look at his distraught sister,
Kori shook her head as a tear fell from her eye and rolled down her soft cheek,
"How... How are you feeling?" Ryan wondered, not sure of what was acceptable for him to ask,
Koriand'r's mask suddenly cracked and she choked out a sob. She pushed her hands against the rough stone of the barrier and glanced at Ryan. Tears freely fell from eyes, causing them to become puffy. She sniffled and tried to compose herself without success.
"How do you think I am feeling, Ryan!? I am being forced into a marriage with a prince I have no knowledge of other than that of his name! He is not caring or warm and I feel sick when I am around him! And the person who I genuinely have feelings for has not spoken to me since this morning! I could not even locate him..." She paused and sighed, "He must hate me..."
Ryan placed a gentle hand upon Kori's shoulder, "Kori..." He breathed, desperately trying to think of an answer to her problems.
Kori turned to him and suddenly clung to him, crying as much as her body would allow, "Ryan... I do not wish to marry him..." She croaked,
The Prince stroked his sister's hair and held her close, providing her the comfort and support that she needed so much.
"He is but a stranger..."
"I know, sister..."
"I love mother and father but how long must we be pawns for them to use at any given moment?"
"I wish I knew the answer..."
Kori sighed and stepped back from her brother. She brought her sleeve up to her face and wiped her eyes and face so she looked presentable once more.
"You should talk with Nightwing..." Ryan suggested,
The Princess gave into a sarcastic laugh, "Oh yes... I am sure that he is simply dying to speak with me." She shook her head and glanced off into the distance, "He was unsure about beginning a relationship with me in the first place... And I proved his concerns right..."
"Perhaps, he just needed time to calm himself... It was a shock for everyone except for the few who were involved with it." Ryan guessed,
Kori had a dull, misty glaze to her eyes as she whispered, "Perhaps..."
Ryan sighed but focused on his own agenda, "I must go, sister... I have to speak to father about war matters... You should join us."
Kori hugged herself and closed her eyes, irritated by the mere mention of war, "No thank you... The war is the last thing that I wish to think about."
Ryan nodded and silently left her, knowing that he couldn't say anything that would change her predicament.
After a couple of minutes of just listening to the light rustling of the foliage on account of the gentle breeze, Kori exhaled noisily and decided to head back to her room for the night. She was tired from all the crying and was eager to sleep so that she could forget about life, even if it was just for a little while.
She carefully stepped off of the small bridge and slowly walked through the gardens, brushing her fingers against the tips of the gorgeous flowers. She briefly glanced upwards and froze. Dick stood approximately 3 metres away from her and she had no idea how to react. In reality, she wanted to run to him and have him welcome her with open arms but she doubted that scenario would happen.
Instead, the two of them merely stared at each other for a moment or so before Kori sighed. She didn't see the point in trying to reason with him about the situation at hand and she was too tired to argue about how it wasn't her fault. However, guilt was hitting Kori in sudden waves.
She groaned and turned to the right, picking up pace as she walked in the other direction; away from Dick.
Dick's eyes widened and he instantly chased after her, "Kori, wait!" He exclaimed,
Kori stopped and gradually turned back around to face him, not completely meeting his gaze this time.
Nightwing stepped closer to her so that he stood just in front of her. He softly placed his hands on her shoulders and allowed them to slide down her arms and take her hands in his own. It was his personal display of affection as well as a comforting gesture.
"I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to act difficult... I just couldn't stay in there and act like everything was fine when... It wasn't." He explained,
Kori took one step and leaned against his chest. She felt a slight soar of happiness as she felt Dick kiss her head.
"I am sorry... I wish to be yours completely but... I have so many duties and demands that must be met... But... I never thought I would have to marry someone for an alliance..." She paused to take a breath, "I feel so used... I am sorry, Richard... I just... I am sorry..."
Dick smiled and hooked his index finger beneath her chin to make her look at him, "Hey, stop staying sorry... I don't think either of us could have prevented this."
He leaned down a little and placed a soft kiss upon her lips. Kori relaxed immensely, knowing that it wasn't her that he was angry at.
"I do not wish for things to end between us." Kori stated after they separated,
"How can we continue when you're engaged?" Dick replied,
"Well... We were being discreet anyway... We must simply be more discreet." She proposed,
Dick smirked and held her around the waist, "Are you willing to be unfaithful to your fiancé, Princess?" He asked, half jokingly,
Kori wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "A thousand times over if it means I can carry on being with you, Richard." She whispered,
Dick leaned his forehead against hers, "But... Will you have to kiss him and stuff?" He queried, anxiously,
Kori giggled and shook her head, "One of the positive things from this deal is that Prince Da'akaar is forbidden from kissing me, touching me inappropriately or having intercourse with me until our wedding day which I imagine my father will attempt to postpone as late as possible."
"Good..." He murmured, pulling her closer so that he could cuddle with her affectionately. It wasn't the most ideal situation but Kori was a lot happier knowing that her relationship with Dick was not as damaged as she first thought and that it could continue...