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It was quiet, calm. Many wandered back and forth. Someone gave orders, someone sat at the table making jokes and stories. Many were tense, perhaps even afraid.
Nobody knew what would happen tomorrow. No one knew if they would return home. To friends, To the family.
She stood far from everyone, looking back at everyone for a few seconds. Hair is disheveled, she was all in scratches, bandages. Wounded. Her blue eyes glittered, as if the girl could cry at any moment. She closed her eyes a couple of times, warding off tears.
He spoke her name. She turned around. His gaze was full of sadness, but at the same time warmth.
— Hello — he said quietly.
— Your Majesty — She bowed her head in greeting.
He wanted come closer and put his hand on her shoulder, but he stopped halfway.
— Please, no formalities — he said wearily, adding her name — I just wanted to talk a little.
She met his gaze. She lifted the corners of her lips, taking a couple of steps back.
— Before me is the King, and if others hear how i speak to you, I think your reputation will be tarnished.
He just signed.
— I dare to assume that now no one will eavesdrop on our conversation. Everyone has their own tasks now. I would like them to have the strength to rest and prepare for tomorrow.
— Unless they’re happy to gossip.
He said nothing. He had only recently been able to get used to her taunts, although their last meeting was a year ago. She was too angry.
— I would be glad if you could continue to enjoy your usual calm days in Boralus.
— I couldn't leave you ... — She leaned against the wall, crossing her arms — you understand that.
He did not take his eyes off her.
“I'm making you suffer again,” he whispered so softly that she wouldn't hear.
During that little conversation, many of the soldiers had already gone to bed. And the rest go about their business. Well, it looks like others are really not interested in the usual conversation between the King and his subordinate.
— Sometimes I think what could have happened if I had done everything differently. — She touched her black as darkness. Or fel...hair.
He remembered how she was covered in blood, begging to leave her. She had lovely brown hair, but due to the incident it was dyed black. Despite her beautiful blue eyes, which he often compares to the night sky, they were hidden that day by a veil of darkness that frightened him.
There was not a single wound on him as long as she was covered in scratches and cuts, and her clothes were covered in dust, dirt and blood.
He could save her. Help her. Even if it would have cost him his life ... But he was not allowed to do even a little.
The next thing was an execution. The people shouted and demanded justice. He stood there listening to her judgment. He had to decide her fate. Execute or have mercy....
— The last thing I would like is to watch how you never have a choice and for this you pay too much.
— I always have a choice — she looked at him — I just do and then think. If i have time for that later.
She leaned slightly away from the wall and took a step forward.
— But sometimes you decide. Should I fall or move on. Fight or die like a dog in a ditch ... But sometimes ...
She put her hands to her face.
— Sometimes you just keep silent and watch me and I do not know what to do in such moments. Do I need to say something? Keep silent? Leave? Hell I don't know — she started to chatter
— I just want you to have a choice — he interrupted her
— Choice? Your Highness, you must understand that I am an ordinary mongrel that you picked up from the street.
— All people are equal and we are no exception.
— In wars people die for you and do you think that we are all equal?
— First of all, they die for their country and family — Despite the anger that began to boil in him, he tried to remain calm.
— But I'm doing this to protect you! — she hit the wall — I have no place to return to. All I have is a debt to you, which I want to repay.
— You always sacrifice yourself, but not return the debt. You lose everything, if it means I'll live. This is where you go wrong.
— I do not care about myself, first of all you are the king. I am an ordinary soldier who obeys your orders. A soldier's honor is to die for the King.
— If you’ll always sacrifice yourself, it will not be an honor, but ordinary stupidity.
He took a step forward towards her.
— If a soldier is honored to fight for the king, then it is an honor for the King to fight for these soldiers.
She could not even utter a word, just looked down.
— Do you remember our first meeting? — he asked.
There was a training session with recruits. She was heading towards the King. Then there should have been her first mission. She was young and scared. While her legs were carrying her, her thoughts were completely different and not there.
Something flashed from afar in her eyes. She wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't heard someone's voice. She turned and noticed the light of the young man's head. They looked straight into each other's eyes.Out of embarrassment, she was the first to look away, nervously greeting the prince. He smiled in response, but was interrupted by his father.
They later met only after the death of the King.
— I was told that when you were just learning how to use the sword, many, as the war was approaching, made riots out of fear, and when it was almost bloodshed, you calmed each side. Someone with words, and someone with fists.
— Everyone threw out their emotions and I was no exception.
— I can only imagine how you first arrange a fight, and then you sing with them.
— I can't believe that you know about this either... — She was very embarrassed. She laughed nervously and rubbed her neck with her hand.
— Sometimes it is necessary for a person to do something rash, then many talk about it too long — he smiled — I remember when you went too far with drinking, decided that it would be a great decision then to go to the New Moon Fair and ...
— It's not my fault that the gnomes are so short as children! — She interrupted him in desperation and looked red as a tomato.
— I thought it was quite funny how you tried to find his parents, considering him a child.
— I had to pay him moral compensation, but I think then he forgot me, like a passing cat. — she laughed
Finally, the anger and resentment finally evaporated.
— Hell I would like to know your awkward stories.
— I-I think it would be too embarrassing for people to laugh at my bad deeds.— He got nervous and looked away. His ears turned red.
— Apart from the fact that sometimes, when we met, you stumbled or sometimes dropped everything that you had in your hands — She sees how he covered part of his face with his palm — I can only remember how you once asked Greymane how he experiences a trip on the water.
— Save the light, I was very embarrassed, but I had to find out if he had seasickness or not.
— God, this is the best that I heard then — she was no longer hiding laughing
— I thought I’d go crazy without laughing. Only Greymane's fierce gaze said that if I made any sound, he would choke me.
He burned with shame as he listened to how she controlled herself not to laugh. He could see tears glistening in the corners of her eyes, and she was holding onto her stomach.
— When you are away from business and responsibilities, you gather a lot of people around you. You hook them with your qualities and character. You find a common language with them.
— People are drawn to you too, Your Highness, there is nothing wrong with that.
— I'm not talking about this at all — His heart fluttered a little — When I manage to watch you from the side, I see your real emotions. Your laughter, your anger, your clumsiness.
His hand rested on his chest.
— But at our meetings you hide your feelings, and I rarely see the real you, like today.
— There is a difference between us and you know it.
— Even if you say so, let it be. But you should never sacrifice yourself. According to you, we are not equal, but you are still the same person as me. You are the person. And I'm honored to fight with you.
She rubbed her palms together nervously. Her gaze changed from surprised to sad.
— Someday I will be able to get a title in the war and maybe we will talk on equal terms.
— It will take years and we both understand it.
— I want to deserve it. Then I can proudly look you in the eye. And with this I will not darken your reputation and your name.
— For this you do not need to achieve something. You've done enough.
— I've done too little. I want to protect you and all these people.
His heart ached and he said what he had wanted to say for so many years.
— Then marry me...
— Anduin! — She in surprise uttered his name and covered her mouth with hand.
— If my life is important to you, then ..!
She interrupted him by covering his mouth with her hands. For those few seconds, she looked around in fright in the hope that no one heard this. And she removed her palms sharply when she realized that no one had heard anything.
— By this I meant "To tarnish your reputation", I beg your pardon for my impudence, Your Majesty.
— I won't apologize for those words, but I didn't mean to scare you.
— I hoped until the last that you could find yourself a woman equal to your status — her voice was shaking
Despite her reaction, she stood close enough to him. He very slowly and carefully took her palms in his. She didn't budge.
— If you say no, I will understand everything. But this is what I will always say to you — The King smiled
— When you talk about your feelings, I want to be worthy of them.
— What we have is enough for me
— I just want people to be able to forgive me.
— And if this happens, will you give me your answer?
She raised her eyes to him and lifted the corners of her lips.
— I thought you knew my answer for a long time. But yes, then I will answer it.
She felt his hands grip hers a little tighter. His hands were always so tender and warm to her.
The girl slowly released her hands, after taking a couple of steps.
— I hope then we can really talk on equal terms.
He watched her walk slowly away from him.
— It will be enough for me that you will say my name and not my title as it was before — he said quietly.
A warm smile lit up his face.
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He wants to scream, beg.
He begs the Light to help him find her and bring her home. But no one answered.
He still remembers how he tried to grab her hand. A tear slowly rolled down her cheek. She disappeared right before his eyes. He will never believe that she is no more. Her laughter, her voice, her smile.
It would be better if he never let her go.