The Kingdom Of Stories And Lies

Chapter 24

Brena took Arya to their house since Mysie keeps insisting that she wants to meet Arya again.

"Did you tell him, yet?" Brena asks enthusiastically.

"No, not yet. I want it to be something special. But I think I'll tell him tonight or something." Arya says cheerfully and Mysie comes running to her.

Arya catches her and they spin around. Mysie falls back giggling and so does Arya.

"Brena, I'm so happy. It...it feels like some kind of joy has suddenly filled my soul." Arya admits.

"yeah, I know that feeling and when you get to hold her or him, you'll be the happiest person on earth trust me." Brena says with a smile plastered on her face.

Kestrel came outside and Arya moved towards him to greet him. "Good morning, sir." She shakes his hand and he smiles.

"you look happier than the last time I saw you." He says and Arya blushes.

"Yeah, I am." She whispers.

"Arya, come play with mee." Mysie squeals and Arya laughs.

*****

"Come with me and put those on." Arya throws at Niran a pair of regular pants and a tunic.

"what are those?" he asks curiously.

"you'll understand, just put them on and come with me." She beams and Niran changes his clothes and goes up to her.

She takes his hands and they sneak around the palace until they reach the kitchens. It's pretty late, so, there aren't any maids or cooks here.

Arya opens the door, looks around, and then enters. Niran is very confused now. "what are we doing here? And why are we dressed up like that?"

"So impatient." She teases him and goes to take out all the ingredients needed to bake a cake.

"Okay, come." She tells him and he inches closer. He slips his arms around her waist and kisses her forehead.

"will you tell me what's going on now? And shouldn't you be resting? You fainted yesterday." He exclaims.

Arya rests her palm on his heart "remember when I asked you about something that you used to do with your parents and you told me that your mom would sneak you and her into the kitchen and bake?" she reminds him.

"yeah..." he says doubtfully.

"well, I thought it would be good to re-practice because...." she trails off, her heart beating is in the sky.

"because what, love?" he asks gently.

She releases a breath "because you'll have to do it with our k-kids. Since there is one on its way." She pats her stomach and Niran takes a step back. He rubs his face with his hands.

"Arya, are you serious?" his voice shaky.

"Yeah, I am." She whispers with tears brimming her eyes.

Niran runs up to her, swipes her off her feet, and kisses her ever so gently. He pulls back, crying.

"I think I'm dreaming." He whispers.

"no, no you're not. It's real." "you're gonna be a father, Niran. The best." She says whilst crying and he presses her to him closely.

"I wonder what did I do to deserve all of this? To deserve you." He whispers.

She pulls back "I love you so much, Niran."

"I love- " Arya's hands gripped him tightly and turned him behind her. and then a scream.

An arrow.

An arrow pierced Arya's chest, Niran caught her before she fell to the ground. "no, no, no, no." he whispered.

"what did you do, love?" he whispered angrily.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm okay." She assures him.

"it's gonna be okay. I'm happy. I got what I wanted. I got y-you." She takes a breath. He cups her cheek. "SOMEBODY CALL A HEALER NOW." He yells and someone comes rushing in and then back out.

"Niran." She grabs his attention. "let me go."

He shakes his head, crying deeply. "I can't."

"it's okay. I will be okay." She whispers, tears running down her face. "hold my hand?" she asks him softly.

He reaches for her hand and entwine his and with hers

"y-you have to know that....that I love you and will always do. I'm more than grateful to have you in my life this past couple of months, it was the happiest I have ever been, a-and now I can go knowing that I lived the last months of my life with the person that captured my heart..." she coughs blood and he tries to get her to stop talking but she shakes her head and continues. "and bewitched my soul."

"My only request of you, Niran, i-is to...live. Please, love. I need you to live." She trails off, raises her other arm, and places her hand on his heart. "thank you. A million times thank you, Niran."

"no, love. Please don't go. I need you." He breaks.

"you will always have me Niran. In here, I will always be in here." She pats his heart and he cries even more.

"I'll see you in the otherworld, love." She coughs again.

Her hand falls from his chest and her eyes flutter shut.

Niran releases the most splintering scream ever heard. He doubled over, hugging her and crying his heart out.

"no, it was supposed to be me!" he yells. "not you, never you." He breaks again.

"what will I do now, love? I cannot live without you, my heart will not survive. I will not survive." 

Brena comes rushing in, her hand went immediately to her mouth and she started crying.

"she's gone." Niran whispered, his eyes full of pain and void that they shall never be the same again.

Niran stands up, scoops Arya into his arms, and leaves the kitchens. He reaches her father's rooms and kicks the door open.

"your daughter is dead." He announces blankly and then turns around and heads to herroom.