Resist // l.s

Chapter 8.

Louis' P.O.V

{ I }  had never won anything before.

I never win games of heads or tails; I never won in card games. But I won. 
I may have fainted. 
But I won.

I came around just minutes later to see Niall was out - much to my joy - and sadly Zayn - much to my displeasure. The maids had gotten each patron a seat to sit on while waiting for the others, and I was seated beside Harry with a bottle of water; it was empty now. "How was it in there?" Harry asked softly and I snorted; my eyes still on the maze in front of us. 
"Intense. So much running, and...It was intense." The prince nodded and looked away. I could still feel him smiling.
"Did you have trouble figuring out my clue?" He asked softly again and I laughed a little, looking over at him. Harry's eyes were already trained on me, just looking over at my face. 
"You mean to say you ACTUALLY believed I would understand that stupid riddle?"
"Well, I like to believe that I felt you would figure it out. Did you not?" I gave a one shouldered shrug and he smiled. 
"I shouldn't have doubted you."
"You doubted me?"
"I was worried for you...I didn't like the thought of you being in there with Zayn." I glanced over at the dark haired male. He was standing beside the King; a blank expression on his face as he said things in his ear. He looked a little angry. A frown tugged down the corners of my lips and Harry followed my gaze, sighing softly. "How much trouble did he cause in there?" I thought to the moment the dark haired make had been leering over me, and when he'd grabbed my collar to throw a punch, but I simply shook my head. 
"He seemed to know what he was doing." Harry frowned and leaned forward at this, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at me. I almost wanted to laugh, because it didn't look like a very 'royal' way to sit. 
"What do you mean by that?"
"He just...ran straight in, without even pausing to think for a moment which direction he needed to turn. Everyone else stopped and thought for at least a few seconds, but he seemed like he'd been through there before." I glance over at Harry and I can see this news has made him uneasy. "Is something the matter?" He blinks and shakes his head, sitting back up straight as he runs a hand through his curls. They look so lovely I'm momentarily distracted. 
"Nothing. I'll just have a few words with the guard," he said in a lower, serious tone; I can't help but wonder what Harry's thinking. A few more patrons emerge from the maze and present their items; all have been correct so far. Then one last person emerges and presents his item to his mentor...who shakes his head. Everyone goes silent and I can feel my pulse pound a little harder. 
"N-no...this has to be it! I couldn't find anything else!" He said frantically and two guards came up behind him; grabbing him from under his arms. He begins to thrash around, angry tears pouring from his eyes. "No! No! It's not fair, it's all there was! I swear!" The guards begin to drag him away and I want to help. I move to get up but suddenly Harry's Han clamps down around my wrist. I freeze and look at him. His sad gaze is on the boy. 
"Leave it, Louis. Don't get yourself into trouble as well," he murmured low enough just for me to hear, just before the boy started crying. 
"It's not fair! YOU showed it to me! You TOLD me this was-" he began to say, looking directly at Zayn with pure hatred in his eyes before the guard hit him hard on the head to shut him up. He was out of sight now. 
"Where had they taken him?" I whisper to Harry and he sighs. 
"No where you want to go, I can promise you that."

*****

That boys last words before he was dragged away still rang through my ears. He seemed so full of rage and betrayal...and he was staring right at Zayn. Did he mislead him by giving him the wrong object? He must have.

I was sitting on a chair on Harry's balcony that was attached to his bedroom; he leaned against the railing, looking out at the forest and kingdom beyond. He looked beautiful this way. His curls had fallen looser from the long day he'd had, his expression was very calm and content as he stared out at what would one day...be all his. His large hands rested on the stone railing and he let out a soft breath as the nice cool breeze blew over us. 
"I'm proud of you, you know." He said suddenly, causing me to jolt and look up at him. 
"Pardon?"
"I'm proud of you..for how well you did today." He turned around, leaning back against the railing as he crossed his arms over his chest. "All the guards have been...betting against you. Kind of." He said with a shrug and a frown spread on my face. 
"Betting against me? For what?" He shrugged again. 
"None of them thought you'd even make it out of that maze, let alone make it out first and with the correct object." I snorted and rolled my eyes. 
"Sorry to disappoint them then." Harry chuckled softly and I could feel my ears heat up. 
"I'm not sorry. You have no idea how relieved I was to see you," he said and I rolled my lips into my mouth; fiddling with my fingers. 
"Harry? Can I ask you something?" He frowned a little, but nodded.
"Proceed."
"What have the guards done with that boy?" He sighed and that sad look appeared on his face. 
"Don't think about that, Louis."
"I just want to know what I need to prepare for-"
"You don't need to prepare for that!" He said exasperatedly and I froze. "Do you really think I'd let something bad happen to you?" I gave him an incredulous smile.
"Since when are you so nice, Prince Harry?" A smirk plays on his lips and he looks down, slowly walking over to stand in front of me. 
"Since..I found a reason." He said softly and simply. I nod and feel his eyes narrowing on me. "Something's troubling you. What's on your mind?" I shrug a little. 
"I just..can't help but think about what that guy said. When he was being pulled away." Harry frowned and squatted down in front of me; again, I wanted to giggle and his unprofessional stance. 
"What did he say?" I scrunch up my nose and rub my arm. 
"He was glaring and trying to point at Zayn, just saying stuff like...he showed it to him? And that he told him something, but he didn't finish his sentence.." Harry's eyes darkened and his brow furrowed. 
"You're an intelligent individual, Louis. Tell me what you think that means." I blink in surprise at his words and shrug. 
"Well...based on those words and Zayn’s behaviour inside the maze...I'd say someone let Zayn in that maze beforehand and let him know what all the objects were." Harry gave me a firm nod and stood up again. 
"Exactly," he said and moved back inside to his room. I quickly follow him back inside as well. 
"Where are you going?"
"To have a word with my father. He has some explaining to do." He goes to take a step forward but I step in his path. He gives me a strange look, as if he's surprised that I'm stopping him. "Step aside, Louis." I shake my head firmly. 
"Harry, it's going to do nothing helpful talking to him.."
"Because of him, some innocent kid was killed tonight!" He raised his voice, making me stand still. "And if I don't call him out on it, Louis he's just going to make up more and more challenges like this till there's no one left. Then he'll just bring in new people and kill THEM off! I'm not just going to stand back and let that happen!" I can feel my eyes sting with tears and the anger on his face softens. 
"He wants to kill me off, doesn't he..? Is that why you didn't think I'd make it? Cause he wants me dead?" Harry shakes his head, but I shut my eyes and turn my head away. 
"Louis, you don't have to worry about him. I wouldn't let him touch you." I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and lick my lips. His eyes are burning into me, but I don't let myself look up at him. 
"And why not Harry?" When he's silent and doesn't answer me right away, I look up and see his eyes are cloudy and distant. Then they suddenly grow hard and his brow furrows. 
"Because no one will touch you while you're under my care. I won't allow it." I snort and let out a humourless laugh. 
"That's funny Harry, but I can't see Zayn just laying down whenever I walk in that room. You didn't see what happened in that maze." I try to walk away but Harry's large hand wraps around my wrist and I have to meet his eyes to distract myself from how warm his touch is against mine.
"What are you talking about?" I yank my arm, but he doesn't let go.
"Get off me-"
"Louis what happened? Tell me." He says firmly and I sigh. 
"He just tried hitting me, that's all." He raises an eyebrow. 
"Tried?"
"He had me by the collar and would've got me if Niall hadn't have showed up. He pushed me around a little, and then when we were both running out..I'm pretty sure the King has him trying to take me down." Harry's face looks angry, but he let's go of my arm. 
"He won't touch you. Not if I talk to my father," he walks towards the door and I put a hand on his chest to stop him. He looks down at his chest then back up to me; my cheeks feel hot as I think about how firm his chest feels beneath my touch. 
"Step out of the way, Louis."
"No."
"Move." I raise an eyebrow, challenging him silently.
"Make me." He seems stunned by this and just stands there. The air is thick with tension that I can't understand and our chests are both rising and falling rapidly. I can feel his heart beating against my hand but I don't pull it away. He doesn't push it off either. 
"If I try going down that hallway, are you going to stop me?" He asks softly and I nod my head; I can't trust my voice. His eyes narrow on my face and he looks mad. It worries me for a moment and I begin to pull away, but his hand moves down and grips my waist. He steps closer and both of our faces have an expression on surprise and confusion on them. 
"What're you.."
"What are you doing to me Louis..?" He breathes out at the same time as me and I gulp thickly. Our eyes are locked and I can barely breathe. 
"Nothing," I say softly and he shakes his head. 
"You're destroying me." 
"I don't mean to," I whisper even quieter; his eyes are so green they make me melt as his hand lifts up and caresses my cheek. We stand there for a few long moments, almost as if we're waiting for a disruption of some kind; like what had happened last time. 
Nothing interrupted us this time. 
Everything was silent around us, apart from the sound of our uneven breathing. He stepped closer to me, so our chests were now touching. I licked over my dry lips and pressed close against him; too scared to make any bigger of a move first. His thumb on my cheek brushes backwards and forwards over my skin before trailing down, and brushing over my lower lip. My lips part slightly as I keep looking up at him, and he drawing me closer. His arm snakes around my waist, and his fore finger and thumb are holding my chin as he pulls me in. When our lips touch, my eyes shut. His lips are soft but firm against mine; as sweet as strawberries, but still firm against mine. Our lips move slowly together, and the kiss is gentle. Almost as if we're both just...learning. Figuring out what it's like. 
And I like it.

*****