The Protector

Chapter 9

Nohr returned not long after he left, holding two bags filled with food and one bag with a knife and fork set.

Looking through the bags, I can't believe Nohr bought so much food just for two people, he might as well have bought the entire store, he got everything from cold, to warm already made foods, sandwiches, cakes, drinks, and of course my favorite, gum.

"You didn't have to get all this, we could've just ordered something." Even though you left too quick for me to say something. "Or I could have gone with you..."

Nohr looked up as he sat on the edge of the bed and shook his head. "You shouldn't be out this late, it's dangerous."

I snort out and start to get annoyed. "So it's fine for you, but not fine for me? Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes."

This guy... "Your attitude sucks." I say, helping myself to a sub sandwich out of the bag.

We continued to eat in silence, and just like that, the mood had been completely ruined, it felt so uncomfortable that I was starting to regret ever coming here with him, after all, he won't even look at me.

I feel my phone buzz in my pocket so I grab it and look at who's texting me, only to grimace when I see who it is, and what they texted me.

Harriot: Why is dad threatening to put the realm on lockdown?

Harriot: Did you piss him off or something?

"Dammit." I curse out, with a sigh.

Nohr turns and looks at me. "My dad is threatening to close the portals." I told him as he looked at me with curious eyes.

"He's always like this, expecting the worst of me, where would I even go if I wanted to leave?" 

Treating me like some criminal, after the display he just did tonight, along with Kane, if anything I should be the angry one, after all, I've put up with his possessiveness my entire life.

"Finish your food, I'm taking you home." Nohr said, standing up and heading towards his shoes.

"What?" I burst out. "Why?" I put my sandwich down on the bed.

Is he tired of me already? I get up and follow him, reaching out to grab his arm to stop him from putting his shoes on without thinking.

"You don't belong here Hayden." He told me coldly, turning to face me.

"I never should have brought you here, this isn't a place fit for a Princess."

"It was a mistake to sleep with you." He added with cold eyes, shaking my hold from his arm.

Ah... I see, this was bound to happen eventually too.

I swallow hard and watch him put his boots on, my heart clenching tightly as he refuses to look at me, the room turning cold from his distance.

"So that's it? You're taking me back because you're a coward?" 

He stops and turns to look at me, annoyance in his eyes. "Coward?" 

Standing straight, with one hand on the door and the other gripping the bridge of his nose with his eyes closed, Nohr sighs heavily before looking at me with a glare.

"Are all Princesses this annoying, or are you just stupid?" He said, his voice colder than ice.

He steps forward until he's a few inches away from me, his face in mine as he coldly looks down on me, with not a single ounce of emotion on his face, sending chills all over my body.

"I did my job and I entertained your needs, you had your fun now it's time to go back to your life, so I can live mine without protecting a spoilt immature girl." He said harshly, before opening the door for me.

His words pierced me like a dagger to the heart, causing more damage than I ever thought possible, despite the countless times others have said similar things to me, when Nohr said it, it hurt...

Without looking at him, I slip on my shoes robotically and walk past him into the hallway, back to the way we came.

Is this how he's always seen me? Just some spoilt childish princess who gets what she wants? If so then, is he right? All my life I've had people say the same, my own father thinks I'm childish.

I hate it, I hate that this is what I've become because of how unhappy I've been, I've pushed myself onto people, even hurt those I loved because of how selfish I've been.

Nohr is probably right, no wonder he wants me gone, he spoke his truth, and I have no right to disagree with him.

I know who I am.

Reaching the street, I notice it's still rowdy from the festival, fireworks are still lighting the sky and The Vale is still celebrating strongly into the night, drinking with friends and family, laughing and smiling, without a single care in the world, because they're happy.

What I wouldn't give to be a regular citizen, just like them... it's all I've ever thought about, just to throw out my title and change who I was, to live in someone else's skin for simply a day, just so I could get some sort of happiness in my long 150 years of life.

We were close to the palace, and I knew my dad and Kane, even perhaps my mom was going to be furious with me after I'd been gone for two hours, but to them, it would seem like 200 years.

I didn't want to go home, but I won't beg pathetically anymore, Nohr told me how he felt, and that was enough for me to realize just how stupid I'd been.

I turned and looked at Nohr. "You can leave me here, I'll go the rest of the way." I said, near the gate.

Nohr nods his head hesitantly, yet walks with me to where the guards are posted, and once they see me I can tell that their minds linking my dad from their stare and quietness, meaning that Harriot was most likely telling the truth about him locking down The Vale because of me.

The gates open and I walk forward, once I'm in the guards close it behind me, leaving Nohr on the opposite side, staring at me with his hood up, his shining blue eyes no longer cold, or distant, but filled with someone I can't truly say.

"Goodbye Nohr." 

As Nohr's name leaves my mouth, his eyebrows twitch, and his eyes flit between me and the Palace, then back to me as he stared directly at me, my chest aching as I felt a sense of loss fill me.

"Farewell, Princess."