The Kingdoms Arrangement [H.S]

XXIII

Artemis

        I bite my pencil that I am writing with as I look out my window to see a shirtless Harry running around the field. He has been training every day with our guards, and I can't help but gawk at him every time he does. His muscles are contoured perfectly, his curls are tousled perfectly across his sweaty forehead like they always are, and he is wearing shorts that fit every part of him perfectly.

I shake my head to stop where my thoughts were going and look at the papers in front of me. One hundred and thirty-three women and girls were saved in all the brothels that were raided. The information from this "friend" of ours was right. I still cannot figure out who it could be though. Leah is the only person I can think of that would have had this information but she is dead. My chest aches at the thought, I do miss her. I am roused from my thoughts by a knock at the door and I tell whoever it is to come in. Aurora peeks her head in and looks around the room then quickly comes in and shuts the door behind her.

"Hi sweetie, are you alright?" I ask, seeing a strange look on her face.

"Um, yes, but I wanted to talk to you about something." She replies and my heart skips a beat, she is actually asking for help, I try not to show my excitement at being able to help her.

"Of course, anything." I nod my head in encouragement and she looks to her feet.

"How am I supposed to be a princess?" She asks, then quickly adds on, "how does it work?" I tell her to sit down with me and start explaining to her the duties a princess has. To go to the village and interact with the people, to learn the kingdom inside and out, to be schooled in every subject, and be trained in the affairs of the kingdom when she is older. She latches onto every word and has a glimmer in her eyes as I speak. As I finish my little speech, a sweaty Harold engulfs me into a hug.

"Harry!" I shriek, trying to pry his arms off of me. "Get off me, you stink!" I laugh, he runs his sweaty curls all over me.

"Mmm, you didn't mind last night when I was-" I cover his mouth quickly, and motion towards Aurora.

"Shut up." And he licks my hand, I quickly pull it away from his mouth, "gross!" I yell. We both stop dead when we hear the best sound in the world. A giggle comes from Aurora and when we both look at her, she stops and becomes serious.

"D-did I do something wrong?" She asks nervously and we quickly start laughing too. She starts laughing again and I look at Harry who has tears in his eyes, and I know it is not from laughing too hard.

"Well, I should get going. Thank you princess," Aurora pauses, "Prince Harry." she curtsies and begins walking away.

"Come back anytime Aurora." I tell her with a smile, and I could swear I saw a ghost of a smile on her lips before she turns to leave.

"Now," Harry smirks, "where was I?"

        

Harry and I lay in bed, and he continues to feather his finger down the side of my waist. "How are you feeling Harry?" I whisper, and can see pain shoot across his face as he begins to answer, I put a finger on his lips to stop him. "How are you actually?"

"I-I'm," Harry sighs as he tries to find the words, "I'm hurting." He kisses me on the forehead and I can feel my eyes prickle with tears.

"Am I doing anything wrong? Can I do anything else to help you?" Harry shushes my words, and hugs me tightly.

"You are making me feel a lot different than I would be feeling alone Princess." Harry brushes my hair with his fingers softly. "No one can take the pain of Kit dying away, only my father being hung on a pedestal."