King of the Fireweilders

Chapter 9: I Understand

"So to clarify, Army A and B will storm the front gates, hit them hard. Team C will sail to the back on the castle and flank them, split their attention, we want to get as many troops into the city as possible. Team D will be lead by me, with the ensuing chaos on both sides of the city, my small team will insert ourselves into the castle via the sewage and directly assassinate the king. Any questions?" It took me a few days to come up with this plan but I think we are finally ready. I look up.

Mercer has his hand raised so I point to him. "Who will be leading each team?"

"Well, you already know that I am leading team D. Team A will be lead by ser Garoth. B will be lead by ser Brim and C will be commanded by ser Jorah. My team will consist of: Mercer, that's you, Delli, Howton, Quiro, Kale, and myself. Is that all?" Everyone nods. "alright then. Meeting adjourned."

Just as I go to walk out, Mercer stops me and asks "Do you really have to put my daughter on your team, what if something were to happen?"

I pause and think about it. "She is a good warrior, it would be best if she were on this team."

He sighs and says "Okay. I understand."

I walk to my quarters and pull out my dusty old box that I keep under my bed. I open it to reveal a ring that a crafting meister made for me to give to the girl I want to marry. I really do think that I love her. She is so wonderful and strong. All the time we have spent together just fooling around or training. All my responsibilities as king and all the pressure and all the stress is gone when I am with her. That's it, I am going to ask her to marry me.

We are almost done. I am on one side of the room, she on the other. She lunges at me with her wooden sword. I dodge to the left and stab with the sword, 'piercing' her chest. She steps away and turns to me, out of breath.

"Good work today Eb, that was really nice. You're getting the hang of this."

"Thanks." I say stepping toward her. The ring is in my pocket but I don't know when to pull it out... maybe I should just tell her how I feel, yeah, that makes sense.

"Hey Eb, you okay? You seem distracted, is work getting on your mind?"

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing." Oh shit, she noticed something is up and I said nothing!?! Of course something is up. How do I handle this, Gods, I suck at talking to girls!

"Well, if nothing is up, I wanted to go swimming over in the bay. If you're not busy with your kingly duties, I was wondering if you wanted to go."

Screw it! I am just going to tell her. "Actually Delli umm... there is something I have been meaning to tell you. We are going into battle soon, as you know and uhh... I thought you'd want to... be more than friends before we left."

"Eb, are you saying that you love me?" She said chucking. I think she realizes how awkward I am.

"You know what, yes, Delli, I love you. I think you are wonderful and if I didn't meet you my life would be terrible."

"Oh... that was actually unexpected... well if we are being honest here-"

"Delli, I love you! Will you marry me!?" I realized that my eyes have been closed the entire time I have been professing my love to her. I open them to see her smiling her beautiful smile. She takes her hands and cups my face with them. Her hands are as soft as silk. She pulls me in and kisses me.

If we are being honest, I have never kissed anyone like this before but it feels nice. She tastes amazing, her lips are so soft, even softer than her hands. I can smell her too, she smells like... some kind of flower that I can't quite put my finger on but it is lovely. I never want this to end. But just as I say that, she pulls back a bit and mutters seven words that I will never forget.

"Yes. I have always loved you too."