The Hero King

Chapter I

(Prologue)

Marth is a king. I am a... Well, I'm a peasant to put it plainly. Still, it doesn't stop the thump in my heart every time I see him. He's the definition of perfect, he's so refined and kind, but also deadly and dedicated when he needs to be. I've been Marth's best friend since I was nine, I met Marth in the market one fateful day and we just sorta... Clicked. I didn't know Marth was even a prince until I was thirteen and had to go to the royal family's correlation. The truth came out and Marth made me promise not to treat him any differently, and I didn't. Not until about a year ago... I realized that not only was Marth my closest friend, but I had fallen madly in love with him. My feelings for him are kept a secret, for everybody's sake. You see, a prince cannot marry a peasant, it's simply against the law. So even if he felt the same, it would only cause issues for everyone. So I keep my mouth shut, I suck it up every day and try to pretend I'm perfectly fine with being friends. I know one day he'll finally get married and I'll probably be tossed aside, but honestly.. I wouldn't mind as long as Marth was happy.
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(Chapter I)

"Hey, Amelie!" A voice made me jerk and almost drop the fruit I was holding.

"O-oh... Marth you scared me half to death! You shouldn't just yell people's names like that.." I scolded, holding my chest to try and calm down.

"Sorry." He smiled cheerfully, bowing his head, "I just saw you over here and figured I'd come say hi. I haven't seen you all week."

"Y-yeah, sorry. I have to work to feed myself, you know?" I say with a frown, trying to ignore the way my heart pounded when I was near him.

"Oh... Yeah, I suppose I should realize that we aren't children anymore.. You have duties you must fulfill just like everyone else." He said, his smile fading, "I thought maybe we could hang out by our tree tonight, you know? Like we used to do?" His eyes were pleading, there was no possibility of me saying no, and he knew it.

"Alright, yeah. Let me go home and change first okay?"

"Oh, of course! Let me give you a ride there." He said with a polite smile.

Once Marth got me to my house, I hopped off the horse and turned to look at him.

"I'll wait for you." He said, with a bright smile.

I hurried inside my little shack of a home, putting my fruit basket down on the table and rushing to my closet. I pulled out a white dress, it was really simple but still my favorite dress. It was flowey and looked really goddess-like when I braided my long hair, which I did of course. I laced daisy's in with the braid, to give the look a bit more flair. I left and walked up to Marth, who had gotten off the horse to pet it.

"You ready?" He asked, a bright smile on his face.

"Yes.." I said, a little disappointed that he hadn't noticed the effort I put into looking good for him.

I climbed on the horse with him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist so I wouldn't fall off. At least, that's the excuse I used. We rode for about an hour, we stopped at our special place that nobody else knew about. Here it wasn't a peasant and a prince, it was just Marth and Amelie. No worries, no other people, just us. I got off the horse and walked to our tree, it was a huge weeping willow that was just behind the edge of a beautiful outlook from a cliff. From here you could see all of Altea, looking like a tiny picture below. I sat at the edge, letting my feet dangle like I always used to when I was a kid.

"Amelie.." Marth's voice startled me, when I looked at him his face was dark and serious.

"What is it, Marth?"

"Amelie, Altea's about to be at war.."

My heart sank.
If Altea goes to war... That means Marth also goes to war..
I felt my heart leap into my throat.

"O-oh.." Was the only response I could manage.

Marth sat beside me and looked down upon Altea, he looked so beautiful and serine..

"Amelie... I want you to know that you're my closest friend, and if I do not make it through this war.. I feel like.. I'd regret not telling you.. That... That I-..." He closed his eyes and turned his face away.

"Y-yeah, Marth?"

"I'm grateful to have you.. I don't know what I would have done without you at times.. I want you to come live in the castle, with me.. So you don't have to worry about working anymore.." He said, still looking away.

"O-oh.. I'd be honored to live in the castle with you." I say, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

'Of course that's what he was going to say, I'm stupid for getting my hopes up for something else..'

Marth looked at me and smiled, it was a shattered smile though. I could tell something was bothering him..

"Marth.. Promise me you'll come back safely, okay? I need you here.." I say, looking into his eyes.

"I promise I shall return safely, for you, Amelie." He replied, he wrapped me in a tight hug, that same fake smile plastered to his face.