Unspoken

One Walk

Chapter 8:

(Desmond POV)

I waited in the throne room and saw Amber walk in. I turned to face her and went into a bow, "Princess Amber, may I escort you on a walk?" I stood before Amber and she was speechless, I just wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing yet. "Des," she started but she stopped herself. I then took the opportunity to speak, "Look I don't expect to be forgiven or anything like that, but I would like to escort you on a walk... if you'd like to." I rubbed the back of my neck. Amber started playing with her hands not making eye contact trying to think about what to do, "One walk won't hurt." She said. I smiled up at her and she took my arm as we went out to the garden.

(Amber POV)

I didn't know what to say when I saw Desmond standing there. I wasn't sure what to do and I wasn't sure what to say, "Des" I started but nothing else came out. He saw this and started to talk, "Look I don't expect to be forgiven or anything like that, but I would like to escort you on a walk... if you'd like to." I looked down and started playing with my hands. I was definitely not ready to forgive him yet but, I wanted to take a step forward and we would still be living together for a while. And I did miss my friend. "One walk won't hurt," he gave me a smile.

I grabbed his arm and we went out the door into the garden. It was quiet for a moment. Usually on these outings the suitor would have already started rattling off his list of achievements but, Des wasn't doing that. Instead he started asking me questions, and not about gowns and tiaras and stuff like that but he started asking me about astronomy, "Amber what is your favorite constellation?" He started. I smiled at him "Unicornicus, it points right towards the star I found, Amberina Major." Pretty soon we were both engaged in a conversation about the stars. We were soon outside his workshop and he stopped us for a moment, "Wait here I'll be right back." He said going into his workshop.

He came out with a small gift, "Here." I looked at the gift curiously, it hadn't been the first time I had been given a gift on one of these walks. Usually they were jewels of some expensive bobble but, I had a feeling that it wouldn't be the case with Desmond. I at least hoped he put more thought into it then just giving me some jewel to show his kingdom's wealth. I opened it up, "A sextant?" I said pulling it out.

(Desmond POV)

I loved listening to Amber talk about the stars and the sky. It seemed like the best topic to talk about given how often she was in the observatory and the fact she found and named a star. I knew a little bit about astronomy from what I had read but the way Amber talked about it made me wish I knew more. We were soon outside my workshop and I had a gift for Amber waiting inside. I quickly went to get it and came out handing it to her. She looked at the gift trying to guess what was inside and as she opened it I saw her face change, "A sextant?" I nodded as she pulled it out. I had gotten her a golden sextant and had her name engraved into it. It was a tool that sailors would use to navigate using the stars, I thought it was fitting for the princess who's head was stuck in them. "I love it," she said holding it up to her eye. She then turned to face me, "Thank you Desmond."

I decided that now was the time to come clean about my feelings, "Amber I need to tell you something..." She smiled at me, "What is it Desmond?" "I wanted to apologize again. The truth is I-I-I" She looked over at me and put a hand on my arm, "Take your time." How did she always calm me down? I took a breath, "I had a crush on you when we were kids... I spent a long time trying to get over those feelings and when I saw you again they all came rushing back. I thought that you would never like me and I didn't want to get hurt all over again." I stayed quiet for a while and Amber then asked, "Why would I not like you?" I was confused by the question, "I'm a nerd" I started she then said, "You are the smartest prince I ever met." "I'm a coward," I then said but Amber shook her head, "A coward wouldn't have face Miss Nettle or faced his fears of public speaking at graduation or ever told me about his feelings." I finally said, "I'm a pathetic weakling," but she shook her head again. "I don't know who told you those things but, that is not how I see you at all. You are a kid, smart, brave prince. Do you know how many of these walks I have been on?" She asked and I shrugged, "Exactly but how many do you think I had an actual conversation with?" I shook my head, "You, that's it. So please don't talk bad about yourself. There are so many reasons why I like...liked you. Honestly I am a bit surprised that you like me."

Now it was my turn to be surprised, "What are you talking about Amber? You are amazing." She shook her head, "Look you don't know what they all say about me. The shallow, spoiled, never had to work hard for anything in her life princess, whose sister should have been the one to take the crown." I grabbed her hand, Amber was always so confident and in demand of everyone around her I never thought she would feel like that. "Amber, growing up I will admit that I once thought that you were like that. Then I got to know you. You are a driven, confident, smart princess. You were born to be a leader, literally and figuratively" we both let out small laughs at that. "Anyone who can't see that yet, will just have to wait and see. Because I know you are going to prove them all wrong."

(Amber POV)

I couldn't believe that Desmond thought so low about himself. I knew that he had his fears and insecurities but, still I never knew he felt like this. I also didn't realize how he saw me in a way that I had never allowed myself to see. I squeezed his hand as we stood in silence for a moment letting each others' words sink in a moment longer. The further his words sunk in the more I felt warmth in my chest. "A-Amber would you like to court me?" He asked.

My head and heart were conflicted. Part of me wanted to say yes and the other part thought back to what he had said to me a week ago. Courting would mean that I would be even more vulnerable with Desmond and it gave him more opportunities to hurt me. "Des I would love to court you more than you can understand but," I can see his face flush in defeat and I can feel my heart screaming at me to not do this, "if we do this we are going to be taking it slow. Like snail-paced slow because you have hurt me and I don't want to get hurt like that again." The words left my mouth so quickly I hadn't realized what I said until Des looked back up at me. "Done, whatever you want Amber." I continued to nod, "This is still a trial run too, alright? If things don't work out it's no hard feelings." He nodded again, "Alright." I sighed. "We're doing this," I said nodding my head. "Yeah we are doing this," He said. I interlock my fingers with his and smiled.