Unspoken

Later

Chapter 16:

(Desmond POV)

I walked into the tent where the others had met and waited as Patrick walked in behind me. I looked around the room before saying, "Whatever decision you make you have my full support. If you truly want my family out of power I take no offense in that as I have said from the beginning, I am here to rid you of my parents not hoist myself onto the throne." Patrick patted my back, "We know that." He sighed, "We really wanted to remove your family from power..." I nodded I understood where this was going and I understood that they didn't want me to rule and I felt relieved, " however" oh I thought " we are not opposed to having you be the one to lead our country. In the last couple of weeks of preparation and the raid on the palace we have all come to realize that you are an asset to our kingdom and that you truly do care about us, all of us. In addition, you are the only person from Coumure with the training, allies and knowledge to take on such a position and we are going to need all three as we rebuild our kingdom. We would like to take your parent's deal provided a few addendums we want to make with you."

I numbly nodded as I tried to process everything that was going on, "Firstly we would like for you to remain Prince Desmond and be our ruler on a trial period for a while until we know we can fully trust you and your rule and we would like to establish that within the laws of Coumure." I agreed. It was only fair after everything my parents had put them through, "Second we want to have a Parliament, we want to have a say in our kingdom and we believe that we have earned that right." I again agreed it did make sense and I'm sure that I could use the help if I were to become King. "Lastly, we want you to disown your parents and strip them of any benefits, wealth and status they would previously be able to maintain." I had not expected this one and I looked around the room, "Is that truly what you want?" They all nodded in agreement, "Very well." I said. I left the tent and needed to breathe. This was happening, this was actually happening. I knew I had to send for her now. I went into my tent and quickly began to scribble on a piece of paper with no time to second guess how to phrase this:

Dear Amber,

Things have shifted over here and I am not sure how to describe it other than as different from what we expected. My parents will only sign the kingdom over to me and the people of Coumure want to agree to this proposition. I am not sure if it is the right thing to do or not but, I am going to respect their decision and I am going to rule over them. I am going to rule over them. It feels so strange to write that and it doesn't feel true. But alas, that is besides the point. The point of this letter is this, Amber I need you to know that this was never the plan and I know that it looks like I am leaving you but, I swear I am not. Our courtship is just going to require a little more effort on both our parts so that we might be able to see each other. I understand that it is a lot to ask, and I understand if you think that I am breaking my promise, but if you want to continue seeing me and seeing where this may go... Please write me back.

Yours,

Des

I sealed the envelope and gave it to a page who had come with me so I might send word to Enchancia should we need more of their assistance. By the end of the day Amber would now what was going on and I let out another breath. Before rejoining the others. We went back into the palace and I watched as my parents signed over the kingdom to me. It was a strange feeling but, the more I thought about it the more right it felt.

(Amber POV)

I was going through some papers with Baileywick in the throne room when I saw the page that had been sent with Desmond come into the room. "Princess Amber a message from Prince Desmond." I nodded picking up the small piece of paper. I opened the envelope and began to read the note. I reread the note three times before I placed it down next to me. I turned to Baileywick, "Please inform my parents that the dispute is being settled in Coumure and that we will have a new ally there as Prince Desmond is now going to rule over them." Baileywick nodded and left the room.

I turned toward the page who was waiting for something. Probably for me to give him a letter to give to Desmond but, I couldn't bring myself to write one at that moment. I knew that he wasn't leaving me and I knew that none of this was his fault but, that didn't make it hurt any less. Still, if I wrote a letter right now I would probably write something I would come to regret and neither of us deserve that. I needed to calm down and clear my mind. "Thank you for delivering the message," I smiled at the page before standing up and leaving the throne room.

(Desmond POV)

-a few days later-

I watched as my parents signed over the kingdom to me. It was so strange to see them conceding power to me of all people and I wasn't sure that it was real. As my Mother finished signed she looked up at us, "We will be leaving today and living in one of the estates from now on." I nodded and watched as they left before turning to one of the guards, "Make sure that they don't take anything from the castle besides what is in their suite. Knowing them they will make some last stitch effort to take something of immeasurable value and lord it over us to maintain power." They nodded and followed my were quickly packed and set off for some royal estate. They didn't know that soon I would be disowning them and I would be taking away their allowances and all the valuables within the estate. I talked to Patrick and the others and got them to agree to not kicking them out of the estate altogether. I may no longer consider them family but, part of me just couldn't do that to them.

I walked through the castle looking for the items we were going to begin to sell and trade with other kingdoms to get our feet back on the ground. The plan was to sell some of the ridiculously expensive belongings of my parents. I had reached out to our neighboring kingdoms and they all offered their support especially Enchancia. If only Amber would actually write me back. "Prince Desmond," I turned and saw my steward waiting for me, "you have a visitor in the throne room." I nodded and followed him.

I walked into the throne room and I wasn't sure that it was real. "Amber?" She turned to face me and smiled, "Hi Des." I wasn't sure if this was real, "I thought... you never responded..." She came closer to me, "Des I told you that we weren't saying Goodbye right. That it was a 'see you later.' It's later." She wrapped her arms around my neck, "I know that I didn't respond to your letter but I needed to figure things out on my end." She leaned her forehead against mine, "Am I too late?" I wrapped my arms around her waist, "You could never be too late." I pulled her in for a kiss and it was just as sweet as the last time.

When we separated I looked at Amber, "I need to stay here right now and help Coumure." She nodded against my forehead, "I'm needed in Enchancia right now too." I nodded. We accepted these truths before we separated, "Would you like to take a walk with me?" I asked. She smiled and interlocked her arm with mine, "I would love to."