The Heirs

Ethan: Promises and Apologies

Chapter 13:

(Ethan POV) -Albuquerque-

Alden decided to stay with the girls that night. He needed to know that they were safe and I think that he needed to feel safe too. I made my way through the castle checking over everything making sure nothing was out of the ordinary. I found myself checking this every night before I went to sleep. I was walking past the stables when I saw Gabriel making his way out with his horse, "What is going on?" He turned to face me. "Well I am going to get her," He said so matter of factly that I was taken aback, "I thought..." He let out a breath, "It is my plan not His Majesties. I know the risks and I am prepared to die with them." I nodded my head and went to walk away.

"There was more she wanted to tell you," he said. I turned around and went back to him, "What more does she want me to know? I know that she is a Beaumont Cunningham Everton. I know that she kept her promise and is going to sacrifice everything for my family. I know that she is willing to be tortured by the family you spent years keeping her safe from. I know that she is getting married to the King of Welshire. And I know that my family is planning on sealing her away with all those people forever. So what more?" He looked at me with some knowing look, "Damira cares about you. She wanted you to know that she didn't regret whatever you two had and that she wished that things could be different." I ran my hands through my hair. He thought about something for a moment before facing me again, "What do you know about what is going to happen with the Mountain Prison?" "That they are going to seal off all entrances and exits during the wedding and that they are never going to open them again."

He nodded his head, "No one updated you, yet did they?" I wasn't sure what he meant and he took my silence as confirmation "Damira sent me an invitation and sent a message with it." He had my full attention as I listened to what he was saying, "Damira is planning to end things the night before her wedding. That way there will be less innocent casualties and we will be able to end the threat to your family forever. But, to make sure that the plan is full proof Damira is going to eliminate what she believes to be the biggest threat to your family: herself." I wasn't sure what he meant and he sighed, "She believes that as long as she is alive she is a threat to your family and she is not wrong. So if your parents plan fails she has a fail-safe," he stopped for a moment before looking me in the eye "Prince Ethan she is planning on killing herself. " I couldn't believe what I was hearing, "No. she wouldn't. She can't..." He nodded his head and I knew that he was telling the truth. I couldn't believe it though Mira was always ready to fight why would she give up now.

"That's why I am going after her. I have a small window to try to get her out of there before it is too late and I need to at least try to get her out of there" Gabriel said looking back over at the horse. I couldn't let him do this. I had made a promise to Mira that I would take care of him like he took care of her and that meant keeping hims safe. "You can't go," I said looking over at him. "Your Highness, I have to," He started again but, I was shaking my head, "I made a promise to Mira to keep you safe and I intend to keep it. I'll go after her" He turned to face me, "I made a promise to her too." He had quickly turned me around and pushed me into the stables. The doors closed in front of me and I went to open them but, couldn't get through, "GABRIEL LET ME OUT OF HERE!" I heard him from the other side, "She wanted you and your family to be safe. You are staying here." I heard him go on his saddle as I continued to bang on the doors and could hear him riding away. "GABRIEL!" I continued to call out although I knew that it was pointless. No one would be coming around anytime soon and by the time I would get out he would be long gone, "I'm sorry Mira." I whispered, "I'm sorry."

(Damira POV)

I watched as the parlor doors swung open and King Edward made his way into the house. I stood up and went into a curtsey completely silent as everyone talked around me. All greeting him and exchanging pleasantries. He made his way over to me, "You may stand." I stood up and kept my chin up while keeping my gaze down. I was still and I was steady. The comfort of having a plan was keeping me sane. He looked me over, "You will do nicely. As your family knows you are to be my Queen and you will produce an heir as quickly as possible. That will help strengthen our claim to the kingdom of Albuquerque." I nodded my head but, he wasn't talking to me.

"Hopefully you will be more agreeable than my previous wives," Eliza interjected, "We have been training her for this since she was born she will be the perfect Queen." He nodded his head, "Yes, well you are lucky as none of them ever gave me a child let alone a prince. I need an heir and this will grant all of us the most power." They all nodded and began talking over the arrangements.

I quietly kept reminding myself that there was only one more day left before this would all be over. King Edward made his way over to me again, "Do you mind if I take my fiancée on a stroll? I would like to see how she behaves away from all of you." None of them had any objections and I didn't say anything. He took my limp arm and guided me outside. This was the first time I had step foot out of the house since I had come back here and all I wanted to do was run but, I couldn't. "You are quite pleasant to look at, and you don't seem to speak much," he began. I took a breath, "Only when necessary Your Highness."

He nodded his head, "Good, nothing worse than a woman who doesn't know how to be quiet. Now when you arrive at my kingdom there are going to be some rules you have to follow." He began rattling off a list of rules which would basically make me a prisoner in the castle rather than a prisoner in the mountain. I had no intention to be either for long. I just nodded my head along as he spoke, "I understand." He smiled to himself, "Finally. All shall be right with this one. My darling Clara." I tensed as I heard my given name.

I refused to go by it ever since I learned why I had been named it. Eliza always believed that her first child should have been with King Hugo and that the name Clara was reserved for her as that was the name of the rightful first-born princess of the kingdom. I could never bare to hear my name which was fine as I was hardly ever referred to by it. I was a possession not a person so why call me by a name.

He brought me back to the manor and I was sent back up to the room. One more day, I continued to remind myself. One more day and this nightmare of an existence would be over. One more day. I looked toward the window as I thought about him again, "I'm sorry Ethan." I breathed, "I'm sorry."